Colloquia bring three finalists for Kirkpatrick Chair

Building a Culture of Writing at the University of Delaware," colloquia presenting the three finalists for the Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr. Chair in Writing, will be held during February.

Created by the University Board of Trustees to honor its former chairman, the Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr. Chair In Writing will promote good writing in every discipline across the campus. A member of the Board of Trustees since 1982, Kirkpatrick served as chairman from 1988-99.

The discussions, which are open to all members of the UD community, will be held from 4-5 p.m., Wednesdays, Feb. 14, 21 and 28, in 127 Memorial Hall. These wide-ranging discussions will explore how faculty can enhance students' ability to write well in every field of study.

"We particularly welcome the participation of faculty and graduate students from across the campus in these colloquia," Kevin Kerrane, English and search committee chairperson, said. "Discussion with the candidates now can shape the role of the department and the role the discipline plays in building a culture of writing at UD."

Discussions with the finalists for the Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr. Chair in Writing include Stephen North of the State University of New York at Albany on Feb. 14; Jeanne Fahnestock of the University of Maryland, Feb. 21; and Stephen Bernhardt of New Mexico State University, Feb. 28.

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Stephen North

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Professor of English at the State University of New York in Albany, North is the author of a seminal study, The Making of Knowledge in Composition, and many articles dealing with the teaching of writing. At SUNY Albany, he spent seven years as director of the Writing Center and another eight as director of writing. In these roles, he helped establish a writing-across-the-curriculum program, a general writing major in the English department, and a Ph.D. track called "Writing, Teaching and Criticism."

He also devised new undergraduate courses and has mentored many graduate students in their first teaching semesters.

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Jeanne Fahnestock

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Fahnestock, professor of English at the University of Maryland, is an authority on classical rhetoric and scientific prose. She coauthored a highly influential textbook, A Rhetoric of Argument, and achieved international recognition for her scholarly work–particularly for her most recent book, A Rhetoric of Argument (Oxford).

She also has published articles on pedagogy and is active in administrating writing programs. At the University of Maryland, she won a College of Arts and Humanities Teaching Award and an Outstanding Educator Award.

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Stephen Bernhardt

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Professor of English at New Mexico State University, Bernhardt is the author of a major textbook, Writing at Work, and is coeditor of Expanding Literacies, an award-winning anthology of essays about workplace communication.

At New Mexico State, he secured grants for computer classrooms and initiatives in writing across the curriculum, and with his students built a web site [www.nmsu.edu/techprof] dealing with the pedagogy of technical writing. He focuses on ethical issues in writing and on opportunities for minority students. In addition to his extensive teaching and administrative duties, Bernhardt is active as consultant for large pharmaceutical companies.

For further information and to submit comments on the candidates, send e-mail to Kerrane, at [kkerrane@udel.edu] or Debby Andrews, English and coordinator of the department's Writing Committee and of the University Writing Initiative, at [dandrews@udel.edu].