Julie Gerdes

Julie Gerdes is an assistant professor of technical and professional writing and rhetoric. She works at the intersection of technical communication and global public health. Her research examines methodologies for understanding and implementing inclusive risk communication, particularly during public health emergencies. 

Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Dr. Gerdes spent five years working in global health with the U.S. Agency for International Development based in Washington, DC. There, she was a technical advisor for the Zika response in Latin America and the Caribbean and supported global health supply chain activities such as an evaluability assessment project and technical assistance in emergency supply chain preparedness, response, and recovery during infectious disease outbreaks. She also championed knowledge management activities aimed at improving processes and opportunities for transnational expert information exchange and ideation. 

Dr. Gerdes’ research on international risk communication earned the Horne Professors Graduate Achievement Award from Texas Tech University, where she completed her Ph.D. in technical communication and rhetoric. She also holds a master of arts in rhetoric and composition from the University of South Florida and a bachelor of arts from Clemson University, where she double majored in writing and publication studies and in modern Spanish.