CARA N.

STODDARD
EDUCATION

cara.stoddard@gmail.com
216 Statter Rd. Ephrata, WA 98823
616-745-0180

Master of Fine Arts, Nonfiction Writing

University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, May 2013.
Thesis: Spirography
Committee: Mary Clearman Blew (Professor of English, committee chair), Joy Passanante (Assistant Director of Creative
Writing Program), Sanford Eigenbrode (Professor of Chemical Ecology).
Bachelor of Arts, English
Minor: Adolescent and Young Adult EducationLanguage Arts
The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, May 2008. Cum laude.
Thesis: We Are Jumping!
Committee: Neil Carpathios (chair), Karl Woelz.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
English 261: Womens Literature, scheduled to teach Spring 2015
Tenure-Track Instructor, Big Bend Community College
Selected to teach a contemporary American womens multi-genre literature course that traces the progression of the womens
movement through the first, second, and third waves of feminist literature. Students examine topics relating to womens
health, gender performativity, and affirmative consent laws.
English 272: The Graphic Novel as Literature, Spring 2014
Tenure-Track Instructor, Big Bend Community College
Taught course that sought to uncover the literary merits of the graphic novel medium. Situated the graphic novel in the
fraught historical context of comics in the U.S. since the mid-1930s, covered the American graphic novel tradition since the
1970s, and, as a point of comparison, read one traditional Japanese manga volume. Students wrote analytical essays that
examined literary techniques and thematic content of the texts. Built and maintained an active presence on the courses Canvas
(LMS) site.
English 102: Composition II, Winter, Spring, Fall 2014
Tenure-Track Instructor, Big Bend Community College
Taught introductory-level literature survey course (four sections of 25 students) emphasizing composition in response to
literature. Covered reading strategies to foster active engagement with texts and writing analytically about poetry, drama, short
stories, and book-length creative nonfiction. Students wrote four literary analysis essays including one that incorporates a
literary critics perspective. Built and maintained an active presence on the courses Canvas (LMS) site.
English 101: English Composition I, Fall 2013, Winter, and Fall 2014
Tenure-Track Instructor, Big Bend Community College
Taught the introduction to college-level composition course (seven sections of 25 students) emphasizing thesis-driven
composition in response to controversial current events/rhetorical situations. Covered the writing process, inquiry-based
research methods, and techniques for integrating source material. Built and maintained an active presence on the courses
Canvas (LMS) site.
English 493: Advanced Nonfiction Writing, Practicum, Spring 2012
Teaching Assistant, University of Idaho
Assisted professor in teaching capstone creative nonfiction course. Facilitated in-class writing activities for the braided essay
unit and designed and taught a short short unit in which students read and wrote essays of 1500 words or fewer. Built and
maintained the courses Blackboard site. Met with students for one-on-one conferences about their work, graded student
critiques, and taught the course in the professors absence.
English 293: Beginning Nonfiction Writing, Spring 2013
Teaching Assistant, University of Idaho

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Taught course in creative nonfiction (one section of 11 students), emphasizing craft analysis and techniques of the genre.
Exposed students to the conventions of personal essays, essays of place, researched-based essays, and literary journalism.
Facilitated workshops on student essays and technical exercises.
English 102: College Writing and Rhetoric, Spring 2011-Fall 2012
Teaching Assistant, University of Idaho
Taught composition and rhetoric (six sections of 26 students), emphasizing inquiry-based research methods for the 21st
century. Engaged students in multiple rhetorical situations in order to foster critical thinking skills and citizenship.
English 102: College Writing and Rhetoric Online, Summer 2011, Summer 2012
Teaching Assistant, University of Idaho
Facilitated and taught six-week summer course in composition and rhetoric (two sections of 15 students), emphasizing
inquiry-based research methods for the 21st century. Built, edited, and troubleshot course content on Blackboard Learn
(LMS). Used Google Docs to confer with students.
English 101: Introduction to College Writing, Fall 2010
Teaching Assistant, University of Idaho
Taught introductory composition (two sections of 26 students), emphasizing rhetoric, reading comprehension, and genrespecific writing projects. Introduced students to the writing process and the basics of rhetoric.
PUBLICATIONS
fear, v. (poem). BLOOM. (Forthcoming).
Ode to the Xiphoid Process (poem). Knockout Magazine. (Fall 2014). 25-26.
Pantoum (poem). Educe: A Journal of Queer Literature. (Spring 2014). 12.
To a Player Piano, Grand Rapids, MI, 2010 (poem). Ninth Letter. (2013). Online.
Lake People (essay). The Gettysburg Review. 25:4 (Winter 2012). 567-573.
Krummholz (essay). Flyway: Journal of Writing and Environment. 14.1 (Fall 2011). 8-15.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Nominated for Outstanding Faculty Award. Big Bend Community College. June 2014.
Writing in the Wild Travel Award, Taylor Research Station, Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. University of
Idaho, Fall 2012.
2nd place, Knockout Magazines International Memorial Reginald Shepherd Prize. Poem: Ode to the Xiphoid Process. Judged
by C. Dale Young. Fall 2012.
Nominated for a Pushcart. Essay: Lake People. 2012.
1st Place, Flyway: Journal of Writing and Environments Notes from the Field Contest. Essay: Krummholz. Fall 2011.
Teaching Assistant Fellowship, $6000/year. University of Idaho, Fall 2010-Spring 2013.
Nixon Scholarship, $1500/year. University of Idaho, Fall 2010-Spring 2013.
The Donaldson Prize for Best Creative Independent Study, The College of Wooster, English Department, Spring 2008.
The Donaldson Prize for Personal Essay, The College of Wooster, English Department, Spring 2008 & Spring 2009.
Medical Humanitarian Internship Grant, The College of Wooster, Lilly Project, Summer 2007.

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PRESENTATIONS & READINGS
Podcasting as Composition: Ethnography of the Columbia Basin and Impacts of the Grand Coulee Dam as Told by FirstYear Composition Students. Accepted to present at the Western Literature Associations Annual Conference; Victoria, BC.
November 2014.
Visions of the West: Creative Writing and Reading. Chaired panel of creative readings at the Western Literature Association
Conference; Berkeley, CA. October 2013.
Formative Revisions: Deconstructing and Retelling the Dominant Narrative. Presented at the Northwest Womens Studies
Association Conference; Moscow, ID. April 2013.
Rewriting Disempowerments. Presented on a creative panel of poets at the Northwest Womens Studies Association
Conference; Moscow, ID. April 2013.
What Is Seen and Unseen in the Writing Classroom: Preparing UI for LGBTQ Writing. Presented at the University of
Idahos Womens Leadership Conference; Moscow, ID. October 2012.
Lake People. Creative essay presented at MFA Symposium; Moscow, ID. January 2012.
On Indignation. Creative essay presented at the University of Idahos Turning of the Wheel Colloquium: Explorations of
the Unique and Universal; Moscow, ID. November 2011.
Krummholz. Creative essay presented at the Western Literature Association Conference; Missoula, MT. October 2011.
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant, University of Idaho Writing Center
Moscow, Idaho, Fall 2012
Tutored up to 150 students throughout the semester. Coordinated the Writing Center in the directors absence, trained six
high school writing tutors. Met with up to six students on a weekly, recurring basis to improve their written language skills
over the course of the semester.
Tutor, University of Idaho Writing Center
Moscow, Idaho, Spring 2012
Assisted student writers at all levels in all stages of the writing process. Gave one-on-one feedback during half-hour or fullhour sessions. Worked with non-native English speakers on language acquisition skills and cultural conventions of standard
written English.
Student Teacher, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School
Fort Collins, Colorado, Fall 2008
Taught eleven weeks in a 7th and 8th grade humanities class. Designed and implemented a unit on the Trans-Atlantic Slave
Trade. Practiced protocols and design principles of the Expeditionary Learning/Outward Bound school model.
Backpacking Guide & Pathfinding Coordinator, Colvig Silver Camps
Durango, Colorado, Summers 2008, 2009, 2010
Lead 26-day backpacking trips in the Weminuche Wilderness of SW Colorado for co-ed groups of 16-18-year-olds. Trained
35 head counselors and assistant counselors in NOLS group dynamics, expeditionary learning philosophies, and Leave No
Trace backcountry ethics.
YMCA LOOP Site Coordinator, Grand Rapids Montessori School
Grand Rapids, Michigan, Oct 2009-May 2010
Planned curriculum-enhancing activities for before- and after-school inner-city program for sixty students grades K-8th.
Supervised programming and mentored four Activity Leaders.
English Teacher and Caretaker, Royal Seed Needy Home
Ofaakor, Ghana, June-July 2007

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Lived and taught at an orphanage serving 150 children under age twelve in a rural community in Ghana. Upon return to the
U.S., participated in re-integration conversations supported by the Lilly Project about culture exchange and the potential
harms of humanitarian aid from Northern countries.
EDITORIAL EXPERIENCE
Web Designer, Fugue (nationally distributed literary magazine), University of Idaho, Spring 2012.
Nonfiction Reader, Fugue (nationally distributed literary magazine), University of Idaho, 2010-2012.
CONFERENCES ATTENDED
Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference, February 2014, Seattle, WA.
Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (SBCTC) New Faculty Institute, September 2013, Tacoma, WA.
Peninsula Writers Summer Retreat, June 2012, full scholarship, Glen Arbor, Michigan.
Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference, February 2011, Washington, D.C.
SERVICE & COMMITTEE WORK
Gay-Straight Alliance, Faculty Co-advisor, Big Bend Community College, 2013-present.
Assessment Committee, Humanities Representative, Big Bend Community College, 2013-present.
New Student Orientation & Registration, Faculty Volunteer, Big Bend Community College, Winter and Spring 2014.
Director of IT Hiring Committee, Committee Member, Big Bend Community College, Winter and Spring 2014.
Service-Learning Orientation Tutor Training, Coeur dAlene Tribe Department of Education, Fall 2012-Spring 2013.
English 95 Hiring Committee, University of Idaho, Spring 2012.
Curriculum Development Committee, Graduate Student Representative, University of Idaho, Fall 2011-Spring 2012.
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Joy Passanante, Professor Emerita, University of Idaho
joy@uidaho.edu | 208-882-1038
Mary Clearman Blew, Professor, University of Idaho
mblew@uidaho.edu | 208-885-6156
Jodie Nicotra, Associate Professor, University of Idaho
jnicotra@uidaho.edu | 208-885-5963
Mary Ann Judge, Director of the Writing Center, University of Idaho
judge@uidaho.edu | 208-885-4300
Jeff Jones, Lecturer, University of Idaho
jeffj@uidaho.edu | 208-892-4481