Department of English

Robin Gosser, MTPC 2007

Robin graduated from the MTPC program in December 2007. Prior to that, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama with a BS in Business, having majored in Marketing and minored in English. After working as a loan officer and branch manager in the banking industry for several years and living for a year and a half in London, England, she decided to change careers. This decision led her to Auburn’s Master of Technical and Professional Communication program. Currently Robin works as an instructor in the Department of English and freelances as a technical writer.

"I chose to pursue the MTPC program because it blends my love of writing with my business background perfectly. The professors here at Auburn are so nice and helpful, and my fellow graduate students were wonderful. This has been a wonderful, challenging experience that prepared me for a career in the Technical Communication field."

Jennifer Browning, MTPC 2007

I received my BA in Journalism from Auburn University in December 2004. After graduation, I worked for six months at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Gadsden, Alabama, as the interim communications manager. I returned to Auburn in Fall 2005 to begin the MTPC program and received my MTPC degree in May 2007. The MTPC program proved to be a great experience for me as it helped me to become a stronger writer, editor, and designer. My professors and peers encouraged me along the way and helped me to better understand my role as a technical communicator. I have definitely been able to take the skills that I gained in the MTPC program and apply them to my work today. Currently, I am a technical writer for Imaging Business Machines, LLC (IBML) in Birmingham, Alabama. In this position, I help create, edit, and maintain hardware and software documentation and computer-based training modules for IBML’s ImageTrac high-speed document scanner. I am also an adjunct instructor at Snead State Community College in Boaz, Alabama, where I teach composition and basic English.

Brigitte Demasi, MTPC 2007

After graduating from Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota, in 2005 with my bachelor’s in English – Writing Option, I decided to attend Auburn to pursue technical writing. The courses in the MTPC program were a big change from the creative writing classes I was used to, but they affirmed my interest in technical writing. My favorite part of the MTPC program was the opportunity to discuss theory in class and argue with authors via notes in the margins of my textbooks. I also had the opportunity to work as an editor for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, first through an internship and then as a full-time employee. My minor coursework in political science enticed me to enter the Public Administration master’s program, so I’m usually still on the 8th floor of Haley Center. My work in the MTPC program helped prepare me for my current positions as research assistant to the Dean of Educational Affairs and administrative assistant for the MPA Election Administration program.

Natasha Jones, MTPC 2007

"I have always had a love of language, whether literary or technical. I chose to pursue my MTPC degree, because it was such a practical field of study. With a background in print journalism and some experience as an editorial assistant, I reached a point where I could not pick up a magazine or newspaper without looking for errors to correct. So I said, why not make a career out of it? So far, it has been a very fulfilling choice."

Natasha graduated with honors (cum laude) from Georgia State University with a Bachelor's degree in Print Journalism. She worked for a short time as an editorial assistant at an Atlanta-based magazine. Immediately before her acceptance to Auburn University, she worked as a Senior Account Specialist for UPS Supply Chain Solutions. Having earned her MTPC degree, Natasha is now pursuing a Ph.D. in technical communication at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Wendy Perry, MTPC 2007

"I love the professors, and I love the projects we are given - I learn more with hands-on practice. I can gain a better knowledge of material with the way the MTPC program is taught."

Wendy received her AA degree from Southern Union in 1998 and received her BA in Communication (public relations) and English from Jacksonville State University in 2000. She was a news writer and an editor for The Chanticleer at JSU. Upon graduating, Wendy moved to Auburn with her husband and daughter. She has been involved in PR work for an annual music event held in Cleburne County and served as news and publications chair for her husband's military unit support group. Future plans are to continue with PR work but to also make time for freelance writing. I love the professors, and I love the projects we are given - I learn more with hands-on practice. I can gain a better knowledge of material with the way the MTPC program is taught.

Kathryn Wilder, MTPC 2007

"The element I enjoy most about the program is the central idea of keeping the user top of mind. No matter the project, this theory has applications for all communicators - not just those in technical communication fields. I can relate to this integral element through my experience as a journalist where I would strive to keep the target audience's interests and need for information as my priority. This theory really appealed to me as I was deciding which graduate program to pursue."

Katie graduated from Auburn University in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Following graduation, she worked as a reporter for The Gadsden Times, owned and operated by The New York Times in Gadsden, Alabama. While there, Katie was nominated for a New York Times Chairman’s Award and won first place in the news features category of the 2001 Alabama Associated Press Managing Editors Competition. Marriage brought her back to Auburn in May 2002, and she began working for the communications unit of Auburn University’s Office of Development. While working for development, Katie assisted the fundraising staff through the production of specialized publications, letters, newsletters, press releases, speeches, proposals, brochures, and on-line communication. In June 2004, she became an associate editor with AU’s Office of Communications and Marketing, where she continues to write and edit a variety of projects.

Kimberly Shumack, MTPC 2007

"I chose the MTPC program because I wanted to learn about another aspect of the communications field, which I already find to be extremely satisfying and rewarding. The program teaches me the theory and pedagogy of the field yet allows me to gain confidence with these elements through practical application. Also, I like that it can be tailored to suit the student's desires, such as my minor in communications. Regardless of the career path that I choose, this program will have more than adequately prepared me."

Kimberly graduated cum laude in August of 2005 from Auburn University with bachelor degrees in Mass Communications and Journalism in addition to a minor in business. During her undergraduate work, she worked in the Auburn Athletic Media Relations Office as a student assistant. Kimberly was involved with all sports but also served as one of the sports information director for men's tennis and worked on the men's tennis and men's golf media guides. In addition, she worked on the student newspaper, The Plainsman, and was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Society of Professional Journalists, Alpha Theta Chi, and the Omicron Zeta Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta.  Currently, she is a graduate teaching assistant in the English Department.

William Brinkley, MTPC 2006

Will is a Proposal Specialist for Tier Technologies in Auburn where he coordinates and writes several business proposals per month.  A national company with more than 850 full-time employees, Tier is a premier provider of financial transaction processing solutions to government and higher education entities. In addition to writing proposals, Will helps write and design marketing materials for Tier and its subsidiaries. Will's MTPC degree enabled him to join Tier at the Associate level, and he uses the writing, editing, and document design skills he honed in the program on a daily basis.

William C. Ford, MTPC 2006

Updates about William are coming soon.

Barrett Clink, MTPC 2006

Barrett is currently working for HelpWrite, Inc., a technical writing firm located in Atlanta. At HelpWrite she works closely with subject-matter experts on a regular basis and is able to make use of the collaboration skills that she learned in the MTPC program. Barrett also credits the MTPC program with helping her learn how to deal with the stress that comes from working under tight time constraints.

Diane Glanzer, MTPC 2006

Updates about Diane are coming soon.

Cecily Jackson, MTPC 2006

Updates about Cecily are coming soon.

Tahmina Khanam, MTPC 2006

Updates about Tahmina are coming soon.

Xiangrong Liu, MTPC 2006

Updates about Xiangrong are coming soon.

John Lucas, MTPC 2006

Updates about John are coming soon.

Elizabeth Cater Childs, MTPC 2005

Updates about Elizabeth are coming soon.

Rachel Kennedy, MTPC 2005

Through her experiences in journalism, Rachel grew extremely fond of both journalistic writing and document structure. Upon completion of the MTPC program, Rachael is working as an information developer for Ipswitch Corporation (an international software company) in Atlanta, GA.

Jessica Lueders, MTPC 2005

Jessica Lueders currently works as a communications specialist at State Farm Insurance Companies in Lincoln, Nebraska. In her role, she writes articles for the monthly print publication, designs communication strategies, and assists management with executive communications.

Much is happening in Jessica's life at this time as she is planning a wedding, a move, and a career transition. She will marry Blair Christopher Thompson on May 26, 2007, in Omaha, Nebraska. After their honeymoon to Kaua'i, Hawaii, Jessica and Blair will move to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Blair will be an assistant professor of Communication Studies at Western Kentucky University, and Jessica has accepted a position as communications coordinator for the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. Both Jessica and Blair are thrilled for all of the exciting events that they are anticipating in the near future.

As communications coordinator for the Chamber, Jessica will be responsible for media communications and public relations. Her focus will be positively impacting the Chamber's expanding centers of influence, primarily in economic development in south central Kentucky.

Prashant Natarajan, MTPC 2005

Prashant is currently employed as a Senior Business Systems Analyst at McKesson Health Solutions in Broomfield, CO. Prashant feels that the MTPC program gave him many opportunities to interact with and learn from instructors and colleagues from a variety of educational and cultural backgrounds. He is considering joining an exective, part-time MBA program within the next year.

On a personal note, Prashant recently got engaged.

Julie Zorn, MTPC 2005

Julie Anne Zorn is a Technical/Market Writer for UDA Technologies, Inc., where she writes and edits a variety of documents, including marketing materials, advertising copy, and multimedia instructional materials. Located in Auburn, AL, UDA engineers project management software for small to medium construction firms in the U.S. and in 60 countries worldwide.

Kelly S. Messerschmidt, MTPC 2004

Kelly started her technical communication business, M Communications, so that she could enjoy the diversity that freelancing provides. Her work includes business writing, creating and editing website and marketing copy, and serving as a technical communication consultant. Kelly lives in Birmingham, Alabama.

LT Christopher Miller, MTPC 2004

After leaving Auburn in December of 2004, Chris began his career as a naval officer on USS ANZIO (CG 68), a guided missile cruiser homeported in Norfolk, VA. While assigned to ANZIO, he held several different positions, including Communications Officer as well as Administrative, Legal, and Public Affairs Officer. During his tour, he completed an extended 8-month deployment to the Persian Gulf. He is currently assigned as an instructor in the English Department at the US Naval Academy. He is looking forward to the summer of 2008, when he will teach his first course in technical writing.

Email: cmiller@usna.edu

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William Shurtz, MTPC 2004

Will works as a Practice Group Assistant in the Intellectual Property Division of Sutherland, Asbill, and Brennan in Atlanta. ASB is one of the ten largest law firms in Atlanta.

Cindy M. Staudt, MTPC 2004

Cindy lives in the Washington, DC metro area. She is currently an editor for the Bureau of Economic Analysis, part of the Department of Commerce in downtown DC. She edits articles and other materials published in the Survey of Current Business, a monthly journal that delivers information and numbers of industrial, regional, national, and international economics. She also does desktop publishing and participates in the overall publication of the journal.

Paul Wamsted, MTPC 2004

Paul currently works as a Systems Analyst (SA) with Unisys Corporation in Montgomery, Alabama. He is a Microsoft Windows SA, administering servers and providing application support.

Angela Woods, MTPC 2004

Angela is a Technical Writer/Editor II with Northrop Grumman Mission Systems in Aurora, Colorado. She was hired at an advanced level because of her MTPC degree. Northrup Grumman is the second largest military defense contractor in the country and services all three branches of the military.

Alise Chabaud Hagan, MTPC 2003

Alise, formerly an Instructional Technologies Designer with TSYS Education, TSYS, Columbus, Georgia, is now Coordinator of Technical Communication with the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Heather Lord, MTPC 2003

Heather is a doctoral student in Management at Auburn University.

Nathan Meier, MTPC 2003

After completing a paid technical communication internship in summer 2003 with Mirant Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia, Nate is now a technical communicator writing and editing grant proposals in the Office of Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Amanda Ray, MTPC 2003

Amanda is working for RayPress Corporation in Birmingham, Alabama, starting a web magazine titled Narrow Web Now.

Lowell C. Lambert, MTPC 2002

Lowell is employed as Technical Writer/Documentation Specialist for Morrison
Management Specialist in Mobile, AL. He is the first technical writer their IT organization has ever had and his position allows him to develop user guides, online help, and training tutorials for various web-based applications. He landed the job based on his advanced degree and the experience he gained since graduating in 2002. 

Lowell says that he has been lucky enough to land jobs where he has learned a variety of tools and skill sets and was progressively given more responsibility. He credits the MPTC program and faculty (particularly Dr. Don Cunningham, Dr. Joyce Rothschild, and Dr. Elizabeth Smith) with helping him hone my writing and research skills and become a tech writing professional. In addition, Lowell thinks that the greatest asset he gained from the MTPC program was the ability to think logically and creatively in order to solve communication problems.Today, he has a job that he loves and best of all, he gets paid to write!  

On a more personal note, Lowell just moved into a new home in Mobile and loves
living near the beach!

Kaytreus Pertillo, MTPC 2002

After holding a tenure-track position at Griffin Technical College in Griffin, Georgia, Kaytreus served as an academic advisor at the University of Georgia and as an adjunct instructor in English at Gainesville College in Gainesville, Georgia. She is currently an academic advisor at Clayton College and State University in Clayton, Georgia.