The Writing Program hosted Dr. Zachery Koppelman (Director of the Writing Center, Wabash College) and two students for a range of events focused on the study of writing across the curriculum and writing centers. Dr. Koppelmann spoke with several senior faculty in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (CME) on the importance of effective written communication in engineering. Dr. Koppelmann's presentation, "Bridges, Substations, and Communication: Engineers Writing Well," built on his experience leading the establishment of a writing curriculum in Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University as well as additional resources he developed to support technical and professional communication at Purdue and Wabash College. His discussions with CME faculty touched on a range of concerns, from real-world case studies to the planning of faculty development seminars, designing and responding to assignments, and the imperative of enlisting discipline-specific vocabulary to understand writing values.
During his stay at the Academy, Dr. Koppelmann also conferenced with senior leaders in the Center for Enhanced Performance and discussed, with Writing Program leaders, concerns relating to design, assessment, and development in writing-across-the-curriculum initiatives and writing centers. He further coordinated with two of his Wabash students—accomplished undergraduates who shadowed and interacted with Cadet Writing Fellows throughout their two-day stay—to guest lecture in the two seminars currently offered by the Writing Fellows Program (Writing Process & Pedagogy and Advanced Writing Pedagogy).