Faculty

This directory contains helpful information about our faculty, including their contact information, educational background, teaching and research interests, commonly taught courses, and selected publications. See what our faculty can offer you!

Faculty Members
Dr. Deborah Balzhiser joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 2005, and has taught rhetoric, composition, and technical communication since 1992. Her research and teaching interests include workplace communication, processes, and best practices; medical rhetoric, visual rhetoric, instructional technologies, culture and technology, and design methodologies.
Dr. Rebecca Jackson joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 2001. In 2005, she wrote the proposal for the MA major in Rhetoric and Composition and has directed this program since it was approved in 2006 until 2020. Her research and teaching interests include narrative inquiry, autoethnography, writing center studies, and composition theory and pedagogy.
Dr. Eric Leake joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 2013, and took over the directorship in the fall of 2020. His research and teaching interests include empathy studies, nonrational rhetorics, and civic literacies.
Dr. Octavio Pimentel joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 2005. Critically trained in rhetoric, writing, and education, Dr. Pimentel combines these fields to address critical issues pertaining to minoritized individuals in the Rhetoric Composition Technical Communication fields.
Dr. Elizabeth Skerpan-Wheeler joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 1983. Her research and teaching interests include political rhetoric, history of rhetoric, and visual rhetoric.
Dr. Nancy Wilson joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 1992. She coordinated and then directed the Texas State Writing Center from 1995-2014, and is currently the Director of Lower Division Studies. Her research and teaching interests include T.A. practicum, composition pedagogy, composition theory, and women's rhetoric.

Faculty Members

Associate Professor and Director of the Writing Center Dr. Deborah Balzhiser

Dr. Deborah Balzhiser joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 2005, and has taught rhetoric, composition, and technical communication since 1992. Her research and teaching interests include workplace communication, processes, and best practices; medical rhetoric, visual rhetoric, instructional technologies, culture and technology, and design methodologies.

Director of the MA Rhetoric and Composition Program Dr. Rebecca Jackson

Dr. Rebecca Jackson joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 2001. In 2005, she wrote the proposal for the MA major in Rhetoric and Composition and has directed this program since it was approved in 2006 until 2020. Her research and teaching interests include narrative inquiry, autoethnography, writing center studies, and composition theory and pedagogy.

Dr. Eric Leake joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 2013, and took over the directorship in the fall of 2020. His research and teaching interests include empathy studies, nonrational rhetorics, and civic literacies.

Dr. Octavio Pimentel joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 2005. Critically trained in rhetoric, writing, and education, Dr. Pimentel combines these fields to address critical issues pertaining to minoritized individuals in the Rhetoric Composition Technical Communication fields.

Dr. Elizabeth Skerpan-Wheeler joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 1983. Her research and teaching interests include political rhetoric, history of rhetoric, and visual rhetoric.

Director of Undergraduate Studies Dr. Nancy Wilson

Dr. Nancy Wilson joined the Department of English at Texas State University in 1992. She coordinated and then directed the Texas State Writing Center from 1995-2014, and is currently the Director of Lower Division Studies. Her research and teaching interests include T.A. practicum, composition pedagogy, composition theory, and women's rhetoric.