By Tatyanna Pruitt

Lauren Cagle, an assistant professor in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences, was recently named a rising star in Technical and Professional Communication by the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW). Cagle

participated in the organization’s first plenary panel, on which rising stars and senior scholars discuss major issues in the field, during this year's conference which took place March 13-14. ATTW rising stars are faculty members who are considered among the best in the field.

The Association of Teachers of Technical Writing was formed to encourage dialogue among teachers of technical communication and to develop technical communication as an academic discipline. ATTW today has approximately 1,000 members that includes both graduate and undergraduate students of technical communication as well as professional technical communicators in business and industry.

“This is a great honor and testament to the caliber of scholars/teachers we have in WRD,” said Jeff Rice, chair of the Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies Department.

Cagle spoke at the ATTW plenary panel about her research which focuses on

climate change communication, environmental rhetoric ethics, and technical communication.

“It is a huge honor that the ATTW think I have something of value to contribute to conversations that are going to help shape this field,” Cagle said.