Author & Interviewer: Sarah Engel
Interview
Fall 2020 was a historic semester for Georgia Tech. Online classes resumed, our renovated library opened its doors, and new faculty members began their positions. Among them was Dr. Melissa Ianetta, appointed Interim Chair of the School of Literature, Media, and Communication, as well as the Director of the Writing and Communication Program (WCP).
The first person in her family to go to college, Ianetta says there weren’t many professional, female role models as she was starting out. That is, until she started working in retail. “I liked it, but a year or two after high school, I thought college for four years sounded like a good time and, frankly, easier than working open-to-close in Boston’s Faneuil Hall.” In pursuit of becoming an undergraduate writing professor, Ianetta went on to receive her Ph.D. from Ohio State University. “I thought students were at their most interesting when they were trying to create new knowledge for themselves even as they were trying to communicate it to other people.” That, “You really see the complexity in the human mind when you watch an individual engage in challenging communication situations.” She didn’t expect a career in administration and research, though. Not having grown up around professional researchers, it wasn’t a predetermined career track. “Until I arrived at Ohio State, I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a Writing Program Administrator.” Despite this, she affirms, “I am one of those very fortunate individuals who somehow bumbled into my just-right career.”
At Georgia Tech, Dr. Ianetta enjoys being with coworkers and students most of all. She admires the atmosphere, “which encourages ambition, innovation, and engagement with the world. It’s a really special place.” Her advice to anyone looking to pursue a career in communication is simply, to do it. Aside from retail and research, she’s managed an art gallery, worked for a nonprofit, and taught in various interesting places. Her undergraduate students have also been able to pursue invaluable experiences, such as teaching English abroad, working in public communications for professional organizations, becoming technical communicators for top tech firms, publishing novels, and going to graduate school to pursue a wide range of career options.
Dr. Ianetta advises students to take classes that allow them to hone their communication abilities into genres and components. This allows students to target different audiences, “be those audiences Engineers, popular audiences, the arts community, or any other group of people.” Moreover, “get whatever experience you can communicate with a range of audiences and for a range of purposes. The world is hungry for clear and persuasive communicators.”
In addition to her work at Georgia Tech, Dr. Ianetta serves as co-editor for College English, the United States’ most widely distributed English Studies journal. She also helped author The
Oxford Guide for Writing Tutors: Practice and Research. Outside of academia, you might find Dr. Ianetta with her dogs, Coco and Teddi, running half marathons, or visiting Disney World with friends.
This story was written by LMC major, Sarah Engel, for Jillann Hertel’s special topics course, Media for Community Building.
Dr. Melissa Ianetta is the Interim Chair of LMC & Director of WCP at Georgia Tech.
For further inquiries, please contact Senior Academic Professional Jillann Hertel.