Michele Simmons

Michele Simmons is a Professor and Affiliate at Miami University's Institute for the Environment and Sustainability, with affiliations in Emerging Technology in Business & Design. She holds a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition from Purdue University (2000), an M.A. in Professional Communication from Clemson University, and a B.A. in English from the University of Tennessee. Her research focuses on public rhetorics, civic engagement, and environmental communication, emphasizing how discourse shapes policy and community interaction. Recent publications include Lean Technical Communication (2017) and articles on urban renewal and usability studies.

Her work bridges technical communication, sustainability, and digital practices, with contributions to journals like Technical Communication Quarterly. Notable awards include the 2012 Nell Ann Pickett Award and the 2020 CCCC Research Impact Award. Simmons is also involved in mentoring initiatives for women in technical communication and collaborates on projects like the 'Post-industrial Publics' book on urban revitalization rhetoric.