VITAE

Lee Ellen Brasseur

Professor

Department of English

Illinois State Universtiy

Normal IL 61790-4240

Degrees

D. A. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

M.A.  Eastern Michigan University

B.A. Western Michigan University

Peer Reviewed Articles

“Florence Nightingale’s Visual Rhetoric in the Rose Diagrams.”  Technical Communication Quarterly, 14:2, 2005, 161-182.

"Critiquing the Culture of Computer Graphing Practices." Journal of Technical Writing and Communication. January 2001. 27-39.

“The Role of Experience and Culture in Computer Graphing and Graph Interpretive Processes” Tradition and Change in Documentation: Conference Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual International Conference of Computer Documentation.  New York: Association for Computing Machinery, 1999. 9-15.

(with Torri Thompson) "Gendered Ideologies:  Cultural and Social Contexts for Illustrated Medical Manuals in Renaissance England."  Special Issue on the Cultural and Social Perspectives on the Design of Professional Visuals of the IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. No. 4 (December 1995): 204-215.

"How Computer Graphing Programs Change the Graph Design Process: Results of Research on the Fill Pattern Feature."  The Journal of Computer Documentation No. 18 (1994): 4-20.

"The Problem with Fill Patterns."  Scaling New Heights in Technical Communication: IPCC Conference Proceedings.  Ed. Tim Wilkes. Piscataway, NJ:  IEEE         Professional Communication Society (1994): 257-261.

"Contesting the Objectivist Paradigm:  Gender Issues in the Technical Communication Program."  IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication.  No. 36 (1994): 114-123. 

"Visual Thinking in the English Department: The Relevancy of Rudolf Arnheim's Work for Writing Students."  Journal of Aesthetic Education. No. 27  (1994): 129-141.

"The Softening of Ideological Boundaries in Technologically Produced Visual Information: Semiotics as Cultural Critique of Our Discipline." International Professional Communication Conference Record. (1992): 140-144.

Reviews

“Edward Tufte’s 'Visual Explanations'.” Technical Communication Quarterly, No. 7 (1998): 341-5.

" Stephen Kosslyn's 'Elements of Graph Design'."  IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. No. 4 (1994):  344-347.

" Carol Barnum and Saul Carliner's 'Techniques for Technical Communicators'".  IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication.  No. 7 (1994): 50 (review).

" Kim Sydow Campbell's 'Coherence, Continuity, and Cohesion.'" Technical Communication Quarterly, No. 5 (1995): 455-457.

Book Chapters

Reprint with author commentary “Contesting the Objectivist Paradigm: Gender Issues in Technical and Professional Communication Curriculum” in Central Works in Technical Communication, Eds. S. Selber and Johndan Johnson-Eilola New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. 475-490. (two stages of review with seven different reviewers.)

"Visual Literacy in the Computer Age: A Complex Perceptual Landscape" in Computers and Technical Communication: Pedagogical and Programmatic Perspectives. Ed. Stuart Selber. Greenwich: Ablex  (1998) 75-96.

"The Visual Composing Process of Graph, Chart and Table Designers: Results of an Empirical Study."  Studies in Technical Communication. Texas:  ATTW Press (1992): 163-182.

Book

Visualizing Technical Information:  A Cultural Critique.  Amityville NY, 2003. Baywood Press 2003.

Edited Works

(with Carole Yee) "A Special Issue on Diversity in the Workplace and in the Professional Writing Classroom" of IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication.  39:3 (September) 1996.

Emerging from Chaos:  Solutions for the Growing Complexity of Our Jobs:  Conference Proceedings of the SIGDOC ’95, The 13th Annual International Conference on Systems Documentation.  New York:  ACM  (1995).

Non-Peer Reviewed Publications

(with Jane Lietdke) New American Families:  Single Mothers and their Chinese Daughters.  Eds. Jane Lietdke and Lee Brasseur.  Our Chinese Daughters Foundation:  Bloomington. 1997.

(With Jennifer O'Brien )  "Combining Technical Writing and Computer Science: An Alternative Educational Path."  Interchange 14:2 (1994) 1-3.

"Response to T.R. Girill's Comments on Bernhardt."  Journal of Computer Documentation.  17:1  (1993):  9-10.

"Learning to Work with Graphics."  Interchange. 8: 3  (1989):  2-4.

Presentations

 “The Fetal Ultrasound and Technical Communication.” Invited Talk at Texas Tech University May 2007.

“Is Game-Based Learning Still Designed for Male Preferences?” Association of Teachers of Technical Writing Conference, Chicago, March 2006.

“The Ultrasound of a Woman's Fetus as a Disembodied Entity:  The Turn from Functionality to Aesthetic Image” Association of Teachers of Technical Writing Conference, San Francisco, March, 2005.

“Gender Issues in the Technical Communication Curriculum” Council for Programs on Scientific and Technical Communication, W. Lafayette, Ind October 9, 2004.

“Florence Nightingale’s Rose Diagrams”.  Rhetoric Society of America Conference Penn State Univ., June 2003.

 “The Role of Experience and Culture in Computer Graphing and Graph Interpretive Processes”  Tradition and Change in Documentation: Conference s of the Seventeenth Annual International Conference of Computer Documentation.  New Orleans:  October 1999.

"Visual Literacy" College Composition and Communication Conference, Chicago, March, 1998.

"Visual Literacy in the Computer Age,"  College Composition and Communication Conference, Milwaukee, March, 1996.

"Communication Devices or Privileged Messages?  A Feminist Analysis of the Masculinist Perspective in Scientific and Visual Technical Information."  The Women, Gender and Science Question Conference, Minneapolis, Minn., May 13, 1995.

"Gendered Ideologies of Renaissance Medical Manuals:  Visual and Verbal Choices as Instruments of Exclusion."  Conference on College Composition and Communication.  Washington, D.C. March 24, 1995.

"Using and Teaching Document Design" for "Workplace Writing and the English Curriculum:  Defining the Future Together."  National Council of Teachers of English Conference.  Orlando, Florida. November 17, 1994.

"The Problem with Fill Patterns."  International Professional Communication Conference.  Banff, Alberta.  September 29, 1994.

"Gender Issues in Professional Communication:  Theory and Pedagogy."  Conference on College Composition and Communication,  San Diego, March, 1993. 

"The Softening of Ideological Boundaries in Technologically Produced Visual Information:  Semiotics as Cultural Critique of Our Discipline."  International Professional Communication Conference, Santa Fe, September, 1992.

"The Changing Role of the Technical Writer:  Approaching Computer-Assisted Graph Design Decisions."  Conference on College Composition and Communication, Cincinnati, March 1992.

"The Design Process of Graph, Chart and Table Designers:  Results of an Empirical Study."  National Council of Teachers of English,  September, 1991.

"Assessing the Visual in a Verbal Profession:  Problems, Criteria and Models in Technical Communication Programs." Modern Language Association, December, 1991.

"Urban Legends and Probable Futures:  A Roundtable Discussion of English 101."        Symposium on the Teaching of Writing.  Illinois State University, April 23, 1994.

"Critiquing Technology in the Computer-Assisted Composition Classroom."  Symposium on Teaching Writing."  Illinois State University, March, 1993.

"Design in the Technical Writing Classroom and the English Department at Large."      Symposium on Teaching Writing, April 1991.

"Graphics Instruction in Technical Writing Courses--Problems and Solutions."  Michigan Council of Teachers of English State Conference, October, 1987.

"The Effect of Journal Writing on Poetic Composition."  Michigan State University Bright Ideas Conference, April, 1985.

"Adapting Teaching Methods to Student Learning Styles."  Michigan Council of Teachers of English State Conference, October, 1984.

"The Role of Writing in the English Curricula." YESS Conference,  Michigan State Board of Education, January, 1984.

"Teaching Technology in the English Classroom--An Examination of Ray Bradbury's   Works."  Michigan Council of Teachers of English State Conference, October,             1983.

Research Grants

“Visualizing Technical Information: A Cultural Critique.”  Illinois State University Research Grant:  Summer Faculty Fellowship.  May 2001.  $4000

“Creating a Web-Enabled Visible Rhetoric Course.” Illinois State University Distance Learning Grant.  May 2001. $3500

“Mentoring a Faculty Member in Technology Use for Literature Classes”   Illinois State University Instructional Technology Literacy Stipend Program.  $1000.

“Facilitating a Web-Based Courses.  Illinois State University Instructional Technology Development Grant. 2001 $1500.

“Visualizing Technical and Scientific Information”  Illinois State University’s The Leading Edge: Issues in Technology and Society Campus Program Grant. 2001 $1850.

"An Investigation of Writers' Computer-Assisted Design Process."  Illinois State University Research Grant, July 1, 1995.

"Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster Multimedia Presentation."  Laboratory for Integrated Learning, College of Arts and Sciences, Illinois State University.  July 1, 1994.

"Summer Proposal Writing Workshop."  College of Arts and Sciences Research Office, Illinois State University. May, 1992.

"The Visual Composing Process of Graph, Chart and Table Designers. "Illinois State University Research Grant,  July 1, 1991 $3000.

Awards

College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Research Award in the Humanities, 2004, Illinois State University.

Nomination for University Research Initiative Award by the College of Arts and Sciences, Illinois State University, 1994.

Teaching

Department of English, Illinois State University 1990-2005

Language and Composition I

Language and Composition II

Women in Literature

Technical Writing I

Technical Writing II

Visual Rhetoric

Technical Editing

Research in Technical Writing

Special Topics in Technical Writing:  Gender and Technical Communication

Technology and English Studies:  Women, the Computer and the Internet

Consulting

Longman Publishing.  Expert Review on Graphics for Nell Ann Pickett’s Technical Communication, 8th Edition.  1998.

Longman Publishing, Burr Ridge, Illinois, Manuscript Evaluation. 1998

1-2-3 Training Co., Bloomington, Illinois.  May, 1998.

 Irwin Publishing, Burr Ridge, Illinois, Book Evaluation.  October, 1996.

Kempster and Lenz-Calvo, Ltd. , Chicago, Illinois. Credential Evaluation. December 1995.

Laboratory for Integrated Learning, College of Arts and Sciences, Illinois State University.  Graphics and Page Design Consultant.  Summer, 1995.

Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, Illinois.  Three full-day workshops for professional staff.  October, November, December, 1994. 

Society for Technical Communication Focus Group on Education of Technical Communicators.  Advisor.  Dallas, Texas, June 9, 1993.

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication.  Editorial Reviewer 1993-95.

Administration

Associate Chair, Department of English, Illinois State University 1999-Present

Director, Technical Writing Program, Illinois State University, 1998-99

Advisor, Illinois State University Student Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication, 1995-8

Chair, Feminist Issues Committee, Department of English, Illinois State University, 1993

Professional Service

Judge, Best Article in Technnical Communication Quarterly for 2005

Co-Chair, 2002 Association of Teachers of Technical Writing Conference

Editorial Reviewer, Technical Communication Quarterly 1999-present

Chair, National Council of Teachers of English Awards in Technical and Scientific Communication Committee, 1995-97.

Member by Appointment, National Council of Teachers of English Committee on Technical and Scientific Communication, 1993-1996.

Member by Appointment, Ad Hoc Graduate Studies Committee of the Association for Business Communication.  1994-1995.

Editorial Reviewer, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. 1993, 1994.

State Leader, National Council of Teachers of English Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines 1984-88

Executive Board, Michigan Council of Teachers of English, 1983-87

Regional Coordinator, Michigan Council of Teachers of English, 1983-87

Editorial Board, Michigan English Teacher  1985-1986

Judge, National Council of Teachers of English Writing Achievement Program 1984-   1987

Judge, Michigan Writing Program 1985, 1986, 1989

Department Service

Member, Graduate Committee

Member, University Research Council, 2005-6

Member, College of Arts and Sciences Elections Committee, 200-1

Member, Women’s’ Studies Curriculum Committee, 2000-1

Member by Appointment, Language and Composition Inner Core Course Development Committee 1994-95, Illinois State University

Member, Women's Advisory Board, Illinois State University 1992-5.

College Curriculum Committee, Illinois State University, 1992-3

Member, Department Faculty Steering Committee, Illinois State University

Writing Committee, Department of English, Illinois State University, 1990-3

Ad Hoc Committee on English 160 (Women in Literature), Secretary, Illinois State University, Secretary, 1991-2