Education and Professional Experiences

Education

• Advanced Studies
  • Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
  • University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
  • Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
• Master of Arts, English
  • Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
• Bachelor of Science, English Education (with certifications in Journalism, Drama, Mathematics), Longwood College, Farmville, VA

Professional Experiences

• Virginia Community College System, Tidewater Community College, Virginia Beach, VA
  
  • Director, FIPSE Writing Grant Projects, 1998–2005
  • Associate Professor of English, 1994–2005
  • Adviser to Student Newspaper, 1996–2001 
  • Adjunct Instructor of English, 1980–1994
• J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Richmond, VA
  
  • Adjunct Instructor of English and English as a Second Language, 1977–1979
• Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Princess Anne High School, 1987–1994
  
  • Department Chair of English  
  • Teacher of English
  • Adviser to Literary Magazine
• Green Run High School, 1979–1987
  • Grade Level Chair
  • Teacher of English, Journalism
  • Adviser to Student Newspaper
• Brandon Junior High School, 1978–1979, Teacher of English
• County of Henrico Public Schools, Highland Springs High School, 1977–1978
  • Teacher of English, Journalism
  • Adviser to Student Newspaper
• Tutor for English as a Second Language, 1976–1977, Grades 3–12
• J. R. Tucker High School, 1968–1970, Teacher of English
• City of Richmond Public Schools, Huguenot High School, 1974–1976
  • Teacher of English, Journalism
  • Adviser to Student Newspaper
• Fred Thompson Middle School, 1971–1974
  • Department Chair
  • Teacher of English
  • Piloted Program for Independent Studies

Additional Experience

• Directed FIPSE (Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education) Coalition to Align Writing in Secondary and Postsecondary Institutions 2001-2005 Project, a partnership of ten colleges/universities and high school populations across the U.S. to continue, refine, and replicate model for staff development, improve student writing, and increase the number of high school graduates competent to enroll in college-level composition courses.
• Recipient of the 2004 Virginia Teachers of English Leon F. Williams Award for Significant Contribution to English Language Arts
• Recipient of the 2003 “Outstanding Program in English” awarded by the National Council of Teachers of English/Two Year College Association at College Composition and Communication Conference
• Received Virginia Community College System Professional Development Research Grant to facilitate professional development workshops in collaboration with area schools (2004–2005)
• Directed FIPSE Writing Alignment Grant 1998–2001 Project, a partnership between Tidewater Community College (TCC) and area high schools to provide opportunity for teachers of high school and college English to collaborate in development of activities to improve composition level of entering college freshmen; supervisor of office personnel and high school project team
• Experienced in teaching Developmental and Freshman Composition, Journalism, and Studies in Writing Improvement
• Serving as Two Year College Association–National Representative to NCTE and CCCC, responsible for reporting and developing cooperative activities, serving on national boards (2002–2005)
• Chaired TYCA/CCCC Breakfast 2005; co-chaired TYCA/CCCC Breakfast 2004.
• Serving on CCCC Committee on Higher Education (2005).
• Serving as treasurer of VA Association of Developmental Educators (2001–2005)
• Served as member of TCC Writing Center Advisory Committee with responsibilities to prepare and oversee goals, services and resources, hire coordinator, maintain and expand services  (2002–2005)
• Served as member of TCC Media Board to direct college-wide student publication (2001–2005)
• Served as member of TCC Placement Revision Committee to revise COMPASS scores for writing and composition (2003–2004)
• Selected as campus representative for English 111 online curriculum development for Virginia Community College System May 2003 Symposium
• Served as consultant for ACT Writing Assessment (June 2003)
• Assisted with correspondence and facilitated interviews with TCC/FIPSE Project personnel and students to contribute to “Student Transitions at Coastal Community College ” for Billie Unger, Doctoral Dissertation Project, West Virginia University, April 23–25, 2003.
• Served on state committee to develop VCCS Commonwealth Course in English (May 2003)
• Served as staff member of TCC Grammar Hotline/Writing Center with responsibilities including tutoring students in composition and handling student and community inquiries related to composition (1996–2002)
• Served on Planning Committee for Title III/Developmental Project (2002)
• Advisor to college student newspaper Counterpoint and worked with independent study students (1996–2001)
• Coordinator of Epiphany Research Project to implement interactive computer programs for teachers and students and integrate technology into teaching of writing, (1999–2000)
• Served as department representative for Teaching, Learning, & Technology Roundtable (2000)
• Responsible for developing college-wide approaches to assessment, placement, and writing instruction for developmental students on ad hoc committee (2000)
• Selected by Virginia Council for International Education as Exchange Professor to Dublin, Ireland, Spring 1998, to research and share findings in collaboration and communications
• Certified as Developmental Consultant at Summer 1997 Kellogg Institute, Appalachian State University; Planned and presented four annual workshops for six years to bring high school and college faculties together on topics ranging from composition to portfolios to assessment pedagogy