James Ballard

James Ballard is a Senior Lecturer and Director Emeritus in the Division of Engineering Education at the McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis. He specializes in pedagogy, technical graphics, oral presentation, and research writing. Ballard pioneered undergraduate and graduate courses in technical communication, including Engineering Practice and Professional Values, and founded the Engineering Communication Center, now a key resource for faculty and graduate students across McKelvey Engineering.

His expertise focuses on enhancing technical communication skills, and he consults for the Engineering Communication Center, reviewing publications and grant applications. He has a long-standing affiliation with the university, dating back to the mid-1970s when he established foundational courses in technical writing.

• Education Affiliations: Division of Engineering Education, McKelvey School of Engineering.

Ballard’s work emphasizes bridging technical knowledge with effective communication, impacting both academic and professional engineering communities. His contributions include curricular development and institutional support for communication best practices.