About our authors

Laura J. Gurak is professor and founding chair of the Department of Writing Studies at the University of Minnesota, where she teaches courses in technical writing and digital communication. She holds an M.S. in technical communication and a Ph.D. in communication and rhetoric from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Gurak is author of two books from Yale University Press, one of which was the first book-length study of online social actions, as well as several edited collections, conference presentations, and papers. She is a recipient of the Society for Technical Communication's Outstanding Article award and her college's Distinguished Teaching Award. Gurak has authored and/or coauthored five textbooks in technical communication, published by Pearson. She has worked as a software developer, technical writer and communications consultant for various companies and organizations.

John M. Lannon is Professor Emeritus and former Director of Writing at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he developed the undergraduate major in professional writing and later codeveloped the M.A. program in professional writing. He has also taught at Cape Cod Community College, University of Idaho, Southern Vermont College and University of Strasbourg. He has authored and coauthored 5 major textbooks in business communication, rhetoric and technical communication; book reviews; filmstrips; environmental documents; and instructional software. He is the recipient of an NDEA Fellowship and Fulbright Lectureship. He holds a B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His initial training and work were in biomedical science and technology with the USAF. He has also served as a communications consultant for various companies and government institutions.