Karen Thompson

Karen Thompson is the Director of Professional Writing and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Idaho. She holds positions within the English Department under the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. Her roles include developing and teaching professional writing curriculum and serving as the instructional designer for online professional writing courses.

Education:

• M.A., English, University of Idaho, 1994
• B.A., English, University of Idaho, 1992

Research & Teaching Focus: Professional writing, technical communication, business writing, environmental writing, and American literature. She integrates over 15 years of private-sector technical writing experience into her pedagogy, emphasizing practical application and interdisciplinary approaches.

Awards:

• Award for Teaching Excellence (University of Idaho Alumni Association, 2001)
• Vandal Helping Hand Award (2000)
• Associated Students Teaching Excellence Award (1999)
• Who’s Who Among American Teachers (1996)
• Phi Beta Kappa Member (since 1992)

Advising & Curriculum: Oversees the professional writing program and advises students through courses like ENGL 498 (Internship in Professional Writing). Collaborates on grant-funded initiatives to expand online curriculum development. No explicit grants listed but actively involved in programmatic funding efforts.

Labs/Teams: Engaged with the English Department’s curriculum design team and contributes to the Confluence Lab’s interdisciplinary projects.