Stoutonia

Issue date: 2/25/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Pearl Holmstadt

Media Credit: Pearl Holmstadt

Assistant Professor Paul Anheier

New to the campus this 2009-10 academic year is Assistant Professor Paul Anheier, who teaches Freshman English, Writing Hypertext, and Writing Technical Manuals. Anheier came to the University of Wisconsin-Stout from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where he is working on his doctorate in Rhetoric and Scientific and Technical Communication. He also holds an M.S. in Scientific and Technical Communication from the University of Minnesota. He holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and another in German Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Anheier's initial goal was not to become a technical communication teacher, but while working toward his degree in engineering, he was introduced to the technical communication field. "They had me take a class in it, but I didn't want to because I already had a degree in literature. But I took it, and I didn't really realize (until then) there was this whole world of professions in technical communication. That's what got me interested in what I do now. That is what led me to my next schooling, which was the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in their Masters of Science program in technical communication."

Anheier was planning on going back into the workforce, however, during his second year of graduate school, while doing some teaching, he realized that he really liked the classroom and how important writing and writing instruction was to him and how important writing instruction was. "I decided that was my mission to the world, said Anheier. "So I decided to stay on for a Ph.D."

Anheier had not originally considered UW-Stout when he began prospecting employment. He said, "I think once I got here to campus, though, and met the people and the department, what I really liked about Stout was that everyone was dedicated to teaching. You can still do research and things like that, but, for instance, in the English department, all the faculty here teach freshman composition, and even though I am a technical communicator, I still have an invested interest in composition. It's a very closely related field. I really liked the unified force of teaching; I thought that was really interesting. Stout was kind enough to hire me on with the promise that I would finish up my dissertation. I feel fortunate to be here."

He also appreciated the location of UW-Stout being close to family and friends in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
About Wisconsin and the Menomonie area, Anheier said, "Having spent six years in Minnesota, I liked it there; I liked the Twin Cities. But there's something to be said, for me at least since I'm a Wisconsinite, to come back here and just be around the people and the culture. After being cooped up in the city, the concrete jungle, I'm in the countryside now. I can look and see horses, donkeys and abandoned tractors outside my window. That really appeals to me, as well as being able to recapture some of that outdoorsy stuff I didn't do in grad school."

The outdoorsy stuff refers to the snowshoeing, ice fishing and camping that he did while growing up in Appleton, Wis. Anheier says Menomonie is small, yet he likes it and the people make the place. He also runs, enjoys concerts and writes electronic music, which he shares with the friends he was once in a space-rock band with in Madison. He is also a chef and confesses, "I have a problem buying used cookbooks. I read them like other people read fiction."
Anheier can be reached at anheierp@uwstout.edu

Assistant Professor Joleen Hanson

Assistant Professor Joleen Hanson joined the UW-Stout faculty last August as a professor in the English department. She teaches Freshman English, the Structure of English, and International Technical Communication.

"I am a professor because I love to learn," Hanson explains about her list of credentials. "And I love to go to school."
Her zeal for education rings true when viewing her academic record. Hanson holds a Ph.D. in Composition Studies from the University of New Hampshire, an M.A. in Language and Linguistics from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, a M.S. in Environmental Health from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, a B.S. in Physical Science from the College of Education, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a B.A. in Chemistry from Carleton College, Northfield, Minn.
Though originally from Pennsylvania, Hanson actually identifies with Minnesota, yet she finds UW-Stout to be an ideal university for a number of reasons.

"What I really like about Stout is the technical angle. I like that there is a lot of support for doing things with technology and that there's a lot of support for research. I am quite passionate about doing research-finding out something new, posing questions and finding the answers."

Another aspect of UW-Stout that she likes is the students. "The advantage of teaching any of the tech comm. courses is that I have upper-lever students. They are experienced and very motivated students who know more about what their direction is going to be. But I like working with the first-year students as well, because they are really positive about being in college. This is their first year, so though they are new and they are willing to try new things, they want to grow." Hanson enjoys discussions in the larger classes and witnessing the energy the students bring to the classroom.

Her linguistic studies have helped her in her travels to places such as France, England and Africa. Her travels have also aided her in her teaching of International Technical Communication courses. "The world is so huge and there is always something to learn."

Now in Dunn County, Hanson was happy to discover that there is a rail trail (the Red Cedar Trail). She is an avid outdoors person who enjoys biking and hiking. She appreciates the campus theater and the events held at the Mable Tainter Center for the Arts and other area arts.

Hanson can be reached at hansonjo@uwstout.edu

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