Shawn Apostel

Brainstormer, Consultant, Designer, Educator/Teacher, Idea generator, Parent, Photographer, Technologist

Before he was an academic, Dr. Shawn Apostel was a high school dropout who didn't know he had dyslexia. It was his desire to master graphic design that eventually inspired him to continue his education and study visual communication. Technology played a major role in this process and continues to influence his work. He's hosted a podcast called "Dyslexics Untied" since 2018. Today, Dr. Apostel is an Associate Professor of Communication and Director of the Design, Arts, and Technology program at Bellarmine University. He teaches multimedia communication, graphic communication, digital portfolio, data visualization, digital media lab, and technical communication. His research interests include teaching with technology, digital ethos, e-waste reduction, learning space design, technical and visual communication. His work is published by IGI Global, CCDigital Press, Lexington Books, New Forums Press, Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy, and Computers and Composition Online.

Finding ways technology can connect professors to students and students to academic work.

Universities cannot ignore technology. It's the very reason they exist.

digital ethos, learning space design, learning with dyslexia, powerpoint, prezi, teaching with technology

In 2015, a student of mine, Quincy, and I were killing time between classes by sharing our favorite TED talks when the topic of hosting a TEDx event at Bellarmine University came up. We wrote numerous notes on my office whiteboard and dug around as best we could. When Quincy graduated, another student of mine, Jacob, picked up the dream and formed much of the first TEDxBellarmineU Core Team, and we held our first event the next year. This team has been such an encouragement to me over the years. I enjoy seeing students learn how TEDx events work before they graduate and then seeing them return each year to help out and train the next batch of new TEDxBellarmineU recruits!

Home renovation and restoration. I'm also a good cook.