Paul E. Bender
Areas of Expertise
Rhetorical Theory; Professional Writing; Computers and WritingEducation
B.A., M.A. Western Illinois University Ph.D. Syracuse University
Dr. Bender frequently teaches WTNG 320: Writing for Business Organizations, WTNG 303: Environmental Rhetoric and Core 104: Literature, Philosophy, and the Examined Life. He has taught a Core Senior Seminar: Stories of the Apocalypse, WTNG 220: Critical Writing for the Professions, WTNG 102: Expository Writing, WTNG 305: Writing the City (in Limerick, Ireland) and SUST 101: Introduction to Sustainability.
He formerly served as chair of the general education committee, and co-lead a faculty learning community focused on building a writing enriched curriculum. He also served as the assistant director of the University Honors Program.
He has presented papers at National Collegiate Honors Council, Popular Culture Association, Writing Across the Curriculum, Conference of College Composition and Communication, Computers and Writing, and Writing Program Administrators.
His recent research interests include: the rhetoric of popular culture and post-apocalyptic rhetoric. He has presented on Breaking Bad, Deadwood, LOST, Battlestar Galactica, and Earth Abides. His environmental interests include Transition Movements, the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement, fossil fuel divestment and environmental rhetorics and the ethics of climate change.