Ja’La Wourman
Ph.D. Student
Office: 298 Bessey Hall
Email: wourmanj@msu.edu
Website: www.jalawourman.com
Research Areas
Professional and technical communication, visual rhetorics, African American rhetoric, participatory design, technology
Profile
Ja’La Wourman is a PhD student in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State University. Her research engages visual rhetoric in public and online spaces, African American rhetoric, and the intersections of culture in professional and technical communication. Prior to graduate school, she worked as an assistant writer for a large church in Columbus Ohio while obtaining her ministry degree. This experience opened up the door for her to pursue a M.A in Written Communication, specializing in professional and technical writing. As a military brat (Navy) she spent 8 years living in Japan which played a large role in how she sees culture and rhetoric intertwined.
Education
M.A. in Written Communication—Professional Writing, Eastern Michigan University
B.S. in Language, Literature, & Writing, Eastern Michigan University
Representative Work
“A Visual Rhetoric Study of Social Justice Murals” EMU Graduate Symposium. Ypsilanti, MI 03/17
“What Visual Rhetorics Needs from Cultural Rhetorics” NCTEAR Conference. San Francisco, CA 02/17
“Shifting Marketing and Business Culture to Useful User Experience—A Website-development and Branding Company.” MUXing Methods Towards Cultural Rhetoric: Usefulness Research. A panel with Andrew Durand and Steve Benninghoff. Cultural Rhetorics Conference. Lansing, MI. 10/16
Sample Courses Taught
WRA 101: Writing as Inquiry
Research or Academic Affiliations
Writing Center @ MSU
Social Media
Twitter:@jalajwourman