Featured WRTC Student: Q&A with Rebecca Felter

Students in our Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication (WRTC) MA and PhD programs gain expertise in rhetoric, writing studies, and technical communication. WRTC prepares students to be researchers, teachers, and communicators who explore the relationship between language, technology, complex ideas, and meaning. Get to know one of our amazing WRTC students, Rebecca Felter (she/her), as she shares her experiences thus far in the Department of Writing Studies.

Why did you choose WRTC for your graduate studies?

I took a class during undergrad that introduced me to metaphor criticism and how metaphors shape our understanding of scientific and medical topics. Four years later, I reached out to the professor of that course to ask, "How do I keep studying this?!" She mentioned the rhetoric program at the University of Minnesota would be a great fit. 

When I visited, the WRTC faculty and graduate students were so welcoming and kind. I'm very lucky to be a part of this program.

What are your current research interests?

I'm interested in the rhetoric of health and medicine. My current research project explores how hospital communication practices shape patient identity and care decisions for vulnerable patient groups. I also like to research disability rhetorics and User Experience.

What is your favorite part of WRTC?

Faculty members bring such a wide range of specialties. I have support to explore all of my research interests, from medical rhetoric to disability to User Experience.

What has been your favorite class that you've taken as a student so far and why?

Embodied Politics (WRIT 8550) with Professor Molly Kessler. This class introduced me to disability rhetorics and disability studies, which have greatly shaped how I engage with health and medical topics. 

What class(es) do you enjoy teaching and why?

I love teaching students from a wide range of majors in WRIT 3565W, Professional and Technical Writing. One of the major projects students work on is a group usability project, and I enjoy seeing students collaborate to tackle tasks that many of them have never done before. 

How do you hope to use your degree in the future?

I want to keep researching, teaching, and exploring how studying rhetoric can help us intervene in and improve our healthcare systems and practices.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a graduate degree in rhetoric, writing studies, and technical communication?

Seek out opportunities to learn from and work with students and faculty from other disciplines. A lot of the issues I am interested in lie at the intersection of multiple disciplines, and making connections has given me new perspectives and tools for approaching complex societal issues.

What is one fun fact about you?

I'm a big tennis fan. I've been to the US Open in New York and traveled to Spain for the Madrid Open last year.