Dr. Laura Gurak is Chair and Professor of the Department of Writing Studies at the University of Minnesota, where she teaches courses in digital literacies, professional and technical communication, and communication research. She received an M.S. in Technical Communication and Ph.D. in Communication and Rhetoric from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a recipient of the Society for Technical Communication’s Outstanding Article award.

Prior to graduate school, Professor Laura worked as a technical writer for a number of companies; she continues to collaborate with workplace professionals through her department’s Industrial Affiliates Program. In addition to writing 4 great textbooks, she is author of 2 books from Yale University Press, co-editor of 3 edited collections, and author of many commentaries and articles.