Eric J. York
Associate Professor of English
Rhetoric and Professional Communication
Iowa State University of Science and Technology
Education
Ph.D.
Rhetoric and Professional Communication
Iowa State University of Science and Technology · 2015
M.A.
English · concentration in Creative Writing
University of Maine · 2006
B.A.
English · minor in Secondary Education
University of Maine · 2003
Appointments
2024–
Associate Professor of English
Iowa State University of Science and Technology · Ames, IA
2024–’24
Associate Professor of Communication, Media & Design
Clarkson University · Potsdam, NY
2016–’23
Assistant Professor of Communication, Media & Design
Clarkson University · Potsdam, NY
2015–’16
Assistant Director of ISUComm Foundation Courses and
Lecturer of Rhetoric and Professional Communication
Iowa State University of Science and Technology · Ames, IA
2010–’15
Graduate Teaching Assistant of Rhetoric and Professional Communication
Iowa State University of Science and Technology · Ames, IA
2006–’10
Lecturer in English · Full-time, Ranked
Writing Program Administration 2007–’09
Husson University · Bangor, ME
2006–’07
Adjunct Lecturer of English
Kennebec Valley Community College · Waterville, ME
2004–’06
Graduate Teaching Assistant in English
University of Maine · Orono, ME
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Johnson-Eilola, J., Selber, S., and York, E. J. (2024). Can Artificial Intelligence Robots Write Effective Instructions? Special Issue on the Effects of Artificial Intelligence Tools in Technical Communication Pedagogy, Practice, and Research (Ed. Stephen Carradini), The Journal of Business and Technical Communication 38(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/10506519241239641
York, E. J. (2023). Evaluating ChatGPT: Generative AI in UX Design and Web Development Pedagogy. Proceedings of the 41st ACM International Conference on Design of Communication, 143–148. https://doi.org/10.1145/3615335.3623035
York, E. J. (2023). Deceptive by Design: The Visual Rhetorical Mechanism of Dark Patterns. Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy, 27(2). http://kairos.technorhetoric.net/27.2/topoi/york/index.html
York, E. J. (2022). Alternate Histories and Conflicting Futures: Git Version Control as Software Development Infrastructure. Communication Design Quarterly, 10(2), 57–65. https://doi.org/10.1145/3507857.3507863
York, E. J., Propst, L., Pelky, R., Ball, J. L., Lee, A. M., & White-Cree, P. (2022). Stories from the Circle: Extended Reality (XR), Posthumanism, and Decolonizing the Design of Communication. Proceedings of the 40th ACM International Conference on Design of Communication, 143–148. https://doi.org/10.1145/3513130.3558993
York, E. J. (2021). Digital Surveillance in Online Writing Instruction: Panopticism and Simulation in Learning Management Systems. Computers and Composition, 62, 102680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2021.102680
York, E. J. (2021). Building Community Coalitions for eCommerce: Client-based Learning and Web Development during a Pandemic Lockdown. Proceedings of the 39th ACM International Conference on Design of Communication, 263–268. https://doi.org/10.1145/3472714.3473651
York, E. J., & Johnson-Eilola, J. (2020). Enduring Designs, Transient Designers: A Comparison of the Workspaces and Materials of Professionals and Novices. Proceedings of the 38th ACM International Conference on Design of Communication, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1145/3380851.3416783
Lutz, B., O’Connell, R., & York, E. (2014). Brokering ISUComm Sites: Toward the Creation of a Large Scale ePortfolio Platform for Multimodal Composition. Proceedings of the 32nd ACM International Conference on The Design of Communication 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1145/2666216.2666227
York, E. J. (2011). Culture Jams: Critical Media Literacy in The Digital/Multimodal Classroom. Computers and Composition Online, Special Issue Ethics in a Digital Age. http://cconlinejournal.org/virtualc.htm
Forthcoming
Selber, S., York, E. J. (n.d). Automation or Augmentation: Language Models as Educational Subject. Artificial Intelligence and the Humanities (Ed. Sid Dobrin). Parlor Press. Accepted, expected Fall, 2024.
York, E. J. (n.d). Collaborating on the Interface: Rhetorical and Hermeneutic Theory for User Experience Design. Collaborations and Partnerships in User Experience Design. (Eds. Ryan Webber and Joy Robinson). WAC Clearinghouse. (In press, expected early 2024).
York, E. J. (n.d.). Failing Machines: Sustainability, Scalability, and Continuity in the Digital Humanities. Accepted by Computers and Composition.
York, E. J. (n.d). Thinking Machines: Generative Rhetoric in the ‘Turing Test’ for Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence and the Humanities (Ed. Sid Dobrin). Parlor Press. Accepted, expected Fall, 2024.
In Progress
York, E. J. (n.d.). Machines of Loving Grace: Algorithmic Surveillance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Drafting phase.
Carlson, J., Wilkes, A., York, E. J. (n.d.). User experience methods in the study of online product marketing images. Data collection phase; funded and IRB approved.
Banavar, M., Cohen, A., DeWaters, J., Dub, W., Kocho-Williams, A., Manierre, M., Pelkey, R., Propst, L., Rogers, J., Sanja, C., York, E. J. (n.d.). Documenting Generative AI in Design and Development Pedagogy. Research design phase; funding awarded.
Funding Awards
$1,269,000. Senior Personnel, with Kavanaugh, K., Johns, L., Bowman, R. and Cabral, M. “Building Rural Aspirations in Neuroscience with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (BRAIN-STEM)” National Institutes of Health (NIH), Science Education Partnerships Award (SEPA). 2023.
$20,000 (plus 1 graduate student tuition waiver). Co-PI, with Banavar, M., Cohen, A., Manierre, M., DeWaters, J., Kocho-Williams, A., Propst, L., Pelky, R., Rogers, J., Dub, R. and Sajna, C. “Being Brave in a New World: Impacts of ChatGPT on the university.” Team Science Projects Planning Grant (TSPPG). 2023.
$1,800. Co-PI, with Carlson, J., Johnson-Eilola, J. and Wilke, A. “The Effects of Product Packaging in Online Shopping Environments”. Internally funded (Reh School). 2023.
$5,000. Co-PI, with Ball, J. L., Lee, A. M., Propst, L., Pelky, R., and White-Cree, P. “Stories from the Circle: A Public-facing Augmented Reality Application.” Undergraduate Faculty Research Award (UFRA) 2022.
$1,500. Co-PI, with Ball, J. L., Lee, A. M., Propst, L., Pelky, R., and White-Cree, P. “Stories from the Circle: Web VR and Website.” Humanities NY, Vison Grant. 2021.
$14,000. PI. “Developing eCommerce Websites for Local Businesses Closed by the Pandemic”. Shipley Center and Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) Partnership. 2020.
$39,400. Co-author, “Making Computer Classrooms More Efficient.” Liberal Arts and Sciences Computer Advisory Committee (LASCAC). 2014
$630. Co-author, “Enabling Mobile Device Testing Across Platforms.” Liberal Arts and Sciences Computer Advisory Committee (LASCAC). 2014.
$32,600. Co-author, “Putting the Silent-E Back in WOVE.” Liberal Arts and Sciences Computer Advisory Committee (LASCAC). 2013.
$1,000. Co-author, “Piloting Virtual Peer Review in ISUComm.” ISUComm. 2012.
Conference Presentations
“GenAI and Visual Literacy: Re-seeing our workplaces, worldviews, and pedagogies.” International Visual Literacy Association. 2024.
“Prompting Bias: Visual rhetoric, posthumanism and AI-generated images.” Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on the Design of Communication. 2024.
“Refiguring Bias in AI-Generated Technical Visuals.” Association for Teachers of Technical Writing. 2024.
“GenAI and Visual Literacy: Re-seeing our workplaces, worldviews, and pedagogies.” International Visual Literacy Association. 2024.
“Artificial Interfaces, Artificial Ideologies: A Visual Rhetorical Analysis of ChatGPT.” Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and the Teaching of Technical Communication. 2024.
“Digital Opportunities and Challenges.” Invited speaker. Teaching Effectiveness Conference; Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley. 2023.
“Evaluating ChatGPT: Generative AI in UX Design and Web development Pedagogy.” Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group for the Design of Communication (ACM SIGDOC); 2023.
“Deregulating and Domesticating ChatGPT in Technical Communication Pedagogy and Practice.” Association for Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW) 2023
“Stories from the Circle: Extended Reality (XR), Posthumanism, and Decolonizing the Design of Communication.” Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group for the Design of Communication (ACM SIGDOC); 2022.
“Building Community Coalitions for eCommerce: Client-based Learning and Web Development during a Pandemic Lockdown.” Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group for the Design of Communication (ACM SIGDOC); 2021.
“Enduring Designs, Transient Designers: A Comparison of the Workspaces and Materials of Professionals and Novices.” Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group for the Design of Communication (ACM SIGDOC); 2020.
“Toward a Rhetoric of Deceit: Dark Patterns in UX Design.” Association for Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW); 2018
“Navigating Identity in Action: How New Instructors Construct Their Professional Teaching Identity.” Conference of College Composition and Communication (CCCC); 2016
“The Learning Management System as Boundary Object: Discontinuity and Transformation.” Conference of College Composition and Communication (CCCC); 2015
“Brokering Across Administrative Boundaries: Provisional Consensus for Building ISUComm Sites.” ACM Special Interest Group on Design of Communication (ACM SIGDOC); 2014
“Digitally-Mediated Peer Review in Multimodal Composition Courses: Implications for Writing Pedagogies.” Conference of College Composition and Communication (CCCC); 2014
“The Invisible Made Visible: Virtual Peer Review in the Writing Classroom.” Conference of College Composition and Communication (CCCC); 2013
“Learning Management Systems and Writing Program Administration.” Great Plains Alliance for Computers and Writing (GPACW); 2012
“Technical Communications Role in Language Learning: What Intensive English Courses Have Taught Us.” Association for Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW). 2012
“Culture Jams: Critical Media Literacy in Multimodal Composition.” Conference of College Composition and Communication (CCCC); 2012
“Underlife, Cell-phones, and the Writing Classroom.” Conference of College Composition and Communication (CCCC); 2010
“Mirrors to the Heart of Poetry: Speculative Language in Laura Riding.” University of Maine, English Graduate Symposium; 2005
“When the Woods were Commons: An Ethos of Destruction in Maine Poetry.” Maine Studies Award Symposium; 2004
Workshops and Instructional Presentations
“Using WordPress Content Management for Village Governance.“ Village of Potsdam, 2023
“Copyright, Creative Commons, and Intellectual Property.” Web development club presentation, 2023
“Using WebVR for Antiracist, Decolonial Activism”. Impossible Projects symposium round table, 2022
“Rhetoric, Technology, and Boundaries.” Rhetoric and Professional Communication Colloquium, 2014
“Web Conventions and Assessing ePortfolios.” ISUComm Courses Orientation, 2014
“Getting Started with ISUComm Sites.” ISUComm Sites Workshop Series, 2014
“Intro to Teaching with ePortFolios.” ISUComm Sites Workshop Series, 2014
“Online Courses Orientation and Tutorials.” ISUComm Courses Orientation, 2011, 2012, and 2013
Courses Taught
Clarkson University, 2016–
COMM 429
Fullstack Web Development
COMM 329
Frontend Development for the Web
COMM 229
Principles of User Experience Design
COMM 210
Rhetorical Theory for the Professions
COMM 491
Independent Study (11 times)
COMM 472
Teaching Assistantship (9 times)
Iowa State University, 2010–’16
ENGL 314
Technical Communication
ENGL 313
Rhetorical Web Design
ENGL 302
Business Communication
ENGL 250H
Honors Rhetoric and Writing II
ENGL 250
Rhetoric and Writing II
ENGL 150
Rhetoric and Writing I
Husson University, 2006–’2010
ENG 124
Rhetoric and Composition II
ENG 123
Rhetoric and Composition I
ENG 112
Approaches to Literature
ENGL 111
College Writing
ENG 091
Writing Workshop
Kennebec Valley CC, 2006–’07
ENG 219
Business and Professional Writing
University of Maine, 2004–’06
ENG 205
Creative Writing
ENG 101
College Composition
Thesis Advising and Interships
2023
Honors Thesis Advisor, Name Redacted
2022
Honors Thesis Advisor, Name Redacted
2021
Honors Thesis Advisor, Name Redacted
2020
Internship Supervisor, Name Redacted
2019
Internship Advisor, Name Redacted
2018
Capstone Advisor, Name Redacted
Student Club Advising
2022–
Clarkson Web Development Club Faculty Advisor and founder
2019–
The Clarkson Integrator (Newspaper) Faculty Advisor
2008–’10
Husson Rifle Club Faculty Advisor
Professional Service
National Service
2023
Reviewer for Student Research Competition (SRC), SIGDOC
2023
Peer reviewer for SIGDOC
2022
Peer reviewer for Critical Inquiry in Language Studies
2022
Peer reviewer for Communication Design Quarterly
2020
External evaluator for Applied Communication Degree, SUNY Dehli
Clarkson University
2023–
Chair, Information Technology Committee
2023–
Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee
2020–
Faculty Senate (Arts and Sciences Delegation)
2021–’22
Data Governance Policy Committee
2020–’21
Faculty Governance Committee
2019–’23
Information Technology Committee
2017‐
Co-director, Audio/Usability Lab
2016‐’18
Curriculum Revision Committee
Iowa State University
2012‐’15
ISUComm Technology Committee
2012‐’15
ISUComm Curriculum and Activity Committee
2012‐’15
Liberal Arts and Sciences Computer Advisory Committee
2011‐’12
Rhetoric and Professional Communication Phorum (Faculty Liaison)
2011‐’13
Rhetoric and Professional Communication Area Group Committee
Husson University
2008‐’10
Writing Across the Curriculum Committee
2008‐’10
Basic Writing Committee
2008‐’09
Co-authored and administrated curriculum for English 091 and 123
2008
Authored and administrated curriculum for English 124
2008‐’09
Placement Assessment Developer and Co-coordinator
2006‐’08
Faculty Evaluation and Development Committee
2006‐’08
Faculty Handbook Committee
University of Maine
2004‐’06
Policy Advisory Committee
2004‐’06
Writing Center Tutor
Professional Affiliations
2024–
International Visual Literacy Association
2014–
Special Interest Group for the Design of Communication
2014–
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM); 2014–
2012–
Association for Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW); 2012–
2006–’15
College Composition and Communication (CCCC); 2006–’15
2006–’15
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE); 2006–’15
Awards and Scholarships
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award; 2021
Dean’s Commendation for Excellence in Teaching; 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021
Graduate Research Excellence Award (Best dissertation); 2015
Graduate Teaching Excellence Award; 2013
W. Paul Jones Scholarship (Best article); 2012
Freda Hunke Endowment Scholarship; 2010
Steve Grady Award (First place, poetry); 2006
Maine Studies Award (First place, research); 2006
Steve Grady Award (First place, fiction); 2005
Alice T. Ayerling Leadership Scholarship; 1996
Technical Proficiencies
Frontend web development (HTML5, CSS3, ES6+, PHP)
User experience (research, testing)
Fullstack and dev-ops (LAMP, NodeJS)
Content / learning management (WordPress, Moodle)
Graphic design (Adobe, Figma, Sketch)
Media (image, video, 3D, hypertext)
Web Development Administration
Lead Technician, Clarkson's BRAIN-STEM
Lead Technician, Village of Potsdam website
Lead Technician, Kiawentiio's site
Lead Technician, Stories from the Circle
Lead Technician, Clarkson Pepband
Lead Technician, Shipley / ANCA / eCommerce
Lead Technician, Smart Housing Project
Lead Technician, Comm and Media website
Project Lead, Lead ISUComm Sites
Online Courses Coordinator / Systems Administrator
Selected Websites
Project Lead, Lead Designer and Developer
Project Lead, Lead Designer and Developer
Project Lead, Lead Designer and Developer
Lead Designer and Developer
Project Lead, Lead Designer and Developer
Project Lead, Lead Designer and Developer
Lead Designer and Developer
Lead Designer and Developer
Lead Designer and Developer