Dr. Philip B. Gallagher

Assistant Professor of Technical Communication

Dr. Philip B. Gallagher joined the Mercer University Department of Technical Communication in 2020 after graduating from Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Based on his research experience in ISU’s Studio for New Media, Eye Tracking Lab, and UX & Usability Lab, Dr. Gallagher integrates UX design and biometric research into Technical Communication. He teaches a 21st century combination of technical communication and UX engineering skills to Mercer students, while supporting undergraduate research.

Dr. Gallagher is a member of the Society for Technical Communication, the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication, and the National Council of Teachers of English. His work is featured in Communication Design Quarterly, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, Computers and Composition, and the Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy. Additionally, Dr. Gallagher is co-author of Designing Visual Language: Strategies for Professional Communicators, 3rd edition with Dr. Charles Kostelnick (Iowa State University) and Dr. Bremen Vance (Mercer University).

Education

  • Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Professional Communication, Iowa State University
  • M.A. in Composition and Rhetoric, Eastern Illinois University
  • B.A. in English, Eastern Illinois University
  • A.A. in English, Lake Land College

Specialization

  • User-Experience Design (UXD)
  • User-Centered Design (UCD)
  • Design Thinking Processes
  • Writing Technology & Ecology
  • Written, Oral, Visual, & Electronic Rhetoric
  • Digital Knowledge Management
  • UX, Qualitative, & Phenomenological Research

Research/Professional/Teaching Interests

Dr. Gallagher’s primary directive is teaching students innovative communication and design skills for the future of industry. Through communication-as-design pedagogy and UX research, he aims to provide his pupils with professional and technical communication expertise. To this end, Dr. Gallagher conducts research alongside his students on the impact of innovative pedagogies, the effects of technology on communication environments, and user-experiences with technical artifacts.

Other Interests

Dr. Gallagher participates in a number of outdoor activities (e.g. hiking, biking, swimming, gardening, nature forays, birding, etc.). Additionally, he enjoys many family pastimes like playing video games, watching movies, and reading books with loved ones. His spouse claims he also makes epic pizza from scratch.

Recent Publications

Gallagher, P. B., & Gallagher, M. J. (2024). Accessible Sound: Aural Information Literacy for Technical Communication Design. Communication Design Quarterly (CDQ), 12(2), 44–52. https://doi.org/10.1145/3655727.3655732

Gallagher, P. B., & Getto, G. A. M. (2023). The State of UX Pedagogy: An Integrated Literature Review. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 66(4), 322–337. https://doi.org/10.1109/tpc.2023.3314313

Gallagher, P. B., Meister, P., & Russell, D. R. (2021). Phenomenology of writing with unfamiliar tools in a semi-public environment: A case study. Computers and Composition, 62(1), 102668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2021.102668

Gallagher, P. B. (2019). Changing Culture, Changing Public: Redesigning the Rhetorical Public. The Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy, 16. https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/read/changing-culture-changing-publics-redesigning-the-rhetorical-public-dabf14a1-b5b4-431d-86ce-06f43748803d/section/a597025f-2817-4caa-8484-a6bab6468017

Kostelnick, C., Gallagher, P. B., & Vance, B. R. (In-Press). Designing Visual Language: Strategies for Technical and Professional Communicators (3rd ed.). Parlor Press.

Contact

478.301.2299
gallagher_pb@mercer.edu
Science and Engineering Building 240