Currriculum Vitae

Education

Vermont College of Norwich University, Montpelier, Vermont.
Master of Fine Arts in Writing, 1999. Thesis: “Verwandlung und Übersetzung: Metamorphosis, Translation and the Poetry of Nelly Sachs.” Advisor: Jack Meyers.

Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.
Bachelor of Arts in English, Certificate in Creative Writing, 1989. Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Scholarship Award.

Professional Experience

Washington and Jefferson College, Department of English, 2001-Present.

• Directed freshmen, transfer and foreign exchange students from writer-based/expressive writing to a demonstrable awareness of academic and public discourse based on thematic and sequential assignments.
• Conducted seminar-style creative writing workshops in which undergraduate majors and non-majors generated formal, narrative and occasional poetry, as well as multiple fictional vignettes, and one longer narrative.
• Facilitated literary discussion courses that introduced students to the practices of reading, discussing, and writing about literary works, with emphasis on reading actively and acquiring the vocabulary and skills needed to interpret literature.
• Conceived and designed first Irish literature and first Dylan Thomas courses at the college.
• Advised and counseled sophomores, juniors and seniors on general education, academic skills and major requirements as they pursued a 34-course degree.
• Drafted proposal for Creative Writing Emphasis within the departmental major, highlighting student outcomes, methodology and assessment.

Paper Street Press, Founder and Editor, 2002-2008. 

• Established and implemented editorial vision and evaluative criteria for national, non-profit, independent literary publisher producing a semi-annual literary journal featuring both domestic and international writers.
• Managed overall production of the journal, including, but not limited to, advertising submission deadline, supervising reading panels, scheduling production calendar, sequencing final selections, marketing and Internet distribution, organizing and hosting annual Summer Reading Series, training volunteers and interns.

Robert Morris University, Department of Communications, 2000-2002.

• Taught Communications Skills I as part of a 24-credit-hour Communications Skills Program.
• Trained students to examine the relation of their own languages to diverse discourse communities through expressive, expository and analytical reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Courses Taught since Fall 2004

ENG 111 Composition
ENG 190 Introduction to Literature
ENG 205 Creative Writing
ENG 255 Irish Literature
ENG 281 Dylan Thomas: Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll
FYS 100 The Troubles: Northern Ireland 1963-Present

Curriculum Strengths

Applying thematic course instruction to established Humanities curricula while adhering to departmental and college guidelines allowing students and teacher to develop a semester-long discussion on a selected topic culminating in a final research project or electronic portfolio.


Extra Curricular Advising

• Advisor, Sigma Tau Delta, Washington & Jefferson College, 2008-Present.
• Advisor (ad hoc), Red & Black, Washington & Jefferson College, 2007.
• Advisor, College Democrats, Washington & Jefferson College, 2004-2006.
• Advisor, Wooden Tooth Review, Washington & Jefferson College Literary Magazine, 2001-2005.
• Coordinator, Visiting Writers Series, Washington & Jefferson College, 2001-2002.

Presentations, Publications and Readings 

• “2 b or nt 2 b: Using Blogs, Facebook, and SMS to Strengthen Teacher/Student Partnerships on the Liberal Arts Campus,” Meeting the Challenges of the 21^st Century College Classroom: Use of Technology in the College Classroom, Penn State University, Shenango Campus, October 15, 2010.

• “From Plate to Palate: Dog Muffins.” Connotation Press. March 2010.
• Poetry Reading. Sphinx Café. Pittsburgh, PA. February 2, 2010.
• Panelist, "What's Paper Got to Do with It? Exploring the Benefits of Online Publishing." Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA. January 9, 2010.
• Poetry Reading. Hemingway’s. Pittsburgh, PA. June 23, 2009.
• “Jude,” “Two Hearts,” and “The Garden.” Thirty First Bird Review. June 2009.
• Panelist, “Literary Magazines: Editing, Submitting, Print/On-line, Blogging.” Kent State University. Kent, Ohio. September 19, 2008.
• Poetry Reading. Kent State University. Kent, Ohio. September 18, 2008.
• “Former Wick Scholarship Winner Arlan Hess Talks with Laurin Wolf.” Interview. wickpoetrycenter.blogspot.com. September 16, 2008.
• “Tearing Down the Walls That Hold Them Inside: U2 and the Irish Search for Transcendence.” MPCA/MACA. Kansas City, MO. October 12, 2007.
• Poetry Reading. Hemingway’s. Pittsburgh, PA. June 12, 2007.
• Poetry Reading. Three Rivers Arts Festival. Pittsburgh, PA. June 3, 2007.
• “U2 1980-1983: Portrait of the Artists as Young Men." PCA/ACA National Conference. Boston, MA. April 4, 2007.
• Poetry Reading. ACLU Bill of Rights Day Reading. Silver Eye Center for Photography. Pittsburgh, PA. December 14, 2006.
• Poetry Reading. Inspiration Café. Washington, PA. September 16, 2006.
• Poetry Reading. ACLU Bill of Rights Day Reading. Enrico’s Tazzo D’Oro. Pittsburgh, PA. December 15, 2005.
• “Orphan Stew." City Paper. Pittsburgh, PA. August 25, 2004.
• Featured poet. Prosody. WYEP radio. Pittsburgh, PA. August 10, 2004.
• “Mulberry Square.” The Pittsburgh Quarterly. National Poetry Month Daily Selection. Pittsburgh, PA. April 25, 2004.
• "Maggie Anderson." Interview. Paper Street. March 2004.
• "Verwandlung und Übersetzung: Metamorphosis, Translation and the Poetry of Nelly Sachs." Journal of Evolutionary Psychology. August 2002.
• "Sunday in the Garden with Weeds: Similarities in Form and Content between Backyard Gardening and Literature." Vermont College. Montpelier, VT. January 1999.

Professional Service

Poets-in-Person. 2007-2009. Recruited by International Poetry Forum.

• Designed poetry curriculum for middle school classrooms (including ESL) three times over the course of one semester at the request of participating teachers.
• Engaged students actively in writing with imaginative writing prompts and models. Curriculum included image, metaphor, diction, syntax and revision instruction, creative writing exercises and individual consultations and critiques.
• Reviewed, read and discussed poetry by emerging writers in workshop setting enabling student poets to view themselves as part of a larger writing community.

Keystone Oaks High School Subject Matter Expert, 1996-1999.

Guest taught poetry units lasting from one to ten days for three high school English teachers instructing at the remedial and advanced college-preparatory level. Class size averaged twenty-seven pupils.

Mt. Lebanon Traffic Board. 2001-2008. Appointed by Mt. Lebanon Commission.

Reviewed traffic regulations and controls. Made recommendations to the municipal Commission to improve traffic conditions. Received and investigated citizen requests pertaining to traffic and parking. Worked with the municipal traffic consultant in the preparation of traffic studies. Recommended to the municipal Commission and manager the means to improve the administration and enforcement of traffic laws.