Erin Brock Carlson

Erin Brock Carlson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at West Virginia University, where she teaches in the Professional Writing and Editing program. Her research explores the intersections of place, technology, and power through community-based and participatory methodologies, with a focus on Appalachian communities and environmental justice.

Her research interests include technical and professional communication, public and digital rhetorics, participatory research methods, community engagement, and digital humanities. She emphasizes place-based knowledge and rhetorical framing to humanize rural and marginalized communities, particularly in the context of energy development and public health data.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend in using visual and narrative methods—especially photovoice and storytelling—to document community experiences around gas pipelines, environmental change, and data justice. These works span interdisciplinary journals in communication, technical writing, environmental studies, and qualitative research, reflecting a commitment to collaborative, justice-oriented scholarship.

• Against hillbilly hot takes: Humanizing Appalachia through nuanced rhetorical frames (2022)
• Collaborative sensemaking through photos: Using photovoice to study gas pipeline development in Appalachia (2023)
• Building towards more just data practices (2022)

Although no formal list of advisees is provided, her collaborative research suggests active mentorship and engagement with students and community members. She has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards, but her work is supported through academic collaborations and publications in high-impact journals. Her research is often tied to community organizing and participatory action, suggesting potential grant involvement in community-engaged projects.

She is involved in interdisciplinary research teams, particularly with scholars like Martina Angela Caretta and Catherine Gouge, focusing on energy sprawl, health data ethics, and visual methods. Her ongoing work includes a book manuscript on place-based knowledge in Appalachian activism, indicating continued scholarly contribution to community-centered rhetoric and technical communication.