Adjunct associate professor,
University of Maryland University College
2013–2019

Provided substantive feedback about student writing; identified weaknesses and strengths; created lessons and exercises to help students overcome difficulties; coached students on how to locate and analyze source material, how to navigate scholarly and business discourse, and how to contribute to said discourse with authority.

Course descriptions:

Introduction to Writing — Students develop the writing skills demanded by college-level writing assignments. Students discuss the writing process, practice writing for specific audiences, review strategies for revision, and analyze model writings. Students also practice identifying and applying expository and persuasive modes of writing.

Research Writing and Advanced Research Writing — Students continue to develop their critical reading, thinking, and writing skills. The objective is to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize diverse sources to develop persuasive and academic writing projects.

Advanced Business Writing — In this project-based study of applied business writing, students develop documents appropriate to audience and purpose that are well argued and conform to standards of business writing.

Faculty member,
Bard College Clemente Course in Humanities
2016

Taught Writing and Critical Thinking to students at the Latin American Youth Center’s Bard-affiliated program. Students developed skills in reading with understanding, summarizing and synthesizing information accurately, and writing correct, reasoned, argumentative prose.

Adjunct professor,
American University
2011–2018

The themed courses below focused on developing persuasive, evidence-based arguments. Students practiced writing opinion pieces, literature reviews and other informative and persuasive documents. Students used various online teaching tools, including course website, Blackboard, journal entries and student-generated study guide. Fall courses (non-seminars) incorporated the university’s chosen common text.

College Writing | A More Just World — Students write about what it will take to create a more just world. They read and discuss scholarship, analysis and essays about the history of and perpetuation of income and education inequality, the racial wealth gap, housing resegregation and unscientific ideas about race. They also read about and debate student protest movements, the myth of the model minority, stereotype threats, diversity and inclusion on college campuses, performing identity, and the value of expertise and hidden intellectualism.

College Writing Seminar | A More Just World: Science and Social Justice — Students write about the intersections of science and social justice. They analyze what the experts say can and should be done to keep us all healthy and safe; read and discuss persuasive scholarship, analysis and essays about the social, economic and political contributors to health disparities; and study vulnerable populations and how racism, poverty and privilege relate to disease, treatment and health outcomes.

College Writing | The Human Animal — This course incorporates readings, writing assignments and multimedia to explore the nature and behavior of creatures of all kinds, including, of course, humans. Students analyze what makes humankind unique in our world and what we can learn from human and animal history alike. They learn about how different species ensure their survival, conserve and exploit their natural environments, and work cooperatively and go to battle over mates, territory and resources. They learn how to develop arguments, write persuasively and clearly, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of various types of writing.

College Writing Seminar | Infected: The Causes and Consequences of Nature’s Clever Killers — The media today offer plenty of anxiety-inducing headlines about deaths at the hands of villains, fighting factions, dictators, psychopaths and other unsavory sorts. But there are even more terrifying killers against which we have limited means to defend ourselves. They lurk in the rainforests, merrily moving from healthy host to human victim. They are in the environment and getting into our food supply. They reside in our own bodies, just waiting for the right moment to begin their siege. They are viruses, bacteria and mystery molecules that turn our own bodies into disease factories. In this course, we examine the history, present and future of these nefarious killers and analyze what the experts say can and should be done to keep us safe. Discussion and research topics include the anthrax attacks of 2001, the ongoing discussion about whether or not to destroy smallpox vaccine stockpiles, the explosive Ebola outbreak in Africa, historical and recent incidences of food- and water-borne illnesses, and hotly debated autism research and the anti-vaccination movement that has yielded spikes in infectious diseases such as measles and whooping cough.

Editorial coordinator,
The National Academies
July 2012–April 2013

Facilitated the peer-review process for scientific journal. Liaised with authors, reviewers, editors and editorial board members. Maintained strict review schedule and ensured confidentiality of review process. Served as assistant to 15 editorial board members, managing their correspondence and resolving problems. Responded promptly to author, reviewer and editor concerns and anticipated problems. Marketed the journal at scientific meetings, promoting the editorial board’s expertise, advertising and explaining the journal’s new features, and recruiting manuscript submissions from prospective authors. Prepared editorial board meeting materials and reports.

Writing consultant,
American University
2011–2012

Served as a writing coach for students of all levels and backgrounds. Contributed to writing center’s blog. Organized and presented multiple workshops for new students, international students and students applying for nationally competitive awards. Conducted research and presented on behalf of center at regional conference.

Teaching assistant,
American University
2011

Taught students how to construct extended arguments, to synthesize diverse materials, and to pursue library research.

Technical specialist,
University of Houston
2006–2008

Ensured maintenance and security of Department of Computer Science labs. Provided troubleshooting, software installation and upgrades, and routine customer service for student and faculty users.

Consultant,
Various agribusiness ventures
2000–2006

Consulted on multiple projects that aimed to improve farming techniques and introduce advanced cotton-ginning technologies in underdeveloped parts of Africa.

Account manager,
Bank of America
1998–2000

Responsible for reconciling the corporation’s online banking account.

Technical specialist,
Software Support Inc.
1997–1998

Served clients of Gateway and Compaq.

Migrant laborer,
Farms and cotton gins across America
1980–1996

I was born into family of American migrant farmworkers and began working in the fields around age 6, although I recall being there before that. Contrary to popular belief, Americans do take “those jobs.” For a glimpse of what life’s like for American child laborers, I recommend watching the documentary titled “The Harvest.” They’re still out there, by the way.