Academics: Education, Teaching, Conferences

Education

(See details on coursework at this link)

  • Ph.D.  English Literature. University of Southern California, August 2008.
  • M.A.  English Literature.  Washington State University, 1994.
  • B.A.  Distinction in English Literature, Summa Cum Laude. Minor in Drama. San Diego State University, 1991.

Academic Awards

  • Merit Dissertation Fellowship, Department of English, University of Southern California, 2001-2002.
  • Service Award, The Writing Program, University of Southern California, 2001.
  • Instructional Coordinator Fellowship, The Writing Program, University of Southern California, 1999-2001.
  • Course Coordinator Fellowship, The Writing Program, University of Southern California, 1998-2001.
  • Nominated as “Graduate Student of the Year”, English Graduate Organization, Dept of English, Washington State University, 1994.
  • Honors Program Certificate, Department of English, San Diego State University, 1991.
  • Member of Mortar Board, Golden Key, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Societies, San Diego State University, 1991.

Teaching

Adjunct Instructor, School of Language and Literature, Southwestern College, Chula Vista, CA. Fall 1994-Summer 1997, Summers 1998-2002, and Fall 2002-Summer 2006

  • English 116 Writing About Literature (two sections)
    • Critical reading, argument and analysis were focuses of this class built around writing about literature. Designed course syllabus and assignments and chose readings, including sections on William Shakespeare.
  • English 115 Reading and Composition: Exposition and Argumentation (multiple sections)
    • Designed course syllabus, assignments, and taught this Freshman Writing Course aimed at developing students’ critical thinking skills within the conventions of academic discourse, cultivating students’ strong critical reading skills, their ability to conduct intertextual argument and analysis, and produce extended forms of academic writing. Logical fallacies, library skills, along with paragraph and sentence structure were all reviewed in this computer-aided course.
  • English 114 Introduction to Composition (multiple sections)
    • Focusing on essay structure, this course was designed to prepare students for English 115. Different essay structures were reviewed, in addition to work on paragraph structure and grammar issues. Critical reading and logical fallacies were introduced as well as library research and citation structure.
  • SRP Eng 114 Introduction to Composition: Summer Readiness Program, EOPS (10 yrs)
    • In addition to the normal requirements of Eng 114, SRP students also participated in extra activities to build community, expose them to new ideas, and teach them needed academic skills. Participated for 10 summers: attending planning meetings, leading group activities and field trips, and team-teaching sessions with EOPS counselors.
  • English 65/71 Basic Writing (multiple sections)
    • This class focused on paragraph structure and a review of grammar and sentence structure to prepare students for English 114 and 115. Students were placed in course through placement test or after ESL courses.
  • English 60 English Fundamentals (multiple sections)
    • This class focused on grammatical and structural review. Students who needed extra work on grammar or who were just out of ESL classes and wanted further work on the language were instructed on sentence structure, common grammatical mistakes, and basic style issues.
  • Business 210 Business Writing (multiple sections)
    • This class was designed to help students master the forms of business letters, memos and other types of business communication, including resumes and brochures. Persuasive techniques and critical thinking skills were major focus.

Assistant Lecturer, The Writing Program, University of Southern California 1997-2001

  • Writing 140 (multiple sections)
    • Designed course syllabus, assignments, and independently taught the following Freshman Writing Courses (Writing 140) with the aim of developing students’ critical thinking skills within the conventions of academic discourse, cultivating students’ strong critical reading skills, their ability to conduct intertextual argument and analysis, and produce extended forms of academic writing. Each course drew upon a special social issues topic, listed below. Departmental Portfolio readings were required at the mid-semester and end of semester.
      • Law, Politics, and Public Policy
      • Language, Society and Culture
      • Diversity and Racial Conflict
  • Course & Instructional Coordinator, The Writing Program, University of Southern California
    • 1998-2001 Course Coordinator, “Social Issues Affiliations”
      • Assumed a leadership role in facilitating the linkage between the Social Issues Courses and the affiliated Writing 140 sections. Developed writing assignments with associated materials and schedules for new and continuing Assistant Lecturers. Met regularly with the Assistant Lecturers assigned to the affiliation and the professor of the Social Issues course to plan assignments and lessons. Led affiliation group in departmental portfolio readings twice a semester.
    • 1999-2001 Instructional Coordinator, “Writing 501: Writing and Critical Reasoning”
      • Trained new instructors during the two-week Orientation prior to the semester and co-taught “Writing 501,” an introduction to the teaching of writing. Played an active mentorship role throughout the academic year and participated in program and curriculum development. Planned and conducted the staff development program for Assistant Lecturers throughout the semester, as well as coordinated weekly critical thinking and writing workshops for all Assistant Lecturers.

Adjunct Instructor, MiraCosta College, San Elijo Campus

  • Rhetoric & Composition (English 100) Fall 1995
    • Freshman Writing Course aimed at developing students’ critical thinking skills within the conventions of academic discourse, cultivating students’ strong critical reading skills, their ability to conduct argument and analysis, and produce extended forms of academic writing on multicultural topics.

Instructor, PACE Program, Central Texas College

  • Rhetoric & Composition (English 1301).  Aug-Oct 1996; Apr-Jun 1995; Aug-Oct 1994
    • 8 week courses on the USS McKee. Submarine base, Point Loma, CA.
      Freshman Writing Course aimed at teaching critical reading, argument and analysis, essay structure, and library research. Met once a week onboard the ship, with occasional interruptions when ship was called to duty at sea. Students wrote four extended essays and many shorter pieces for a end-of-session portfolio.

Teaching Assistant. Department of English, Washington State University

  • Freshman Composition (English 101) 1992-1994
    • Instructor of record for five sections of computer-aided composition course. Class used networked Macintosh computers once a week. Focused on group work and multicultural assignments. Departmental portfolio readings were required in fifth and eleventh week.
  • Assistant to Dr. J. M. Massi. Department of English, Washington State University
    • Introduction to Shakespeare (English 305)  Fall 1993
      • Delivered guest lecture on Henry IV, Part 1 in addition to assisting instructor, grading papers, and discussing teaching procedures throughout the semester.

Academic Presentations: Conferences

“‘You are in an ill name’: Elynour Rummyng, Mistress Quickly, and Other Fictional Tavern Women.”  Brawls, Bawds, and Beer: The Early Modern Alehouse and Tavern panel.  Renaissance Society of America National Conference.  San Diego, CA. April 2013.

“Before Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, or Even the Rovers:  Edward Stratemeyer’s Early Writings.” Dime Novels, Pulps and Series Books panel. Popular Culture Association National Convention. Boston, MA. April 2013.

“Who Reads the Readers? Booksellers, Librarians, Writers and Readers in Children’s Series Books.” Dime Novels, Pulps and Series Books panel. Popular Culture Association National Convention. San Antonio, TX. April 2011.

“‘Go to, you thing, go’: Shakespeare’s Mistress Quickly and the Working Woman’s Dilemma.” Women and Work section of the Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association Conference. Pomona College, Claremont, CA. November 2008.

“Women in and on the Market: Mistress Quickly, Sexuality and Retail in Early Modern London.” Shakespeare, the Elizabethans, and the Early Modern World II: Identity panel. Popular Culture Association. San Francisco, CA. March 2008.

“‘Penelope Spins Apace’: Deloney’s Jack of Newbury and Women’s Work.” Women and Work section of the PAMLA conference. Bellingham, WA. November 2007.

“Sexualized Economies and Working Women of Early Modern London.” Shakespeare, the Elizabethans, and the Early Modern World II. Popular Culture Association. Boston, MA. April 2007.

“Sex and the City (of London): Representations of Occupations.” Popular Culture Association. Atlanta, GA. April 2006.

“Legibility and Sexuality: Working Spaces for London Women.” Popular Culture Association. San Diego, CA. March 2005.

“‘Penelope Spins Apace’ and Weaving Women Disappear: Deloney and the Clothing Industry.” Renaissance Popular Culture section. Popular Culture Association. San Antonio, TX. April 2004.

“London Working Women of the Renaissance.” Renaissance Popular Culture section. PCA. New Orleans, LA. April 2003.

“Mercantile Community: Anthony Munday’s Lord Mayor’s Shows.” Constructing Textual Communities section. Renaissance Society of America and Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Scottsdale, AZ. April 2002.

“Women’s Work in Thomas Deloney Texts.” Renaissance Popular Culture section. PCA. Toronto, Canada. March 2002.

“Writing Work: Definitions of Self and Nationalism Through Occupations.” Renaissance Popular Culture section. PCA. Philadelphia, PA. April 2001.

“Making a Woman: Elizabeth and Shakespeare in Love.” Shakespeare in Popular Culture section. PCA. New Orleans, LA. April 2000.

“The Fall and the Country House Poem: Female Virtue and the Bounty of the Estate.” Renaissance Popular Culture section. PCA. San Diego, CA. April 1999.

“With This Ring: Sexuality and Anxiety in Elizabethan Drama.” Renaissance Popular Culture section. PCA. Orlando, FL. April 1998.

“Writing the Sin and Sinful Writing: Masques and Female Community in Lanyer’s Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum.” The Renaissance Conference of Southern California, Southwest Regional Renaissance Conference at the Huntington Library. May 13, 1994.

Sessions Chaired: Conferences

Area Chair. Renaissance Popular Culture sections. Popular Culture Association National Conference, 2001-2006.
Advertised Call For Papers, accepted submissions, and arranged panels, in addition to chairing sessions at conference.

Chair of Panel. “Sexuality and Teaching.” Dangerous Desires: Sexing the Academy. Interdisciplinary Graduate Student Conference. University of Southern California. April 1999.

Chair of Panel. “Explorations of Sexuality.” New Approaches to Medieval and Renaissance Texts: An Interdisciplinary Graduate Student Symposium. Washington State University. April 23, 1994.

Chair of Session. “Bridging the Gap: Applying Current Theories to Medieval and Renaissance Texts.” Workshop on Theory. New Approaches to Medieval and Renaissance Texts: An Interdisciplinary Graduate Student Symposium. Washington State University. April 23, 1994.

Colloquia Chair. English Graduate Organization. Department of English, Washington State University. 1993-1994.
Arranged for speakers and panels for the graduate student organization, advertised events, and chaired sessions.