Rick Cherwitz and Stefanie Sanford, Office of Graduate Studies   related photo   return to On Campus contents page

Editor's note: Areteis an ancient Greek word for virtue, describing the quest for individual excellence. In this regular feature ofOn Campus,the University salutes its graduate students--whose considerable contributions to the academy and larger community are truly virtuous. These features will be framed and posted in the lobby of the Office of Graduate Studies, Main 101. Name: Michael Erard Advisor: Jacqueline Henkel, associate professor of English Degrees: B.A., Williams College, 1990, Honors, American Studies; M.A., UT Austin, 1996, linguistics Michael Erard is already an accomplished writer, teacher and scholar. His dissertation, "Inscribing Language: Writing and Scientific Representation in Linguistics," blends science studies, the history of linguistics, and literary criticism in order to understand how linguists have called some written and graphic modes of representation objective, real, and scientifically valid, while other modes are considered subjective, biased, and social. He explains, "In the 20th century, linguists have depended upon writing to make language visible, permanent, material, and textual, at the same time they have maintained the position that they study speech and spoken language. So I'm studying the shifting territories of what "counts" as speech and writing, as well as the boundary between what counts as scientific representation and what counts as "mere" writing." In addition to his research, Michael has taught for three years at UT, developing courses in composition, American literature, and linguistics, serving as a writing consultant in the Undergraduate Writing Center, and currently holding a part-time teaching appointment at Southwestern University in Georgetown. He is the author of several academic publications, numerous conference presentations, and the recipient of numerous writing awards from the Dept. of English. Erard's activities include serving as an officer in the Graduate Student Assembly and member of Graduate Assembly, 96-98; co-founding Young Texans Against Corporate Welfare in 1997 to protest Texas Union referendum on building new Union; and placing regular contributions in the Texas Observer; Texas Monthlyand Salonand was recently honored for his work of fiction, "Beyond the Point" which was selected for New Stories from the South: The Year's Best, 1999from Algonquin Books. NOTE: Nominations (including self-nominations) for ARETEshould be sent to Stefanie.Sanford@bus.utexas.edu (232-1613).

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