Photo of Mary Jo Priest (courtesy of Mary Jean Priest)
Mary Jo Priest (’82) earned her B.A. with Miami University in Scientific and Technical Communication, now the Professional Writing degree. Upon graduation, she first worked for Industrial Data Technologies in Columbus, Ohio, where she wrote and designed technical information for internal and external company communications. After a few years, she chose to become a paralegal, a position where she continued to pursue her passion for writing until her death in 1995.
Mary Jo Priest’s family generously endowed an award, the Mary Jo Priest Award, in her honor, to recognize students who represent Mary Jo Priest’s core values in her time at Miami and in her professional life: excellent students who demonstrate a passion for exceptional writing.
More information on the Mary Jo Priest Award, including the multiple award categories and submission information, can be found on the Department of English Awards page.
Award Winners from Professional Writing
2023
Proposal or Report — Madalyn Willi
Rhetorical Analysis — Caleb Chun
Rhetorical Analysis — Julia Jacobs
2022
Rhetorical Analysis — Liz Browning
Rhetorical Analysis — Nathan Gillin
Rhetorical Analysis — Olivia Hennessey
2021
Report or Proposal — Kendra Stiers
Rhetorical Analysis — Jada Favers
Rhetorical Analysis — Bailey Miller
2020
Rhetorical Analysis — Anthony Raffin
Rhetorical Analysis — Sophie Thompson
2019
Public Argument — Delaney Heisterkamp
Rhetorical Analysis — Annie Eyre
Rhetorical Analysis — Jacob Nitzberg
2018
Report or Proposal — Liz Winhover
Public Argument — Leah Gaus
Rhetorical Analysis — Tobias Paul
2017
Report or Proposal — Evan Doran
Public Argument — Emily Ritchie
Rhetorical Analysis — Paige Bremner
2016
Report or Proposal — Haley Jena
Public Argument — Alison Block
Rhetorical Analysis — Holly Wilkerson
2015
Report or Proposal — Courtney Katzmeyer
Public Argument — Allison Treen
Rhetorical Analysis — Alison Block
2014
Report or Proposal — Sam Sneeds
Public Argument — Alicia Auhagen
Rhetorical Analysis — Holly Jeric
2013
Report or Proposal — Elizabeth Nicole George
Public Argument — Alyssa Jane Jones
Rhetorical Analysis — Anne Meuser
2012
Public Argument — Ali Czarnecki
Rhetorical Analysis — Laura Kretz