Reminder: Rowan Hosting PWPA Fall Meeting This Friday The Philadelphia Writing Program Administrators (PWPA) Fall 2018 meeting is being held this Friday, October 12, from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.in Victoria Hall and Hollybush Mansion. While some events at the all-day session are restricted to PWPA members, the keynote address by Temple University associate professor Shannon Walters, being delivered over lunch (at 12:30 p.m. in Victoria 200), is open to the general public. Please click here to RSVP to the speech and lunch. Dr. Walters’ professorial research focuses on into rhetoric and composition, women’s studies, disability studies, and critical animal studies; she will deliver the speech, “Access Paradigms: Disability Delivery and Notes Toward a Crip Style.” For more information about the PWPA, and for membership details, please click here. Rowan Writing Arts Booth a Collingswood Festival Hot Spot One of the busiest locations at last Saturday’s Collingswood Book Festival was Booth 37, with the Osaka Sushi Hibachi Restaurant on one side and the doo-wop Pop Shop on the other. The hustle and bustle, however, had nothing to do with tempura or burgers; it was the constant flow of attendees stopping by the Rowan Writing Arts booth. In the wake of students, alumni, parents, and other interested parties, the 10 colleagues who shared the three two-hour shifts at the booth were kept quite busy. Several attendees obtained information on how to submit to Glassworks (the peer-review journal of our Master of Arts in Writing program) while another was thrilled to learn of the three new books just published by colleague Megan Atwood. A comment echoed by many graduates who stopped by, however, was how the writing instruction they received from Rowan Writing Arts has helped them become stronger professionals in a variety of fields. Five of the 10 colleagues who worked the Festival were (left to right), Glassworks editor-in-chief Katie Budris, Glassworks managing editor Anthony Palma, Glassworks intern and Writing Arts graduate student Amanda Rennie, colleague Kristine Lafferty, and colleague Jason Luther. Not pictured, due to earlier or later booth shifts, were colleagues Megan Atwood, Anna Bassiri, Alexis Rivell, Myriah Stubee, and Gerry Williams. (Thank you to colleague Anna Bassiri for providing information for this item, and for her work as Rowan Writing Arts’ on-site Festival coordinator.) Campus comes together to discuss police incident at Mimosa Hall More than 300 members of the Rowan community and a number of Glassboro residents attended an open forum meeting on campus last Friday to discuss an incident (click here) in the Mimosa residence hall parking lot on Monday, October 1. In that incident, a routine vehicle stop turned contentious when Glassboro municipal police officers (not part of the Rowan campus police force) drew weapons, including an assault rifle, on two Rowan students of color. President Houshmand opened the forum by acknowledging the "huge traumatic impact" of such incidents, noting that "the pain doesn't stop with the physical pain." He later announced plans to continue the conversation in additional meetings with borough officials, the Student Government Association, and the students involved. A number of Rowan students of color spoke after the president’s remarks and said they collectively feel targeted by the Glassboro police; several even told of being pulled over so often that they have developed acquaintances with certain officers. Speakers also questioned the appropriateness of the procedures used in these numerous altercations and wondered at what point Rowan police are notified that borough officers are on campus. A majority, however, wondered why the Glassboro police chose not to attend the open forum. (Thank you to colleague Nicole Cesare for providing information for this item.) Sophomore Clinic Takes to the Stage in Minneapolis Rowan Writing Arts and our coterie of Sophomore Engineering Clinic 1 instructors were well represented at last week’s Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication (CPTSC) annual conference held on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis. Four of our colleagues – (from left in photo) Jude Miller, Grace Fillenwarth, Tim Donaldson, and Steve Royek – presented and conducted a panel discussion on “Creating Value Through Fostering Connections: Programmatic and Pedagogical Responses to Trends in Engineering” on the second morning of the three-day meeting. Grace spoke first and gave an overview of Rowan Writing Arts, our university’s Engineering program, and the Clinic writing courses that are team-taught by faculty from both departments; Steve presented on the theory and technique behind teamwork, team charters, and collaborative writing; Jude talked about resumes, cover letters, and the trend toward digital, web-based student portfolios and C.V.s; while Tim wrapped up with a look at boosting creativity in classrooms with out-of-the-box discussions and exercises. Click here for the full conference program, and to see our new Rowan Writing Arts advertisement (on page 18). Finally, for your future file: The CPTSC 2019 annual conference is scheduled to be held at West Chester (Pa.) University from (tentatively) Thursday, October 10 to Saturday, October 12. Click here for the CPTSC home page. Avoid Those Endless ‘Gesundheits;’ Get A Flu Shot While the sentiment behind the German language response to a sneeze – “gesundheit” – literally means “health,” it’s a phrase most folks would rather not hear if it means they’ve recently contracted the flu. It doesn’t matter if the bug came from your students, your family, or any other face-to-face social contact, the flu isn’t fun. It’s messy, you’re contagious, and it can keep you out of the classroom, if not home on the couch, for who knows how long. The Rowan Wellness Center at Winans Hall is holding flu shot clinics on campus for the rest of October at which faculty and staff, as well as students, can get vaccinated. Click here for more information or visit the Wellness Center home page for more details. Do you have a new publication, a reading, or any other event of interest coming up? Please let me know so I can let all our colleagues know in the weekly Rowan Writing Arts Events Update newsletter. Stop by my Victoria 521 office or email me at royek@rowan.edu to give me the 4-1-1. Access Events Update online by clicking here. Stephen A. Royek, M.A. Lecturer, Writing Arts Rowan University 2015 Rowan Medallion Award winner Phone: 856-906-4755 Victoria Hall, Room 521 Email: royek@rowan.edu
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Call for Volunteers: PWPA Fall Meeting Coming to Rowan
Rowan University, the College of Communication and Creative Arts, and the Writing Arts Department are proud to host the Fall 2018 meeting of the Philadelphia Writing Program Administrators (PWPA) . . . and we need your help. The one-day meeting is Friday, October 12, from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in Victoria Hall and Hollybush Mansion. We’re looking for faculty members to greet attendees and visitors and help direct them to the various buildings and rooms related to the meeting. Contact Amy Woodworth for more information and to sign up to help. Among the day’s events – several of which are restricted to just PWPA members – is a keynote address by Temple University associate professor Shannon Walters (left). In her speech – “Access Paradigms: Disability Delivery and Notes Toward a Crip Style” (to be delivered at 12:30 p.m. in Victoria 200, Dr. Walters will review her research into rhetoric and composition, women’s studies, disability studies, and critical animal studies. The general public is invited to attend the lunch session; click here to RSVP. Following her speech, Dr. Walters will conduct a professional development workshop at 2 p.m. for the undergraduate and graduate tutors in the Rowan Writing Center on the first floor of the Campbell Library. The PWPA, a nonprofit, professional organization, advocates best practices in writing programs for all postsecondary institutions in our region, supports research in the field of composition, and offers regional professional development programs. University Assembled, College Assembled Coming Up Soon What are Rowan’s plans for student housing and classrooms? Are big changes in store for the West Campus? What new initiatives and programs are in the works at the CCCA? Stay in the know on these and other issues by attending the Fall 2018 University Assembled and College Assembled programs later this month. First, this Friday, October 5, President Ali Houshmand will address the Rowan community at 2 p.m. in Tohill Auditorium at Bunce Hall. Then, just over two weeks later, on Monday, October 22, Dean Sandy Tweedie will discuss the latest news in our college at Bozorth Hall’s King Auditorium. Questions and comments are welcome and encouraged at both events. See you there! Queen and the Pharaohs: Treats For The Eyes and Ears The power of Rock ‘n’ Roll and the science of ancient Egypt combine to highlight the Fall 2018 schedule at Rowan’s Edelman Planetarium. These two new shows – “Laser Queen” and “Stars of the Pharaohs,” each an hour long – will run weekends this semester through mid-November. “Laser Queen” follows in the successful models of “Laser Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon” and “Laser Beatles” by using the planetarium’s projection and sound systems to create what’s called an engaging audience experience. “Queen” can be seen Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. through November 17. “Stars of the Pharaohs” shows us how this early civilization used the skies to tell time, create calendars, and align structures. Actor John Rhys-Davis – of Indiana Jones and Lord of the Rings fame – narrates Pharaohs, which runs Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Admission to all Planetarium shows is $3 for Rowan students with ID, children 16 and younger, and senior citizens 60 or older, and $5 for adults and non-Rowan students. You can purchase tickets and learn more by clicking here. Do you have a new publication, a reading, or any other event of interest coming up? Please let me know so I can let all our colleagues know in the weekly Rowan Writing Arts Events Update newsletter. Stop by my Victoria 521 office or email me at royek@rowan.edu to give me the 4-1-1. Access Events Update online by clicking here. Stephen A. Royek, M.A. Lecturer, Writing Arts Rowan University 2015 Rowan Medallion Award winner Phone: 856-906-4755 Victoria Hall, Room 521 Email: royek@rowan.edu Grey Down Media is offering a part time paid internship based in Philadelphia. The internship is about 20 hours per week of office work. This social based writing internship will work to post content for a million online users. The intern will work alongside Grey Down Media’s team to make innovative, trendy content for their publication properties.
Your portfolio should clearly demonstrate to take topics of all varieties and create entertaining pieces that keeps audiences captivated. The main component of the internship includes using experience psychology to create articles, videos, and photo galleries. Applicants must have an understanding of Word Press and its functionality for developing content. For more information, visit www.graydown.com. Upcoming Volunteering Events In addition to those events mentioned in the Committees and Projects survey, there are immediate needs over the next few weeks for colleagues looking to help out . . . and hoping to garner some department service projects for their recontracting packages:
Help a Family In Need Properly Celebrate The Holidays Where is the time going this semester? We’re almost through September, Halloween is coming up soon, and – before we know it – Thanksgiving break will be here. That means it’s not too early to start thinking about once again “adopting” a local family and providing them with all the fixings for a fabulous holiday meal. The university’s Office of Volunteerism, Community Engagement, and Commuter Services (VCECS) is seeking to sponsor 100 families and set them up with all they need – including gift certificates for turkeys – to bring the joy of the season to their homes. You can choose to adopt a family on your own or bring in individual items for an overall Writing Arts Department donation. Keep the usual guidelines in mind: Non-perishables only and no glass containers. Cash donations are gratefully accepted. Please contact me or Shelly Klink in the VCECS office for more details. Spend an Evening With a Social Activist and Sports Legend He stood next to Dr. Martin Luther King during the “I Have A Dream” speech, was a standout player for the Villanova University men’s basketball team, and – as a coach -- took three different Division 1 teams – in six different seasons -- to the NCAA Tournament. He’s George Raveling and he’s coming to Rowan at the end of October to help launch the university’s Center for Sports Communication and Social Impact. Coach Raveling is the featured guest and the first keynote lecturer in the Center’s Speaker Series. Mark your calendars for 7 p.m., Tuesday, October 30 to make sure you’re at Tohill Auditorium in Bunce Hall for this kickoff event. The energetic octogenarian Raveling worked as a television commentator and as Nike Inc.’s Director of International Basketball before moving into motivational speaking. He now passes along life lessons through his Coaching For Success organization, a platform that provides him with a forum in discussions of race, education, and athletics. He’s been called a “molder of boys into men, and of men into better men” and is known by many as the “Human Google” for his encyclopediac memory. Coach reads at least four books a month, has traveled to every continent but Antarctica, and says his favorite hobby is collecting friends. Don’t miss your opportunity to become one of those friends and to experience this true Renaissance man. We’ll see you there on the 30th! Take Time to Celebrate the Life of Donald Farish Finally, on a somber but celebratory note, plan to come together with the Rowan community this Friday, September 28, for a Memorial Service to commemorate the life of Donald Farish. The service will begin at 2 p.m. in Boyd Recital Hall inside Wilson Hall. Dr. Farish was Rowan’s sixth president, serving from 1998 to 2011, and helped lead Rowan through its greatest period of growth and expansion. Dr. Farish worked to coordinate and facilitate such major projects as the Campbell Library, Rohrer College of Business, the Edelman Planetarium, and the Bantivoglio Honors College. He also oversaw the construction of Science Hall, Education Hall, the Town House residential complex, and worked with community leaders on the development of Rowan Boulevard. Dr. Farish also was involved in the purchase of what we now call the West Campus and spearheaded the partnership that led to the creation of the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Dr. Farish died on July 5 at age 75 while serving as president of Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. Do you have a new publication, a reading, or any other event of interest coming up? Please let me know so I can let all our colleagues know in the weekly Rowan Writing Arts Events Update newsletter. Stop by my Victoria 521 office or email me at royek@rowan.edu to give me the 4-1-1. Stephen A. Royek, M.A. Lecturer, Writing Arts Rowan University 2015 Rowan Medallion Award winner Phone: 856-906-4755 Victoria Hall, Room 521 Email: royek@rowan.edu Faculty Reading Features Breakups, a Helicopter, Sisyphus, and a Machete With the psychedelic colors of artist Heather Ujiie’s “Terra Incognita” exhibit providing the backdrop, the first Glassworks magazine/Writing Arts Department event of the school year – a Back to School Faculty Reading and Open Mic Event – took place at the Rowan Art Gallery earlier this week. Four Writing Arts faculty members -- Katie Budris, Steve Royek, R.G. Evans, and Tim Zatzariny – shared some of their latest works of poetry, nonfiction, and fiction while nearly half a dozen students and faculty members took to the podium in the open microphone session. Katie (who also serves as Glassworks editor-in-chief) and R.G. (who’s known as Bob to his colleagues) read from their published collections of poems – Katie’s Prague in Synthetics and R.G.’s Overtipping the Ferryman and The Holy Both. Their topics ranged from breaking up and not breaking up (Katie) to Sisyphus and not suicide (R.G.). Steve shared several passages from his nonfiction academic paper “Instructor Lore in the Journalism Classroom” that appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of the peer-review journal Writing on the Edge and Tim read the opening chapter of his South Jersey-based novel-in-progress about crime, self-reflection, and redemption On the Way Down. The next time you run into them, ask Steve about the helicopter and Tim about the machete. They’ll both be glad to share details. . . . Also, a quick shout-out to Writing Arts colleague andGlassworks managing editor Anthony Palma who gave an emotional open-mic performance, from memory, of a poem that simultaneously celebrated his Italian heritage and howled at the depravity of the world. . . . Mark your calendars for the next Glassworks literary event -- a reading to mark the publication of the Fall 2018 issue of Glassworks magazine – on Thursday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rowan Art Gallery, 301 High Street West. Attention Rowan Shoppers: Donations Needed for The S.H.O.P. Old Mother Hubbard would not be pleased with the current condition of the bare cupboards at The S.H.O.P. With the fall semester underway, and student traffic increasing dramatically at the university’s on-campus food pantry, the call is going out to Rowan Writing Arts for donations of non-perishable food such as pop-top cans of heat-and-eat pasta meals and other foodstuffs, cereal (full sized and individual servings), rice and pasta (especially shells, rotini, and elbows), soups and chicken broth, boxes of stuffing, peanut butter and jelly, and granola bars. In addition, microwave bowls, coffee mugs, and any type of personal hygiene items (including those that are either male- or female-specific) are greatly appreciated. Rowan Writing Arts is the only department on campus that is planning regular monthly donations to The S.H.O.P.; we want to make sure our September delivery helps meet the facility’s needs. Let’s fill those bare cupboards with the sustenance the young adults in our classrooms desperately need. Please contact me or drop off your donations at my office (Room 521 at The Vic) or with either Stephanie on the 4th floor or Dawn on the 5th floor. Thank you very much for your generosity! Important Notes and Dates for Your Outlook or iCalendar The Collingswood Book Festival is Saturday, October 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We’re looking for volunteers to help with set-up and tear-down and to staff one of three two-hour shifts. Please contact me or Anna Bassiri if you’re interested. . . . Homecoming 2018 – “Rowan Goes Hollywood” – is the weekend ofFriday, October 19 to Sunday, October 21. . . . The fall semester College Assembled will be held on Monday, October 22 at 3:30 p.m. at a TBD location. Heads-up: Full-time Writing Arts faculty should attend. . . . The official launch (or is it kickoff, tipoff, first pitch, faceoff, or scrum?) for the CCCA’s Sports Communications and Media major is Tuesday, October 30 at 7 p.m. in Bunce Hall’s Tohill Auditorium. Legendary basketball coach, social activist, and motivational speaker George Raveling will be the featured guest and speaker. The Rowan Shuttle: A Cure For The Parking Lot Blues Want to avoid the time and aggravation of endlessly circling parking lots, of following people to their cars to take their spots, and of risking a ticket by parking illegally? Try the Rowan Shuttle. With eight stops around campus and a shuttle arriving at each roughly every 15 minutes, you’re less than a two-to-three minute walk away from wherever you need to be. Our closest spot is listed as the Rowan Art Gallery at 301 High Street West, but the shuttle actually picks up passengers in front of the garage entrance on Mick Street right next to The Vic. Other stops (in order from 301 High) are the Rowan Boulevard Apartments, the Chamberlain Student Center, Memorial Circle in front of Bozorth Hall, Lot A and Business Hall, James and Robinson halls, the Edgewood Park Apartments and Chestnut Hall, and the Ellis Street Parking lot. The friendly shuttle drivers, however, will pick you up and drop you off if you wave them down or tell them where you need to go – as long as it’s along their usual route. . . . I have been riding the shuttle since the first day of the semester – my classes this fall are in Robinson and Engineering Hall – and the vans always have – so far, knock on wood – been on time. If you are thinking of using the shuttle, the free TransLoc app (search “TransLoc” in the App Store or on Google Play) will prove to be invaluable. It will tell you, to the minute, when the next shuttle will arrive at your stop, or at any other location on campus. One final note: During these first three weeks, I have seen only one other faculty member on the shuttle – my officemate Tim Donaldson, whom I invited to join me one day. Download the app, give it a shot, and I know you’ll become a regular rider of the Rowan Shuttle. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask me. Do you have a new publication, a reading, or any other event of interest coming up? Please let me know so I can let all our colleagues know in the weeklyRowan Writing Arts Events Update newsletter. Stop by my Victoria 521 office or email me at royek@rowan.edu to give me the 4-1-1. Stephen A. Royek, M.A. Lecturer, Writing Arts Rowan University 2015 Rowan Medallion Award winner Phone: 856-906-4755 Victoria Hall, Room 521 Email: royek@rowan.edu Start Off the Semester with a Night of Literary Readings Glassworks magazine and the Writing Arts Department are kick-starting the semester as they join forces next week – Tuesday night, September 18 – with a Back to School Reading featuring four of our colleagues presenting some of their most recent work. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Rowan Art Gallery, right across from The Vic at 301 High Street West, with Katie Budris, R.G. Evans, Steve Royek, and Tim Zatzariny reading poetry, nonfiction, and fiction selections from their portfolios. They will be followed by an open microphone period with students and faculty signing up on site to present their creative pieces. This free event is open to the Rowan community and light refreshments will be served. Recent issues of Glassworks will be available for purchase. Get into the swing of the school year by attending and inviting your students to join you for a night of fun and creativity. This will be the first in a series of readings this academic year presented by Glassworks, a publication of our Master of Arts in Writing program, including the introduction of the magazine’s Fall 2018 issue in October. Keep an eye on this space for more details on the where and when for these events. It’s Time to Volunteer For, And Attend, The Collingswood Book Festival Another sign the semester is underway is the annual Collingswood Book Festival and the Rowan Writing Arts booth at the event. This year’s 16th edition of the popular celebration of writing and writers will be Saturday, October 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As usual, the borough’s main drag – Haddon Avenue – will be filled with writers, publishers, educators, and book enthusiasts of all sorts promoting the craft and their offerings. As we do each year, the department is calling for volunteers to help set up, tear down, and staff our booth on the 6th. If you’re interested in helping out, and picking up some department service credit, contact me at royek@rowan.edu to sign up for one of three shifts – opening and 10 a.m. to noon, noon to 2 p.m., or 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and closing – or let us know if you’re available to work any of those three shifts. It’s always an exciting event with more than 6,000 attendees, nearly 300 exhibitors, and over 40 authors, and you never know whom you’ll see presenting throughout the day . . . Writing Arts Takes the Stage in Collingswood . . . such as our colleague Megan Atwood. She will be reading from and discussing her three latest books, all released earlier this month: A Fall for Friendship, the third book in her Middle Grade series; and two new offerings in the “Dear Molly, Dear Olive” chapter book series, Molly Gets A Goat and Olive Becomes Famous. Megan is a regular presenter at the event, having hosted similar discussions and readings in the past (the event’s website calls her a “festival favorite”) and she will be among a star-studded cast of authors. These include former New Jersey Gov. James J. Florio leading a political discussion panel and promoting his new book Standing on Principle: Lessons Learned in Public Life, and two local sportswriters/broadcasters – Sal Paolantonio and Ray Didinger – who will be presenting excerpts from their latest works celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl victory: Philly Special: The Inside Story of How the Philadelphia Eagles Won their First Super Bowl Championship by Paolantonio, and Eagles Encyclopedia Champions Edition by Didinger. Don’t Forget The SHOP While You’re Shopping Now that the fall semester is in full swing, student traffic at The SHOP food bank in the Rowan Boulevard Apartments is picking up. As mentioned a few weeks ago in the final Rowan Writing Arts Events Update newsletter of the summer, we will be collecting donations of non-perishable food items at our monthly department meetings. I’ve started picking up an item or two to donate whenever I stop at ShopRite and I’m always keeping an eye out for sales. (Example: Three four-packs of Spaghetti-Os for $9.99!) Feel free to drop off any items with me or Dawn here on the fifth floor, or bring them with you to our next department meeting on Wednesday the 19th. As mentioned before, nearly half of the students in our classes face food insecurity issues each week; let’s do what we can to help stem the tide of hunger. Thank you. Rowan is America’s Sixth Fastest Growing University! With our enrollment at an all-time high of more than 19,000 (double the number of students from just 12 years ago), it should come as no surprise that Rowan University recently was named the sixth fastest growing college or university in America. The survey conducted for the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Almanac of Higher Education 2018-19 included all U.S. public doctoral institutions and listed the top six as the University of California/Merced, Utah State University, Arizona State University/Phoenix, the University of Texas/Dallas, the University of Texas/Arlington and Rowan. That school up north -- Rutgers University/New Brunswick – was further down the list at #19. Do you have a new publication, a reading, or any other event of interest coming up? Please let me know so I can feature it in the Rowan Writing Arts Events Update newsletter. Stop by my Victoria 521 office or email me at royek@rowan.edu to give me the 4-1-1. Stephen A. Royek, M.A. Lecturer, Writing Arts Rowan University 2015 Rowan Medallion Award winner Phone: 856-906-4755 Victoria Hall, Room 521 Email: royek@rowan.edu Speaking of the M.A. Symposium, Here’s the Schedule Each of this year’s Master of Arts in Writing students will get double their allotment of Andy Warhol’s “fifteen minutes of fame” this week as they each have 30 minutes to present and defend their theses at the MAWR program’s annual Symposium. The three-night event – tomorrow, May 1; Wednesday, May 2; and Thursday, May 3 – will be held in Room 144 of the Chamberlain Student Center starting at 6:30 p.m. Here’s the lineup for each night: Tuesday: Emily Severance, Tara O'Day, Emily Strauser, Elizabeth DiPietro, and Myriah Stubee; Wednesday: Rachel Carly, Alfred Dansbury, Jaymilynn Rogers, Mikaela Langdon, and Elyssa Finkelstein; Thursday: Tyler Riggs, Joe Magaletta, Karen Teller, Rachel Saltzman, and Kimberly Erskine. Contact Master of Arts in Writing program coordinator Ron Block (blockr@rowan.edu) for more information. Showcasing the Best and Brightest of Writing Arts There’s a lot of pride and a bit of bias in this statement, but it seemed pretty clear that the Writing Arts Department tables were the most active and energetic of them all at last week’s Student Awards & Showcase event. The sixth-annual edition of the Showcase, sponsored by the College of Communication and Creative Arts, featured outstanding fall 2017 and spring 2018 projects from students working with faculty colleagues Ron Block, Katie Budris, Celeste Del Russo, Doreen Fera, Grace Fillenwarth, Mike Fotos, Drew Kopp, Steve Royek, Rachael Shapiro, and Jen Tole. The work on display in the Eynon Ballroom of the Chamberlain Student Center came from such courses as those in the award-winning First Year Writing Program as well as Sophomore Engineering Clinic 1 and Writing for the Workplace; such student publications and organizations as Avant, Glassworks, the Rowan Writing Arts Club, and the Rowan Writing Arts Internship Program also were represented. Each of the six CCCA departments had tables from which they touted the best of their best as well, but the Writing Arts area was constantly clogged with visitors . . . and we went strong right to the end, even as other departments had packed up and left for the day. Well done, Writing Arts! (In the photo up top, from right to left, students Mikaela Langdon, Laura Kincaid, and Rachel Saltzman – and Writing Arts faculty colleague Mike Fotos – share some of the department’s creative projects with an interested attendee.) Do you have a new publication, a reading, or any other event of interest coming up? Please let me know so I can let all our colleagues know in the weekly Rowan Writing Arts Events Update newsletter. Stop by my Victoria 521 office or email me at royek@rowan.edu to give me the 4-1-1.
Stephen A. Royek, M.A. Lecturer, Writing Arts Rowan University 2015 Rowan Medallion Award winner Phone: 856-906-4755 Victoria Hall, Room 521 Email: royek@rowan.edu Excellent News on the Writing Arts Scholarship Front Despite the fact that Rowan University’s tuition increases over the past five years have been held below the national rate of inflation, the cost of higher education still is one of the biggest ticket items facing young adults today. The Writing Arts Department, however, has two updates that will help ease this burden:
FYWP Accepts Rowan’s Excellence In Teamwork Award Nearly a score of colleagues from the Writing Arts Department’s First-Year Writing Program (FYWP) were on hand to receive one of just seven university Employee Recognition Awards presented for the 2017-2018 academic year. FYWP Coordinator Amy Woodworth accepted a plaque for the “Teamwork – Team Honor” award from President Ali Houshmand as part of Rowan’s annual Celebrating Excellence Awards ceremony and banquet at the Chamberlain Student Center. The award narrative says First-Year Writing teaches about 5,500 students each year who are “embarking on their academic writing careers.” While also mentioning Dr. Woodworth’s predecessor as coordinator, Erin Herberg, the program says “faculty in the First-Year Writing Program are on the front lines, so to speak, when it comes to supporting students. They are often among the first to notice under-performing students, those struggling to adjust to college-level work, or students in need of tutoring or academic services.” . . . Among other award winners at the event was Professor Gregory Biren from the School of Health Professions who took home the prestigious Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award. In his acceptance speech, Prof. Biren thanked his faculty colleagues for their support by saying the friendship permeating his department “creates a culture of learning and a culture of family.” (At the top, President Houshmand presents the Teamwork award to Dr. Woodworth and, below that, smiles abound after the banquet as Writing Arts colleagues gather for a team photo.) Speaking of Winning and Recognition, Here are Two More
Writing Arts Club Receives Charter; Announces New Board
Here’s A Trio Of Events To Add To Your Outlook Calendar
Do you have a new publication, a reading, or any other event of interest coming up? Please let me know so I can let all our colleagues know in the weekly Rowan Writing Arts Events Update newsletter. Stop by my Victoria 521 office or email me at royek@rowan.edu to give me the 4-1-1.
Stephen A. Royek, M.A. Instructor, Writing Arts Rowan University 2015 Rowan Medallion Award winner Phone: 856-906-4755 Victoria Hall, Room 521 Email: royek@rowan.edu Gess Award Winners Keep Denise’s Creative Spirit Alive After receiving more than 100 entries across three categories, 14 students were selected as first-, second-, and third-place, and honorable mention winners in the 2018 Denise Gess Literary Awards competition. The biennial contest celebrates and commemorates the passion and energy Writing Arts professor Denise Gess brought to the classroom and to her published works. Denise passed in 2009 after sharing her light and vision with the Rowan community for five years. First-place winners each received a $200 cash award with $100 going to the second-place finishers and $50 to those selected for third place. All students that were recognized had the opportunity to read selections of their work to the capacity crowd at the Rowan Art Gallery during the April 2 event. -- First place in the Edward Czwartacki Award for Fiction category went to graduate student Tara O’Day for “When She Asks to Go Home,” while Daniel DeLuise won second place, Dylann Cohn-Emery third, and Daniel McGilloway received an honorable mention. Judges for the fiction award were Writing Arts faculty members Megan Atwood and Ed Briant. -- Senior Morgan Douglas won first place in the Rowan University Award for Poetry competition for her collection “Red.” Second place went to Daniel McGilloway, third to Vasiliki Dinoulis and Tara Lonsdorf, Kylee Bagley, and Laura Kincaid were honorable mention recipients. Colleagues Joan Hanna and Bob Evans served as the poetry judges. -- In the competition for the Pat B. Tweedie Award for Creative Nonfiction, freshman Alex Phillips won first place for “Caught in the Intersection,” while Rachel Barton was second and Emily Strauser finished third. Honorable mentions went to Alix McKinstry and Justina Addice. Judges in the creative nonfiction category were Writing Arts professors Lisa Jahn-Clough, who coordinated this year’s competition, and Tim Zatzariny, who also was a former student of Professor Gess. The Writing Arts Department was honored to have four of Denise’s family members attend the ceremony (sitting in the front row from left to right, listening to Daniel DeLuise): Her sister Mary Tartaglione, her mother Mary Piccoli, her brother Joe Piccoli, and her sister-in-law Nancy Piccoli. In a note Events Updatereceived from her brother several days after the event, Joe thanked the Writing Arts Department for our “graciousness and hospitality.” “Hearing all of that young talent reading their work,” he said, “made me feel as if I was listening to Denise again. . . The kind words offered by so many on her behalf were a real comfort to all of us.” Coming Sunday: Iraqi Poet to Read at Avant Event Stop by campus this Sunday, April 15 at 7 p.m. to hear Iraqi poet Faheela Hassan – “The Maya Angelou of Iraq” – present samples of her work in the Owl’s Nest restaurant at the Chamberlain Student Center in an event sponsored by Avant magazine. Hassan, a former refugee who now lives in the United States, is a poet, teacher, editor, writer, and playwright who has written a dozen books, three plays, and more than 50 short stories. For more information, contact Laura Kincaid, Avant editor-in-chief, at kincaidl6@students.rowan.edu. A Look Back at the Student-Faculty Open Mic Event More than a dozen students and faculty took part in the Spring 2018 Open Mic event at the Rowan Art Gallery on Wednesday, March 28. The reading was sponsored by the Writing Arts Department and Glassworks magazine; coordinated by faculty members Anthony Palma, Tim Donaldson, and Katie Budris; and moderated by graduate student Mikaela Langdon (at top). The evening featured works of both poetry and prose and spanned the emotional range from tear-invoking, to thought-provoking, to side-splittingly funny. The strong attendance at this event, and at a similar session last fall, may mean the Open Mic could make a regular appearance on the Rowan Writing Arts calendar going forward. Coming in Next Week’s Rowan Writing Arts Events Update . . . “It’s a major award,” Darren McGavin’s character exclaims in the movie “A Christmas Story,” and we’ll be crowing with equal pride next week as Events Update provides full coverage of the Celebrating Excellence Awards ceremony where the department’s First-Year Writing Program received the university’s 2017-18 Teamwork Award. We’ll also offer a Doodle Poll as we look to schedule a final social event of the school year sometime in the next few weeks. Do you have a new publication, a reading, or any other event of interest coming up? Please let me know so I can let all our colleagues know in the weekly Rowan Writing Arts Events Update newsletter. Stop by my Victoria 521 office or email me at royek@rowan.edu to give me the 4-1-1.
Stephen A. Royek, M.A. Lecturer, Writing Arts Rowan University 2015 Rowan Medallion Award winner Phone: 856-906-4755 Victoria Hall, Room 521 Email: royek@rowan.edu Late Withdrawal Period Deadline Is This Coming Monday, April 9 We’re at the three-quarter pole of the semester, which means the Late Withdrawal deadline is upon us. Students who want to – or need to – withdraw from your classes have until 4:30 p.m. EDT this coming Monday, April 9, to submit the proper documentation with the Registrar’s Office. For a Late Withdrawal to be processed, the form must be completed and signed by the student and signed both by you and our Department Chair Jenn Courtney. Click here for a copy of the form. After Monday, we enter the Hardship Withdrawal Period during which all of the above requirements must be met in addition to a hardship letter from the student and the approval of our Dean Sandy Tweedie. The Hardship Withdrawal process requires students to meet one or more of the hardship categories listed on the separate Hardship Withdrawal Form along with appropriate supporting documentation. Please click here for more details, and for access to the special hardship withdrawal information. The email sent earlier this afternoon by Amy Woodworth has additional information on this process as well as details on the university’s new policy on grades of incomplete. Don’t Forget To RSVP For Our First-Year Writing Program Celebration! Our big day is a week away! Members of the First-Year Writing Program of the Writing Arts Department are being honored for winning the fourth-annual “2018 Rowan Values Team Award for Student Centeredness” next Thursday, April 12, at this year’s “Celebrating Excellence” reception. The festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Eynon Ballroom of the Chamberlain Student Center and continue with dinner and the formal presentation. The FYWP team will be recognized for its “extraordinary efforts to support the values of the University" and President Ali Houshmand will be on hand to make the presentation. All program faculty should have received a personal invitation to the ceremony; if you didn’t receive one (or can’t find yours), contact Linda DiGennaro, Director of University Events, at digennaro@rowan.edu. Coming In Next Week’s Rowan Writing Arts Events Update . . . We’ll have complete coverage, with photos, of the 2018 Denise Gess Literary Awards ceremony and the Student-Faculty Open Mic event, along with all the usual updates and features you’ve come to expect from the RWAEU newsletter. Keep an eye out for the April 9, 2018 edition early next week! Do you have a new publication, a reading, or any other event of interest coming up? Please let me know so I can let all our colleagues know in the weekly Rowan Writing Arts Events Update newsletter. Stop by my Victoria 521 office or email me at royek@rowan.edu to give me the 4-1-1.
Stephen A. Royek, M.A. Lecturer, Writing Arts Rowan University 2015 Rowan Medallion Award winner Phone: 856-906-4755 Victoria Hall, Room 521 Email: royek@rowan.edu |
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April 2021
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