Education
Boise State University, Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Fiction), May 2016
Carnegie Mellon University, B.A. Creative Writing and Social & Cultural History, May 2010.
Minor: Photography
Other Teaching Experience & Licenses
Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board, Substitute Teaching Permit, December 2016
Mentors Cloud Camps, in Boise, ID
Teacher & Curriculum creator, July-August 2016
Taught two weeklong camps: 5th-8th grade Personal Essay camp, and 12th grade College Essay camp.
University Teaching Experience
Boise State University in Boise, ID.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, August 2013-May 2016
Instructor, Introduction to Fiction
Instructor, First-Year Writing Academic Research
Instructor, First-Year Writing College Composition
Number of courses taught: 8
Fiction lessons include but are not limited to structure, cultural awareness, revision techniques, editing techniques, meta-awareness, dialogue, plot, genre, commercial and literary, online discussion board forum for reading assignments, and individual conferences with students throughout semester.
First-Year Writing lessons include but are not limited to structure, critical thinking, rhetoric, persuasive writing, summary, analysis, source integration, content development, online discussion board forum for reading assignments, and individual conferences with students through semester.
Selected for Center for Teaching & Learning Summer Course Design Institute, 2014
Boise State University Writing Center in Boise, ID.
Graduate Assistant, August 2014-May 2016
Lead initiative to increase creative writing presence.
Founding member of Social Justice training initiative.
Created instructional handouts for Fiction, Creative Non Fiction, Writing Strategies & Tips, and Statements of Purpose.
Assisted in spring hiring, staff training, budget discussions, professional development.
Facilitated revision workshops for undergraduate fiction and non-fiction students.
Coordinated final portfolio revision events for First Year and Creative Writing courses.
Completed collaborative Institutional Training Initiative for IRB (Human Subjects), 2014.
Provided consulting services and served as mentor to undergraduate tutors.
Editorial Experience
The Idaho Review Literary Journal at Boise State University in Boise, ID. Intern, Editorial staff. August 2013-December 2013, and January 2015-May 2015.
Carnegie Mellon University Press, at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.
Reader, Assistant to Gerald Costanzo (Director of Press). August 2008-December 2009.
Judging
Scholastic Writing Awards, State of Idaho, Flash Fiction category, 2016 season.
Boise State President’s Writing Awards, Fiction and Research Essay categories, 2014-16
Service/Volunteer Work
Boise State University English 101 and 102 Portfolio Assessment Team, 2014-2016
First year TA mentor for Boise State University M.A. Literature student, 2014-15
Readings
Storyfort (Treefort Music Festival) in Boise, ID: March 2016
Death Rattle Writing Festival in Nampa, ID: October, 2015.
Tooth and Bristle MFA Reading Series in Boise, ID: September, 2014
Tooth and Bristle MFA Reading Series in Boise, ID: October, 2013
Conferences
National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing Conference, Salt Lake City 2015
“Cool Story: Challenges of Tutoring Fiction at Boise State University’s Writing Center”
Paper that explores BSU’s Writing Center’s preparedness for working with creative writing, conducted interviews with current consultants resulting in qualitative and quantitative findings.
National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing Conference, Salt Lake City 2015
Brown, Hansen, Jones, May, and Jackie Sizemore
“Social Justice in the Writing Center: Training Tutors to Combat Social Oppression(s)”
An interactive workshop for administrators and consultants to begin creating a social justice training program, or social justice aspect of their current training program for their center.
Graduate Coursework Papers
2014 “Band Aids: The Pedagogical Failings of the Creative Writing Workshop”
Paper that critiques the popular creative writing classroom style, examines the undesirable results the model often has on students, especially women and underrepresented populations. I call for the creative writing field to embrace theory and pedagogical research.
2013 “Integrating Creativity into a Foundational Course”
Paper that explores definitions of classroom creativity by instructors, the impact of using visual media, and encourages instructors to look for inspiration from outside their home department.
Administrative Experience
Point of View Consulting, LLC (formerly Two Thousand Essays)
Founder, August 2012-present
Consult students with all written parts of their applications, built resumes, analyzed competitiveness, and de-mystified the college and graduate school admission process.
Developed worksheets to facilitate idea generation for the personal essays.
Online, video, and email communication with students for mock-interviews, planning, major/degree planning, essay feedback.
Carnegie Mellon University Undergraduate Admissions in Pittsburgh, PA
Assistant Director of Admission, Special Populations Team, August 2010-May 2012
Lead coordinator Celebration of Diversity weekend, a fly-in program for high school seniors.
Read applications for undergraduate and transfer applicants, financial aid, info sessions.
Assisted in reaching record 14% underrepresented students for Class of 2015.
Other Work Experience
Pearson Professional Centers in Boise, ID
Test Proctor, May-September, 2014
Provided secure exam environment for National, State, and educational exams.
Explained testing procedures, verified identification, monitored examinees.
Organized testing packets and documented completed tests.
Stanford University Green Library in Stanford, CA
Circulation Assistant Temp, July-August 2013
Provided circulation and lending services to patrons.
Managed media shipments from off campus storage libraries, checked into reserve shelves.
Additional responsibility as front desk security, managing Stanford and non-Stanford affiliated visitors.
University of San Francisco School of Law in San Francisco, CA
Exam Proctor, April-May 2013
Provided secure exam environment for group and individual law student final exams.
Explained testing procedures, verified identification, monitored examinees.
Organized testing packets and documented completed tests.
Carnegie Mellon University Hunt Library in Pittsburgh, PA
Film Collection Front Desk Assistant, January 2008-May 2010
Provided circulation and lending services, managed viewing room.
Assisted in re-cataloguing DVD film collection; replace VHS with DVD format.
Assisted in moving laser disks to permanent off-campus storage.
Erie County’s Home Energy Assistance Program in Buffalo, NY
Seasonal Energy Crisis Worker, May-December 2008
Reviewed and processed applications for Food Stamp applications on data system.
Imaged complete applications and official documentation at the end of 2008 season.
Increased efficiency of workflow by facilitating 20,000 backlogged cases.
Teaching and Research Interests
Creative Writing pedagogy
Writing pedagogy
Ethics in storytelling
Interactive lessons for the classroom Research writing
Professional writing
Writing Center scholarship
Teaching in a multi-cultural classroom
First Peoples/Indigenous Rights
Intersectional feminism