Identity, Activity, and Community Practice in the Writing Center and Beyond: What Departing Directors Carry with Them

Writer/teacher Wendy Bishop* would argue that even when a writing center director leaves that position, the writing center remains in them. As three longtime directors dealing with retirement, we wondered what that meant. Exactly what values, skills, abilities, and interests did directors take with them when they moved to another position, as Wendy did, or retired, as we did? And how were those manifested? Having now surveyed over 200 former writing center directors, we are currently doing follow-up interviews to get some definitive answers. We will discuss the current status of our research, but, more importantly, seek audience suggestions for other questions we could ask and where we should go next. 

*Bishop, Wendy. 1997. “You Can Take the Girl Out of the Writing Center, But You Can’t Take the Writing Center Out of the Girl: Reflections on the Sites We Call Centers” in Teaching Lives: Essays & Stories. Utah State University Press; pp. 157-166.

All are welcome to attend! Email lifespanwriting [@] gmail.com for meeting link. All WIP are posted in Eastern Standard (or Daylight) Time.