Heather Augustyn

Heather Augustyn is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Writing at Purdue University Northwest (PNW), specializing in rhetoric, writing pedagogy, and Jamaican ska music history. She teaches first-year composition and communication skills for engineers, emphasizing real-world applications of rhetorical analysis.

Education:

• M.A. in Writing, DePaul University
• B.A. in English and Philosophy, Bradley University

Research Focus: Augustyn’s work centers on global ska music history, particularly its socio-political dimensions and underrepresented artists. Her projects include oral histories archived at the Archive of African American Music and a forthcoming book on women in the UK’s 2 Tone ska movement. She integrates journalism techniques into scholarly work, prioritizing primary sources like interviews.

Previous Roles:

• 12-year tenure as a correspondent for The Times of Northwest Indiana
• Public relations roles at institutions like The Museum of Broadcast Communications and Edelman Public Relations
• Consultant for ska-related documentaries

Awards & Affiliations:

• Finalist for the ARSC Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research (2011)
• Member of Sigma Tau Delta and the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association

Labs/Teams: Curates ska oral history collections at the Archive of African American Music, blending academic research with community engagement.