🎙️ Episode 2: “Black Visual Rhetorics, Design, and Becoming the Scholar You’re Meant to Be”

Guest: Dr. Ja’La Wourman, Assistant Professor of English, Howard University Host: Dr. Amanda Patterson Partin

✨ Episode Summary

In this vibrant conversation, Dr. Ja’La Wourman joins La Rhetórica to share her path from military life and world travel to her current role as a rising voice in Black cultural and technical communication. She reflects on the power of mentorship, the transition from graduate student to faculty, and what it means to find authenticity in academic spaces.

Dr. Wourman’s passion shines as she discusses her current reading and writing — exploring Black design, visual rhetorics, and the art of becoming.

📚 What She’s Reading

• The Black Experience in Design — A powerful anthology highlighting Black design perspectives across the diaspora.
• Atomic Habits by James Clear — For balancing personal growth and academic discipline.
• Articles and artwork from the Harlem Renaissance, connecting design, aesthetics, and Black creative expression.
• The newly released Routledge Handbook of Social Justice and Technical Communication featuring contributions from leading Black women scholars in the field.

✍️ What She’s Writing

Dr. Wourman is currently developing an article that introduces a framework for understanding Black Visual Rhetorics, using the Harlem Renaissance as a foundation for exploring aesthetics, design, and cultural expression. She also discusses her involvement in the Black Technical and Professional Communication (TPC) Resource Guide and her vision for future collaborations that push the boundaries of what counts as “technical communication.”