Karen Shea
Professor, College of Arts & Sciences
Helping JWU students gain confidence in their writing, speaking, and reading has been both rewarding and educational.”
Bio
After graduating with a BA in English from Connecticut College, I taught English in Japan for three years. When I returned to the U.S., I obtained a master's degree in Education (specializing in Teaching English as a Second Language) from Rhode Island College, taught English in Tokyo for one more year, and then returned to Rhode Island to teach English at Johnson & Wales University.
In 2017, I graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a PhD in English. Having specialized in Rhetoric & Composition, I studied the histories, theories, and practical applications of writing and rhetoric, ultimately focusing my dissertation research on multiculturalism and comparative rhetoric. I am particularly interested in conducting research related to open-mindedness, experiential education, rhetorical reading, and high vs. low context communication styles.
In September 2016, I transferred from the ESL Department to the English Department at JWU, where I teach courses focusing on composition, communication, and rhetorical theory. Helping JWU students gain confidence in their writing, speaking, and reading has been both rewarding and educational, and I am honored to have the opportunity to contribute to their postsecondary academic and personal growth.
Sample Courses
- ENG 1020: English Composition
- ENG 1021: Advanced Composition and Communication
- ENG 1030: Communication Skills
Presentations
- Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) 2017: Cultivating Engagement Through Open-Mindedness, Hospitality, and Intercultural Dialogue in Basic Writing Classrooms
- CCCC 2016: "But I Don't Have Time to Teach Reading": Using Multimodal Approaches to Teach Rhetorical Reading in the Composition Classroom
- Massachusetts Association of Teachers to Speakers of Other Languages (MATSOL) 2016: Not Only in Words: Multimodality and Prezi in Postsecondary ESL
- CCCC 2015: "I Never Did This in My Country": Easing Postsecondary ESL Writers Out of Their Comfort Zones by Introducing Them to Rhetorical Reading and Prezi