Bio


Dr. Ann Watters has taught English for 30 years, the last 25 at Stanford University in the English department and the first year writing program, now the Program in Writing and Rhetoric. In the writing program from 1988 to 1995 she served as director and associate director, co-teaching the graduate pedagogy workshops and supervising graduate teaching fellows; she also developed the computers and writing program and the community service writing project.

She has authored or co-edited eleven books in the discipline of writing and rhetoric and also authored a number of software programs including a multi-media program, "The Art of Persuasion." In recent years her courses have included "The Science of Writing and the Writing of Science," "The Rhetoric of Psychological Warfare and Propaganda," and "Global Exchange: Reading and Writing in a World Context." Current courses focus on cross-cultural issues and the psychology of influence and persuasion.

She is also a licensed psychologist in private practice.

She is currently lecturer emerita and continues to teach as needed; in Winter 2024 she is teaching PWR2: Psychology and Persuasion. She can be reached via email, watters@stanford.edu.

Academic Appointments


  • Lecturer, Writing and Rhetoric Studies

Administrative Appointments


  • Teaching Administrator/Associate Director, Undergraduate Writing Program (1988 - 1991)
  • Interim Director, Undergraduate Writing Program, Stanford University (1991 - 1992)

Current Research and Scholarly Interests


SPECIALIZATION: Clinical Psychology; Cross-cultural Communication; Visual Arts.