Michael Martin, Ph.D.

Dr. Martin continues to explore the role of technology and how literacy has evolved to include the digital. In the development of an interdisciplinary program in Professional Writing, the focus of the concentration, minor, or certificate included an experiential learning component. The importance of writing in the professional and personal spaces of people’s lives continues to transform as the dependence on technology permeates all aspects. This exploration has led to a reimagining of most of his program specific courses for the coming year.

Courses Taught

• Foundations of College Writing
• Bible as Literature
• Writing in the Professions
• Writing for the Internet
• Writing for Multiple Media
• Technical Writing
• English Internship

Research and Scholarship

Dr. Martin has continued to write and publish, with a focus on issues of gender and chronic illness. His recent presentations include two presentations at the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender Conferences in Lake Tahoe (2018) and Cincinnati (2019) titled respectively: “Activism, Persistence, and Identity: Ostomy Selfies as a Form of Resistance to Dominant Body Ideologies” and “Understanding how Chronic Illness (Appropriately) Redefines Hegemonic Masculinity.” Both presentations were done with Dr. Ruth J. Beerman of Randolph-Macon College. He presented the Grand Rounds Medical Lecture at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in September of 2019 titled “A Love/Hate Affair with my Ileostomy.”

Along with Dr. Beerman, they have co-authored a book chapter titled Visual Activism, Persistence, and Identity: Ostomy selfies as a form of resistance to Dominant Body Ideologies.” book chapter accepted and under review for Nevertheless, We Persisted: Living Feminist Politics: A Published Collection of Essays Exploring the Conference Theme, edited by Sarah Jane Blithe and Janell Bauer. This chapter is in final publication status. Their latest presentation has been requested as a possible for both a journal article or book chapter.

Service and Campus Involvement

Dr. Martin is the departmental internship coordinator and the director of the Professional Writing program. He works with multiple departments to support other majors with the encouraging of inclusion of professional and technical writing. He has served as the chair of LACC (the college curriculum committee) as well as a member of the BUCC (university curriculum committee). In addition he works with the Center for Alumni and Professional Engagement to prepare his students for life after their careers as students. In addition, he has a Danish exchange student living with him for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Huskies Helping Huskies

In the 1970s, the average cost of college tuition for a private university was about $1,832 a year. Today, that price has skyrocketed to $31,231, and that doesn't include room, board, books, and all the other miscellaneous expenses college students have to pay. The ever increasing price of a college education means that students struggle to make ends-meet, such as affording food. More than a quarter of college students don't get enough food to eat, so for the community, we tasked ourselves with creating an online cookbook of easy, quick, affordable, and healthy meals that college students can make.