Avesa Rockwell, a faculty member in the Department of English, Linguistics, and Writing Studies, will lead the Writing Program at UMD. As Writing Program Administrator (WPA), Rockwell will work closely with new Associate Administrator Lindsey Jungman (and with College in the Schools coordinator Susan Perala Dewey) to lead the first-year writing and advanced writing courses that serve the vast majority of UMD students.
Rockwell holds a Master of Arts degree in English from UMD and a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Community Development from The Evergreen State College. Between undergraduate and graduate school, she taught experiential education and then co-managed a literary arts education program in San Francisco. Her background reflects her intellectual drives as a researcher, teacher and administrator.
"As a researcher, I am interested in the ways that digital media is changing how we communicate, form communities, and advocate for things we believe in. I am also interested in how educators can help students escape the online echo chamber," Rockwell says.
This kind of engaged research, at the place where writing makes change in the real world, also drives her research and work in administration.
"I have been conducting institutional research on optimal classroom design for digitally enhanced first-year writing classes and how learning communities can increase retention."
Rockwell returns to the role she held in 2012-13. From 2013 to 2019, Elizabethada Wright administered the Writing Program. Under Wright's leadership for six years, the program has flourished, creating innovative partnerships with Honors, with biology, and other academic units. Such partnerships will continue under Rockwell, while Rockwell leads the program in new directions. Next year, Wright steps into a role in union [UEA] leadership.
Rockwell will work closely with Lindsey Jungman, who will serve as the associate writing program administrator. Jungman received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Iowa State University and taught high school English for six years--two years in the Iowa public schools and four years at the American School of Yaoundé in Cameroon, West Africa. She returned to the U.S. in 2012 and earned a Master of Arts in English from UMD, where she has taught both college writing and advanced writing for the past five years. In addition, Jungman works as a faculty consultant in UMD’s Writers’ Workshop and volunteers with several community organizations.
The WPA also works closely with the Head of the Department of ELWS, Will Salmon. “Avesa brings significant experience to the WPA position, and she and Lindsey have positive energy and fresh ideas. I expect very good things from them and the program over the next few years,” according to Salmon.
Moving forward, questions about course equivalencies and opportunities for collaboration with the Writing Program [both first-year writing and advanced writing] at UMD should be directed to Avesa Rockwell at [email protected], (218) 726-6175. Lindsey Jungman can be reached at [email protected] or phone # 218 726 7842.
Questions about partnerships in the College in the Schools program for first year writing should continue to be addressed to Susan Perala-Dewey at [email protected], (218) 726-6726.
Image above: Avessa Rockwell (left) and Lindsey Jungman
Learn more about the Department of English, Linguistics, and Writing Studies.