Don Zimmerman, Ph.D.
Don brings extensive experience to assignments as a (1) writer, editor, media producer; (2) communication researcher and evaluator; and (3) as professor teaching writing, editing, and production courses. He focuses on communicating health, science, and agriculture to diverse audiences.
He is a Research Professor in Colorado State University’s Library; a professor in the Community and Behavioral Health Department in the Colorado School of Public Health; and an emeritus professor of Colorado State University’s Department of Journalism and Media Communication.
Author& Media Producer
Don has worked as a newspaper reporter, communication specialist, writer, editor, media producer, and photographer for government agencies, universities, and businesses. Don has authored, or co-authored textbooks, monographs, and chapters of books published by Random House; Allyn & Bacon; Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; Oryx Press; and Scarecrow Press, Roman & Littlefield.
Don has authored, co-authored, produced, and co-produced more than 150 diverse media products (news releases, magazine articles, newspaper articles, public service announcements, brochures, exhibits, and websites).
Researcher
Don investigates science, health, and technical communications. More specifically, he focuses on website and interface design, usability, technology transfer, and risk communication.
He has authored or co-authored more than 125 academic refereed journal articles and has given presentations at regional, national, and international communication conferences. As principal investigator or co-principal investigator, he has received $5 million in grants from the National Cancer Institute; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Addiction; Environmental Protection; Agency; Hewlett Packard; IBM; National Park Service; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; U.S. Forest Service; and other agencies, organizations, and businesses.
Educator
As a professor, Don taught at Colorado State University’s Department of Journalism & Technical Communication, Colorado State University (CSU, 1976-2012).
Don taught: communicating and writing about science, health, and environment; technical communication and writing; specialized and technical editing; communication theory; communicating science and technology; information design, technology transfer; and communication management.
He served as an adviser for 25 master’s degree students who completed their theses on science and technical communication topics. In addition, he served as an outside committee member on more than 125 students pursuing master’s degrees or doctorate (Ph.D.) degrees across 20 different CSU departments.
Don is a member of the Society for Technical Communication; Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Professional Communication Society; and User Experience Professionals Association.
Don is a product of Land Grant Universities. He holds a B.S. in biology and wildlife biology, and an M.S. in Technical Journalism from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, and a Ph.D. in mass communication (research and theory) from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.