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Dr. Ryan K. Boettger

Chair

University of North Texas

Department of Technical Communication

(940) 565-4458

Email: Ryan.Boettger@unt.edu

Education

  • Certificate, The Pennsylvania State University, 2015
    Major: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
  • PhD, Texas Tech University, 2008
    Major: Technical Communication and Rhetoric
    Dissertation: Making the Case for Explicit Teaching: An Empirical Approach to Evaluating a Genre-Centered Pedagogy
  • MA, Texas Tech University, 2004
    Major: Technical Communication
  • BA, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2002
    Major: Communication

Professional Positions

  • Assistant Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2009 - 2015).
  • Editor, Texas Army National Guard. Texas Army National Guard. (2004 - 2010).
  • Instructor, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. (2009 - 2009).
  • Managing Director, Grant Proposal & Program Development, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. (2008 - 2009).
  • Graduate Part-Time Instructor, Texas Tech University. Texas Tech University. (2003 - 2008).

    • Academic - Post-Secondary

  • Associate Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2015 - Present).
  • Director of Lower-Division Service Courses, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2016 - 2017).
  • Director of Graduate Studies, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2012 - 2015).

Licensures and Certifications

  • Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, Gallup. (2023 - Present).

Professional Memberships

  • Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication. (2007 - Present).
  • Society for Technical Communication. (2006 - Present).
  • Association of Teachers of Technical Writing. (2007 - 2018).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • ENGL 2700 - Technical Writing, 1 course.
  • ENGL 4190 - Technical Editing, 3 courses.
  • TECM 1700 - Introduction to Professional, Science, and Technical Writing, 1 course.
  • TECM 2700 - Technical Writing, 2 courses.
  • TECM 4010 - AI and Automation in Technical Communication, 1 course.
  • TECM 4100 - Writing Grants and Proposals, 2 courses.
  • TECM 4180 - Advanced Technical Communication, 3 courses.
  • TECM 4190 - Technical Editing, 4 courses.
  • TECM 4250 - Writing Technical Procedures and Manuals, 1 course.
  • TECM 4500 - Content Analysis in Technical Communication, 3 courses.
  • TECM 4700 - Writing in the Sciences, 1 course.
  • TECM 4800 - Topics in Technical and Professional Communication, 1 course.
  • TECM 4900 - Special Problems, 5 courses.
  • TECM 4920 - Cooperative Education in Technical Communication, 1 course.
  • TECM 5170 - Grants and Proposals, 12 courses.
  • TECM 5175 - Writing in Professional Settings, 1 course.
  • TECM 5180 - Professional Writing, 3 courses.
  • TECM 5185 - Principles of Technical Communication, 4 courses.
  • TECM 5195 - Editing Technical Documents, 5 courses.
  • TECM 5550 - Studies in the Teaching of Technical Communication, 14 courses.
  • TECM 5900 - Special Problems, 2 courses.

Directed Student Learning

  • Other, ""Positive Flashbulb Memories for the Assassination of Osama bin Laden"," (2011 - 2011).
  • Other, ""NNS Use of Adverbs in Academic Writing"," (2010 - 2011).

Awards and Honors

  • Frank R. Smith Award for Outstanding Journal Article, Society of Technical Communication. (2020).
  • Fessor Graham Award [nomination], University of North Texas, Student Government Association. (2012).
  • Nomination, CCCC Outstanding Dissertation Award in Technical Communication, The National Council of Teachers of English. (2008).
  • Outstanding Classroom Instructor, Texas Tech University. (2008).
  • Summer Dissertation Award, Texas Tech University. (2008).
  • Carolyn Detjen Rude Scholarship in Technical Communication, Texas Tech University. (2007).
  • Allan L. Carter and Olga Meloy Carter Memorial Scholarship, Texas Tech University. (2006).
  • Outstanding Classroom Instructor, Texas Tech University. (2004).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book Chapter

  • Boettger, R.K. (2019). "How does that make you feel?": The psychological dimensions of editorial comments. Other. Editing in the Modern Classroom. 47-65. Routledge.

    • Conference Proceeding

  • Lam, C.Y., Boettger, R.K. (2017). An overview of research methods in technical communication journals (2012–2016). Other. 4. IEEE.
  • Friess, E., Campbell, K.S., Boettger, R.K., Lam, C.Y. (2017). Are we missing the boat? A roundtable discussion on research methods and how they define the field. IEEE International Professional Communication Society (ProComm).
  • Boettger, R.K., Lam, C.Y., Palmer, L. (2017). Improving the data information literacies of technical communication undergraduates. Other. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
  • Friess, E., Boettger, R.K. (2016). Extended abstract: The presence of professionalism in technical communication: Views from industry and the academy. 2016 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference (IPCC). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ipcc.2016.7740485
  • Boettger, R.K., Wulff, S. (2016). Using authentic language data to teach discipline-specific writing patterns to STEM students. Other. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ipcc.2016.7740513
  • Boettger, R.K., Friess, E., Carliner, S. (2015). Update to who says what to whom? Assessing the alignment of content and audience between scholarly and professional publications in technical communication (1996-2013). 2015 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference (IPCC). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ipcc.2015.7235812
  • Boettger, R.K., Friess, E. (2014). What are the most common title words in technical communication publications?. 2014 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference (IPCC). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ipcc.2014.7020350
  • Boettger, R.K., Friess, E., Carliner, S. (2014). Who says what to whom? Assessing the alignment of content and audience between scholarly and professional publications in technical communication (1996-2013). 2014 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference (IPCC). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ipcc.2014.7020398
  • R.K Boettger. (2011). "Examining Error in the Technical Communication Editing Test." Proceedings of the 58th Annual Technical Communication Summit, Sacramento, California: 142-147.

    • Journal Article

  • Campbell, K.S., Boettger, R.K., Swisher, V. (2024). Challenges in developing technical communication leaders in client-based, content strategy projects: A teaching case. Technical Communication. 71 (3) 26-43. Society for Technical Communication.
  • Friess, E., Boettger, R. (2021). Identifying commonalities and divergences between technical communication scholarly and trade publications (1996–2017). Journal of Business and Technical Communication. 35 (4) 407-432.
  • Boettger, R.K., Friess, E. (2020). Content and authorship patterns in technical communication journals (1996–2017)—A quantitative content analysis. Technical Communication. 67 (3) 5-25.
  • Boettger, R.K., Wulff, S. (2019). Gender effects in student technical writing – a corpus-based study. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. 62 (3) 239-252.
  • Boettger, R.K., Moore, L.E. (2018). Analyzing error perception and recognition among professional communication practitioners and academics. Other. 81 (4) 462-484.
  • Boettger, R.K., Friess, E. (2016). Academics are from Mars, practitioners are from Venus: Analyzing content alignment within technical communication forums. Technical Communication. 63 (4) 314-327. Society for Technical Communication.
  • Boettger, R.K. (2014). Explicitly teaching five technical genres to English first-language adults in a multi-major technical writing course. Journal of Writing Research. 6 (1) 29-59. Gert Rijlaarsdam/SIG Writing. http://dx.doi.org/10.17239/jowr-2014.06.01.2
  • R.K. Boettger. (2014). The technical communication editing test: Three studies on this assessment type. Technical Communication. 61 (4) 215-231. Society for Technical Communication.
  • Boettger, R.K., Wulff, S. (2014). The naked truth about the naked 'this': Investigating grammatical prescriptivism in technical communication. Technical Communication Quarterly. 23 (2) 115-140. Informa UK Limited. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10572252.2013.803919
  • Boettger, R.K., Lam, C.Y. (2013). An Overview of Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research in Technical Communication Journals (1992–2011). IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. 56 (4) 272-293. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/tpc.2013.2287570
  • R.K. Boettger. (2012). "Types of Errors Used in Medical Editing Tests." American Medical Writers Association Journal (27)3: 99-104.
  • R.K. Boettger & L.A. Palmer. (2010). "Quantitative Content Analysis: Its Use in Technical and Professional Communication." IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication (53)4: 346-357..
  • R.K. Boettger. (2010). "Rubric Use in Technical Communication: Exploring the Process of Creating Valid and Reliable Assessment Tools." IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication (53)1: 4-17..

    • Special Issue Introduction

  • Boettger, R., Ishizaki, S. (2018). Introduction to the special issue: Data-driven approaches to research and teaching in professional and technical communication. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. 61 (4) 352-355.

Presentations Given

  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), Classroom Management Strategies for the Writing Classroom, (2013 - 2013).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), Copyright, plagiarism, and faculty partnerships: Collaborating with the Library, (2013 - 2013).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), Errors in Judgment: Comparing Academics' and Practitioners' Perceptions of Usage Error, (2013 - 2013).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), Learning from Our "Mistakes": How Technical Communicators Prioritize and Perceive Usage Error, (2012 - 2012).
  • Learning from Our "Mistakes": How Technical Communicators Prioritize Error, (2012 - 2012).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Moderator), Objectified, (2012 - 2012).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), Becoming Competitive: Overlap in Linguistics and Technical Communication, (2011 - 2011).
  • Client Projects for 21st Century Technical Editors, (2011 - 2011).
  • Examining Error in The Technical Communication Editing Test, (2011 - 2011).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), LTC's Content Management System, (2011 - 2011).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), TechCorp: Building a Corpusof Student Technical Writing, (2011 - 2011).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), The IMRaD Structure: Strategies for Writing Successful Engineering Papers, (2011 - 2011).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), Online Tutoring and Online Development, (2010 - 2010).
  • Writing and Editing Grants at the University Level: Opening Teaching and Research Opportunities Using Primary Tech Comm Skills, (2010 - 2010).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), Applying to Medical and Graduate School, (2009 - 2009).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), Writing the Scientific Abstract, (2009 - 2009).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), Writing the Personal Statement in Medical School Applications: It's Harder Than You Think, (2008 - 2008).
  • An Empirical Approach to Evaluating a Genre-Based Pedagogy, (2007 - 2007).
  • Integrating Quantitative Content Analysis into Technical Communication Scholarship, (2006 - 2006).
  • Toward a Nomenclature of Style: Modal Use in Freshman Writing, (2005 - 2005).

    • Invited Talk

  • Boettger, R. (Presenter), Do you want it fast, good, or cheap?: Engineering your technical message for any audience, IEEE Montréal Section, Montréal, Canada, Canada. (2018 - 2018).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), The Association of Teachers of Technical Writing Research Methods Workshops, Quantitative content analysis, The Association of Teachers of Technical Writing, Portland, OR, United States of America. (2017).

    • Keynote/Plenary Address

  • Boettger, R.K. (Author & Presenter), Stefanie, W. (Author & Presenter), Laurence, A. (Author), 2016 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, Integrating Data-Driven Learning into the Technical Writing Classroom, IEEE, Austin, TX, United States of America. (2016).

    • Oral Presentation

  • Campbell, K.S. (Author & Presenter), Boettger, R.K. (Author), SmithJ. (Author & Presenter), Lam, C.Y. (Author), Association of Business Communication Conference, Exploring how AI writing tool instruction shapes attitudes, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2023).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), Wulff, S. (Presenter), The 12th Annual Texas STEM Conference, Using data-driven learning to teach technical writing to biology students, San Antonio, TX, United States of America. (2019).
  • Wulff, S. (Presenter), Boettger, R.K. (Presenter), STEMPowered Symposium, The role of data-driven learning in STEM education courses, Gainesville, FL, United States of America. (2018).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Leader), Friess, E. (Leader), Carliner, S. (Leader), IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, How do we adapt the traditional research article so it's relevant to the practicing professional?, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America. (2014 - 2014).

    • Panel Presentation

  • Friess, E. (Author & Presenter), Boettger, R.K. (Author & Presenter), Campbell, K.S. (Author & Presenter), Lam, C.Y. (Author & Presenter), IEEE International Professional Communication Conference (ProComm) 2017, Are we missing the boat? A roundtable discussion on research methods and how they define our field, IEEE ProComm, Madison, WI, United States of America. (2017 - 2017).

    • Paper

  • Boettger, R.K. (Author & Presenter), AI In Action, From Complex to Concise: How Intelligent Prompting Helps Government Achieve Plain Language Compliance, Department of Advanced Data Analytics and Department of Technical Communication, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States of America. (2024).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Author & Presenter), Wulff, S. (Author & Presenter), American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Teaching STEM undergraduates discipline-specific writing skills: A data-driven learning approach, Tampa, FL, United States of America. (2019).
  • Friess, E. (Author & Presenter), Boettger, R.K. (Author), IEEE International Professional Communication Conference ProComm 2016, The presence of professionalism in technical communication: Views from industry and the academy, IEEE, Austin, United States of America. (2016).
  • Friess, E. (Author & Presenter), Boettger, R.K. (Author & Presenter), IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, What are the most common title words in technical communication publications?, or "Using technical writing on the web: A rhetorical case study analysis.", Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America. (2014 - 2014).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Author & Presenter), Friess, E. (Author & Presenter), Carliner, S. (Author & Presenter), IEEE International Professional Communication Conference., Who Says What to Whom? Assessing the Alignment in Content and Audience Between Peer-Reviewed and Professional Publications in Technical Communication (1996-2013), United States of America. (2014 - 2014).

    • Webinar

  • Boettger, R.K. (Author & Presenter), Society for Technical Communication North Texas Lone Star Chapter, The Future is Now: How AI is Transforming Technical Communication, STC, United States of America. (2023).

Media Contributions

    Internet

  • "Bridging the gap: How AI is reshaping technical communication with Ryan Boettger," Inside Tech Comm with Zohra Mutabanna. (July 9, 2023).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Boettger, R.K. (Principal), Wulff, S. (Principal), Hoeinghaus, D.J. (Co-Principal), Roberts, A.P. (Co-Principal), "Collaborative research: Evaluating a data-driven approach to teaching technical writing to STEM majors," sponsored by National Science Foundation, Federal, $290768 Funded. (2017 - 2020).
  • Boettger, R.K. (Principal), "A corpus-driven analysis of STEM students' technical vocabularies," sponsored by Research Enabling Grant, University of North Texas, $3700 Funded. (2013 - 2014).
  • Hoeinghaus, D.J. (Co-Principal), Boettger, R.K. (Principal), Ludi, S.A. (Co-Principal), "Collaborative Research: Evaluating a Data-Driven Approach to Teaching Technical Writing to STEM Majors," sponsored by National Science Foundation, FED, Funded. (2017 - 2020).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, MA Portfolio Evaluation Committee. (2022 - Present).
  • Discussant, Discussant, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Division of Digital Learning. (2024).
  • Special Institutional Assignment, THECB AI Facilitated Learning Network. (June 2024 - September 2024).
  • Committee Member, UNT AI Steering Committee (UASC). (October 9, 2023 - May 2024).
  • Committee Member, Personnel Affairs Committee. (2020 - 2022).
  • Committee Member, Scholarship Committee. (2020 - 2022).
  • Program Coordinator, TECM 4180. (2020 - 2022).
  • Committee Member, Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee. (2015 - 2022).
  • Committee Member, Executive Committee. (2011 - 2022).
  • Other (Assistant Chair), Technical Communication. (August 2018 - August 2020).
  • Committee Chair, Personnel Affairs Committee. (2016 - 2017).
  • Member, Search Committee for assistant professor in technical communication. (2016 - 2017).
  • Member, Graduate Curriculum Committee. (2015 - 2017).
  • Director, Lower-Division Service Courses. (2015 - 2017).
  • Member, Department Chair Search. (2015 - 2016).
  • Member, Personnel Affairs Committee. (2015 - 2016).
  • Other, Election Judge. (2014 - 2016).
  • Member, Search Committee for Multi-Year Lecturers (3 positions) in Technical Communication. (2014 - 2015).
  • Other (Director of Graduate Studies), Department of Technical Communication. (2012 - 2015).
  • Committee Chair, Graduate Committee. (2012 - 2015).
  • Committee Chair, Graduate Committee. (2012 - 2015).
  • Other (Reviewer), MATC Comprehensive Exam Assessment Committee. (2010 - 2015).
  • Other (Content Strategist), LTC Content Management System Editor. (2011 - 2014).
  • Other (Interim Member), Graduate Committee. (2011 - 2011).
  • Committee Chair, LTC Asst Professor in Tech Comm Search Committee Digital/Social Media Specialization. (2011 - 2011).
  • Member, LTC Senior Lecturer in Tech Comm Search Committee. (2011 - 2011).
  • Member, Online Catalog Committee. (2010 - 2011).
  • Other (Co-Creator), Co-Created (with Dr. Stefanie Wulff) TECM 5175/LING 5050, Language in Professional Settings. This is the first co-created course in the Department of Linguistics and Technical Communication.. (2010 - 2010).
  • Other (Creator), Created TECM 5170, Grants and Proposals for the MA in Technical Writing. (2010 - 2010).
  • Other (Co-Chair), LTC Asst Prof in Linguistics Search Committee. (2010 - 2010).
  • Other (Co-Chair), LTC Asst. Professor in Tech Comm Search Committee. (2010 - 2010).
  • Other (Co-Creator), Co-Created (with Dr. Erin Friess) TECM 3200 Information Design for Electronic Media and TECM 4200 Research Methods for Practitioners for the proposed BA in Technical and Professional Communication. (2009 - 2010).
  • Other (Creator), Created TECM 1500, New Media for Your College Career; TECM 3100, Commercial Publications for High Tech Industries; and TECM 4100, Grant and Proposals for the proposed BA in Technical and Professional Communication. (2009 - 2010).

Professional Service

  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Journal of Business and Technical Communication. (2019 - Present).
  • Editorial Review Board Member, Technical Communication Quarterly. (2018 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. (2011 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, English for Specific Purposes. (2018 - 2022).
  • Reviewer, Book, TPC Book Series (WAC Clearinghouse and University of Colorado Press. (December 2021 - 2021).
  • Committee Chair, Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication Conference. (2019 - 2021).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Business and Professional Communication Quarterly. (2019 - 2020).
  • Committee Member, Administrative Committee, IEEE Professional Communication Society. (2017 - 2020).
  • Editor, Book, Editor, Wiley-IEEE Press Series in Professional Engineering Communication. (2017 - 2020).
  • Editor, Guest Editor, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication’s special issue on data-driven approaches to research and teaching in professional and scientific communication. (2018).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Technical Communication Quarterly. (2015 - 2018).
  • Reviewer, Conference Paper, 2017 IEEE Professional Communication Conference. (2016 - 2016).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, PLOS ONE. (2016 - 2016).
  • Other (Board of Permanent Reviewers), IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. (2011 - 2016).
  • Other (Deputy Editor-in-Chief), IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. (2015 - 2015).
  • Other (Conference volunteer), Association of Teacher of Technical Writing. (2009 - 2009).