Teaching

Then what is good? The obsessive interest in human affairs, plus a certain amount of compassion and moral conviction, that first made the experience of living something that must be translated into pigment or music or bodily movement or poetry or prose or anything that’s dynamic and expressive—that’s what’s good for you if you’re at all serious in your aims.

Tennessee Williams, “On a Streetcar Named Success”

At its best, the sensation of writing is that of any unmerited grace. It is handed to you, but only if you look for it.

Annie Dillard, The Writing Life

Courses Taught

Assistant Professor, Bethany College (2024–Present)

  • EN 360, Literature and Criticism: A study of contemporary critical approaches and methods as applied to selected works of British and American literature
  • EN 110, Thinking and Writing About Fiction: A course designed to offer students a broad introduction to the study of literary fiction, primarily American, British, and Russian short stories and novels. The focus of the course is the nature of prose narrative: we will explore what story is, what roles stories play in our lives, and how to interpret literary texts.
  • ID 203, Interdisciplinary Writing Intensive, The Rhetoric of Comedy: Builds four foundational competencies: Discovery and Integration; Communication; Critical, Analytical, and Creative Reasoning; and Information and Technical Literacy through formal writing about the rhetorical uses of comedy.
  • BQ 110, Bethany Quest: Discussions and activities will focus on exploring our gifts and talents; developing personal, educational, and career goals; exploring the opportunities available at Bethany to develop interests and talents; and examining Core Values of the College.

Graduate Instructor, Texas Tech University (2019–2024)

  • ENGL 3351, Creative Writing, Poetry: Discussion of techniques for writing poetry, with emphasis on student writing.
  • ENGL 3385, The Selected Plays of Shakespeare: Survey of comedies, histories, tragedies, and romances.
  • ENGL 2351, Introduction to Creative Writing: Fundamentals of creative writing with practice in writing poetry, fiction, and/or nonfiction.
  • ENGL 2307, Introduction to Fiction: Critical study of and writing about a variety of short stories and novels.
  • ENGL 2305, Introduction to Poetry: Introduction to the art of poetry through critical study of poems representing a variety of styles, periods, cultures, and authors.
  • ENGL 1302, Advanced College Rhetoric, Writing in the Health Professions: Composition class centered around a research project of the student’s choosing for students in majoring in fields related to health and medicine.
  • ENGL 1302, Advanced College Rhetoric: Composition class centered around a research project of the student’s choosing.
  • ENGL 1301, Essentials of College Rhetoric: Composition class based on the fundamentals of collegiate writing and analysis.

Predoctoral Instructor, The University of Washington (2017–2019)

  • ENGL 283, Beginning Verse Writing: Intensive study of the ways and means of making a poem.
  • ENGL 131, Composition: Composition class based on the fundamentals of collegiate writing and analysis, with various themes implemented in different quarters, including Comedy and Language and Identity.

Teaching Fellow, The University of North Texas (2016–2017)

  • ENGL 1302, Advanced College Composition: Composition course providing advanced instruction.
  • ENGL 1301, Introduction to College Composition: Introduction to rhetoric and composition.