M.A. in English: Composition & Communication

Success Stories

Here are updates on a few of our recent graduates. We'll add more information as
we receive input from our alumni:

Brooks, Marilee (M.A., 2008) undertook a rhetorical analysis of the pre-trial testimony of
expert witnesses representing evolution and intelligent design in Tammy Kitzmiller et al. v.
Dover Area School District.   Marilee is now working on her doctorate at MSU.

Janet Gaff (M.A., 2007) conducted a an empirical teacher-research study for her thesis project,
which she began developing in ENG 618, titled  "The Relationship Between Students' Perceptions of
Themselves as Writers and their Revision Decisions." Janet recently accepted a tenure-track
position as a Composition instructor at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove IL, just
outside Chicago.

Curtis Burdette (M.A. 2007) edited a collection of his great-great-grandfather's letters written
while he was a prospector during the Alaskan gold rush.  Curtis' thesis project, which began as
a class project in ENG 638, was titled, "The Adventures of Nathaniel Traub Wile: Letters from the
Klondike Gold Rush."  Curtis is now teaching composition at Gogebic Community College.

Heather Tracy (M.A. 2007) wrote a creative non-fiction thesis titled, "Grandma Peggy and
"The Kid":  The Lost Love Story of Peggy Ware and Ted Williams."

Laura Grow (M.A. 2006) wrote a thesis titled "Reading, Writing, and Real Life:  Integrating
Contemporary Social Issues into the English Classroom" and has recently accepted a tenure
track position as a composition instructor in Wyoming.

Stephanie Kurin (M.A. 2006) examined the teaching and learning of writing in a home-school
context in her semi-autobiographical thesis, "A Survey of Homeschool English Curricula from the
Perspective of a Homeschool Graduate and Composition Instructor, Stephanie now teaches composition
as an adjunct instructor at Ball State University.

Monica Brady (M.A., 2005) wrote a thesis that was a historical editing project begun in ENG 638
entitled, "Who Wouldn't be a Soldier?:  The 1861-62 Civil War Letters of Captain Charles Henry Curtiss.” 
She is currently expanding the thesis into a book-length edition and looking for a publisher. 
Monica has worked as a freelance scopist (an editor and researcher who works with legal deposition
transcripts), and she also worked for CMU's Alumni Center. She recently accepted a tenure-track
position as a composition Instructor of English at Elizabethtown Community & Technical College in
Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Emily Pioszak (M.A., 2005), whose pedagogical thesis was titled “Ecocomposition:  Principles
into Practice,” has remained at Central Michigan University to teach Freshman Composition using
the approach presented in her thesis.

Mary Rosalez (M.A., 2005) wrote a creative nonfiction thesis entitled “Fat Chance: Living in
an Unacceptable Body.”  She is teaching rhetoric and literature at Alma College and began pursuing
a doctorate at Michigan State University in 2006.

Sarah Sommer (M.A., 2005) is the editor of the newsletter for the College of Humanities and
Social & Behavioral Sciences here at CMU. For her thesis project, she developed The Newsletter
Handbook for future editors, a handbook that contains information on all aspects of publishing
the CHSBS newsletter. As newsletter editor, Sarah facilitates relationships with alumni and donors
by writing and editing the biannual CHSBS newsletter, organizing special events, and coordinating
advisory committee meetings. She also provides direct administrative support to the CHSBS Director
of Development and manages alumni and donor correspondence for the director of development
and the dean. Sarah also maintains the News & Events, Alumni, Development, and Scholarship pages
on the CHSBS Web site.

Jon Edwards (M.A., 2003) focused on rhetorical theory, media applications, and popular
culture. His thesis, "Crosses at the Mouth of Hell: Christian Language and Symbols in Buffy the
Vampire Slayer," examined the presentation of religious groups and ideas in popular television
and the culturally transformative power of myth creation in the popular consciousness. Jon is
currently enrolled as a Ph.D. student, concentrating in rhetoric and media/cultural studies, at
Northwestern University.

Ed Comber (M.A., 2002) is a former newspaper editor who decided to alter his career path
by joining the MAECC program. He received his M.A. degree after completing his thesis "Writer
Heal Thyself : The Presence of Healing Discourse Markers in Student-authored Freshman Composition
Texts."  Ed is currently pursuing doctoral studies in the Composition/Rhetoric Ph.D. program
at Ball State University.

Patrice Heinzman (M.A., 2002) who emphasized professional writing during her time in the
program, received her MAECC degree after completing her thesis "Regional Education Service
Agencies: Emerging from The Shadows."  Patrice is a Public Information Specialist for the Ingham
Intermediate School District here in Michigan.

Chrissine Cairns (M.A., 2001) wrote a creative nonfiction thesis, “Churning in the Wake,”
and has taught for the past few years at the University of Miami.

Amy Solinski (M.A., 2001) whose thesis was a pedagogical study, “Creative Nonfiction in the
Composition Classroom: Research Meets the Personal Essay,” has entered the doctoral program
at Michigan State University.

Jason Kane (M.A., 2000) focused on composition theory and pedagogy during his MAECC
coursework.  His thesis, an ethnographic study of writing in the Honors Program at CMU entitled
“Composing the HONgang:” Community, Competition and the Construction of ‘Scholar’,” was
nominated for the Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Award.  After teaching writing for CMU
for a year, Jason attended the doctoral program in Rhetoric at Syracuse for a semester, but he
soon realized that he really wanted to focus on teaching.  He currently holds a tenure-track
position in English at Elgin Community College, in Elgin, IL.

Kate Miller (M.A., 2000) who edited the historical manuscript “Three Years in the Army:
The Civil War Diary of John D. Follmer” for her thesis, teaches composition here at CMU.

Bill Milligan (M.A., 2000) wrote a collection of essays, “The Art of Becoming,” for his thesis
and now teaches at Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba, Michigan, and recently received
tenure.

Don Socha (M.A., 2000) wrote a critical theory thesis, “Affirmations of Indeterminacy:
Teaching Writing as Productive Knowledge,” and he teaches composition here at CMU and
was recently elected to represent the adjunct faculty on the English Dept.'s Composition Committee.

Sarah Dickerson (M. A., 1999), whose thesis was the essay collection, “The Clock Would Drop,”
is enrolled in an MFA in Nonfiction Program at the University of Iowa.

Liz Monske (M.A., 1999), whose pedagogical thesis was titled “Life In and Out of the Writing
Classroom : The Writing Processes of Students,” received her doctorate in 2004 from Bowling
Green State University and is now an Assistant Professor at Louisiana Tech. University.

Geoffrey Carter (M.A.,1998) wrote "Minotaur: A Memoir" for his thesis and went on to a 
doctoral program in Composition & Rhetoric at Purdue University.

Beth Bowen (M.A., 1998) wrote a Graduate Assistant Training Handbook for her thesis and was
hired as a documentation engineer.  Since May 2005, she has been a Senior Editor with a division of
Texas Instruments called T³ (T-Cubed).  In collaboration with content experts who author material,
Beth edits math and science materials for secondary school teachers, training them how to
introduce, apply, and integrate technology into their existing curriculum.   Prior to this, from May
2003 to July 2005, she was a writer and project manager for an eLearning company out of Ames, Iowa,
handling all aspects (except creation of art) of producing online training courses for a variety of clients
including insurance, manufacturing, and agricultural companies.  She also oversaw all customer support.

Sandra Smith (M.A., 1996), whose creative nonfiction thesis was titled “An Absence of Ease,”
went on to the doctoral program at New Mexico State University.

Thank you for visiting our site, which was last modified: December 6, 2010.  Send mail to kreth1ml@cmich.edu with questions
or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2000, CMU.