Becky Jo (Gesteland) McShane

1404 University Circle
Weber State University
Ogden, UT 84408-1404
801.626.7083 (office)
801.626.7760 (fax)

Education

PhD, American Studies in English, University of Utah (1996)

MA, English Literature, University of Wisconsin (1989)

BA, English, University of Utah (1984)

Academic appointments

Professor. English Department, Weber State University. (2009-present).

Coordinator. First Year Experience Program, Weber State University. (2009-present).

Associate Professor. English Department, Weber State University. (2004-2009).

Interim Writing Director. English Department, Weber State University. (Spring 2004).

Assistant Professor. English Department, Weber State University. (2000-2004).

Research Associate. Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff, AZ. (2002).

Associate Instructor. English Department, University of Utah. (1995-1999).

MBA Writing Counselor. David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah. (1996-1998).

Placement Coordinator. Writing Program, University of Utah. (1996-1997).

Writing Assessment Director. David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah. (1996).

Teaching Fellow. English Department, University of Utah. (1990-1994).

Teaching Counselor. Writing Program, University of Utah. (1992-1993).

Graduate Assistant in Teaching. English Department, University of Arizona. (1989-1990).

Professional experience

Technical Writer. Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT. (1997-2000).

Park Ranger. National Park Service, Bryce Canyon, UT. (1985-1988, summers).

Publications

Articles and chapters

(2008). Why we should teach XML: An argument for technical acuity. In G. Pullman & B. Gu (Eds.), Content Management: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice. Amityville, NY: Baywood Press, 73-85.

(2007). With Shelley Thomas. Skills and literacies for the 21st Century: Assessing an undergraduate professional and technical writing program. Technical Communication, 54(4), 412-423.

(2003). Weaving-woman: Gladys Reichard among the Navajo. Plateau Journal: Land and Peoples of the Colorado Plateau, 7(2), 28-39.

(1997). In pursuit of regional and cultural identity: The autobiographies of Agnes Morley Cleaveland and Fabiola Cabeza de Baca. In S. Inness & D. Royer (Eds.), Breaking Boundaries: New Perspectives on Women’s Regional Writing. University of Iowa Press, 180-196.

(1996) Weaving and warping domestic reality in Gladys Reichard’s Spider Woman and Mabel Dodge Luhan’s Winter in Taos. Encyclia: The Journal of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters 73, 326-338.

Biographies, interviews, and short articles

(2007). Beyond death: A conversation with Alice Sebold. Weber: The Contemporary West. 24(1), 62-70.

(2007). How to teach XML: A brief tutorial. Intercom: The Magazine of the Society for Technical Communication. April: 20-21, 29.

(2005). Single sourcing with RoboHelp: Why and how. Society for Technical Communication—Intermountain Chapter Newsletter, 1(1), 3.

(2004). Ruth Murray Underhill. In S. Ware (Ed.), Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary Completing the Twentieth Century. Belknap Press. 651-652.

(2003). Ruth Bunzel. In G. M. Morris & B. Farrington (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Women in the American West. Sage Publications, 35-37.

(2003). Agnes Morley Cleaveland. In G. M. Morris & B. Farrington (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Women in the American West. Sage Publications, 52-53.

(2003). Cleofas Jaramillo. In G. M. Morris & B. Farrington (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Women in the American West. Sage Publications, 159-161.

(2003). Gladys Reichard. In G. M. Morris & B. Farrington (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Women in the American West. Sage Publications, 251-252.

(2003). Ruth Underhill. In G. M. Morris & B. Farrington (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Women in the American West. Sage Publications, 271-273.

(1993). Note on Edward Abbey. Western American Literature, 28(Fall), 233-34.

Proceedings

(2008). Skills and literacies for the 21st century: Assessing an undergraduate professional and technical writing program. Proc. of the 35th Annual Meeting of the Council for Programs in Scientific and Technical Communication.

(2006). Why we should teach XML: An argument for technical acuity. Proc. of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Council for Programs in Scientific and Technical Communication.

(2003). Do technical writers need a help applications course? Proc. of the 30th Annual Meeting of the Council for Programs in Scientific and Technical Communication.

(2002). Skills and literacies for the postmodern world: Developing a professional and technical communication major at Weber State University. Proc. of the 29th Annual Meeting of the Council for Programs in Scientific and Technical Communication.

Educational materials

(1994). The dance studio: Reading the context. In L. Flower & J. Ackerman, Writers at Work: Casebook for Teachers and Students. Harcourt Brace, 57-64.

(1994). The Teen Mother and Child Program: A reader-based revision. In L. Flower & J. Ackerman, Writers at Work: Casebook for Teachers and Students. Harcourt Brace, 47-56.

Reviews

(2004). Review of Technical Editing by Carolyn Rude and Technical Editing: The Practical Guide for Editors and Writers by Judith Tarutz. ATTW Bulletin, 14(2), 4-5.

(2001). Review of Autobiographical Inscriptions: Form, Personhood, and the American Woman Writer of Color by Barbara Rodriguez. The Rocky Mountain Review of Language and Literature, 55(2), 120-121.

(1995). Review of Unbridled Spirits: Short Fiction about Women in the Old West, edited by Judy Alter and A. T. Row. Cañon: The Journal of the Rocky Mountain American Studies Association, 2(Spring), 110-111.

(1994). Review of Taos: A Memory by Miriam Hapgood DeWitt. Western American Literature, 28(Winter), 383-384.

(1992). Review of Western Images, Western Landscapes: Travels along U.S. 89 by Thomas R. & Geraldine R. Vale. Western American Literature, 26(Winter), 366-67.

(1990). Review of A Long Road Home: Journeys through America’s Present in Search of America’s Past by Geoffrey O’Gara. Western American Literature, 25(Fall), 288-89.

Dissertation

(1996). Beyond Cultural Authenticity: The Patterned Identities of Women’s Southwestern Autobiographies, 1932-1955. Committee: R. Stephen Tatum (Director), Margaret K. Brady, Howard Horwitz, Peggy Pascoe, and Kathryn B. Stockton.

Posters

(2008, April). With Shelley Thomas. Skills and literacies for the 21st Century: Assessing an undergraduate professional and technical writing program. 11th Annual Western Region Campus Compact Consortium’s Continuums of Service Conference. Portland, OR.

(2007, October). With Shelley Thomas. Skills and literacies for the 21st Century: Assessing an undergraduate professional and technical writing program. Fourth Annual Faculty Forum, Weber State University. Ogden, UT.

(2005, March). With Shelley Thomas. Creating community connections: Student projects at Weber State University. ATTW. San Francisco, CA.

(2005, February). With Shelley Thomas. Creating community connections: Student projects at Weber State University. First Annual Faculty Forum, Weber State University. Ogden, UT.

Presentations

(2008). Skills and literacies for the 21st century: Assessing an undergraduate professional and technical writing program. Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication (CPTSC). Minneapolis, MN.

(2007). Why we should teach XML: An argument for technical acuity. Society for Technical Communication (STC). Minneapolis, MN.

(2007). The working yarn: Unraveling the peace, politics, and power of knitting. Third Annual Faculty Forum. Ogden, UT.

(2006). Why we should teach XML: An argument for technical acuity. CPTSC. San Francisco, CA.

(2006). Knitting in the 21st century: Re/creating cultural connections. Southwest/Texas Popular Culture and American Culture Associations. Albuquerque, NM.

(2006). Knitting in the 21st century: Re/creating cultural connections. Second Annual Faculty Forum. Ogden, UT.

(2005). Methods and materials for on-line technical writing courses. Association of Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW) Special Interest Group Roundtable. Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC). San Francisco, CA.

(2004). Teaching single sourcing using RoboHelp. International Professional Communication Conference (IPCC). Minneapolis, MN.

(2004). Teaching single sourcing using RoboHelp. Society for Technical Communicators (STC) Region 5 Conference. Salt Lake City, UT.

(2004). The hybrid course: A cure for the cramps? CCCC. San Antonio, TX.

(2003). Do technical writers need a help applications course? CPTSC. Potsdam, NY.

(2002). Skills and literacies for the postmodern world: Developing a professional and technical communication major at Weber State University. CPTSC. Logan, UT.

(2002). How to weave a Navajo blanket: Case study of a user manual. ATTW. Chicago, IL.

(2001). Weaving a Navajo blanket: Anthropologist Gladys Reichard as technical communicator. Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association (RMMLA). Vancouver, BC.

(2001). Weaving her way among the Navajo: Gladys Reichard’s ethnographic work. Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment. Flagstaff, AZ.

(2000). How do we get from here to there? A technical publications group moves from print to online. RMMLA. Boise, ID.

(1999). A critical approach to style guides in the computer industry. Intermountain STC. Salt Lake City, UT.

(1996). Warping, weaving, and collecting domestic reality in Gladys Reichard’s Spider Woman. Western Literature Association. Lincoln, NB.

(1996). Weaving and warping domestic reality in Gladys Reichard’s Spider Woman and Mabel Dodge Luhan’s Winter in Taos. Utah Academy of Arts, Sciences & Letters. Orem, UT.

(1995). The work of authenticity in the autobiographies of Agnes Morley Cleaveland and Fabiola Cabeza de Baca. Rocky Mountain American Studies Association. Fort Collins, CO.

(1994). Real tortillas and the true story in southwestern women’s autobiography. Western Literature Association. Salt Lake City, UT.

(1994). Mary Austin’s incurably collective autobiography. Rocky Mountain American Studies Association. Salt Lake City, UT.

(1993). Star Trek’s cultural crossroads in Deep Space 9. Western Literature Association. Wichita, KS.

(1992). A not old-fashioned woman: The indefatigable feminism of Elsie Clews Parsons. Western Literature Association. Las Vegas, NV. RMMLA. Salt Lake City, UT.

(1991). Come on guys, let her do it herself: Accounts of Isabella Bird on Long’s Peak. Western Literature Association. Estes Park, CO.

(1991). A southwestern salon: Mabel Dodge Luhan’s Taos. Western Literature Association, Estes Park, CO.

(1991). Everything you never wanted to know about Twin Peaks. Women & Popular Culture Series. Rutgers University-Newark, NJ.

(1990). Am I cuckoo or is there a ceremony going on at Stallion Gate? Of war heroes, women, and the west. Western Literature Association. Denton, TX.

(1990). But Isabella did climb that mountain! Mountaineering as transformation in A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains. North American Interdisciplinary Wilderness Conference. Ogden, UT.

Grants

(2008). CPTSC conference in Minneapolis. College of A&H Faculty Development Grant. Weber State University. $558.16.

(2008). Knitting: Text and texture. Sabbatical. Weber State University. $11,400 ($950/credit hour × 12 hours).

(2007). Why we should teach XML: Presentation at the Society for Technical communication’s Annual Conference in Minneapolis. Hemingway Faculty Vitality Grant. Weber State University. $1421.

(2006). Knitting and technical communication: The physical connection. Weber Writes Grant. Weber State University. $3000.

(2006). Content management and XML at the Society for Technical Communication’s annual conference in Las Vegas. Hemingway Faculty Vitality Grant. Weber State University. $959.

(2006). With Shelley Thomas & Eric Amsel. Replacement CPUs and teaching consoles for SS 333 and 335. ARCC Grant. Weber State University. $9692.

(2003). RoboHelp for the Professional & Technical Writing Program. Dee Family Technology Grant, Weber State University. $2115.

(2002). Gladys Reichard’s life among the Navajo, 1926-1955. New Faculty Research Grant. Research, Scholarship, and Professional Growth. Weber State University. $1085.

(2001). Weaving a Navajo rug: Anthropologist Gladys Reichard as teacher and writer. New Faculty Research Grant. Research, Scholarship, and Professional Growth. Weber State University. $1000.

Awards

(2007). Distinguished Chapter Service Award. STC Intermountain Chapter.

(1994-1995). Jack Hale Adamson Dissertation Fellowship. University of Utah.

(1994). David Robert Burton Scholarship. University of Utah.

Teaching

Weber State University

Theories of Professional & Technical Writing (2007, 2009)

Seminar and Practicum in Professional & Technical Writing (2000-2008)

Content Management (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009)

Single Sourcing with RoboHelp (2004)

Writing for the World Wide Web (2001-2002)

Advanced College Writing for the Health Professions (2008)

Technical Editing (2002-2004)

Professional & Technical Writing (2001-2009)

Technical Writing (2005-2009)

Introduction to the University (2009)

Introduction to Writing (2000-2005)

Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation

Writing Standards Guide (1999-2000)

Advanced Word 97 Topics (1997-1998)

Visio and Style (1997-1998)

Documentation Tools and Processes (1997-1998)

University of Utah

Professional Writing (1998-1999)

Business Writing (1991-1996)

Advanced Expository Writing (1994, 1997)

College Writing and Rhetoric (1996)

Introduction to College Writing (1990-1992)

University of Arizona

Freshman Composition (1989-1990)

Workshops and guest lectures

XML: A brief tutorial. Professional development meeting. STC Intermountain Chapter. Weber State University – Davis. (2007, spring).

With Shelley Thomas. Writing workshop. AED (campus pre-med association). Weber State University. (2006-2009, spring).

Technology in the classroom. English Instructor Annual Training. Weber State University. (2002, summer).

RoboHelp. Dr. Robert Hogge’s “Indexing” class. Weber State University. (2002, spring).

Writing the personal statement. AED. Weber State University. (2002, spring).

Technical writing resources on the web. Untangling the Web Library Series. Weber State University. (2001, fall).

Parallelism. Dr. David Sumner’s “Theory and Practice in Tutoring Writers” class. Weber State University. (2001, fall).

Criteria-based grading technique. FYE’s Teaching Tip Series. Weber State University. (2001, spring).

Academic service

National

Advisor. Publications Subcommittee, STC Communications Committee. (2006-2007).

Member. Membership Committee, ATTW. (2003-2005).

Regional

Education Committee Manager. Intermountain STC. (2009-present, 2006-2007).

Newsletter Editor. Intermountain STC. (2006-2007).

Session Chair. Technical writing in the workplace and beyond. RMMLA. Scottsdale, AZ. (2002).

Session Chair. Technical writing research panel. RMMLA. Boise, ID. (2000).

Conference Assistant. Western Literature Association Annual Conference. Salt Lake City. (1994).

Presiding Chair. Graduate Caucus Panel on Feminist Concerns, RMMLA, Salt Lake City. (1992).

University

Senator. Faculty Senate. Weber State University. (2006-2009).

Member. General Education Improvement and Assessment Committee. Weber State University. (2007-2008).

Member. Admissions, Standards, and Student Affairs Committee. Weber State University. (2008-2010, 2004-2007).

Member. Program Review Committee. Weber State University. (2004-2007).

Member. Academic Resources and Computing Committee. Weber State University. (2001-2004).

Member. Graduate Assistants in Teaching Advisory Committee. University of Arizona. Tucson, AZ. (1990).

Departmental

Chair. Professional and Technical Writing Committee. Department of English, Weber State University. (2006-2007, 2000-2003).

Member. Faculty Development Committee. Department of English, Weber State University. (2009-2010).

Member. Professional and Technical Writing Committee. Department of English, Weber State University. (2007-2010, 2004-2005).

Chair. Writing Committee. Department of English, Weber State University. (2004, spring).

Chair. Search Committee. Department of English, Weber State University. (2002-2003).

Member. Curriculum Committee. Department of English, Weber State University. (2002-2004).

Member. Search Committee. Department of English, Weber State University. (2000-2001).

Member. Writing Committee. Department of English, Weber State University. (2000-2002).

Community service

Leader, Disaster Action Team, American Red Cross of Northern Utah. Ogden, UT. (2009-present).

Chair, Wasatch Elementary Community Council. Ogden, UT. (2008-2009).

Vice Chair. Wasatch Elementary Community Council. Ogden, UT. (2007-2008).

Member. Wasatch Elementary Community Council. Ogden, UT. (2005-2007).

Coach. AYSO Region 5. Ogden, UT. (2003-2005).

Member. Canyon Rim Community Council. Salt Lake County, UT. (1999-2000).

Professional affiliations

Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication (CPTSC)

Society for Technical Communication (STC)