Associate Professor
Director of the Norman H. Ott Memorial Writing Center
When I was a sophomore in college, my sociology professor handed back a paper to me saying, with a smile and a shake of his head, "You write like an English major." I was both confused and intrigued by that backhanded compliment, and much of my subsequent research has been devoted to understanding how students learn to distinguish and write for various disciplines and what teachers can do to facilitate that learning. I've grown especially interested in the question of "transfer"--how writers connect what they know and who they are in one context with what they know and who they are in another context. I recently completed a book (Agents of Integration) on this subject and am beginning to examine the powerful role that peer writing tutors can play in helping writers to integrate their knowledge across contexts.
My research interests in the teaching and learning of writing energize the writing intensive classes I teach here at Marquette — including undergraduate courses on peer tutoring, advanced composition, writing for the professions, and "the Jury Project," as well as a graduate course in rhetorical theory for new teaching assistants. In addition, I enjoy teaching classes on drama in general and the musical in particular
Teaching Fields
- Rhetoric and Composition
- Drama
Office Hours
Fall 2013
- MW 11:00-12:30
- 240 Raynor
Teaching Schedule
Fall 2013
- 3210/101 MWF 10:00-11:15 DS 356
- Advanced Composition
Research Interests
- Transfer of writing-related knowledge
- Writing center research and administration
- Interdisciplinary Curricula and Writing
- Writing Across the Curriculum Programs
Selected Publications
- Agents of Integration: Understanding Transfer as a Rhetorical Act. Southern Illinois University Press, 2011.
- “Reflection in Action: A Signature Ignatian Pedagogy for the 21st-Century” in Nancy Chick, Aeron Haynie, and Regan Gurung (eds.) Exploring More Signature Pedagogies. Stylus Press.Co-authored with Susan Mountin.
- Citizenship Across the Curriculum. (2010) Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Co-edited with Michael B. Smith, Rebecca S. Nowacek, and Jeffrey L. Bernstein.
- “Three Models of Mentorship: Feminist Leadership and the Graduate Student WPA” in Krista Ratcliffe and Rebecca Rickley (eds.), Performing Feminism and Administration in Rhetoric and Composition Studies. Hampton Press (2010). Co-authored with Julie Christoph, Mary Lou Odom, and Bonnie Smith.
- “Why Is Being Interdisciplinary So Very Hard to Do? Thoughts on the Perils and Promise of Interdisciplinary Pedagogy.” College Composition and Communication. 60.3 (February 2009): 493-516.
- “Toward a Theory of Interdisciplinary Connections: A Classroom Study of Talk and Text,” Research in the Teaching of English. 41.4 (May 2007): 368-401.
- “A Discourse-Based Theory of Interdisciplinary Connections.” JGE: The Journal of General Education. 54.3 (2005): 171-195.
- “Negotiating Individual Religious Identity and Institutional Religious Culture." Negotiating Religious Faith in the Composition Classroom. Ed. Elizabeth Vander Lei and Bonnie L. Kyburz. Boynton/Cook (2005):155-166.
- “Making Space for Collaboration: Physical Context and Role Taking in Two Singing and Songwriting Groups.” Writing Groups Inside and Outside the Classroom. Eds. Beverly J. Moss, Nels P. Highberg, & Melissa Nicolas. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2004: 169-186. Co-authored with Kenna Del Sol.
Honors/Awards
- Robert and Mary Gettel Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, Recipient, 2012
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Klingler College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Faculty Advising, Recipient, 2011
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Excellence in Advising Award, Nominee 2008
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Faculty STAR 2009
- Faculty Excellence in Advising Award, Nominee, 2006
- CASTL Scholar, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 2005
- Manresa Writing/Research Award, 2005
- Faculty STAR Award, Residence Hall Honor Society, 2003
- Marquette University Manresa Program Course Development Grant, 2002
Marquette University, Summer Faculty Fellowship and Research Funds, 2002
English Department
