Graduate Teaching Associate

Posted on: 2008-03-30

Melinda A. Hollis 910-228-7395 [email protected] 103 Braeburn Terrace Lansdale, PA 19446 Professional Experience The University of South Florida Dates Employed: Aug 2007-present Tampa, FL Graduate Teaching Assistant (PhD Student) • Design and instruct four technology-based courses in first year rhetorical studies and composition • Write and edit detailed plans to publish on the web and collaborate with colleagues • Research new technologies and teaching theories to adapt to practice in the classroom • Hold individual conferences with student writers throughout the semester • Comment upon student writing with clear analytical rubrics • Compile and analyze teaching data with other composition professors to build the first year writing department • Adapt teaching style and course content to first year students at many different levels of inquiry • Instruct with a focus on analytical thinking and process-based analysis • Practice the Socratic method and build a collaborative classroom The Law Office of Gary Nicholson Dates Employed: May 2007-Present Tampa, FL Research Assistant/ Writer • Conduct analytical research on new cases and write results for a Defense attorney • Collect Interrogatories and Request to Produce data from Defendants and integrate this information into legal documents • Analyze medical records and write reports for the Defense attorney • Construct letters to insurance companies, Plaintiff attorneys, and Defendants • Edit clerical work for clarity and correctness • Conference with Defense attorney on legal proceedings, deadlines, and client expectations The University of North Carolina, Wilmington Dates Employed: Aug 2006-May 2007 Wilmington, NC Composition/Literature Teaching Faculty • Design and instruct eight college-level courses in research, rhetoric, and composition • Research appropriate pedagological methods to implement in the classroom for a range of student learning styles • Incorporate visual, multi-media, and Internet-based texts as learning and research tools • Edit and assess student writing and research with close attention to detail, the objective assessment of student performance, the consistent application of subjective criteria, and the ability to articulate student essay inadequacies with diplomacy and tact • Adapt teaching style to all levels of college students, from first year writers with non-declared major status to graduating seniors from all majors who will soon enter graduate school or the job market. I work with non-traditional students as well. • Conference personally with each student to demonstrate Chicago Style copyediting techniques and content-based revisions University Learning Services (UNCW) Dates Employed: Jan 2005-May 2006 Wilmington, NC Research Assistant • Conducted all major research for the University’s first Online Writing Center • Conferenced with writing center coordinator monthly to discuss all major pedagological student needs for this academic service • Constructed and presented a paper to guide ULS directors through the process of set up and upkeep of an Online Writing Center • Participated in the launch of the center with two of my composition courses • Continue to conference with writing center coordinator to ensure that our service meets all student needs Wilmington, NC Dates Employed: Sept 2005-present Freelance Copyeditor • Constructed major revisions to The Cassandra Paradox a research work of non-fiction concerning social race theory • Aided three master’s candidates in the English department in incorporating correct MLA style, proofing, and preparation for master’s thesis document publication and oral defenses • Reviewed submissions to Title Effects: Writing Through Watershed, a graduate English conference, and evaluated their potential for submission. Coordinated the acceptance process • Proofread final call for papers and all conference documents prior to publication and final printing for The University of North Carolina, Wilmington’s first annual Graduate English Association conference. Researched, organized and presented all documents from the keynote speaker’s letters and presentation to the conference schedule The University of North Carolina, Wilmington Dates Employed: Aug 2004-Aug 2006 Wilmington, NC Graduate Teaching Assistant • Independently taught four courses in freshman composition and four courses in sophomore research writing • Assisted in research, planning, development, and implementation of course syllabi, all major assignments, daily classroom activities, and student assessment with two tenured faculty members Graduate English Association Dates Employed: Aug 2004-May 2006 Wilmington, NC Chair • Led this academic group in the 2005-2006 academic year in monthly meetings, social events, four major conferences at other universities, and processional publication • Researched and implemented ways to help this organization grow in membership, scholastic opportunities, and reputation • Conceived, designed, and maintained the Association’s first annual conference Title Effects: Writing Through Watershed • Aided technology services in the maintenance and editing for our first website University Writing Center Dates Employed: Aug 2004-July 2005 Graduate Editor/Consultant • Discussed writing one-on-one with undergraduate and graduate students in all stages of the writing process • Presented pedagological research to peers on a monthly basis to aid in the advancement and development of the University Learning Center Mousekids, Inc. Dates Employed: March 2002-July 2004 Alpharetta, GA Head of Curriculum Development • Researched computer software programs for students ages 2-12 in order to develop six different sets of yearly plans for teachers to use in after school programs. Wrote, developed, and launched these after school programs after six months of research and writing • Assisted in writing grants to ensure funding for the non-profit segment of the company. Proofed and edited all grants for clarity and to ensure that they matched independent criteria • Trained teachers both in and out of the classroom on effective teaching methods, appropriate student feedback, and sound use of computers in the daycare setting • Evaluated both teachers and students each month to revise plans and conduct further research accordingly Cedar Shoals High School Dates Employed: Aug 2002-May 2003 Athens, GA Student Teacher • Assisted in teaching four language arts courses to high school freshmen and juniors • Researched Clarke County school systems to gain access to information on enrichment programs, the allocation of funding, and social services available to our students • Conducted an advanced research project on neighborhoods that are zoned for section eight housing in Athens, GA, the quality of life, and student needs both in and out of school. Presented my research to thirty future teachers and to the English department at Cedar Shoals for the purpose of collaboration, awareness, and advocacy Fowler Drive Elementary School Dates Volunteered: Aug 2001-Dec 2001 Athens, GA Volunteer ESL Teacher • Designed and taught one English as a Second Language to a small group of fourth grade students • Researched effective classroom methods to use when working with students of varying English language backgrounds • Collaborated with parents and teachers in order to track the progress of our students both in school settings and in the home environment EDUCATION PhD The University of South Florida, Tampa, Began Progress August 2007 • Major: English • GPA: 4.0/4.0 M.A. The University of North Carolina, Wilmington, Completed May 2006 • Major: English • GPA: 4.0/4.0 BSED. The University of Georgia, Athens, Completed May 2003 • Major: English Education • GPA: 3.95/4.0 AWARDS AND HONORS • Full teaching scholarship and monthly stipend, USF English Department • Conference Presentation Award, UNCW English Department • Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, UNCW Graduate School • Chancellor’s List • Conference Travel Grant, UNCW Graduate Student Association • Conference Travel Grant, UNCW Graduate School • Research Grant Recipient, UNCW Graduate School • Graduate Teaching Assistantship, UNCW English Department • Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship, UNCW Graduate School • Student Teaching Scholarship, University of Georgia College of Education • Seven-time recipient of Presidential Scholar Award, UGA • Eight-time recipient of Dean’s List recognition, UGA • HOPE Scholarship, UGA PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS • Modern Language Association • Phi Kappa Phi Honor’s Society • International Golden Key • National Society of Collegiate Scholars • Graduate English Association • Sigma Tau Delta English Honor’s Society COMPUTER SKILLS • Superior knowledge of MS Works/Word, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Reader, Mozilla, and Internet Explorer • Working knowledge of building and maintaining writing wikis, blogs, Blackboard academic resources and informal web pages • Basic knowledge of Macromedia Fireworks, Dreamweaver, Adobe InDesign, and Font Reserve LANGUAGES • Reading knowledge in Latin • Basic reading/speaking knowledge in Spanish PUBLISHED WORKS AND CONFERENCE PRSENTATIONS • “Democratic Writing Spaces in First Year Composition Classrooms.” Multimedia Conference Presentation. The University of Georgia Computers and Writing Conference, Athens, GA. May 2008. • Bound to the Memory of Regional and Relational Life: Harry Crews’s A Childhood the Biography of a Place. Master’s Thesis. The University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Defended April 2006. • “Prufrock’s Road to Love is Paved with Irony.” Making Literature Matter. 3rd ed. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. New York: Bedford St. Martins, 2005. • “Balls and Inclination.” Conference Paper. The University of North Carolina, Wilmington English Graduate Conference: Title Effects: Writing Through Watershed, Wilmington, N.C. March 31-April 1, 2006. • “Bound to the Memory of Regional and Relational Life: Harry Crews’s ‘Place.’” Conference Paper. English Graduate Conference, New York, NY. February 24-25, 2006. • “’I’d Whip Them Good: Quiet Caddy King of the Compson’s.’” Conference Paper. Southern Writing, Southern Writers, Oxford, MS. July 21-23, 2005. • “From Womb to Tomb: The Psychoanalytic Journey of Hazel Motes.” Conference Paper. Reinventing the Imagination, Charlotte, NC. January 2004. REFERENCES AND WRITING SAMPLES Available upon request