Lynda C. Olman

Lynda C. Olman is a Professor of English at the University of Nevada, Reno, specializing in the rhetoric of science with emphasis on visual STEM arguments and scientific ethos. Her work bridges historical analysis and contemporary public discourse through rigorous archival methodology.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in English (Rhetoric & Composition/English Language & Linguistics) from University of Texas at Austin (2003)
• M.A. in Linguistics from University of Texas at Austin (1998)
• B.A. in English from Colorado College (1994)

Professor Olman's research examines how scientific authority is constructed visually and rhetorically, particularly in climate change communication and historical science-media interactions. Her scholarship consistently connects technical communication practices to local political contexts, as demonstrated in her monographs on scientific prophecy and media hoaxes. Current work focuses on developing frameworks for non-expert interpretation of scientific graphics.

Publication trends reveal sustained engagement with visual rhetoric across scientific controversies, evolving from historical analyses of 19th-century hoaxes to contemporary climate visualization studies. Key thematic threads include the role of uncertainty in public science discourse, cross-cultural rhetorical practices, and the intersection of disability studies with composition pedagogy.

Scientific Awards: None documented in source materials.

Teaching responsibilities encompass undergraduate argumentation courses (ENG 100j, 102, 301) and graduate seminars in rhetoric history/composition (ENG 730, 735, 739). No advising records or grant details appear in available documentation.