Published April 15, 2024 by

April 2024: Faculty Spotlight

The PDC wanted to continue to spotlight some of our Writing Program faculty! We’re so glad to have you as part of the program! 

 

Anthony Breakspear Headshot of Anthony, wearing a black t-shirt and big smile, against a white backdrop.

How long have you been teaching in general? 

10 years

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Fall 2015

What brought you to teaching (in general and/or here at UCSC)? 

A series of fortunate events: I had many supportive undergraduate mentors who showed me how a pedagogy of liberation could empower a marginalized person like myself to belong in the world. After graduating, I took that agency and went to law school, but quickly realized how much I missed a learning community of collaboration, so I dropped out/flunked out and went to grad school — where I started teaching.

Winston, the beloved pug.
Winston the pug

What is your favorite spot here at UCSC? Or in the world? 

Chadwick Gardens at UC Santa Cruz; Mazunte, Mexico.

What do you like to do outside of teaching?   

Throwing clay and propagating plants.

Any fun facts about yourself?

I speak Korean and I’m learning Arabic (if anyone is looking for a language partner)

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

Sadly, we just said good-be to Winston, a pug fur baby who lived 15 wonderful years.

 

Roxi Power

Roxi with her daughter Emma, both smiling into the camera with their heads tilted against each other.
Roxi Powers and her daughter, Emma

How long have you been teaching in general? 

35 years

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Spring, 1999

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

In the past: Crown College, Kresge college, Porter College, Literature, Creative Writing, Community Studies

What brought you to teaching (in general and/or here at UCSC)? 

I was brought to teaching, as many are, by the requirements of my graduate school at Cornell for funding.  Then I was brought to it, more like Denise Levertov says in her “Notes on Organic Form” that we are “brought to speech” when writing a poem, by more organic means. Compelled to write from inner provocations. I loved helping students feel the same way–that they were being brought, rather than forced, to write, through their own purposes for which they found pathways in corresponding genres, often trans-genres, they made up to suit these purposes. I’ve been teaching 35 years, and here at UC Santa Cruz, over 25 years. Yikes. I don’t feel that old!

What is your favorite spot here at UCSC? In the world?

It changes all the time.  I’m kind of a meadow-with-a-view person, having grown up with the vistas of Wyoming, so Porter meadow and that crazy view of the ocean from the top of the entry meadows: wow!  Now that my office is in the cool new Kresge building, I’m also loving the combination of contemporary architectural lines and the yellow pop of buildings against the soft green forest around Kresge.

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

I love spending whatever time my teenage daughter lets me spend with her before she zips off to college, writing poetry with my friends, listening to jazz, performing Neo-Benshi (live film narration), doing poetry podcasts, going on longish road trips on lonely roads through the Rocky Mountains to clear my mind, kayaking on Lake Tahoe. 

Any fun facts about yourself? 

Um, I hate horror movies. I’ve been trying to practice Mahayana Buddhism since the late 80s, not always perfectly, for sure.  I called myself Steve when I was 5 and really would wear lumberjack boots with the required dresses for holidays in elementary school.  Never owned a Barbie and still confused about the new movie fuss. Sorry (literally) everyone who loves the movie!

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

Emma Joy Power-Perkins is my 17 year old daughter who is the light of my life. Artistic, sensitive soul. On the other hand: our dogs, Shadow and Ollie. Barking, crazed maniacs as far as our neighbors are concerned, but we love them so!

Do you have any personal publications or presentations you’d like to share?   

My new book, The Songs That Objects Would Sing, available at Finishing Line Press, and you can find my (and all of our) podcasts and upcoming Bookshop Santa Cruz Hive Live! Events at https://hivepoetry.org/.

Here’s a clip from a Neo-Benshi on A Streetcar Named Desire at The New Orleans Poetry Festival last year (starts 41.32). 

 

Taylor Kirsch

Image of Taylor sitting on the edge of a sea cliff, smiling up into the sun.
Taylor Kirsch

How long have you been teaching in general?

I started teaching outdoor education with summer camps, field trip groups, recreation trips etc. when I was a teenager.  I also tutored as a teen.  My first classroom teaching experiences were in grad school at UCSC. 

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Winter 2018

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

I’ve taught in the History department and at the UCSC Rec.

What brought you to teaching (in general and/or here at UCSC)? 

In general, I’ve always felt deep satisfaction helping other people learn.  It’s a great feeling to grow in knowledge and experience in so many areas of life. Facilitating that for others and learning new ways to do so effectively just never gets old.  Our program has been a really supportive place to do these things.

What is your favorite spot here at UCSC? In the world?

This is tough!  I have many favorites.  At UCSC I love the koi pond in the Pogonip, and the bridge leading from Hahn to the Mchenry library, especially on a misty morning.  In the world, maybe Three Rivers, CA.  My family has a special connection to the river there and it’s where I got married. 

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

I love to spend time outside especially near rivers and oceans, hang out with cats and dogs, read, drink tea + cook and eat with family and friends.

Any fun facts about yourself? 

I’m the oldest of six kids and we all grew up with musician parents.  I’m the only one in my family with essentially zero artistic ability. 

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

My house looks like a jungle because I can’t stop adopting plants.  No fur or human babies currently but I’m lucky that nearly all my friends have kids, dogs, and/or cats whom I love dearly.  

 

Announcements

Published March 12, 2024 by

Winter Quarter 2024

CONTENTS:

  • Faculty Spotlight
  • PDC Mini-Conference: Call for Presenters 

 

Faculty Spotlight

The PDC wanted to spotlight some of our Writing Program faculty! We’re so glad to have you as part of the program! 

Sandy Archimedes

Headshot of Sandy, who is smiling at the camera.
Sandy Archimedes

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Spring of 2004

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

I taught College Nine Core for many years, and I was the Writing Coordinator for College Nine between 2004-2018.

What brought you to teaching (in general and/or here at UCSC)? 

I went to some wonderfully eccentric alternative schools as a child and adored my teachers. I was so inspired by them and by the supportive environment that I set my sights on teaching and writing … and here I am today!

What is your favorite spot here at UCSC? Or in the world?

Being mostly a city girl, walking from my office at Crown through the woods to College Nine (pre-pandemic) was a soul-restoring experience, even during some blustery storms. Besides encountering turkeys, deer, and various other critters, I’ve slogged my way through rain, mud, and rushing rivers — much more energizing than merely walking on the sidewalk!

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

I’m generally interested in anything related to health and well-being, so much of my non-teaching time is spent reading, cooking, doing yoga & meditation, going on city walks (in San Francisco, where I live, but also when we travel), and mostly being with friends and my long-time partner.

Photo of a black, brown, and white cat curled up in her bed.
Christabel

Any fun facts about yourself?

I’m retiring in June!

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

I love animals, and usually have one or two kitties, but sadly, our most recent and beloved fur-baby (Christabel) passed away a few months ago after a long, happy life. She was very affectionate and wanted to be by my side constantly, even when I was trying to work at the computer. There will be other fur-babies in the future (maybe even a pup!), but I’m giving myself a little time before then. 

 

 

Mark Baker

Photo of Mark with a black hat sitting with his arm resting on a railing that is overlooking a pond or pool.
Mark Baker

How long have you been teaching in general? 

About 27 years

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Fall, 1999

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

Yes: Oakes College, HSI (WORD), EOP (Bridge), LALS

What brought you to teaching (in general and/or here at UCSC)? 

This, I’m sure, is an evolving and changing list. But in short: I’ve always appreciated those moments when students gain a greater sense of themselves through their learning, when they see their own agency. I always enjoyed being a student, so this has been something that has consistently kept me on that pathway.

What is your favorite spot here at UCSC? In the world?

UCSC: the view from the lawn at Oakes! The world: Cadaques, Spain (at least for this moment!)

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

Read, listen to music, cook, outdoor activities, travel, look at architecture, see friends.

Any fun facts about yourself? 

I grew up listening to a lot of punk rock bands in the 80s and 90s, and still listen to many of those same bands today.

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

Yes: Zoe (an 18 year old Persian/Siamese cat)

 

Gail Brenner

Photo of Gail smiling while standing in front of a mainly-blue piece of art and a yellow wall.
Gail Brenner

How long have you been teaching in general?

38 years

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Fall 2015

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

Yes, for the Department of Languages and Applied Linguistics. Outside UCSC, in the past: UC Extension ELI (English Lang. International); ELS (English Languages Services); INTRAX (Int’l. Training and Exchange); Santa Cruz Adult School – ESL Program; Santa Cruz High School – ESL; privately at companies:Silicon Systems, Borland, Seagate. 

What brought you to teaching (in general and/or here at UCSC)? 

I’ve always been curious, and from a young age, intrigued with linguistic & cultural diversity (once I found out such a thing existed.) I loved school, and a favorite childhood pastime was “playing school” –  giving little lessons, creating tiny textbooks & exams for my (doll & stuffed animal) students. But the root of what drew me to teaching was my discovery, at age 6, that thousands of languages exist in the world besides the one that I and everyone I knew spoke. This stunning revelation sparked a vast new level of inquiry in my young mind – and, fast-forward, ultimately led me to studies in Anthropology and Education with a focus in ESL. So, here I am today, still “playing school” – for real now – still intrigued and inspired by academic engagement, my (much livelier) students, and my fabulous colleagues. 

What is your favorite spot here at UCSC? In the world?

Honestly, I’d have to say that the UCSC campus is one of my favorite spots in Santa Cruz, along with any location in Santa Cruz where one can look across meadows, surrounded by redwoods, out to the stunning expanse of the Monterey Bay. In the world, I’d say Granada, Spain with its multi-ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural history & influences — still very much evident.

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

I love to dance (ballet, folk, or any free-form movement to music); I enjoy various genres of music; love to read, sit in the morning sun with a cup of tea & a good book, especially poetry, which I write a little (with uneven success); and love long weekly phone chats with my son, Josh, who lives in Pasadena. 

Any fun facts about yourself? 

Hmm…ok: For some years I belonged to a Polynesian Dance Troupe; we performed at the welcome ceremony at Crissy Field in SF when the Hokule’a made its first voyage from Hawaii into San Francisco Bay in 1995.

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

The aforementioned lovely son, Josh Harris, and lots of unruly plant babies out in the yard.

Do you have any publications you’d like to share?  

Inglés for Dummies, 2nd ed. (2024); Webster’s New World American Idioms Handbook, (2003); Arco Master the TOEFL, (several editions); Master the TOEFL, CBT, both TOEFL books with co-author, Patricia Sullivan; a few random poems published here and there.

 

Susannah Carney

Picture of Susannah Carney (on the right) and daughter, about midway to the top of Yosemite Falls
Susannah Carney (right) with her daughter

How long have you been teaching in general?

25 years

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

I taught Writing 1 as a GSI in 2003/2004. Then I was hired as a Lecturer Winter 2023.

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

I have taught for years at Hartnell and Cabrillo Community Colleges. I also have taught several semesters at CSUMB.

What brought you to teaching (in general and/or here at UCSC)? 

In general, I love language, think that everyone should understand what it can do and how to use it, and want to keep learning about it forever. Teaching allows me to do that in my work.

What is your favorite spot here at UCSC? In the world?

My favorite spot (that I have been to) in the world is Yosemite.

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

All the outside, open space things: being in/on/near the ocean, mountains, deserts, wildflowers. At home I garden, spend time horsing around with family, and watch period dramas by myself (nobody else wants to).

Any fun facts about yourself? 

I’ve never been a sports fan, but much to my own surprise, I am a Warriors fan. (Really it’s Steph Curry.)

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

We lost our beloved canine family member, Kuma in June last year. I am still grieving. I have 3 human children who are all grown up!

 

Call for Presenters! 

Icon of a yellow lightening boltThe 3rd-Annual Writing Program Mini-Conference:

Lightning Talks Edition

Friday, April 26, 2024, 10am – 1pm 

On Zoom, link to be disseminated

 

In Spring 2022, the PDC inaugurated our first annual Writing Program mini-conference. Over the last two years, WP faculty have shared “recycled” or upcoming writing-related talks or presentations. This has been a wonderful opportunity for our colleagues to share and learn from each other! 

We are looking forward to our third-annual Writing Program mini-conference this spring quarter! This year, we’ve decided to change it up a bit. More information below: 

Spring 2024: WP Mini-Conference Lightning Talk Edition

  • All Writing Program Faculty are invited to give a 10-to-20-minute lightning talk (including time for questions) where you share some aspect of your teaching–an assignment, an activity, a pedagogical strategy, etc.–that you think other faculty members might like to try. 
  • You’ll be invited to bring some sort of artifact (a copy of the assignment, directions, a handout, etc) to disseminate to attendees. 
  • We envision this conference as a time to share all the great work we do in a very low-effort (but Biobib-able) free event. 

Sign up to present here! 

 

Announcements

Published December 14, 2023 by

Fall Quarter 2023

CONTENTS:
  • Faculty Spotlight
  • Teaching Circles

 

Faculty Spotlight

The PDC wanted to spotlight some of our newer Writing Program faculty! We’re so glad to have you as part of the program! 

Headshot of Dev Bose, smiling in front of greenery.

Dev Kumar Bose 

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Fall 2023

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

Currently I’m only teaching here for the UCSC WP (as well as serving on many interesting projects, such as the writing minor) after working in writing program administration at University of Arizona for 9 years. I have also taught professional/technical writing and communication at Iowa State University and Clemson University, as well as dedicated time to teaching first-year writing at community colleges across the country.

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

Outside of teaching, I enjoy hiking, reading, and cooking. I’m also working on a couple writing projects on disability and writing, including a soon-to-be published book by the National Council of Teachers of English.

Any fun facts about yourself? 

I am the proud owner of several instruments, including a 6-string bass, a 5-string bass, and a didgeridoo. I’m not as well practiced as I would like to be, however.

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

My son is currently in first grade and adjusting well to life in a new city. The beach certainly helps! While my dog recently passed away at the ripe age of 18, my partner and I recently began fostering a kitten. We don’t see any beach trips for her in the future, however!

Headshot of Daniel Joesten standing in front of a castle.

Daniel Joesten

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Fall 2018 as a GSI, Fall 2023 as a Lecturer

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

I have taught a world history summer course at UCSC in the past. Since Fall 2022 I have been teaching history at Monterey Peninsula College (World History, Western Civilizations, and U.S. History).

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

I enjoy listening to and creating music (piano, guitar, and bass). I also like to garden, though space is limited in my backyard. I recently resurrected a couple of sad looking crepe myrtle trees by adding some good old fashioned nutrients to the soil. I love playing video games when I have the time. The Legend of Zelda series is by far my favorite. I also like to jog on the wetland trails behind my house in Watsonville.

Any fun facts about yourself? 

I have been to six world capitals (London, Dublin, Belfast, Paris, Ottawa, and San Jose, Costa Rica) but never Washington D.C. I don’t know how fun that is, but I sort of think it’s interesting. 🙂

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

Yes! I have a son, Henry (11 years old), who loves to collect plushies and make gingerbread cookies no matter what time of year it is. I have a daughter, Emma (8 years old) who loves to sing rock music and went to her first rock concert at the age of 6. I also have two cats. Allie is the oldest and spends half the day outside in the backyard catching mice. Luigi is still a kitten(ish) and is more like a dog than any cat I have ever met. I have too many plant babies to count, though my favorite is my Japanese maple.

Image of Alexandra McCourt smiling in between a younger girl and a taller man.

Alexandra M. McCourt

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Fall 2023

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

I have taught at North Carolina State University and Durham Technical Community College.

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

I like to make my own wine and watch Grey’s Anatomy (sometimes at the same time).

Any fun facts about yourself? 

I can speak Portuguese, French, and Spanish.

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

I have a human baby ☺️. Her name is Eduarda, she is 11, and she LOVES candy and Billie Eilish. I have a dog named Dean Winchester and I have three avocado trees that are growing 🥰.

Image of Don Miller , wearing a denim shirt and backpack and standing in front of the ocean.

Don Miller

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Fall 2023 (though I did teach WRIT 26 in Fall/Winter of 2016/7)

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

I also teach courses in Languages and Applied Linguistics (primarily courses toward our TESOL certificate).

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

Hiking/backpacking, trail running, cycling, gardening, photography…

Any fun facts about yourself? 

I’ve been tattooed in the traditional Samoan way–ink made from candle nut soot tapped into the skin with a boar’s tusk.

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

We’ve got two cats. 5-yr-old siblings named Huck and Meimei.

Headshot of Daniel Pearce next to a window.

Daniel Pearce

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Winter 2020 (eek!)

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

Kresge, and before that I taught at Columbia and San Quentin State Prison.

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

Write and play music!

Any fun facts about yourself? 

I play the drums 🙂

Do you have any human, fur, or plant babies? If so, tell us a little about them.

I have a dog Rudy, an adorable chihuahua–terrier–aussie mix—he often sits in my lap during Zooms and will pop his head up to say hi to my interlocutors.

Image of Kate Ross standing on a beach.

Kate Ross

When did you start teaching for the Writing Program?

Spring 2022 (lecturer); I taught Winter & Spring 2019, and Winter 2020 as a GSI.

Have you taught at/do you teach for any other programs here at UCSC besides Writing? For any programs outside of UCSC? 

I also teach at Rachel Carson. 

What do you like to do outside of teaching?

Hiking/backpacking, cooking, reading, cards.

 

Teaching Circles

This fall, the PDC once again facilitated the opportunity for Writing Program Faculty to join a teaching circle. In teaching circles, faculty with similar teaching schedules and modalities are paired so that they can informally talk about teaching–successes, problems, strategies, assignments…. Faculty are encouraged, but not required, to take the opportunity to visit one another’s classrooms (or Canvas sites) in a non-evaluative, low-stakes visit. Past participants have spoken of the positive impact of these connections.

We encourage you all to join a teaching circle in the Winter or Spring Quarter. It’s a low stakes, low commitment way to feel connected and get support in this challenging time of teaching. 

Plus, teaching circles are something to add to your Biobib. We’ll send you a certificate when you’ve completed one. 

Look for an email in the Winter to sign-up for a teaching circle! 

 

 

 

 

 

Announcements

Published June 14, 2023 by

The Rhetorical Situation: 2023 End-of-Year Wrap-Up

Spring Quarter 2023

Contents: 

  • End of the Year Letter 
  • Highlighting our Faculty: 
    • Accomplishments
    • Summer Dreaming
    • Loves of our Lives

End of the Year Letter

Dear Writing Program Faculty and Staff,

The PDC wanted to take the time to thank you all for a great year and for your participation in our professional-development and community-building events. A few highlights:

The 2nd-Annual WP Mini-Conference

This Spring Quarter, the PDC hosted our annual Writing Program “Recycled Writing” mini-conference. For the second iteration of this conference, the PDC wanted to open up the conference to celebrate and highlight all types of writing that we are doing—from pedagogy-focused to independent research to creative writing and journalism. We had the pleasure of having a special keynote speaker, our very own Farnaz Fatemi, the current Santa Cruz County Poet Laureate. (Link here to the schedule and description of presentations.) We look forward to the 2024 conference. 

Thank you to the nearly 30 of you who attended at least some part of the conference!

We especially want to thank all 12 participants for their insightful presentations:

·  Farnaz Fatemi
·  Kim Helmer
·  Lindsay Knisely
·  Madeline Lane-McKinley
·  Phil Longo
·  Brij Lunine
·  Kate McQueen
·  Roxi Power
·  Kae Yuan Roybal
·  Brenda Sanfilippo
·  Heather Shearer
·  Amy Vidali

Teaching Circles

The PDC additionally embarked on a “Teaching Circle” project this year to encourage and facilitate faculty learning from each other through low-time commitment, non-evaluative visits to each other’s classes (online or in-person), the exchange of syllabi and other teaching material, and informal chats on any aspect of teaching for the Writing Program. 

We sent out surveys in Fall, Winter, and Spring to assess interest and gather information to pair up faculty with others with similar schedules and teaching modalities. In the Fall, we had 36 responses with 61% interested in participating. We sent the survey out again in the Winter and received 22 responses with 6 faculty reporting successful meetings the previous quarter, but learned that many of the planned meetings were derailed due to the strike. In the Spring, our survey resulted in 9 responses with 6 faculty reporting successful meetings the previous quarter. In retrospect, although only a small proportion of faculty participated in the program, all of the survey responses on the success of the meetings were enthusiastically positive. 

We will send out another survey for teaching circles in the Fall. Thanks to all of those who helped make Teaching Circles a success this year! 

Open Pedagogy Workshop

The PDC also hosted an online “Open Pedagogy Workshop” at the end of Winter quarter to which we invited those who had participated in the Teaching Circles and anyone else interested in informally discussing our teaching practice. About 20 of our friendly WP colleagues appeared on the Zoom screen. We began with Teaching Circle participants sharing some of their experiences and then moved to two breakout rooms: one focused on ChatGPT, and a second focused on post-pandemic teaching. The discussion was lively, informative, and a great opportunity to talk about all of those things we just don’t have time to address in Writing Program faculty meetings.    

We are so grateful to work within such a wonderful community and look forward to continuing to support professional development and community in the Writing Program next year.


Sincerely,

The 2022-2023 PDC Committee

Lisa Schilz, Chair
Steve Coulter
Dina El Dessouky
Madeline Lane-McKinley
Kae Yuan Roybal

 

2. Highlighting Our Faculty

Accomplishments

Maggie Amis: 

  • Nearly three years ago, in August of 2020, lightning struck, and sparked the fires that burned over 86,000 acres and 1490 structures–including the house we’d lived in for 30 years. The loss was manifold and incalculable. But, now, luckily, I am happy to say we’ve found a permanent house and garden!

“Awesome Coworker”: 

  • Between January and April, my biggest achievement was preventing my life from getting washed downstream. What I’m most excited about is that my immediate family had no life-threatening medical crises during the academic year. (I might have lowered my expectations after the past few years.)

Gail Brenner: 

  • I’m pretty excited about completing the 2nd (& extensively revised) edition of my book, English for Dummies (Inglés para Dummies) — written in English & translated by other folks into Spanish & other languages. (1st ed. 2003). 2nd edition available in August. 

Steve Coulter: 

  • I will be going back to Ireland with 25 students for a 5-week Writing 2 course in Dingle, Co. Kerry. My wife, Rachel Goodman, will be teaching a 2-unit podcasting course.

Kim Helmer: 

  • I was proud to be an invited speaker at TESOL 2023 International Conference held in Portland, OR where I talked about Critical Language Awareness and my Writing 26 Linguistic Landscapes Project. I participated with a former PhD classmate, Estela Ene. We also presented at our FIRST academic conference together 20 years ago (also in Portland) and now in 2023, we were INVITED to speak! Kind of amazing! Also, I was super proud to give two presentations with two of my Writing 26 students: Melissa Hernandez and Adit Mandal.

Kristen Kennedy Terry: 

  • In March, I submitted a manuscript for a monograph on social network analysis and second language acquisition that I have been working on for the last two years. It was recently accepted by the series editors (phew!), so it is now in press. It feels great to have my life back! For family news, my older daughter, Katherine, spent a year studying abroad in France and my younger daughter, Ciara, is finishing her first year at UCLA this month.

Taylor Kirsch: 

  • Things I’m excited about accomplishing this year: Making some key innovations & improvements in my classes & teaching in community with others in the WP.  Taking care of my health better than I did last year. Helping out with my brother’s wedding and my grandma’s 100th birthday celebration!   

Lindsay Knisely: 

  • I won the 2022-23 Excellence in Teaching Award!

Madeline Lane-McKinley: 

  • My book came out in November, and I had a blast on a short book tour promoting it. I also finished a book I co-authored with my friend Max, which will be coming out next year. Lots of writing, gardening, swimming, and cooking too.

Brij Lunine: 

  • Nothing prestigious to note.  I’m happy to have had great classes of Writing students, despite the continued super challenging circumstances. Even though a disproportionate number of our students are having significant problems, I enjoyed supporting them as best I can, and we also had some great times in class. I also enjoyed co-chairing the C committee with Brenda and working with Joy, Mark, & Chris.

Kate McQueen: 

  • I’m excited to report that I am now the holder of the Cowell College Gary D. Licker Memorial Chair, from July 2022 to June 2025. I’m using the resources from this award to work on a book project. This spring I presented some early research at an international literary journalism conference in Poland. I’ll be doing archival work in Germany this summer and fall, and am slated to teach a future Cowell College class related to the project (likely on biographical writing). I hope to reveal a book title for you all soon 🙂

Ellen Newberry: 

  • On April 25 I became a great aunt to the absolutely cutest kid in the word: Camila Rose Balassone. I have already given her a San Francisco Giants onesie.

Tina Osborne: 

  • My 11-year-old daughter Skylar climbed both Yosemite Falls and Nevada-Vernal Falls over Memorial Day. The thunderous waterfalls were epic from all angles!

Sarah-Hope Parmeter: 

  • This year’s accomplishments have been of the avoiding-the-worst-case-scenario kind. We made it through four potential flooding evacuations this winter, along with all three cats. Our home and one of our two cars made it through intact, which is an excellent result given what many have been dealing with. In the fall, I took a fall, put my teeth through my upper lip and had fractures below both elbows, but I did not break glasses/teeth/nose, which strikes me as pretty darn felicitous overall.

Roxi Power:

  • Poetry book to be published August 2023:  The Songs That Objects Would Sing.
  • Panel accepted at Associated Writers and Writing Program Conference, Seattle, March 2023:  Rhizomatic Literary Communities: from the Local to the National. 
  • Invited to perform my Neo-Benshi show of A Streetcar Named Desire at New Orleans Poetry Conference, April, 2023

Heather Shearer: 

  • ​​I became a rider-of-bikes.

Tiffany Wong:

  • UCSC Global Engagement Collaborative Online International Learning/Virtual Exchange (COIL/VE) Travel Award
  • Humera Foundation Contemplative Award
  • Cultivating Compassion Daylong with another 8-week Cultivating Compassion Training (CCT) being offered Fall 2023, September 5 through October 24, Tuesdays from 6-8pm.
  • BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and Allies Mindfulness and Self-Care Group, Thursdays from 6-7:30pm.
  • “Listening to the Earth, Listening to Each Other,” Half Daylong for BIPOC and Allies, Sunday, June 4th from 9am-1pm (Free/Donation). For the Schedule and Registration visit https://www.watsonvilleinsight.org/
  • Young Rhetoricians Conference, Organizing Board Member and Facilitator, 2023 Conference Thursday and Friday, June 22-23. For Registration visit https://youngrhetoriciansconference.com/ 
  • Designing and Building a Kinetic Sculpture, https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/

Summer Dreaming 

Maggie Amis: 

  • Exploring, and settling into our house–and having my older daughter visit!

Gail Brenner: 

  • Endless days of lounging in a hammock with cool pitchers of ice tea and good books of poetry — mostly penned by my brilliant WP colleagues! Plus, a long-awaited visit to my son in L.A. & aimless meandering through Pasadena’s exquisite Huntington Botanical Gardens (ahhh, just doing nothing!) Wishing you all a happy summer!

Steve Coulter: 

  • I will be going back to Ireland with 25 students for a 5-week Writing 2 course in Dingle, Co. Kerry. My wife, Rachel Goodman, will be teaching a 2-unit podcasting course.

Joy Hagen: 

  • Sewing ribbon skirts

Kim Helmer: 

  • Going to Crete, Greece with an old friend with whom I did my UC EAP study abroad in Padova, Italy in 1986-87! I was at UCLA and she was at Berkeley.

Kristen Kennedy Terry: 

  • Sunshine and drinking coffee on my front porch!

Taylor Kirsch: 

  • Spending time in nature 🙂 

Madeline Lane-McKinley: 

  • Looking forward to doing some camping and berry-picking, and finding some new swimming holes!

Brij Lunine: 

  • Camping in the Sierras!  A trip to Lassen and then Bend, OR with old friends to stay with other longtime friends. Free time!  

Kate McQueen: 

  • Travel! Books! Hiking! Writing! 

Ellen Newberry: 

  • Going to as many Giants games as possible.

Tina Osborne: 

  • I’m most excited about our 10-year dream of taking my little boy Denali to see his 20,310-foot-tall namesake, Mount Denali.

Sarah-Hope Parmeter: 

  • Teaching Merrill 1A and getting a sense of the college’s entering class. Also cats, knitting, books.

Roxi Power: 

  • My sister’s museum art retrospective in Provincetown; writing; review prep (haha!).

Kae Roybal: 

  • Going to a couple meditation retreats.

Lisa Schilz: 

  • Reading, going to the beach, working in my garden.

Heather Shearer: 

  • Early morning bike rides and bird watching.

Terry Terhaar: 

  • Feeding dried bugs to my feather babies. 

Amy Vidali: 

  • Working in the yard! Camping in the trailer with Lyle! Reading fiction!

Tiffany Wong: 

  • Everything! =)

Loves of our Lives…

Maggie Amis: Two of the loves who live with me & George and our daughter Catherine–misbehaving on the drying rack. This is Jasper & Chessie. Maggie's cats Jasper and Chessie on the laundry
Gail Brenner: Thanks to my son, Josh Harris, who kept me sane through the year-long book revision project with his constant good cheer and encouragement. The cover of Gail's book, Ingles for dummies
Steve Coulter: My wife, Rachel, who also teaches College 1 and for Community Studies, has been finishing a recording of her original songs. I worked for many years as a recording engineer, so it’s been fun to be back in the studio playing bass and mixing the CD. Steve's wife, Rachel Anne Goodman, playing guitar
Joy Hagen: On Mother’s day weekend, I love to spend time at the annual Stanford powwow with my family. This 30+ year annual tradition of mine paused for the past four years, so this year it was especially exciting to spend time with my mom, kid, and niblings at the powwow throughout the weekend. The attached photo was taken at this year’s powwow in front of the banner of our Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits friends. In the photo are two of my loves: my kid, Star Hagen-Esquerra (UCSC ’22) and nibling Sequoyah Hagen (aspiring UCSC admit for class of 2030). The future is bright! (And totally adorable, IMHO.) Joy's kid, Star Hagen-Esquerra (UCSC '22) and nibling Sequoyah Hagen smiling outside in front of a sign that reads Bay Area American Indian Two Spirits
Kim Helmer: Ruby is the joy of my life, making me laugh everyday and bringing smiles to all the people we get to meet on our walks. Kim's small tan dog, Ruby, sleeping
Kristen Kennedy Terry: Here are the 3 loves of my life–my daughters Ciara (18) and Katherine (21) and my husband Mark (ageless) in Venice, 2022. The Terry family, Ciara, Katherine, Mark, and Kristen, on holiday in Venice
Taylor Kirsch: I can’t have fur babies of my own right now, but most of my friends do and that’s almost as awesome!  Meet Luna; believe it or not, this is her smile and it means she’s extremely happy to see you. Taylor's friend's dog, Luna, growling
Madeline Lane-McKinley: My kid Tuli is going to be starting middle school this fall, and I can’t believe it!
Brij Lunine:  Sounds like a holiday letter:  My wife, Michelle Morton, continues to enjoy being an instructional librarian at Cabrillo and VP of the faculty senate.  My son Oscar and his partner finally found a nice rental in Happy Valley and he continues to do arborary and landscaping work both for a company and on his own (if you need anyone…).  My daughter’s finishing a successful first-year at UCLA double majoring in public policy and Spanish.  She’s found community in the track club.  And our 13-year old (?) cat “Burger” is getting pretty mellow.  
Kate McQueen: Kate McQ’s cat Gizmo is generally not amused. But we love him anyway. Kate McQ's long-haired, white and grey cat Gizmo sprawled out in a chair
Ellen Newberry: Hank the cat continues to shred the couch and warm my heart. I love her far more than the couch, so all is good. Ellen's tortie cat Hank hiding behind pillows
Tina Osborne: My 11-year-old daughter Skylar climbed both Yosemite Falls and Nevada-Vernal Falls over Memorial Day.  The thunderous waterfalls were epic from all angles!  Tina and daughter Skylar. Yosemite is in the background. Tina wears a blue shirt, Skylar wears an orange shirt.
Sarah-Hope Parmeter: Our three cats. Darla rules the universe simply by staring at us and emitting vibrational energy. We pick up her signals and obey. Charlie is still the loudest cat we’ve ever shared our home with. Salty, who joined us during the worst of COVID, continues to be both independent and affectionate. A delight in every way. Also reading and knitting. (Pictured: Salty Petunia.) Sarah Hope's black and white cat Salty Petunia inspects some vegetables outside on a table
Roxi Power: My 16 year old daughter, Emma, won the Chemistry and Art award in her high school, and she’s so excited for summer!
Kae Roybal: This is my 14-year-old Bluepoint Siamese cat, Isis. She’s a plump beauty who’s afraid of the outdoors. Obsessed with food, chin scritches, and Star Trek. Before feeding time she likes to spend several minutes running around the kitchen island in a clockwise direction.  Close-up of Kae's bluepoint Siamese cat, Isis
Lisa Schilz: My 3 rescue pugs at their favorite place, Blacks Beach (from left-to-right): Henry is blind and deaf and  wearing a “halo” to help him navigate independently without bumping his head; Finneas loves fetching his ball and running in the waves; and Lola likes sitting next to random people at the beach to get petted.  Lisa's three rescue pugs on the beach
Heather Shearer: Me and my trusty Zizzo folding bike. Heather, wearing a helmet, poses with folding bike, Zizzo
Terry Terhaar: My 3 feather babies, Hughie, Dewie, and Louie! Terry's black and white ducks, Hughie, Dewie, and Louie
Amy Vidali: This is Calliope. She fetches like a dog, is fearless, and is a master cuddler.  Amy's tan cat Calliope spreads out on a grey couch
Tiffany Wong: My 9-year-old niece Kaylynn with our two dogs Oreo and Lola. Lola is sitting on Kaylynn’s lap, while Oreo’s snoot is featured below. Tiffany's 9-year-old niece Kaylynn with our two dogs Oreo and Lola. Lola is sitting on Kaylynn's lap, while Oreo's snoot is featured below.

Etc. Faculty Spotlight

Published March 20, 2023 by

ChatGPT Resources – a PDC-curated Bibliography

Assistive Technologies & Chat GPT

In response to the ongoing debates about ChatGPT and higher education, we’ve put together this short bibliography, as well as links to additional resources, for Writing Program faculty.

The goal of this list of articles and resources is not to weigh in on the debates, or to be completist. This list highlights some different perspectives and issues that can help us to form our individual positions as instructors, as we develop pedagogical strategies for how to engage with our students.

  • Susan D’Agostino, “ChatGPT Academics Can Use Now,” Inside Higher Ed, January 12, 2023.
    • D’Agostino focuses on how to integrate ChatGPT into the classroom and invite students into the conversation. D’Agostino emphasizes that we should “channel anxiety over ChatGPT into productive experimentation.”
  • Jordan S. Carroll, “Don’t Blame Students for Using ChatGPT to Cheat,” The Nation, January 20, 2023.
    • Carroll urges academic laborers in higher education to situate the discourse over plagiarism within broader political questions about the future of the university system. The article decenters pedagogical policing, and directs readers towards student-teacher solidarity.
  • Lance Eaton, “Classroom Policies for AI Generative Tools.”
    • This Google Doc resource was created for the purposes of sharing and helping other instructors see the range of policies available by other educators to help in the development of their own for navigating AI-Generative Tools (such as ChatGPT, MidJourney, Dall-E, etc).
  • Victor Tangermann, “There’s a Problem With That App That Detects GPT-Written Texts: It’s Not Very Accurate,” Futurism, January 9, 2023.
    • Tangermann’s research highlights the risks of over-reliance on software like GPTZero: “The numbers speak for themselves. GPTZero correctly identified the ChatGPT text in seven out of eight attempts and the human writing six out of eight times. Don’t get us wrong: the numbers are impressive. But they also indicate that if a teacher or professor tried using the tool to bust students doing coursework with ChatGPT, they would end up falsely accusing nearly 20 percent of them of academic misconduct.”
  • Ryan Watkins, “Update Your Course Syllabus for ChatGPT,” Medium, December 18, 2022.
    • Watkins offers suggestions for how to update our syllabi given the ease of availability of ChatGPT for students, while encouraging faculty “to focus on the value you offer students as their instructor.” He also provides ideas for creative assignments adapted for a classroom with ChatGPT.

 

For more resources, check out this list from CITL, as well as “AI Text Generators: Sources to Stimulate Discussion Among Teachers,” which is a massive list compiled by Anna Mills for the Writing Across the Curriculum Clearinghouse.

Teaching

Published March 1, 2023 by

March 3 – Rothman Award in First-Year Writing Ceremony

Announcements

Published February 27, 2023 by

Open Pedagogy Workshop (Teaching Circle Follow-up)

SAVE THE DATE!

WHEN: Thursday Mar 16, 2023, 11:40-1:15 via Zoom

WHAT: “Open Pedagogy Workshop”

All Writing Program faculty are invited to participate in this pedagogy workshop–which is designed in conjunction with the PDC’s Teaching Circle–regardless of whether or not you’ve participated in the Fall ‘22 and/or Winter ‘23 rounds of the Teaching Circle. We encourage everyone to attend; it’s a chance to come and talk informally about teaching!

WHY: Because it is clear that as a department, we relish opportunities to informally and casually discuss approaches and strategies to teaching that can enrich both our students’ experiences and ours. Because we need these opportunities to talk through our teaching, and the Writing Program is supporting us to do so with time set aside for workshop…so, please join us!

***the PDC is soliciting recommendations for a portion of the workshop that will offer breakout rooms with areas of focus based on pedagogical needs and interests. Please email Dina and Steve (deldesso@ucsc.edu and sjcoulte@ucsc.edu) with anything related to pedagogy that you’re eager to discuss.

Announcements

Published December 1, 2022 by

PDC Blog Fall 2022: New Colleagues, WP Mini-Conference, and Teaching Circles

Introducing: Joseph Navarro and Fiona Weigant

Here’s an introduction to the two newest members of the Writing Program, who have been with us since the start of the 2022-03 academic year.

Joseph Navarro – Lecturer

I am excited to return to UCSC and continue my service to this community. I view teaching writing and literacy as an opportunity to change the world. This approach provides me with a strong sense of purpose in my labor. I am working on my dissertation for a PhD in Composition and Applied Linguistics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. My research and pedagogy are rooted in anti-racism and critical pedagogy. I wish that I had more time to spend with my partner (Ryah), two cats (Ezekiel, Comrade) and two dogs (Haruki, Miercoles). I also wish I had more time to read and write for myself.

Fiona Weigant – Writing Program Manager

​​I grew up in Dublin, Ireland and spent a decade living in Paris, France. I have now lived longer in Santa Cruz than anywhere else. I was a junior transfer student from Cabrillo College where I took the required writing courses. I graduated from UCSC with a BA in History and a minor in Legal Studies. I have 21 years of experience across multiple units and roles at UCSC. I am excited to bring my expertise and institutional knowledge to the Writing Program. I am a fierce advocate for our campus communities and currently serve on the Undergraduate Academic Advising Council. I am looking forward to getting to know the writing program community and learning how best to serve the program and our students.

Fun Fact: I don’t speak Irish but I do speak French 🙂

Save the Date!

The Second-Annual Writing Program Mini-Conference: April 20 and 21, 2023 

Image of dark wood library shelves filled with books that curve around the second-floor of a rotundaLast spring, the PDC organized our first annual Writing Program mini-conference, in which some of our WP faculty shared “recycled” or upcoming writing-related talks or presentations. This was a wonderful opportunity for our colleagues to share and learn from each other!

We are looking forward to our second-annual Writing Program mini-conference this spring quarter. More information below:

WHAT: 

  • If you are presenting at an upcoming conference (CCC, Young Rhetoricians, NTCE, etc), have given a paper/presentation on campus or at a conference in the last few years, or if you have been or are working on a publication, we invite you to present at the conference!
  • This year, we look forward to expanding the mini-conference to multiple genre-based panels:
    • Writing Pedagogy/General Pedagogy
    • Creative Writing
    • Independent Research
    • Journalism
    • Other
  • As previously, there will be time for discussion at the end of each panel. For non-pedagogy presentations, we will be asking you to reflect on how your writing/work/research helps inform or impacts your teaching of writing.

WHEN: 

  • Thursday, April 20 and Friday, April 21, 2023
  • Times TBD

WHERE: 

WHO:

  • All Writing Program faculty, staff, and GSIs!
  • We encourage all of you to consider presenting a piece of your past (or upcoming) writing/talk in a low-pressure environment. Presenters do not need to edit their presentations; presenters can begin by providing context for the presentation’s original/intended audience if needed.

WHY: 

  • We all do a lot of great work, but sometimes, we don’t get to share it with each other. This is a chance to share what we’re doing in a very low effort (but Biobib-able) free event.

Teaching Circles: Staying Connected

One recurring theme in our discussions in the Pedagogical Development Committee has been how we often feel isolated from other faculty members in the program. Our offices are scattered throughout the campus, and many faculty members are now working from home. We have so few chances to “talk shop” and find out what is happening in the classrooms of other faculty.

A few years ago, a group of faculty came together to form an unofficial group called the Faculty Learning Community. We visited each other’s classrooms, chatted afterwards, and met occasionally as a full group for discussion and informal presentations from members on innovative pedagogical strategies they were developing.

The PDC has taken on the initiative this quarter to re-establish a similar program. We began by taking a survey among faculty to gauge interest in the process. Those who responded positively were paired up with other instructors at convenient times and locations. Online instructors were paired with others working in the same modality. Classroom visits, whether online or in-person, were intended to be non-evaluative and not involve critique or unsolicited suggestions. Faculty would have the opportunity to sit in the back of the class, check out what was going on, and then afterwards have a brief chat to ask questions and talk about any new ideas for teaching.

We have matched up four in-person pairs and six online pairs. We have not yet collected any data on who had a chance to meet or how it went. Some of the in-person class visits have undoubtedly been derailed by the strike, but we are excited to continue the process over next quarter. We will send out another survey to see who was able to meet and to match up new pairs based on our Winter teaching schedules.

We also plan to schedule an optional online meeting at the beginning of Winter quarter to informally discuss what was learned from classroom visits, questions we have about our own pedagogy, or any other issues we are facing in the Writing Program. We are hoping you will see this as a low-stress opportunity to “talk shop,” get to know each other a little better, and see what’s happening in the classroom down the hall (or online).
Clip art image of 6 people sitting around a circular table, drinking coffee, and working on computers and in notebooks

Announcements Faculty Spotlight

Published November 18, 2022 by

Fall 2022: Resource Round-Up

As we head into the end of Fall term, we’ve put together a collection of resources from our Fall faculty meetings, including how to connect with Slug Support, Writing Program tutoring, and more.

At the Writing Program’s Nov. 8th faculty meeting, the Slug Support team answered faculty questions and presented ways we can leverage their resources to help students in need of their support. Here’s a rundown of some of the resources they shared and ways to get in touch.

Slug Support: Quicklinks

  • Points of Contact:
    • Slug Support website
    • Email: deanofstudents@ucsc.edu
    • Phone: 831-459-4446 (Monday thru Friday 9am-5pm)
    • Crisis Line: 831-459-7003
    • Instagram: @ucsc_dos
      *If getting in touch on a student’s behalf, Slug Support recommends including student name, ID, and a short description of concerns, barriers, needs, and questions

Writing Program Tutoring and Assistance

Here is the link to the Writing Program tutoring and writing assistance website! They offer embedded and drop-in tutoring for students in Writing Program courses. At this site, you can:

If you have questions, you can reach out here.

Teaching with the DTEN: A How-to Guide

During our last faculty meeting, the Online Education Committee shared resources regarding a valuable classroom teaching tool: the DTEN. These include an “Introduction to the DTEN” that covers step-by-step basics, including how to set up the DTEN machine in your classroom, how to reserve a room with a DTEN, some of the beneficial pedagogical features of the DTEN, and additional campus resources for this innovative teaching tool.

You can find the Online Education Committee’s “How-To Guide” here.

Announcements

Published November 15, 2022 by

Rothman Award Winners 2021-2022

This year we’ll be holding the Don Rothman Awards Ceremony for Excellence in First-Year Writing during the Winter quarter. We read dozens of amazing submissions this year, a testament to the excellent work of students and faculty in WP courses. We’ll share more details soon about the ceremony itself, but for now, we’re excited to share the finalists for the 2021-2022 academic year:

First Place: Camille Vergely, “Growing Up on a Dying Planet”

Second Place: Joy Malak, “Lesbian Community: Confusion or Connection?”

Third Place: Camille Lagunera, “From Splendor in the Grass to Sexploitation: The Sex Revolution of the 1960s in American Cinema”

Honorable Mention: Julia Spilman, “Aphantasia: An Unusual Blindness”

Congratulations to the winners and their instructors!

Announcements