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Please note: Dr. Amy Propen is the Director of the Writing Program.
I work with faculty and students to identify characteristics associated with "good literacy" practices. With faculty, this means studying constituent elements of expertise and knowledge-making within disciplines. With students, it means studying, practicing with, and contributing to knowledge-making. Most of my teaching occurs in my role as Faculty Director of the Center for Innovative Teaching, Research, and Learning (CITRAL). I also occasionally teach courses associated with public engagement and public discourse, and graduate courses in composition theory and pedagogy. Outside of UCSB, I work with faculty across the country on issues related to inclusive teaching and assessment.
Education:
M.A. and Ph.D., University of Minnesota
B.A., Macalester College
Bio:
A writing teacher and researcher for more than 25 years, I am Professor of Writing Studies, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, and Director of the UCSB Center for Innovative Teaching, Research, and Learning (CITRAL). I'm also author, co-author, or co-editor of nine books and many articles and book chapters. My most recent book, co-edited with Elizabeth Wardle, is Naming What We Know: Threshold Concepts of Writing Studies. I regularly teach undergraduate and graduate courses focusing on writing as a subject of study (and an activity). When I'm not working I like to spend time with my family/dogs, and cycle and hike around the beautiful Santa Barbara area (not mutually exclusive activities).
Research:
My research focuses very broadly on:
- How literacy is defined, taught and assessed, by whom
- What values and ideologies are attached to those definitions
- The consequences of definitions, values, and ideologies for learners
Most recently, my work has focused on how faculty and students can work with research-based frameworks associated with expertise and knowledge-making to create more inclusive classes.
Publications:
Please see the CV attached to this profile.