Carlos Evia

Carlos Evia, Associate Dean for Transdisciplinary Initiatives, Chief Technology Officer, and Professor of Communication

_{School of Communication and Office of the Dean

212 Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Building

200 Stanger Street (0426)

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540-231-2373 | cevia@vt.edu}

Carlos Evia serves as Associate Dean for Transdisciplinary Initiatives and Chief Technology Officer in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences , where he also holds a position as professor in the School of Communication. Throughout his career, he has been at the forefront of integrating technology with technical communication, particularly in the development and implementation of structured content strategies. His work bridges the gap between traditional technical communication practices and emerging digital technologies, making him a leading voice in the modernization of content operations and delivery systems.

As Associate Dean for Transdisciplinary Initiatives, he has been instrumental in fostering collaboration across academic disciplines, recognizing that today's complex challenges require solutions that transcend traditional departmental boundaries. His expertise in technical communication and content strategy has proven invaluable in developing innovative approaches to academic program development and research initiatives. In his role as Chief Technology Officer, he has championed the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and digital solutions that enhance both educational experiences and administrative efficiency.

Carlos Evia's research and teaching interests focus on the intersection of technical communication, digital content, and emerging technologies. He has made significant contributions to the field through his work on structured authoring, DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture), and multichannel content publishing. His commitment to advancing technical communication practices while maintaining a strong focus on user needs and accessibility has influenced both academic discourse and industry practices in content management and technical documentation.

Principal Areas of Research Focus

Technical and Professional Communication
User Assistance
Structured Authoring
Content Strategy
Workplace Safety Communication

Education

PhD, Texas Tech University
MSC, Universidad LaSalle, Mexico City
LCC, Instituto de Ciencias Sociales de Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

Professional Roles

Lightweight DITA Subcommittee
Darwin Information Typing Architecture Technical Committee
Society for Technical Communication
Virginia Tech Center for Human-Computer Interaction
Virginia Tech Hispanic/Latino Faculty and Staff Caucus

Awards and Honors

2020 Principles of Community Award for Individual Contribution — Long-Term Award, Virginia Tech, 2020
Frank R. Smith Award for Distinguished Article in the Journal Technical Communication, May 2017
Outstanding Faculty Outreach. Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, May, 2011

Publications

Books

Creating Intelligent Content with Lightweight DITA. New York, NY: Routledge/Taylor & Francis, 2018.

Edited Books

Thatcher B, Evia C (eds.). Outsourcing Technical Communication. Amityville, NY: Baywood, 2008.

Journal Articles

“Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders and Innovators in Technical Communication.” Intercom: The Magazine of the Society for Technical Communication. 2018. (coauthored with Rebekka Andersen)

“Structured authoring without XML: Evaluating Lightweight DITA for technical documentation.” Technical Communication. 2016; in press. (co-authored with Michael Priestley)

“Teaching structured authoring and DITA through rhetorical and computational thinking.” IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 2016. (coauthored with Matthew Sharp and Manuel Perez–Quiñones)

“Beyond compliance: participatory translation of safety communication for Latino construction workers.” Journal of Business and Technical Communication. 2012; 26(3): 340-367. (coauthored with Ashley Patriarca)

“Localizing and designing computer-based safety training solutions for Hispanic construction workers.” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. 2011; 137(6): 452-459.

Fellowships, Grants, and Sponsored Research

“Science and Engineering Short Course for Technical Writing.” Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). Amount awarded: $53,079. Responsibility: 100%. 2015.
“Developing a Mobile User Assistance and Training Solution for Hispanic Workers.” Virginia Tech Institute for Society, Culture and Environment. Amount awarded: $10,000. 2014-2015
Co-Principal Investigator, with Joseph Grzywacz, Thomas Arcury, and Sara Quandt (Wake Forest); Thomas Mills (Virginia Tech Building Construction); and Manuel Perez-Quiñones (University of North Carolina at Charlotte). “Micro-processes of Latino Construction Workers' Health: Feasibility of CATS." National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. Amount awarded: $250,000. Responsibility: 40% of the Virginia Tech contract. 2009-2012.

Featured Books