Education
MFA Candidate, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, M.F.A., Popular Fiction, projected completion date: 2013
Focus: Speculative fiction
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, M.A., English, 2001
Thesis: Fantastic Imagination in the Ivory Tower: How academic study can inspire speculative fiction (C. S. Lewis)
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, B.S., Anthropology, English, History, 1997
Work Experience
Program Coordinator, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 2003–Present
Administrative Assistant, Graduate College, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 2000–2003
Teaching Assistant, English Department, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 1998–2000
Instructor, Critical Thinking and Communication, Spring & Fall Semester 1999
Instructor, Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition, Spring Semester 2000
Scholarship
“PFF Study Shows Increased Confidence and Knowledge.” Teaching at ISU 23:2 Spring 2011.
“Latte.” Bits & Pieces: A collection of short stories and poems from central Iowa authors. Ed. Shane Goodman, Cityview. Des Moines: Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc. 2010. 23–25.
“Cheating,” “Plagiarism,” and “Managing Difficult Situations,” Teaching Assistant Handbook: Advice for New Teachers, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Summer 2009.
Interview, Dusan Palic, Teaching at ISU 21:2 Spring 2009.
Editing
Freelance Copyedit, Footnote, and Research Assistant:
Locker, Kitty O., and Donna Kienzler. Business and Administrative Communication. 10th ed. New York: McGraw–Hill/Irwin, 2012.
Locker, Kitty O., and Donna Kienzler. Business and Administrative Communication. 9th ed. New York: McGraw–Hill/Irwin, 2010.
Locker, Kitty O., and Donna Kienzler. Business and Administrative Communication. 8th ed. New York: McGraw–Hill/Irwin, 2008.
Document Design, Editing, and Updating:
“Teaching Assistant Handbook,” Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. Available: http://www.celt.iastate.edu/teaching/TAhandbook.html. July 2009, 2008.
“Teaching at ISU.” Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching Newsletter. Available: http://www.celt.iastate.edu/newsletter/. 2004–Present.
“Preparing Future Faculty Student Manual,” Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. Available: http://www.celt.iastate.edu/pff/forms.html. Yearly 2002–Present.
Volunteer Final Copyedit Galley Proofreading, Frisco, TX: Dreamspinner Press, 2010, 6 novels (161-269 pages).
Novel Projects under Development
Shifter. 1st draft. 50,000 words, 2010 (Young Adult Fantasy)
Elemental. 1st draft. 50,000 words, 2009 (Time Travel).
Dogs of War. 2nd draft. 60,000 words, 2008 (Science Fiction: Space Opera).
Heavy on the Vine. Currently under beta reader review. 115,000 words, 2007 (Urban Fantasy).
Without Wings. 80,000 words, 2006 (Epic Fantasy).
Novella:
Swift for the Sun. 2nd draft. 30,000 words, 2010 (Historical Romance).
Honors Capstone Project Direction
Benjamin Clough, Historical novel project, Iowa State University, Spring 2010-Fall 2011
Carl Kirpes, Truday novel project, Iowa State University, Spring 2010–Spring 2011
Deanna Martinez, Short story anthology project, Iowa State University, Spring 2010-Fall 2011
Sam Yang, Homeward visual novel project, Iowa State University, Fall 2010–Spring 2011
Consulting
Meta!Blast biology game lead writer, Fall 2010-Spring 2011
Meta!Blast virtual reality software plot development, Summer 2010
Funded Grants Authored
P&S Recruitment and Retention Grant: Teaching Assistant Learning Community (F08–S09)
P&S Recruitment and Retention Grant: Graduate Student Programming II (F07–S08)
P&S Recruitment and Retention Grant: Graduate Student Programming I (F06–S07)
Grants under Review
Iowa State University Computer Fee Allocation Committee (CAC): Leveraging Technological Innovations to Increase Student Engagement and Learning in Large Enrollment Introductiory Biology Courses (PI Coffman, Powell-Coffman, Sakaguchi, Essner, McGrail, Becraft, Howell, Yin, Contento, Miller, Bovenmyer, Rodriquez).
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA): Meta!Blast interactive virtual learning environment for cellular plant biology (PI Wurtele, Bassham, Leshem–Ackerman, Bovenmyer, Almeida–De–Macedo, Walter).
Awards
CYtation Award, Iowa State University Professional & Scientific Council, Spring 2007
“Little Sins,” first place, CyCon Science Fiction Convention Writing Contest, March 2007
“Mourning Stones,” first place, CyCon Science Fiction Convention Writing Contest, March 2006
Creative Writing Teaching Experience
Semester-long university courses:
Honors 322E: Creative Writing: Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel, Iowa State University, Spring 2011 (2 credit, 15 week course).
Honors 490: Independent Research, Iowa State University, Fall 2010. (1 credit 15 week independent study guiding an individual novel project through 26 chapters).
Honors 322B: Creative Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel, Iowa State University, Spring 2010 (2 credit, 15 week course).
Honors 321E: Creative Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel, Iowa State University, Fall 2009 (2 credit, 15 week course).
Honors 322C: Creative Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel, Iowa State University, Spring 2009 (1 credit, 15 week course).
Semester-long student group facilitation:
The Writers’ Guild of ISU, Iowa State University, Fall 2010-Spring 2011 (Advisor, presenter).
Dissertation Support Group: Daily Writing for Long Projects, Iowa State University, Spring 2010-2011 (Founder, organizer, and daily meeting facilitator).
Statistics 401C: Student Learning Group Leader, Iowa State University, Spring 2009.
Community short courses:
“Novel Critique Workshop,” Central Iowa Authors, Ames, Iowa, bi weekly February – May 2011.
“Creative Writing: The Novel,” Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, Iowa, October–November 2010. (8 week course).
“Novel Critique Workshop,” Central Iowa Authors, Des Moines, Iowa, bi weekly February–April 2010.
Conference presentations:
Organizer for Iowa Writer’s Forum: DEMICON Des Moines Science Fiction Convention, Holiday Inn Northwest, Des Moines, Iowa, May 1, 2011. *
Organizer, moderator, and presenter for “Writing Careers,” “Writing Science Fiction/Fantasy,” and “Writing Groups,” Iowa Writer’s Forum: DEMICON Des Moines Science Fiction Convention, Holiday Inn, Urbandale, Iowa, May 16, 2010.
“Teaching Creativity,” Wakonse Conference on College Teaching, Camp Miniwanca, Stony Lake, Michigan, May 22, 2009.
Seminars:
“Writing for Video Games,” Guild of Wargamers and Roleplayers, Iowa State University, September 2010.
“Writing Your First Novel,” Guild of Wargamers and Roleplayers, Iowa State University, November 2009.
“Generating Ideas for Creative Writing,” Guild of Wargamers and Roleplayers, Iowa State University, December 2008.
“21 Days to a Novel,” Ames Science Fiction and Fantasy Association, Iowa State University, October 2008.
“Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction,” CyCon Science Fiction Convention, Ames Science Fiction and Fantasy Association, Iowa State University, March 2008.
“The Forest for the Trees: Macro and Micro Novel Edits,” National Novel Writing Month: Central Iowa Region, Des Moines, Iowa, February 2008.
“SMART Goal Setting for Novelists,” National Novel Writing Month: Central Iowa Region, Des Moines, Iowa, January 2008.
“Creative Adventures in Mayan Settings,” CyCon Science Fiction Convention, March 2007.
Creative Writing Conference Participation
Registered Attendee, World Fantasy Conference 2011*
Attendee, World Fantasy Conference 2010
Attendee, GenCon Writer’s Symposium 2008–2011*
Organizer, moderator, and presenter for “Writing Careers,” “Writing Science Fiction/Fantasy,” and “Writing Groups,” Iowa Writer’s Forum: DEMICON Des Moines Science Fiction Convention, Holiday Inn Urbandale, Iowa, May 16, 2010.
Various roles, CyCon Science Fiction Convention, Ames Science Fiction and Fantasy Association/Guild of Wargamers and Roleplayers, Iowa State University (Organizer 1995–1998, Presenter 2007–2009, Attendee 1995–2010)
Organization Memberships
Advisor, The Writers’ Guild of ISU 2010–Present
Member, Central Iowa Authors 2006–Present
Various Roles, Ames Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (President/Vice President1993–1997, Member 1998–2007)
Teaching Workshops and Presentations
“Creating a Learning-Centered Classroom: How to create a lecture environment that promotes active learning and critical thinking,” Engineering Graduate Students, Iowa State University, April 7, 2011
“The ABCs of Grading,” Spring Teaching Assistant Seminar, Iowa State University, January 2011
“Teaching and Learning Circle: Graduate Student Focus: McKeachie’s Teaching Tips” (4 week course), Spring 2011, Fall 2010, Spring 2010, Spring 2010: Special session for Kinesiology, Fall 2009, Fall 2008, Summer 2008, Spring 2008, Fall 2007, Summer 2007, Spring 2007
“Preparing for Teaching Careers”, Engineering College, April, 2011, Mathematics, December 2010; Anthropology, November 2010; Animal Science, October 2010; Mathematics, March 2010; Horticulture, November 2009; Anthropology, October 2009; Animal Science, September 2009; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, April 2009; Animal Science, November 2008; Horticulture, October 2008; Iota Sigma Pi honor society, Chemistry, October 2008; Mechanical Engineering, March 2008; Horticulture, January 2008; Animal Science, September 2007; Sociology, September 2007; Animal Science, October 2006; Physics Graduate Student Orientation, September 2006; Mathematics First Year Seminar, September 2006; Iota Sigma Pi honor society, Chemistry, October 2005; Animal Science, October 2005; Mathematics First Year Seminar, September 2005; Meat Science Club, Animal Science, September 2005; Physics Graduate Student Orientation, September 2005
Teaching Assistant Learning Community Leader, Spring & Summer Semesters 2009
“Teaching and Learning Circle: Faculty/Staff Development: Brain Rules” (4 week course), Fall 2009
Graduate Student Orientation, Fall 2000–2008
“Rubrics and Grading Workshop,” November 2007
“Group Work,” Faculty Forum, March 2006
“Finding Help: For Your Students, For Yourself,” University Teaching Seminar, August 2005
“Your Future in Academia,” University Teaching Seminar, August 2003
“TA Q&A: What Now?” University Teaching Seminar, August 2003
Teaching Conference Participation
Wakonse Conference on College Teaching, leader of ISU participant contributions, 2008, 2009, 2010; Presenter, “Teaching Creativity, “ May 22, 2009
Website Development
Career Development for Postdocs at ISU, Graduate Student Teaching Certificate, ISU Wakonse Fellows, Preparing Future Faculty, Teaching Assistant Handbook, Resources for New Faculty
WebCT & Blackboard Course Design
Graduate Studies Preparing Future Faculty Introductory Seminar, Graduate Studies Preparing Future Faculty Intermediate Seminar, Graduate Studies Preparing Future Faculty Teaching Practicum, Graduate Studies Preparing Future Faculty Special Topics, Honors Creative Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel, Postdoctoral Development Learning Site
Course Reviewer
Superior Teaching and Technology Application Recognition (STTAR) Course reviewer, Spring 2010