Faculty Profile

Deborah Bosley, D.A.

Associate Professor of English &
Director of the Center for
Humanities, Technology, and Science

Education:

• Illinois State University, Doctor of Arts--Rhetoric and Composition
• University of Illinois, M.A. English
• University of Illinois, B.A. English Education

Areas of Interest:

• Currently working on article about communication immersion for engineering students; working on draft of book on public policy and plain language
• Rhetorical analysis of functional communication
• Writing in financial and health contexts
• Plain language in legal, financial, and health communications
• International technical communication

Visiting Professorship:

Visiting professor at the University of Paris 7 (Denis Diderot), in the Master's Program in Conception de Documentation Multilungue Multimedia, (CDMM) March 2008.

Selected Publications and Presentations:

1. Davis, Boyd; Mason, Peyton; and Bosley, Deborah “Stance Analysis: Locating Social Cues and Attitudes In Online Interaction.” Contemporary Research in E-Marketing Vol. 2. Ed. Sandeep Krishnamurthy. Idea Group Publishing: May 2005.
2. Bosley, Deborah S. New introductory Essay for “Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Whose Culture is It, Anyway?” Central Works in Technical Communication. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.
3. ---. “Jumping Off the Ivory Tower: Changing the Academic Perspective” in Rachel Spilka and Barbara Mirel (eds) Revising a Discipline: New Directions and Challenges for Technical Communication in the 21st Century , Boston: Ablex Publishers, 2002: 27-39.
4. --- Ed. Global Contexts: Case Studies in International Technical Communication , New York: Allyn & Bacon, 2001.

Presentations

"Usability Testing and Redesign for TIAA-CREF Documentation." Center for Plain Language Symposium, Washington, D.C November 2008.

“Using Academic Theory and Research to Consult in Industry.” CCCC. New York, March 2006.

“International Partnerships to Improve Students' Learning and Experience.” IPCC 2005 Annual Conference. Limerick, Ireland. July 2005.

“Plain Language and Expert-Witness Testimony: Advocating For The Reader.” Clarity And Obscurity In Legal Language Conference.

Université du Littoral, Côte d'Opale, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France . July 2005.

“Developing a Research Center for Writing, Language, and Literacy.” ATTW Conference, San Francisco, March 16, 2005.

“Technical Communications Programs in the U.S.” Presentation to Faculty, University of Paris (Denis Diderot) . June 2004.

“Making Communication Work: From Classroom Practice to Business Contexts.” Fourth Annual Symposium on Communication and Communication-Intensive Instruction. Baruch College, New York, April 2004.

“Designing Corporate Technical Writing Programs.” Society for Technical Communication Annual Conference, Dallas , TX . 20 May 2003.

“Corporate Writing Programs as Value-Added." FORUM 2003, Milan, Spain 2003.

“Assessing WID Programs: Three Possibilities.” CCCC 2003: New York, March 2003.

“Expanding Your Skills: Leveraging Your Writing Expertise for Non-Academic Jobs.” Baruch College Writing Fellows, May 2002.

Selected Grants:

NSF (2006-2009): TECT -- Teaching Engineering to Counselors and Teachers. Co-PI with faculty from the College of Engineering

Courses Taught:

• ENGL 2116: Introduction to Technical Communication
• ENGL 4008: Writing Instructions and Procedures
• ENGL 4410: Professional Writing Internship
• ENGL 4180: Theories of Technical Writing
• ENGL 4181: Writing User Manuals
• ENGL 4183: Editing Technical Documents
• ENGL 4182: Writing Computer-Based Documents
• ENGL 6008/EDCI8682: Writing Grant Proposals
• ENGL 6116: Introduction to Technical Communication
• ENGL 6008: Social Constructionism and Rhetorical Theory

Faculty Appointments:

• UNC Charlotte: 1989 to present
• Millikin University: 1982-1989

Administrative Appointments:

• Director of the Center for Humanities, Technology, and Science 2007 to present
• Center for Writing, Language, and Literacy 2004-2007
• University Writing Programs 1998-2004

Selected Civic Engagement:

• Scholars' Council for the UNC Tomorrow Commission, 2007-2008
• Research and usability testing of financial documents for TIAA-CREF, 2007
• Developed Best Practices Guide for TIAA-CREF, 2007
• Redesign of End of Grade Testing Report for NC Department of Instruction, 2007
• Richards v. FleetBoston, D. Conn., No. 3:04-cv-1638 (JCH) (Expert witness) 2006
• Engers v. AT&T, D.N.J., No. 98-3660 (JLL) (Expert witness) 2004
• Designed and presented six writing courses including “Writing for Action: Building Relationship with Participants,” which is impacting institutional improvement, TIAA-CREF, 2000-2004.
• University of Delaware: Keynote Speaker for General Education Institute. July 2002
• Redesigned financial product descriptions Individual and Institutional Consultants' Group, TIAA-CREF, 1999-2003.
• Invited panelist: “Get Noticed: Effective Financial Privacy Notices,” sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission, Securities & Exchange Commission, et als: Washington, D.C. December 2001.
• Redesigned “Health Choice/Health Check” application form for the N.C. Foundation for the Advancement of Health. 2001.

Awards:

2007: Excellence in Writing for Clients. Presented bythe Association of Professional Communication Consultants, Washington, D.C.,

2006: Jay R. Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching Technical Communication, Society of Technical Communication

2003: Rank of Associate Fellow, STC (1% of 20,000 members)