About This Project
Overview
We created this book to provide a targeted understanding of the process of communication to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) students. We have included specific and concise information in this book catering to technical and professional fields. Students will be able to develop their skills in writing, presenting, and interviewing, and improve their interpersonal relationships in the workplace.
Creation Process
We first collaborated to generate a list of topics we wanted to include in the book, gathering insight provided by other faculty members in the Department of Communication at the University of Texas at Arlington and existing Open Educational Resources (OERs) that discussed similar topics. Once we had our desired chapter topics, we then began writing an original text, referencing our sources at the end of each chapter. We pilot tested chapters along the way. All the chapters were pilot tested in Fall 2025. The book has undergone several revisions as we polished the content and found some OERs, and sources were “unpublished” on recent reviews. Diane Waryas Hughey reviewed and edited all the 13 chapters. Damla Ricks and Karishma Chatterjee created PDF chapters for Fall 2025 use. We ensured the documents were accessible. Damla and Karishma then imported the chapters into Mavs Open Press, edited for format, and then addressed issues related to accessibility.
About the Author
Karishma Chatterjee (Ph.D., The Ohio State University) is the course coordinator for Technical and Professional Communication for Engineering and Science Majors at The University of Texas at Arlington. She is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Communication. She teaches Persuasive Communication, Group Communication Theory, Communication Theory, Communication Training and Development, Intercultural Communication, Communication in Human Relations, and Health Communication. Her research interests are in interpersonal, instructional, and health communication.
Damla Ricks is a Senior Lecturer who predominantly teaches COMS 2302 Technical and Professional Communication for Engineering and Science Majors. Damla has 10+ years of experience in teaching COMS 2302, and she is continuously working towards curriculum design and development of course content that are applicable to STEM majors. Damla is actively researching the STEM majors’ teamwork experience. She strives to develop real-life professional application-based assignments. Damla also teaches Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Interview Principles courses at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Diane Waryas Hughey (Ph.D., Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness at Rice University) is a practitioner of technical and professional communication. Diane draws on her nearly 30-year experience as postsecondary faculty and administrator to help make ideas actionable, through innovative practice and elevating excellence. Diane is also a higher education consultant and trainer who has served as an invited and keynote speaker at professional conferences, and as a member and chair of regional and national boards. She served as an accreditation liaison officer and evaluator for WSCUC, accreditation evaluator for NWCCU and is an evaluator with SACSCOC.
