“A once-in-a-generation scholar”
Earlier this month, Dr. Mike Palmquist, professor of English and University Distinguished Teaching Scholar, was awarded the Exemplar Award — the Conference on College Composition & Communication’s (CCCC) top honor.
The CCCC, a constituent group of the National Council of Teachers of English, is considered the world’s largest professional organization for researching and teaching composition, from writing to new media. Presented annually to an individual whose career “represents the highest ideals of scholarship, teaching, and service to the entire profession,” the Exemplar Award wishes to recognize those whose work has made both a global and local impact and set an example of excellence for CCCC membership.
Palmquist, who has taught at Colorado State University for 34 years and will retire this May, has spent his career carving out meaningful spaces for educators to come together to advance the ways we teach writing. Specifically, he has argued for writing to be integrated meaningfully into classrooms for deepened and engaged learning by students across the curriculum.
Yet, despite his extensive record as a devoted teacher, advocate, and leader in the field, Palmquist was floored to learn he had received such an honor. So much, in fact, that he initially misinterpreted the email announcing his achievement.
“I thought it was a call for nominations, at first. When I realized that I’d been named Exemplar—well, my reaction is probably not fit for print,” Palmquist joked. “It was such an unbelievably pleasant surprise.”
Sue Doe, executive director of the Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT) and longtime colleague of Palmquist, said the award is “reserved for a once-in-a-generation scholar in the field of writing studies.”
In a statement from the award’s selection committee, Palmquist was applauded for his commitment to innovation and inclusion, as well as the incredible reach his work has had across the field:
“What makes Professor Palmquist’s record so compelling is his well-supported reputation for building effective and deeply informed systems that uplift colleagues in invaluable ways. From his scholarship to his work with students and colleagues, to his prodigious textbook publication, to his shepherding of the WAC Clearinghouse, and through multiple leadership roles, Palmquist’s steady focus has been on promoting and encouraging the best possible writing instruction. Professor Mike Palmquist’s work—not only its quality and quantity, but its generosity and ethic of care—deserves our field’s gratitude and highest recognition.”
During his acceptance speech at this year’s CCCC Convention in Spokane, Washington, Palmquist praised his colleagues and called attention to the sheer value scholars can deliver as a collective.
“I’m lucky because of the opportunities I’ve been given, because I’ve been able to do work that makes a difference, and because of the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with,” said Palmquist.
He continued: “In particular, I’m grateful to my colleagues at the WAC Clearinghouse, who have worked for years to create a resource that has benefited so many people…The WAC Clearinghouse is a testament to the impact that distributed collaborative work can have on a field…and an example of what we can do when we work together in pursuit of a shared goal.”
Making a difference in the English department
After completing his PhD in Rhetoric from Carnegie Mellon University in 1990, Palmquist arrived in Fort Collins and joined CSU’s Department of English. Ever since then, he has been making a difference through his scholarship, administrative work, and teaching.
Palmquist pursued his scholarly interests, which include writing across the curriculum, the effects of computer and network technologies on writing instruction, and new approaches to scholarly publishing.
He published widely in dozens of journals and authored several textbooks. He also co-authored Transitions: Teaching Writing in Computer-Supported and Traditional Classrooms with Kate Kiefer, Jake Hartvigsen, and Barbara Godlew published in 1998 by Ablex and Writing with a Computer with Don Zimmerman published in 1999 by Allyn and Bacon.
Additionally, Palmquist helped implement change early on in his career through the development of the department’s curriculum and program offerings. Specifically, his work with colleagues led to the creation of the Writing, Rhetoric and Literacy undergraduate concentration and the M.A. in Writing, Rhetoric and Social Change—two programs in the department that are still serving students today.
While certainly proud of his academic scholarship and administrative projects, the work Palmquist valued most took place in the classroom with his students. Throughout his career, Palmquist taught courses in rhetoric and composition, writing across the disciplines, and writing for the web. After a decade of dedicated and thoughtful instruction, Palmquist was appointed a University Distinguished Teaching Scholar.
“I just love teaching,” he said. “My favorite class to teach is CO 150 (College Composition). I love teaching those students. Being able to witness their surprise when they start to realize what it means to be a real writer—there’s nothing like that feeling.”
Instructor Jesse McLain, who has been teaching in the department since 2022 and holds a B.A. in English (’05) from CSU, is grateful to call Palmquist a mentor.
“Dr. Palmquist is a great combination of a leader, teacher, and a rebel. He’s never afraid to be himself and encourages his students to do the same, which allowed each of us to reach heights we would not have been able to otherwise,” she said.
“He works hard to advocate for advancement and evolution of the entire discipline of writing and I feel privileged to have learned from and worked with him.”
Supporting institutional progress
During his tenure, Palmquist became a singular leader at the university. He served for 14 years in various university leadership roles, including founding director of the Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT), director of CSU Online (CSU’s Division of Continuing Education), and Associate Provost for Instructional Innovation.
Senior Vice President Rick Miranda said, “Mike has been an incredible University citizen in so many ways, over many years. His willingness to pitch in with administrative roles has been outstanding; I got to know Mike well when he designed and led TILT, then went to CSU Online from there, and then participated in a variety of projects. Thank you, Mike, for being a great CSU leader and friend.”
Within the English department, Palmquist directed the University Composition Program and University Writing Center, coordinated its graduate programs, and co-directed the Center for Research on Communication and Technology. He co-founded the Center for the Analytics of Learning and Teaching with James Folkestad in 2013 and served as co-director of the Center for the Study of Academic Labor.
Echoing his remarks at the CCCC convention, Palmquist said his leadership experiences wouldn’t have been so enriching without the incredible people he had the chance to collaborate with and learn from.
“I’ve really been fortunate to work with some great people at CSU,” he said. “I mean, Kate Kiefer, for example, has just been an incredible mentor and she was one of the people who established the field of computers and writing. Some of the most exciting work that I’ve done here was alongside Kate. And then with other colleagues like Dawn Rodrigues and Sue Doe, both superstars…there have been many people here who have really made a difference in my life. It’s just been a wonderful collaboration.”
The WAC Clearinghouse
Since its founding in 1997, and defined as “an open-access publishing collaborative,” the the WAC Clearinghouse is supported by the efforts of more than 200 scholars and is widely regarded as a leading resource for writers and teachers on the use of writing in courses across the curriculum. It has seen more than 37 million downloads of its books, book chapters, and articles.
Dedicated to providing barrier- and cost-free access to scholarly work and resources, the Clearinghouse works to elevate a vast collection of voices and viewpoints within the writing studies community. As founding editor and publisher, Palmquist has been championing the work of thousands of writers, instructors, and scholars for nearly three decades.
“Mike has always been at the center of the WAC movement nationally and internationally,” said Doe.
“The WAC Clearinghouse has become a publishing house in and of itself, with Mike personally overseeing 19 book series and 10 journals on writing, and publishing hundreds of chapters and articles each year. The impact that Mike has made upon the field of writing studies generally, rhetoric and composition specifically, and teaching and learning most profoundly cannot be overstated. His role in publishing has launched innumerable academic careers.”
The impact that Mike has made upon the field of writing studies generally, rhetoric and composition specifically, and teaching and learning most profoundly cannot be overstated. His role in publishing has launched innumerable academic careers.
While considering his favorite memories at CSU, Palmquist recalled a moment from his early days of the Clearinghouse project. After receiving a grant to conduct more research, Palmquist helped assemble a team of faculty and graduate students from among three departments in the College of Liberal Arts to explore the role of writing in the careers of CSU graduates.
“When we met at the end of the year and shared our results, we realized that most of what we’d assumed about the way writing was being used in the workplace was wrong,” remembered Palmquist.
“That was a moment in which, as a group, we realized we not only had a good basis for moving forward but also an opportunity to do something innovative. Given how wrong we were about how to prepare students for their writing challenges, it should have been a sobering moment. Instead, it was a transformative—even freeing—moment.”
Palmquist’s team-focused approach to problem-solving hasn’t changed. Asking the right questions, listening, learning from misconceptions and finding ways to improve—is par for the course according to his colleagues, and what makes him a visionary educator.
Looking forward
Upon his departure from Willard O. Eddy Hall, Palmquist will not only be missed as a dedicated colleague and trusted voice in the department, but also for his candor, timely jokes, and big heart.
“Mike is kind, compassionate, funny, and authentic,” said McLain. “It’s hard to get better than that—as both a human and a scholar.”
Louann Reid, chair and professor of English, said Palmquist’s positive impact on the department, its students and scholars around the world feels immeasurable.
“Mike’s influence on writing studies extends beyond CSU to countries around the world. He is an excellent mentor of students, many of whom go on to careers in writing,” she said.
As Palmquist readies himself to say goodbye to university life, he is eager to continue the WAC work he believes in. As director of the 17th annual International Writing Across the Curriculum conference, he will soon be in the thick of planning the event, which brings together scholars, teachers, and students who use writing and speaking to enhance learning in disciplines across the curriculum. The conference will be held July 16-19, 2025 at CSU.
Outside of his ongoing WAC duties, Palmquist is looking forward to spending more time with his family and traveling—preferably riding on his motorcycle across the country.
A thrill-seeker through and through, Palmquist admitted it’s been a fun ride here at CSU.
“I think the best, most exciting memories have just been working with people and coming up with ideas and sitting in these meetings and saying what do you think about that?” he said, smiling.
Retirement Party
After 34 years at Colorado State University, Professor of English and University Distinguished Teaching Scholar Mike Palmquist is retiring. Come celebrate our wonderful colleague, mentor, and friend as he bids adieu to CSU! Small plates and beverages will be served, and remarks will begin at 5 p.m.
Date: Friday, April 26, 2024
Time: 4 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: TILT Great Hall, 801 Oval Drive
