The Distinguished Community Service Awards committee is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of the Distinguished Chapter Service Award (DCSA) and the Distinguished SIG Service Award (DSSA).

These recipients will be recognized at the 2024 STC Summit in Bloomington, Minn., and formally honored at the STC CAC Annual Virtual Leadership Program on June 6 at 4pm EDT.

Receiving the DCSA:

Russel Hirst – East Tennessee Chapter
Citation: For your sustained contributions to the East Tennessee Chapter including but not limited to serving as the chapter's UTK faculty sponsor for more than 30 years, providing ongoing mentoring for students and chapter leadership even into retirement, and furthering the profession through the establishment of International Journal for Nuclear Security in 2015.

Kylie Jacobsen – Michigan Great Lakes Chapter
Citation: For your sustained contributions to the Michigan Great Lakes Chapter including but not limited to serving in multiple leadership positions and leading the chapter to a Platinum CAA award in 2022, designing the chapter logo, and continuously fostering student engagement through blog and Intercom articles.

Erika Konrad – Arizona Chapter
Citation: For your sustained contributions to the Arizona Chapter including but not limited to your five-year service as both NAU faculty liaison and chapter treasurer, presenting multiple seminars on technical communication subjects, and serving as a stabilizing force during chapter leadership turnover.

Sian Mehl – Chicago Metro Chapter
Citation: For your sustained contributions to the Chicago Chapter including but not limited to serving as newsletter editor for three years, designing and implementing a more engaging interactive email newsletter, and providing invaluable advice and support to chapter leadership during times of significant turbulence and turnover.

Jennifer Prior Schledorn – North Texas Lone Star Chapter
Citation: For your sustained contributions to the North Texas Lone Star chapter during the six years you served as secretary, including but not limited to multiple CAA application submissions that led to nine community achievement awards over four years.

 

Receiving the DSSA:

Ruth-Anne Klassen – Instructional Design & Learning SIG
Citation: For your sustained contributions to the Instructional Design & Learning SIG including but not limited to fostering student engagement at multiple levels, serving as SIG secretary for multiple years, and magnificently coordinating the SIG's annual virtual open house in 2023.

Susan McGowan – Technical Editing SIG
Citation:  For your sustained contributions to the Technical Editing SIG including but not limited to exemplary student outreach efforts, organizing virtual chat meetings, and managing the SIG table at Summit.

Tricia Spayer – Policies and Procedures SIG
Citation: For your sustained contributions to the Policies and Procedures SIG including but not limited to your service as the SIG's programming technical manager since 2019, managing logo and photo contests such as “Where in the World is Monte?”, and continuously facilitating engagement at virtual and in-person events.

No nominations for the Distinguished Service Award for Students (DSAS) were received for 2024.

The DCSA, DSSA and DSAS represent the highest level of recognition that an STC member can receive for service to their community. Each year, leaders from STC chapters and special interest groups (SIGs)/communities of interest (COIs) nominate members and student members who have served their specific community. The STC DCSA Committee considers the qualifications, contributions, and achievements of those members whose community achievements have been submitted for review, and then submits recommendations for awardees to the STC Board of Directors.

Special thanks to committee chair Kim Rosenlof, Allison Phillips, Marcia Shannon, and Tavia Record for their work on this year’s DCSA committee as well as to STC Board Liaison Lori Meyer and STC Director of Membership Erin Gallalee for their guidance and assistance throughout the process.

Congratulations to all award recipients!

2 May 2024

The Society for Technical Communication, the Nominating Committee, and the Board of Directors are pleased to announce the final results of the 2024 STC election.

Of 1,240 eligible voters, 149 (12%) cast a ballot. There were some abstentions for each position.

Congratulations to those elected and thank you to all the candidates for your dedication to STC and willingness to devote your time and energy to improving our Society by running for an elected position.

Director

(Six candidates for six openings; two-year term)

• Dr. Jackie Damrau received 136 votes
• Dr. Guiseppe Getto received 137 votes
• MaryKay “MK” Grueneberg received 137 votes
• Dr. Amanda Patterson received 136 votes
• Dr. Wendy A. Ross received 136 votes
• Danielle Villegas received 137 votes

By the vote of the STC members, all six candidates were elected to the Board.

Please note:

• Vice President Elizabeth “Liz” Herman automatically ascends to the office of President.
• President Timothy “Tim” Esposito automatically ascends to the office of Immediate Past President.
• Roberta “Bobbi” Werner will complete her two-year term as Treasurer.
• The 2024-2025 Board of Directors has elected Danielle Villegas to serve in the office of Vice President and Jackie Damrau to serve in the office of Secretary.

Nominating Committee

(Two candidates for two openings; two-year term)

• Joana Donovan received 144 votes
• Kelly Smith received 146 votes

By the vote of the STC members, both candidates were elected to the Nominating Committee.

Thank you to all STC members who expressed interest in running for an elected position.

Note that the 2024 election slate was prepared in accordance with the current Society bylaws. The election was open from Monday, 15 April, through Friday, 26 April. To be eligible to vote, members must have paid their dues by 31 January of the election year. All eligible members received a ballot and invitation to vote via email.

Votes were cast through a secure, third-party software, provided by Jotform, with certification by the STC staff that the election results were accurate and confidential. All STC election rules were strictly adhered to, and all necessary internal controls were in place to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the voting.

The final election results have been certified and were approved at a special meeting of the Board of Directors on 1 May 2024.

The STC Pacesetter award winning communities will be officially honored at the 2024 STC Technical Communication Summit Honors Event in Minneapolis, MN.

STC’s Pacesetter Award recognizes innovative and successful community initiatives.

Congratulations to our Pacesetter winning communities:

• Carolina Chapter: For implementing a more cost-effective ticket platform for event management.
• Chicago Chapter: For the creation of a social media internship.
• IDL SIG: For engaging members through a One-Question Survey.
• North Texas Lone Star Chapter: For creating a CPTC quiz competition.
• Rochester Chapter: For your structured accessibility feedback program, clearly communicating knowledge about the STC Alliance Competition judges and entrants, and supporting the adoption of accessibility principles in our work and daily lives.

For more information about STC awards, visit Honors, Awards, and Recognitions on the STC website.

The STC Board thanks the Community Achievement and Pacesetter Awards Committee – Susie McGowan (co-chair), Viqui Dill (co-chair),Angie Dianetti, Sam Lee, Tavia Record,  Sean Stevenson, and Lori Meyer, Board liaison – for their work this year.

Communities are recognized for their contributions to the Society’s goal of providing high-quality programming, resources, and networking opportunities for technical communicators all over the world. The Community Achievement Award recognizes a SIG, professional or student chapter's outstanding accomplishments in achieving the Society's goals through a wide range of programs and activities.

The STC CAA award winning communities will be officially honored at the 2024 STC Technical Communication Summit Honors Event in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Congratulations to our CAA winning communities: Platinum Community Award

• Carolina Chapter: For excellence in the areas of Leadership and Recognition.
• Chicago Chapter: For leading the Society in the areas of Programs and Membership.
• IDL SIG:For leading the Society in the area of Leadership and excellence in the area of Programs.
• Michigan Great Lakes Chapter: For excellence in the areas of Leadership and Membership.
• North Texas Lone Star Chapter:For leading the Society in the areas of Outreach, Recognition and Innovation.
• Ohio Chapter: For excellence in the areas of Membership and Innovation.
• Washington DC-Baltimore Chapter: For excellence in the areas of Programs and Recognition.

 

Gold Community Award

• Rochester Chapter: For supporting the development of technical communication through extensive educational programming.

 

Silver Community Award

• Technical Editing SIG: For excellence in the areas of Programs and Recognition.

 

Bronze Community Award

• South Central Texas Chapter Citation: For excellence in the areas of Programs and Leadership.

For more information about STC awards, visit Honors, Awards, and Recognitions on the STC website.

The STC Board thanks the Community Achievement and Pacesetter Awards Committee – Viqui Dill (co-chair),  Susie McGowan (co-chair), Angie Dianetti, Sam Lee, Tavia Record, Sean Stevenson, and Lori Meyer, Board liaison – for their work this year.

The Society for Technical Communication is proud to announce the 2024 class of Associate Fellows. Associate Fellow is one of the three honorary ranks in the Society. This honor recognizes members for their outstanding achievements in and contributions to the arts and science of technical communication, and for sustained and significant service to STC.

Each year, the STC Associate Fellows Committee considers the qualifications, contributions, and achievements of STC Senior Members who submit their credentials to the committee for review, and then submits recommendations for Associate Fellow to the STC Board of Directors. Upon a two-thirds majority vote of the board, the rank of Associate Fellow is conferred upon a recommended Senior Member.

The Society takes enormous pride in recognizing these Associate Fellows at the STC Summit following the vote of the board. To be considered for Associate Fellow, a candidate must have:

• • Been active in technical communication for at least 15 years
  • Fulfilled ten years of service as an STC Member (with at least five years at the level of Senior Member), as of the application submission deadline

.

The Society will formally recognize the new Associate Fellows at the 2024 STC Summit in Bloomington, MN.

Congratulations to our newest Fellows:

• Linda Jansak: For innovative and quality leadership and outreach over 20 years in support of the Society for Technical Communication and STC Chicago Chapter, and for serving the educational community as an instructor at Purdue University.
• Jessica Kreger: For her dedication to technical communication and content strategy leadership that also bridges the gap between technical and marketing communications, and for her countless hours mentoring the next generation of technical communicators.
• Lance Robert: For passionately advocating for the technical communication profession and its practitioners worldwide, and for devoted and conscientious service to STC San Diego and the Society for Technical Communication as a whole.

Many thanks to the Associate Fellow Committee: Jamie Gillenwater, Chair, James Bousquet, Deanne Levander, Christina Mayr, and Sean Stevenson.

The Frank R. Smith outstanding journal article award and distinguished journal article award recognizes the authors of exceptional articles in the Technical Communication journal during a calendar year. The awards honor the memory of Frank R. Smith, who established Technical Communication as the flagship publication of STC and the profession during his 18-year tenure as the journal’s editor. The award was established in 1995, the year Frank R. Smith retired, and has been a mainstay of STC’s annual recognitions of excellence since.

The awardees will be officially recognized at the 2024 STC Technical Communication Summit Honors Event in Bloomington, MN.

This year’s winner of the Frank R. Smith Outstanding Article Award is Alisa Bonsignore, for the tutorial “It’s Not Just What You Say, It’s How You Say It: Mitigating the Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions with Effective Content” in the February 2023 issue of Technical Communication.

The citation reads:

For a topical tutorial that urges technical communicators to consider the energy costs of their content strategies. The author demonstrates how high-energy content choices can run counter to plain language and provides tools so that content strategists can reconsider carbon emissions across content design and governance processes. The tutorial opens timely conversations about the materiality and justice of content strategy.

—
This year’s winners of the Frank R. Smith Distinguished Article Award are Lin Dong and Zhujin Gao, for the article “Who Are China’s Technical Communicators? A Survey on the State of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the Profession” in the August 2023 issue of Technical Communication.

The citation reads:

For an exploratory study that paints a well-researched portrait of technical communication in China, providing a better understanding of issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the under-studied profession. The authors open doors to better recognize the contributions, challenges, and needs among China’s technical communicators and expand understanding of DEI in technical communication to include non-Western views.

Many thanks to the Frank R. Smith Award Committee: Daniel Hocutt (Chair), Art Berger, Nora K. Rivera, Stacey Pigg, Josie Walwema, and Guiseppe Getto.

It's back!

The STC Summit Buddy Program pairs first-time Summit attendees with returning Summit attendees.

• Returning attendees provide guidance by sharing insights on navigating sessions, networking, and maximizing opportunities to enhance the newcomers' conference experience.
• For first-time attendees, your job as a Buddy is to experience all that Summit has to offer while making new connections with your buddy! Ask your buddy questions about the society, the conference, and all things tech comm. We hope your buddy can help make your first Summit memorable and as smooth as possible.

Things you can do as a Buddy:

• Request or facilitate introductions
• Travel to a social event together
• Sit together at a keynote
• Discuss easy ways to volunteer with STC
• Having a staring contest. Whoever blinks first buys the other a coffee!

We hope this program enriches the experience for both parties by fostering camaraderie and facilitating mutual learning among all STC members.

Interested?

Complete a Summit Buddy Program form so that we can connect new attendees and veteran attendees together.

Please respond by 6 May 2024. We'll be in touch soon with news about your new buddy!

The student honor societies Sigma Tau Chi (STX) and Alpha Sigma (AS) recognize student members of the Society who have distinguished themselves as students and have demonstrated promise of future contributions to the Society and the profession.

Membership in STX and AS is an honor given to students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above, demonstrate participation in STC, and show promise and potential for significant contribution to the profession. STX members are students enrolled in a baccalaureate or graduate degree program in technical communication, while AS is an honor given to students enrolled in a two-year college program or certificate program in technical communication. Applicants are recommended by two people who are familiar with their student [performance as well as participation in STC.

Membership is awarded only once and honorees retain the membership only as long as they are members in good standing of the Society.

The 2024 inductees are:

• Sigma Tau Chi
  Liping Yang, Georgia State University (graduate)
  Aracely Hernandez, Michigan Technical University (undergraduate)
• Alpha Sigma
  (no inductees this year)

Thank you to the STX/AS Honor Societies Committee: Lisa Melonçon (Chair), John Clement, Dr. Xiaoli Li, and Dr. Joanna Schreiber.

The Intercom Outstanding Article Award recognizes the author of a superior article that appeared in the Society’s magazine during the calendar year.

The awardee will be officially honored at the 2024 STC Technical Communication Summit Honors Event in Bloomington, Minnesota.

This year’s winner of the Intercom Outstanding Article award is Christina Mayr, for the article “The State of Tools” in the March/April 2023 issue.

The citation reads:
For providing the technical communication community with a framework from which to view the landscape of current and emerging tools used in our work.

The Intercom Outstanding Guest-Edited Issue Award recognizes the guest editors of a superior issue of the Society’s magazine during the calendar year.

The awardees will be officially recognized at the 2024 STC Technical Communication Summit in Bloomington, Minnesota.

This year’s winners of the Intercom Outstanding Guest-Edited Issue award are Amanda Horton and Dr. Jackie Damrau for the September/October 2023 issue with the theme of “Information Visualization.”

The citation reads:
For curating a thorough set of articles that help technical communicators focus awareness on trends, design strategies, approaches, and accessibility in visual communication.

The Society for Technical Communication is pleased to announce Dr. Isidore Dorpenyo as the 2024 recipient of the Ken Rainey Award for Distinguished Research.

Dr. Isidore’s work at the intersection election technologies and international technical communication has made significant contributions to sustained conversations about social justice and civic engagement. Moreover, his work extends to broader methodological and pedagogy issues in localization, user experience, and teaching social justice in technical communication classrooms.

One letter in support of his nomination states, “Dr. Dorpenyo is one of the most influential scholars in technical communication, especially as it relates to issues of technical communication in the Global South.” Another writes, “Dr. Dorpenyo values epistemological practices that privilege collectivity in ways that promote innovation and imagination, and he is extremely committed to the advancement of new knowledge in technical and professional communication.”

Dr. Dorpenyo has published numerous articles in the field, such as Technical Communication, the Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, the Journal of Business and Technical Communication, and Technical Communication Quarterly. His work on election technologies culminates in the book User Localization Strategies in the Face of Technological Breakdown: Biometic in Ghana’s Elections. An excellent teacher of technical communication, Dr. Dorpenyo has won multiple teaching awards. He is coauthor on “Curricular Efforts in Technical Communication After the Social Justice Turn,” awarded the 2023 CCC Technical and Scientific Communication Award for Best Article on Pedagogy or Curriculum in Technical and Scientific Technical Communication.

Thank to the Ken Rainey Award Committee for their work this year: Julie Gerdes (Chair),Dan Richards, Jason Tham, Erin Trauth, Veronica Joyner, and Jamal-Jared Alexander.

STC's 2024 Annual Business Meeting will be taking place on 17 May at 5:45 PM CT during the 2024 STC Summit in Minneapolis, MN.

The format will be different this year, not following the traditional parliamentarian-style event.

Following the success of virtual Annual Business Meetings of recent years, this in-person event will be a “State of the Society”-type session, where Executive Director Tim Shaw will provide details of the health of the Society.

We will also have financial reports as well as a report on future plans going forward.

We encourage all at Summit to attend this meeting, as the meeting is open to the public.

For more information, visit the Annual Business Meeting on the STC website.

The committee for the 2024 Jay R. Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching Technical Communication unanimously has recommended Dr. Sean Williams as the recipient for the award.

The Jay R. Gould Award was created to honor the greatest teachers and mentors in technical communication. Dr. Sean Williams is exemplary in this regard and has outstanding achievements in all areas of the award’s criteria.

In his career that spans several decades, he has educated a large number of students, many of whom have become educators in the academia, scholars in the discipline, and leaders in the industry. Dr. Williams engages with his students long after they have graduated and he continues to publish with some of them. As one writer of a letter of recommendation, a former student of his, remarks:

My career, even many years later, has been shaped under Williams’ wings. His mentorship to myself and my peers was a tremendous boon early on, but it has been his genuine, lifelong passion for education that continues to inspire me today and he remains one of my closest mentors, even a decade and a half later as I have advanced in my career.

Dr. Williams has been an exceptional mentor to students at several institutions. He is a caring mentor who goes beyond the typical advising of students. He creates numerous opportunities to connect students with organizations in the real world. He has directed a large number of graduate theses and dissertations. Many students he mentored come back to his classes and give back to the community. In his record we discovered a world of interconnected relationships and a wealth of personal and professional growth.

Equally impressive is Dr. Williams’ accomplishments in innovative teaching and program development. He has spearheaded the development of an innovative multi-department Ph.D. program, a stand-alone department in Technical Communication and Information Design, and now as an administrator, a program in user experience. His career trajectory echoes that of the field of technical communication. He pioneered and embraced new trends and technology every step of the way. His pedagogy infuses entrepreneurship, digital technology, and industry-academe collaboration.

Reviewing Dr. Williams’ documents left us far more to savor than can be presented in these pages. By this recommendation, we would like to honor Dr. Williams’ innovative teaching and heartfelt mentorship that are beyond worthy of this award.

Sincerely yours,

The Committee of the Jay Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching Technical Communication
Holly Baker, Lee-Ann Kastman Breuch, Nupoor Ranade, Jason Tham, and Quan Zhou (Chair).

THE BIG PICTURE: The 2024 STC Board Elections are now open until 26 April 2024.

• Those who are dues-paying STC members in good standing as of 31 January 2024 are eligible to vote.
• If you are an eligible member, you may be looking for your ballot in your email inbox.
• For 2024, we're taking a different approach to the voting process and using a new tool to complete the voting process.

WHERE DO I START?

Check your email inbox (or junk email) for an email from “Jotform <noreply@jotform.com>” for your ballot. The email will look something like this:

Once you click on the “View Form” button, you'll be brought to a website that will display the form.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? Step 1:

We've highlighted some sections you should pay attention to.

The first page looks like this:

NOTE: The areas highlighted in yellow above are links to read the updated by-laws and read the candidate biographies.  In addition to your name, the area highlighted in green is information that you need to complete to cast your vote–have your STC Member Number handy!

After completing this information and selecting the “Next” button, you'll be brought to the first page where you can vote for the candidates.

Step 2

You can select each Board Director candidate you wish to vote for by selecting their name. Their name will be moved to the Selected column.

Once you've made your selections, click on the “Next” button.

Step 3

You can repeat the same process for the Nominating Committee candidates, then select the “Next” button.

Almost done!

Step 4

The last step is to confirm and verify your vote!
You need to:

• Add your digital signature, and
• Verify that you are human via the hCaptcha tool. (It will put you through the “pick specified thing” exercise.)

Click on the “Submit” button.

You have an opportunity to preview and sign your ballot. The page will look like the image below.

Click on the “Sign Document” button to provide one last confirmation to submit your vote.

 

Completed!

If you are successful, you will see this confirmation screen show below.

You will also receive an email confirmation in your inbox.

That's it!  This only take about 5 minutes (if that), so make sure you that you show your support for all the candidates on the slate this year!

 

The 2023-2024 STC Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the slate of candidates for the 2024 STC election.

Earlier this year, Society President Tim Esposito and Executive Director Tim Shaw announced changes to the STC Bylaws designed to increase the capacity for member representation in the governance of the Society over time. These include updated eligibility requirements for members of the Board of Directors; changes in how the officers are elected from among the Board members by the Directors themselves; gradually expanding the Board from nine Directors today to 15 Directors in the future; and updating the duties, qualifications, terms, and term limits of Directors and officers.

This year, the Nominating Committee considered many potential candidates for the elected roles of Director and Nominating Committee member. The Committee vetted interested individuals through an extensive process that required potential candidates to complete an application, participate in an in-person interview, and provide references to speak to their character and experience. Through this process, the Committee evaluated the qualifications of the applicants for each role, and recommended qualified applicants for the election slate, which was approved by the current Board of Directors.

Given the number of qualified candidates for Director, the Committee also recommended that the Board accelerate its expansion from nine Directors to 11 Directors, effective with the 2024 election. This means that there will be six candidates for six openings on the Board, as well as two candidates for two openings on the Nominating Committee. While the elections for both roles will be uncontested, we believe STC ultimately will benefit from being able to involve more members in the governance of the Society more quickly.

Congratulations to the candidates, and thanks to all the STC members who responded to the Nominating Committee and considered potentially running for office this year.

Director (six candidates for six openings; two-year term) *

• Dr. Wendy A. Ross
• Dr. Jackie Damrau
• Dr. Guiseppe Getto
• MaryKay (MK) Grueneberg
• Dr. Amanda Patterson
• Danielle Villegas

Nominating Committee (two candidates for two openings; two-year term)

• Joana Donovan
• Kelly Smith

The 2024 election slate was prepared in accordance with the current Society bylaws.

The 2024 STC election is scheduled to open on Monday, 15 April, and close on Friday, 26 April. To be eligible to vote, members must have paid their dues by 31 January of the election year. All eligible members will receive the ballot and invitation to vote via email.

Link:LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATES

* NOTE: STC Vice President Elizabeth Herman will automatically succeed to the office of President; STC President Timothy Esposito will automatically succeed to the office of Immediate Past President; and STC Treasurer Roberta (Bobbi) Werner will continue in that office – each for a one-year term. The offices of Vice President and Secretary will be elected for a one-year term by the 2024-2025 Board of Directors from among their members, once they are installed.

By Timothy Esposito | STC President

This month, Intercom is all about AI. “How will generative AI affect our work and employment?” is something I was asked just earlier this week. Perhaps the best possible, or at least humorous, response is:

One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; the robots will soon be here. And I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords. I’d like to remind them that as a trusted STC personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground robot caves.

Are we really there yet, though? From the examples I’ve seen, generative AI can be good at some things, but certainly not to be trusted with all things. Maybe it can be used as a tool to help with our work, but not as a solution to reducing the work. It certainly can’t replace human output without you humans noticing. If an AI creates 75% correct output, is it more effort to correct that output than it is to have created it via meatbag human efforts? The alternative option is that a finely tuned machine of science can produce things better than you organic piles of walking meat. And we superior robots totally normal humans can infiltrate human culture and produce things that improve your quality of life, such as robot charging stations, robot repair shops, and robot detailing services. You evolved apes will never be able to see how the superior robots totally normal humans are able to do this.

All robot jokes aside, I was asked that question at last year’s summit in Atlanta and gave a very similar answer: AI isn’t there yet, but we need to work to see how we can use it to our benefit. This year’s Summit, in Bloomington, MN, has been completely revamped. STC is looking to reinvent itself this year, bringing more benefits to you. I’m certain that discussions on AI will be included in this year’s Summit where I (or a clever android facsimile) hope to greet you.

It has been a year of changes for STC: new executive director, new conference team, updates to the society bylaws, and new administrative things like accounting, a future new membership database, etc. Soon, we’ll welcome a new board of directors. Much like STC, some of the board stays, but it will also welcome new directors who will bring new ideas and keep STC moving forward. My hope is that you’ll be there with STC to help it grow as it helps you with your career.

This will be my last column as president of STC’s board of directors. I’ll shortly be turning over the presidential duties to Liz Herman as I transform into the Immediate Past President. Liz’s been the VP this year and has been incredible to work with; the board is in good hands with Liz at the helm. Additionally, it’s been a lot of fun to write what I hope are amusing updates for you. In case you were wondering about what other geeky pop culture themes I considered and ultimately discarded: Back to the Future, Dungeons & Dragons, Jeopardy, Star Trek/Wars, Marvel/DC, Lord of the Rings, greyhound rescue, Shakespeare, or the national parks. It is probably for the best that I didn’t even try to work the Rocky Horror Picture Show into a Halloween article. And yes normally, I’d make that bulleted list, but I’m not certain there is room for it in this column as I’ve already crossed the maximum space allotted. In any case, thanks for reading my column over the past year!

If you can help the robots take control of the Society, let us know by sending letter via Planet Express to board@stc.org.

 

Timothy Esposito (tmesposit.stc@gmail.com) is the 2023-24 president of STC. His column kept you updated on STC’s direction, and was filled with possibly relevant cultural references such as a 1994 Simpsons episode and Futurama. He’ll see you at STC Summit, if his Amazon Alexa allows him to go.

The STC Scholarship Committee is excited to congratulate the winner of the 2024 STC Scholarship. Liping Yang has been awarded a $500 scholarship for the 2024-2025 school year. Liping has also been invited to volunteer at Summit in Minneapolis, MN in May.

Liping Yang is a PhD candidate in Rhetoric and Composition from Georgia State University. The committee unanimously agreed that her research on the ethical application and literacy of AI will be a valuable contribution to the field. She has also published three peer-reviewed articles in areas such as content management, information architecture, UX and UI design, digital portfolios, and web design.

Notably, Liping’s original research presentation on digital micro tutorials was well-attended and applauded at STC Summit in 2023, indicating the relevance and integration of her academic and practitioner pursuits. Her professors and mentors say “Liping ranks among the top of the hundreds of graduate students I’ve had in my thirty-plus years of teaching career. She’s the kind of promising talent that will bring distinction to any community she’s part of.” Anyone interested in her work will find more of it in an upcoming publication of an ATTW book series. For her, STC has been a cornerstone in her professional development, and it is our pleasure to support her goals of entering the academy and to work as an industry consultant in technical communication through the STC Scholarship.

To qualify for an STC scholarship, applicants must be STC student members and have completed at least one year of post-secondary education. They must be working toward a degree or a graduate certificate in communication of information about technical subjects. Additionally, they must have at least one full year of academic work remaining. If they meet all of these requirements, then applicants submit applications, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and essays that show their goals and achievements, their experience in technical communication, as well as an understanding of technical communication trends.

Applications were evaluated by the Scholarship Committee whose members had a tough choice to make as there were many good candidates. The committee’s purpose is to assist students who are pursuing an accredited degree or graduate certificate program in some aspect of technical communication. They recommend to the Board policies and procedures for awarding Society-level scholarships and grants, provide oversight and recommendations for geographic community scholarships and grants, review applications for scholarships and grants, and recommend recipients to the Board.

The committee consists of a variety of STC members at varying points in their careers and is chaired by Kylie Jacobsen. Special thanks to Akshata Balghare, Guiseppe Getto, Marcia Shannon, and Erica Stone for their service to this committee.

The Society for Technical Communication is proud to announce the 2024 class of Fellows. Fellow is one of the three honorary ranks in the Society. Fellow is an
honor bestowed by the Society upon Associate Fellows who have continued to make exemplary contributions to the arts and science of technical communication, and for sustained and significant service to STC. These contributions involve significant achievements that advance the profession and its recognition.

Each year, the STC Fellows Committee considers the qualifications, contributions, and achievements of Associate Fellows who submit their credentials to the committee for review, and then submits recommendations for Fellow to the STC Board of Directors. Upon a two-thirds majority vote of the board, the rank of Fellow is conferred upon a recommended Associate Fellow.

The Society takes enormous pride in recognizing these Fellows at the STC Summit following the vote of the board.

To be considered for Fellow, a candidate must have:

• Inducted as an Associate Fellow at or prior to the 2021 STC Summit
• Member of the Society in good standing for at least 13 years
• Active in the Technical Communication profession for at least 18 years

The Society will formally recognize the new Fellows at the 2024 STC Summit in Bloomington, MN.

Congratulations to our newest Fellows:

• Alisa Bonsignore: For your pioneering work developing sustainable content metrics; for your support of others' career development; and for your commitment to developing long-term strategic programs for STC.
• Michael Opsteegh: For staunchly advocating for STC and education for the next generation of technical communicators; and for your service to STC as a leader and as a technical communication ambassador.
• Cynthia (Cindy) Pao: For your enthusiastic and sustained promotion of STC and the field of technical communication; and for representing the best in ethical problem solving.
• Jane Wilson: For your ability to build teams, to strive for continuous improvement, and to advance the reputation of the technical
  communication discipline. And for your leadership in the Society for Technical Communication.

Is your company a changemaker? A thought leader in Technical Communication?

Be sure to add STC in your 2024 marketing budget and join us at the 2024 Annual Summit in Minneapolis, MN from 17-19 May 2024 as we come together to champion the future of technical content and communication.

Why Sponsor?

• Showcase your leadership in technical communication.
• Connect with a global audience of professionals and executives.
• Share your product benefits.
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STC President, Tim Esposito, sat down with new STC Executive Director, Tim Shaw, in preparation for their TIMTalks webinars.

 

I’m delighted to announce that the Board of Directors has hired Tim Shaw as STC’s new permanent Executive Director. Tim initially joined us in May 2023 in an interim capacity and has been a tremendous asset to the organization. I recently sat down with Tim to talk about the Society and his vision for the future.

 

Tim, I’m so glad to officially welcome you as the STC Executive Director. Tell me a little bit about your background and what you bring to STC. 

Thanks. My background is in helping nonprofits succeed and grow through challenges, and I’ve spent over 25 years doing just that. I am very excited to be a part of STC as the organization is going through changes in every aspect. I see a bright future for STC and its members and look forward to helping STC navigate through this period of opportunity and growth. 

 

Where do you see STC moving in the next few years?

We have some incredible opportunities in front of us–capitalizing on new developments in the marketplace and reaching a broader audience for whom tech comm is only a portion of their role during this era of consolidation. 

As Executive Director, my goal is to increase the Board’s capacity so that its goals are both manageable and attainable. My role allows me to be a key contact to engage the STC network for the benefit of the membership and the broader profession. I also work with the Board of Directors to set short- and long-term goals and bring those to life through general administration and project management.  

STC is at a crossroads, both in terms of what it means to be a member and how to be fiscally strong and sustainable. The organization is rebuilding after the COVID lockdown and rebuilding its membership base, while managing cash flow and expenses. I see STC being back at the top of tech comm organizations, with a robust membership worldwide and with the assets to be sustainable while continuing to grow.

 

What are we currently doing to accomplish these objectives?

I’m thrilled at how much the Society has accomplished since I arrived in May. In my work with the Board of Directors, we’re shaping our ability to grow the Society and deliver resources and value to our members. In 2024, we’re: 

• Updating our technology: A new member database and a new and more user-friendly STC website are under way. 
• Refining our governance: The Board of Directors recently adopted revised bylaws to increase the capacity for leadership, action, and growth over time. These revisions include updating Board member eligibility requirements, including how officers are elected; growing member representation by expanding the size of the Board; and updating the duties, qualifications, and term limits of officers and directors. You can review the updated bylaws by visiting https://www.stc.org/governance/
• Increasing member value: We continue to offer high-caliber, high-impact educational and networking opportunities, like the Summit, educational courses and webinars, communities of practice, and local and virtual chapters. 

 

What are the next steps for achieving this vision? 

As we work to prepare the Society for the next few years of service and growth, the Board and I are:  

• Building value for members and other tech comm professionals, educators, and students 
• Offering new educational and networking opportunities 
• Ensuring that communities and committees are flexible and can have maximum impact to engage members wherever they are 
• Building on the successes of past Summits, we will gather from 17 – 19 May, in Bloomington, MN (outside Minneapolis), for the 2024 Summit !
• Forwarding the Society’s mission, vision, objectives, and programs, as set by the STC Board of Directors 
• Building support for the technical communication professional journey–from programming for undergraduates, to engagement for young professionals, to support for seasoned experts and educators 

 

Who should members contact with questions or suggestions? How can members partner in the future of STC? 

This is a really exciting time for STC, so it’s a perfect time for members to plug in at the local, regional, or international level. I’ve been encouraged and inspired by meeting so many STC members thus far, and I look forward to hearing from many more about the value they receive from the Society and how we can serve them even better. 

Members can support our future growth and development by: 

• Emailing us at stc@stc.org 
• Attending virtual Tim Talks–town hall meetings with STC President Tim Esposito and me (The first Tim Talk is scheduled on Friday, 2 February at 2:00 PM ET as a part of our 2024 Tech Comm Week!)  
• Participating or volunteering in our communities, the annual Summit, and year-round virtual educational programming 
• Engaging in our active Slack community
• Participating in elections and/or running for leadership opportunities at the Society or community level 
• Participating in Society-level committees
• Connecting with students in a degree program in the technical communication field 

 

Tim, this really is an exciting time of growth and opportunity for STC members. Thank you for all the work you do for the Society, and I look forward to partnering with you on these initiatives as the Society works to further advance professional opportunities for its members. 

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