Initiatives

Writing Futures Fellows

The Writing Futures Fellows Program is a dynamic new departmental research initiative in Writing Studies designed to address the most pressing, high-impact issues shaping the future of writing, rhetoric, technical communication, and pedagogy. Driven by faculty research leadership, the program offers graduate and undergraduate students unique opportunities to collaborate directly on cutting-edge projects as research fellows. Each year, this newly launched initiative focuses on a single defining theme—beginning in 2026–2027 with Generative AI & the Future of Writing—translating rigorous inquiry into actionable research, policy guidance, and pedagogical resources for our department, college, university community, and beyond. 

Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference 2027

We are proud to host the 15th Biennial Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference in 2027, chaired by Writing Studies faculty members Dr. Liane Malinowski and Dr. Jacklyn Fiscus-Cannady. Organized in partnership with the Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric & Composition (CFSHRC), the conference theme—"Resistance/Resilience: Sustaining Feminist Activism"—will bring national and international scholars together to explore intersectional, inclusive, and community-engaged approaches to rhetoric, pedagogy, and public advocacy. Hosting this gathering reflects our department’s ongoing leadership in feminist rhetoric and opens rich opportunities for student and faculty involvement.

Leading in Rhetoric of Health and Medicine

The Department of Writing Studies is a major center for research, publishing, and curricular innovation in the rhetoric of health and medicine (RHM). Our faculty lead the discipline through major editorial work and national conferences. Dr. Fernando Sánchez serves as co-editor of the premier journal Rhetoric of Health & Medicine, while Dr. Molly Kessler co-chaired both the 2023 and 2025 Rhetoric of Health and Medicine Symposia hosted on our campus. Expanding this momentum into student learning, Dr. Kessler and Dr. Matthew Reznicek (Department of Surgery) were awarded a 2025-2027 CLA Curricular Innovation Grant to design a new undergraduate program in Medical Humanities, bridging humanistic inquiry with health sciences education.

Supporting Writers Across the University: Writing Center

Through individual consultations and in partnership with academic departments, the Writing Center supports student writers across the Twin Cities campus. More information can be found on the Writing Center's website.

Supporting Writers Across Minnesota: College in the Schools (CIS)

Through College in the Schools, our First-Year Writing program engages over 1000 advanced high school students and their teachers from across the state of Minnesota in this important work of developing their writing as a central practice of citizenship. In total, First-Year Writing involves over 3500 students and offers professional development for more than 100 high school teachers every year through our WRIT 1201 and WRIT 1301 cohorts.