Dr. Sherry Southard (1942-2022)

Dr. Southard came to East Carolina University in 1989 after ten years as a member of the technical and professional communication faculty at Oklahoma State University. Her research interests included theory and practice in e-learning environments, especially in academic ones, as well as research in Technical and Professional Communication. Her publications appeared as book chapters, proceeding articles for international and national conferences, and articles & edited columns in journals such as Technical Communication, Technical Communication Quarterly, JBTC, and IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. She received a teaching award from the Society for Technical Communication and one by IEEE’s Society for Professional Communication for distinction in technical communication education, recognizing innovation. She served actively in several professional organizations, such as STC, CPTSC, and ATTW. Her professional career outside of academia included writing and editing for employers such as NASA, IFSTA (International Firefighters), and Carolina’s Construction Organization.

Sherry is survived by her husband Dr. Bruce Southard (former ECU English Department Chair), sons Derek and Mark, daughter-in-law Dana, grandsons Benjamin and Jack, sister Glenda Brown, nephew Larry Brown and his son Zander