معرفی
Beth Shirley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Montana State University, affiliated with the College of Letters & Science. Her work bridges technical communication, rhetoric, and science communication with a focus on public engagement and environmental action.
Education:
- B.A. in English, California Polytechnic State University, 2010
- M.A. in Writing, Literature, and Publishing, Emerson College, 2013
- Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric, Utah State University, 2019
Her research centers on technical and professional communication, digital rhetoric, and science communication, especially as they relate to rural communities and environmental advocacy. She explores how genres like fact sheets and community narratives can reframe public understanding of climate change and sustainability.
The recent publications reflect a strong trend in community-engaged scholarship, focusing on agritourism leadership, environmental storytelling, and post-denial climate communication. These works emphasize practical, action-oriented genres that serve both academic and public audiences.
Scientific Awards:
- Founders Day Faculty Award - Teaching Innovation Award (2024), Montana State University
- Presidential Doctoral Research Fellowship (2015), Utah State University
Beth Shirley advises and mentors students in technical writing and rhetoric, though specific advisees are not listed. She has secured external funding through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for the Montana Agritourism Fellows Program, supporting sustainable agricultural leadership. Her grant work aligns closely with her research in rural engagement and science communication.
She is actively involved in academic service as a reviewer for Technical Communication Quarterly, Technical Communication, and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. She also contributes to public engagement through roles such as Manuscript Judge for Wild Montana and outreach with the Future Farmers of America.
