Faculty/Staff Directory
Richard Ward - MS, BA
Lecturer
Phone: 478.471.2893
Website: https://richardsprofessionalportfolio.wordpress.com/
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| Office Hours: | Monday & Thursday 11:00am-12:00pm |
| Biography: | Richard Ward's areas of study are Technical Communication, Communication Studies, and Cultural Studies, as he continues work on his dissertation. His particular interest lies in the “darkside” of communication; specifically, lying and misinformation (or alternative facts) as they can be found in science and technical communication and how the public might be manipulated through their varying ideologies. This interest has led him down a path of research that explores manufactured scientific controversies and how they can become politicized through scientific filibustering, “gumming up” the mechanism of scientific progress that often has catastrophic outcomes. |
| Courses: | ENGL 1101 English Composition ENGL 5106 Technical Writing in the Digital Age PFWR 4660 Advanced Professional Writing PFWR 3170 Practical Workplace Writing COMM 3050 Persuasion & Strategic Communication NMAC 3108 Writing for Digital Media |
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| Education: | MS Rhetoric, Theory & Culture from Michigan Technological University BA Professional Writing and Rhetoric from York College of Pennsylvania Languages: * English * Farsi * Russian * Spanish |
| CV: | RESEARCH INTERESTS • Disinformation and scientific rhetoric in public discourse • Civic engagement through technical communication • Rhetoric of science, technology, and policy • Strategic communication in public-sector reform EDUCATION Ph.D. (In Progress), Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture Michigan Technological University Focus: Technical Communication, Communication Studies, Cultural Studies Dissertation: Mis/Disinformation in the Sciences: How Manufactured Scientific Controversy and Scientific Filibustering Create Conflict Where None Should Be M.S., Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture (2017) Michigan Technological University, Summa Cum Laude Master’s Project: The Visual and Performing Arts: Reinforcing the University's Internal Community Literacy via Service-Learning in the Technical Communication Classroom B.A., Professional Writing York College of Pennsylvania, Magna Cum Laude Departmental Recognition Minor: International Relations Honors Thesis: Exploring the Connection between Social Identity and Individual Voice in First-Year Writing Students PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Macon-Bibb County Democratic Committee | Communications Director (Volunteer) | 2025–Present Appointed to lead strategic communication and public engagement for the local Democratic committee. Developed and implemented a comprehensive communications plan focused on growing party membership, increasing volunteer participation, and expanding grassroots fundraising. Overhauled the committee’s digital presence by building a multichannel social media strategy, establishing accounts and workflows across Instagram, Threads, and email marketing platforms, transitioning from sole reliance on Facebook and limited ActBlue functionality. Directed the launch of high-impact community campaigns such as “Bibb Believes” and “Desserts & Democracy,” while managing a rotating team of interns and volunteers. Introduced hybrid monthly meetings, professional development initiatives, and new branding strategies to improve organizational visibility, cohesion, and trust across the Macon-Bibb community. Middle Georgia State University | Lecturer | 2022–Present Responsible for instruction in English Composition, Professional Writing, and Strategic Communication. Developed a course for public relations majors integrating classical and contemporary rhetorical theory. Revised technical writing curriculum to emphasize ethical communication and public engagement. Led initiatives on academic integrity in the age of AI, includin |
| Professional Experience: | Graduate Teaching Instructor – Composition; Scientific and Technical Communication; Public Speaking Michigan technological University, Houghton, Mi. 2015 – 2022 Adjunct Professor of Communication – Public Speaking; Interpersonal Communication; and English Gogebic Community College, Houghton, Mi. 2017 – 2020 Adjunct Professor of English – English 101 & 102 Great Basin College, Elko, Nv. 2018 – 2019 |
| Professional Affiliations: | 2018 Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters Conference, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Mi. Reformatting the World: An Interdisciplinary Conference on Technology and Humanities, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2015-2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, South Central Pennsylvania Area - Reviewer 2013 Pennsylvania Association for Developmental Education, Harrisburg, Pa. 2012 Mid-Atlantic Writing Centers Association Conference, Shippensburg University, Pa. |
| Organizations: | National Communication Association 2017-Present Association of Teachers of Technical Writing 2016 – Present National Council of Teachers of English 2015 – Present Sigma Tau Delta (National English Honors Society) 2013 – Present Vice President of Alpha Nu Omega Chapter 2014 – 2015 Administrator for Department of Humanities Graduate Mentor Program 2017 – 2019 Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture Committee at Michigan Technological University 2015 – 2016 Master’s Program Representative Pennsylvania Association of Developmental Educators 2012 – 2014 Mid-Atlantic Writing Centers Association 2012 – 2013 |
| Awards and Honors: | Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Peer Mentorship – Michigan Technological University Departmental Recognition for Outstanding Academic Achievement and History of Service to the Department – York College of Pennsylvania First Place, Bob Hoffman Student Writing Contest: Creative Non-fiction – York College of Pennsylvania |
| Publications: | Academic: Ward, Richard, and Stefka Hristova. 2022. “Slogans of White Supremacy: Imagined Minority Corruption in Trump-Era Politics.” In Corruption and Illiberal Politics in the Trump Era, First. London: Routledge. 2017. “The Visual and Performing Arts in the Technical Communication Classroom: Reinforcing the University’s Internal Community Literacy via Service-Learning.” Master’s Report. Michigan Technological University. http://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/etdr/1. Creative: 2018. “A Rumble in the Woods.” In Pennsylvania’s Emerging Writers: An Anthology of Nonfiction, 17–25. Z Publishing House. 2015. “Cute from a Distance.” York Review 21: 10–15. |
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