Rank
Instructor
Educational background
MAT Social Studies and English 5-Adult, Marshall University, 2012
MA English, Marshall University, 2007
BA History, Marshall University, 2004.
Interests and Specializations
Composition and Rhetoric, Women and Gender Studies, Pop Culture
About
Jessica Sowards works with incoming students who have difficulty in reading and writing by teaching them skills they need in order to be successful in college and the workforce. Her classes cover creative works, rhetoric, good citizenship, and the way pop culture forms gender identity.
Jessica also instructs new professors on what to expect with Freshmen composition students and shares her experiences on how to encourage discussion, reading, and writing in the classroom.
In the spring of 2014, she attended the CCA in Morgantown, WV. She and other English and Math department faculty set the course and tone of all zero level courses switching to 100 level in West Virginia. This resulted in a stronger system for non-traditional and developmental students entering college in Fall 2014 and beyond.
Presentations and Accomplishments
Encouraging Useful Discussion with Developmental Students (Marshall University, Fall 2015)
Teacher Talk: Managing Classroom Behavior (Marshall University, Fall 2015)
CCA College Completion Academy (January 2014)
What to Expect When Teaching a Developmental Course (Marshall University, Fall 2014)
Service
Faculty Mentoring and Support Committee, Chair (August 2015-May 2016) Undergraduate Program Committee (August 2014-May 2015)
Composition Committee (August 2013-May 2014)