Lucía Durá

Associate Dean for the Graduate School and Advisor for the Master of Multidisciplinary Studies

Dr. Lucía Durá is the associate dean of the Graduate School and the advisor for the MMDS. She has been associate dean for five years, and prior to that, she directed the Rhetoric and Writing Studies master’s and doctoral programs in the Department of English, her home department. Her research is in the areas of risk communication and organizational change that uses community assets to solve complex problems. She has also recently started researching graduate education and student success.  

Subjects she teaches: 

I most often teach a Ph.D. seminar on the history of rhetoric, but I also enjoy teaching our methods course, an advanced theory course, and special topics courses on scientific and medical rhetoric and on educational research methods (art-based, social network analysis, activity theory). One day soon I hope to be able to teach grant writing or another course within the Technical and Professional Writing Graduate Certificate.

On what ignited her passion for these subjects:

When I was an undergraduate I was an international student and didn’t qualify for financial aid, so learned to write essays and proposals to obtain scholarships and fund my studies. I found the process challenging but intriguing, and I sought out opportunities to improve. Through that process I realized that I was passionate about writing and all that goes into it, and I’ve continued to pursue lines of inquiry within writing and communication since then. I’ve really become intrigued with the ways we pair methodologies with problems, so I’m especially interested in methodological and ethical questions involving research.

Her proudest accomplishment and biggest challenge as an online instructor: 

One of the things that I find most fascinating about teaching writing online is that the amount of writing practice almost doubles for students. This, I think, can help reinforce what students are learning even more than an in-person class. I am proud of finding ways to connect with students in an online environment by designing with intentionality. That is, I give a lot of thought to the questions that I ask and how I place students in groups and in what interfaces.

On what makes a successful online student:

There is something to be said for consistency. I recently read that the systems you develop to reach your goals are just as, if not more, important than the goals themselves (James Clear, Atomic Habits). I truly believe that making time, even if it is in 15- or 30-minute increments every day builds solid learning habits. I also believe that by showing up you change the conversation. We rely on your perspective to make the conversation more nuanced and rich.

Her advice to online students: 

Connect. Connect with your peers, connect with the instructor, and connect with yourself. You do that by being present, taking the time to notice things, listening, and reaching out—both with others and with yourself. Building relationships crucial to learning, well-being, and success.