Leah Pistorius
November 19, 2025
The Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering is proud to recognize Natasha N. Jones (PhD ‘12), associate professor in Michigan State University’s Department of African American and African Studies, as the inaugural recipient of the HCDE Outstanding Alumni Award.
Dr. Natasha N. Jones is an associate professor in Michigan State University’s Department of African American and African Studies and recipient of the HCDE Outstanding Alumni Award in 2025.
The new award honors graduates who exemplify excellence in research, leadership, and service, and whose careers reflect the department’s values of equity, collaboration, and community impact.
Since earning her PhD from HCDE, Jones has built a career that continues to shape and inspire the field of technical and professional communication. Her scholarship on social justice, technical communication, and Black feminist thought has helped expand the boundaries of the field.
Jones recalls completing her PhD during the department’s transition from Technical Communication (TC) to Human Centered Design & Engineering, and how those conversations sharpened the trajectory of her work. “There were conversations about what it might mean to not only change the name of the department, but emphasize the human aspects of what we did and what we do,” she reflected. “The purposeful anchoring of humanness encouraged me to amp up what I already believed about my work, the impact on lived experience, the role of advocacy, and how justice and equity must be non-negotiable considerations in scholarship.”
These commitments have defined her contributions as a researcher, educator, and leader. Her book, Technical Communication after the Social Justice Turn: Building Coalitions for Action, received the CCCC Best Book Award in 2021, and her scholarship on topics such as plain language, Black women’s health, and the intersection of technology and social equity continues to influence the field. She has also been recognized with the IEEE Goldsmith Award for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Communication and the Michigan State College of Arts and Letters Faculty Award for Innovation.
As an educator and mentor, Jones has inspired students who have gone on to impact the world through their own successful academic and professional careers. Through her leadership in national organizations and diversity initiatives, like the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing, NCTE Black Technical and Professional Writing Task Force, and CPTSC Diversity Committee, she has strengthened the professional community and helped create a more inclusive and collaborative discipline.
When offering advice to current HCDE students who hope to make a positive community impact, Jones emphasized both courage and care: “Seek out mentors and don't be afraid to ask for guidance and resources. Some boundaries are made up; push on them and challenge yourself to learn more and make connections that are not always apparent. Finally, take care of your wellbeing because when we say we are human-centered, that must include our own wellness and care alongside care for community and others.”
“Dr. Jones’s career reflects the mission and values of HCDE, combining research, teaching, and service to create meaningful change for people and communities,” said Julie Kientz, HCDE Professor and Chair. “We are honored to celebrate her achievements as a shining example of the impact HCDE graduates make in the world.”