Georgia Institute of Technology’s Writing and Communication Program is an Institute-wide initiative whose goal is to infuse a culture of communication across the Institute.
Contents
Features of the Writing and Communication Program
The Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellows—Brittain Fellows for short and “Britts” for even shorter—are involved in every aspect of the program. As a Brittain Fellow, you are a faculty member in the Writing and Communication Program (“WCP” for short) as well as the School of Literature, Media, and Communication (“LMC” for short), which houses and supports the core curriculum and the majority of the program’s activities. (NB: Georgia Tech doesn’t have “departments”; it has “schools,” which tend to be larger, more diverse, and more interdisciplinary than typical departments.)
- Multimodal core curriculum. Brittain Fellows teach almost the entire first-year composition curriculum (ENG 1101 and ENGL 1102) as well as the introductory technical communication course (LMC 3403). Every course is presumed to have an explicit rhetorical foundation and a multimodal approach. These WCP courses are typically on the leading edge of digital pedagogy, rhetoric, and multimodal composition practices.
- Campus-wide communication-in-the-disciplines program. Brittain Fellows foster communication in the disciplines (CID) and communication across the curriculum (CAC) by teaching special sections of composition and technical communication devoted to disciplinary interests, participating in presentations about issues relevant to courses and programs across campus, and more. Brittain Fellows are encouraged to collaborate with academic units and community partners.
- Communication research. Brittain Fellows are innovators in the classroom, which means they have ample opportunities to contribute to the vast and growing body of scholarship about communication and communication pedagogies. The fellows participate in postdoctoral seminars that provide platforms for exploring new ideas and learning how to make them parts of successful academic careers.
In addition, the Communication Center is affiliated with the Writing and Communication Program and shares its commitment to rhetoric, process, and multimodality. However, the Communication Center functions as a separate unit in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication. Like WCP, it serves the entire Georgia Tech campus. Brittain Fellows with particular pedagogical and research interests in writing/communication centers may have a partial appointment in the Communication Center.
Critical Concepts: Rhetoric and Multimodality
We emphasize that communication is
- Rhetorical, or persuasive for particular audiences in particular contexts
- Multimodal, or WOVEN (Written, Oral, Visual, Electronic, and Nonverbal)
Our WOVEN approach to teaching and learning communication emphasizes creating and integrating ideas in multiple modes: Written, Oral, Visual, Electronic, and Nonverbal.We see communication as affecting the academic, professional, community, and personal lives of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, whether they are in classes or labs, offices or agencies, manufacturing or R&D facilities, hospitals, agribusinesses, or wilderness sites, across the US or around the world. Communication involves both individual and collaborative interaction, both face-to-face and distance interaction, and many kinds of media, both print and digital. Our program provides core curriculum courses, advanced communication courses, professional development for faculty and staff, as well as continued support for Georgia Tech alums. We work closely with the Communication Center to provide students, faculty, and staff with the resources they need to be successful and effective communicators.
Important Buildings on Campus
- Stephen C. Hall Building: Home of the Writing and Communication Program.
- Skiles: Home of the School of Literature, Media, and Communication. Site of many WCP classrooms.
- Clough Commons: Site of many classrooms where WCP course are taught. Home of the Communication Center.
- College of Computing: Site of many technical communication classrooms.
- College of Business: Site of many technical communication classrooms.
Key Faculty and Staff
Do you have concerns about a student? Need help with classroom computers? Navigating travel reimbursements? — below is a list of contacts in WCP and LMC for everyday teaching, technology, and HR questions/concerns.
The Writing and Communication Program
For questions about teaching and WCP curriculum, research and professional development, individual circumstances or situation, orientation and postdoc seminars, see anyone on the leadership team.
Melissa Ianetta, Executive Director of Writing and Communication
Stephen C. Hall Building, Room 111
(404) 894-1158
melissa.ianetta@lmc.gatech.edu
Andy Frazee, Director of Writing and Communication
Stephen C. Hall Building, Room 112
(404) 894-8923
andy.frazee@lmc.gatech.edu
Justin Chandler, Assistant Director of Writing and Communication
Stephen C. Hall Building, Room 006
jchandler64@gatech.edu
Moinak Choudhury, Assistant Director of Writing and Communication
Stephen C. Hall Building, Room 006
moinak.choudhury@gatech.edu
Candice Kindell, Senior Administrative Professional
Stephen C. Hall Building, Room 113
(404) 894-5300
ckindell3@gatech.edu
IAC and LMC
Carol Senf, Director of Undergraduate Studies
JC Reilly, LMC Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies
Skiles, Room 332
(404) 385-7546
jc.reilly@lmc.gatech.edu
- Schedules all WCP and LMC classes
- Questions/concerns about classroom locations
Library Support
Consult main library webpage for any questions. Contact any one of the librarians below for assistance with their specialization. They are able to help you with both your own research and with your classes, offering individual support, class meetings, and workshops.
Karen Viars, Humanities and Science Fiction Librarian
(404) 385-5393
karen.viars@library.gatech.edu
Liz Holdsworth, STEM Librarian
(404) 385-5392
elizabeth.holdsworth@library.gatech.edu
- Questions about library databases
- Arrange class visits about library databases
- Recommend a database/journal purchase
Alison Valk, Multimedia Instruction Librarian & College of Computing Liaison
(404) 385-0379
alison.valk@library.gatech.edu
- Questions about multimedia software at Georgia Tech’s library
- Arrange class workshops about multimedia projects such as using iMovie
Charlie Bennett, Undergraduate Programming and Engagement Librarian
(404) 385-0879
charlie.bennett@library.gatech.edu
- Arrange class workshops on creating podcasts and audio editing software
Jody Lloyd Thompson, Head Librarian of Archives and Records Management
(404) 894-9626
jody.thompson@library.gatech.edu
Ximin Mi, Data Visualization Librarian
(404) 385-5685
ximin.mi@library.gatech.edu
- questions and consultations about data visualization
- arrange class workshop on data visualization
DILAC (Digital Integrative Liberal Arts Center)
The LMC’s digital humanities center in Skiles 318.
Contact the Lab Coordinator for assistance working with archives, datasets, visualization packages, physical computing and cutting-edge equipment like GoPros, Arduinos, and VR platforms. You can consult DILAC for your own research or arrange class visits and workshops with DILAC’s graduate interns.
Brad Rittenhouse, Lab Coordinator
Skiles, Room 318
bcrittenhouse@gatech.edu
Communication Center
The Communication Center’s professional and peer tutors can help students with everything from their multimodal projects for English 1101 and English 1102 to graduate school applications, from engineering and science reports to team presentations, from storyboards for videos to poster designs, from grant proposals to job cover letters and resumes. Faculty can make requests for class visits, class tours, and topic workshops.
Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons, Room 447
www.communicationcenter.gatech.edu
Caitlin Kelly, Director
caitlin.kelly@gatech.edu
Book Orders
Textbook Manager, Barnes & Noble Georgia Tech
Tm225@bncollege.com
- Contact them with questions about textbook orders
Human Resources
Kenya Devalia, LMC Administrative Manager
Skiles 335 A
(404) 894-1052
kenya.devalia@lmc.gatech.edu
- Reimbursements for travel, relocation, and other expenses related to programmatic activities
- Questions about paychecks
Jocelyn Thomas, LMC Assistant to the Chair
Skiles 336
(404) 894-8422
jocelyn.thomas@lmc.gatech.edu
- Paperwork and process related to hiring (“on-boarding”) and human resources
- Contact Jocelyn if you want to make an appointment to meet with Richard Utz (LMC Chair)
Facilities
Hall Building
Ruslana Mashurova, Senior Administrative Professional
Stephen C. Hall Building, Room 113
(404) 894-5300
rmashurova3@gatech.edu
Skiles Building
Kenya Devalia, LMC Administrative Manager
Skiles, Room 335 A
(404) 894-1052
kenya.devalia@lmc.gatech.edu
Tech Support
If you have computer or network trouble or you have a special request for support related to teaching or research, send an email to our tech specialists, Grantley Bailey and Melanie Richards to main LMC Tech Support email: support@lmc.gatech.edu
If you are unable to send email from your computer or you need to talk with them, visit their office # 365 in Skiles or try calling (404) 894-8484, (404) 894-7632