Carl Whithaus

Carl Whithaus is a Professor of Writing and Rhetoric at the University of California, Davis, serving as Director of the University Writing Program (2011–2018) and Chair for the DE in Writing, Rhetoric, and Composition Studies. His research focuses on writing technologies, digital cultures, science writing, and assessment, with notable works including Multimodal Literacies and Emerging Genres (2013) and contributions to journals like Kairos and Technical Communication Quarterly. He has held editorial roles for the Journal of Writing Assessment and Splash! milk science update.

Whithaus earned his Ph.D. at the City University of New York (CUNY) and has taught at Stevens Institute of Technology and Old Dominion University. His current research explores modifications to microblogs for knowledge swarming, writing processes in environmental science, and wayfinding as a metaphor for career development. He has advised on national writing assessment frameworks, including the NAEP Writing Standards (2011–2019).

His work bridges critical pedagogy, digital humanities, and global writing practices, with recent projects addressing viral writing dynamics and the intersection of writing with professional fields like agriculture and engineering. Whithaus advocates for anti-racist grading practices and innovative approaches to writing assessment in diverse educational contexts.