We know that preparing a talk takes time and effort during an already-busy season, and we are grateful for your contributions to our conference and our Writing Program community.
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
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 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 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/.
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.
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
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.
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
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?
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
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
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!
The 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.
The PDC wanted to spotlight some of our newer Writing Program faculty! We’re so glad to have you as part of the program!
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!
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.
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 🥰.
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).
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.
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.
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!
Please see the attached flyer for Zoom link and details for our annual Rothman Award in First-Year Writing Ceremony, this Friday, March 3, 12:00 – 1:30p. Thank you!
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.
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
Last 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.
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).
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.
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
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.
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!
So much has happened during the 2021-22 Academic Year! It’s been inspiring to see all the ways we’ve come together in the Writing Program to support each other throughout this year’s unique challenges. In the Pedagogical Development Committee, we’re really excited about some of the projects we began this year.
In the fall, PDC launched a new blog version of The Rhetorical Situation, with the goal of creating a more accessible format and featuring a variety of content for WP faculty. We look forward to continuing to develop this resource for WP, and we hope it will be a way to amplify faculty voices, stimulate discussion, and collaborate with one another.
In the winter, PDC hosted our first WP “mini-conference,” in which some of our faculty presented recycled work from other conferences or contexts. (Presentation materials linked here.) It was a wonderful opportunity for our colleagues to share and learn from each other, and we intend to make this an annual event. Please stay tuned for more about next year’s conference.
Throughout the year, we’ve been gauging faculty interest in establishing teaching circles to foster more collaboration and discussion among our colleagues. And this spring, we’ve begun making steps toward this goal for next year. The diagram below shows the results from our most recent survey.
We’re excited to continue finding ways to connect with each other and support pedagogical growth in the Writing Program, and wish you all a wonderful summer!
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The 3rd-Annual Writing Program Mini-Conference: 
Last 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!
