Christopher Ryan

Christopher Ryan is a Teaching Professor in the Rhetoric and Professional & Technical Communication department at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), affiliated with the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. His expertise spans technical communication, professional writing, and curriculum design. He has held leadership roles including Director of Rhetoric and Professional & Technical Communication since 2015 and previously as Associate Director (2011–2015).

Education:

• Ph.D. in Technical Communication & Rhetoric, Texas Tech University (2011)
• M.A. in Advertising, University of Texas at Austin (1983)
• B.A. in English, St. Edward's University, Austin (1981)

Research Interests: Dr. Ryan focuses on improving professional writing practices, integrating technology into education, and analyzing historical rhetoric. His work emphasizes collaborative curriculum design, digital media usability, and bridging academic and professional communication standards. Recent projects include studies on hybrid course development and rhetorical analysis of historical political texts.

Awards:

• Victor Worslfold Faculty of the Year Award for Arts & Humanities (2019)

Professional Experience: Prior to academia, Ryan held senior roles at EDS/HP, including Executive Talent Management Consultant (2006–2009) and Director positions in Human Resources and Recruiting. These experiences inform his focus on professional communication in corporate settings.