Work Experience:

English Instructor, tenured, Diablo Valley College
(1989-present)
Currently teaching Short Story Writing, World Mythology, Composition. Have also taught Women’s Literature, Creative Writing, Critical Thinking, Introduction to Literature, Developmental Reading, Developmental Writing, Grammar and Usage, Sentence Structure, Spelling, Vocabulary. Developed and taught Introduction to Gay and Lesbian Voices in Literature, the first such course on campus.

Participated yearly in peer evaluations and assessment and freshman composition challenge readings. As a chair of the evaluation committee, literature committee, composition committee, and student services committee, participated in the Division Council, a twice monthly meeting to address division business.

Chair, Literature Committee, DVC, 1994-1998, co-chair, 2001-2003. Organized and developed annual Literature Week, brought renowned writers such as Chitra Divakaruni, Gary Soto, Susan Griffin, Annie Lamott, Steve Kowit, Jon Carroll to campus for week of readings, lectures, workshops.

Committee Member, Ethnic Storytelling Festival, DVC, 1991-1998. Helped organized daylong festival and bring storytellers from a variety of cultures to campus.

Chair, Evaluation Committee, 1999-2000, 2002-2003. Organized and implemented evaluations of English and Journalism instructors.

Committee Member, Student Services Committee, 1993-1997. Served on the campus-wide committee, which focuses on student needs and services.

Co-chair, Composition Committee, 1991. Worked with committee members on program review, curriculum questions, course outlines, and "best practices" to share information among division members. Also organized division retreat that focused on our composition program.

Creative Writing Instructor, UCLA Extension
(2000 to present)
Instructor of The Essential Beginnings: An Introductory Writing Workshop, Introduction to Fiction: Learning Fiction Fundamentals, Writing the First Novel and Writing the Novel II, and Writing the Third Novel on-line through UCLA utilizing Blackboard software.

Workshop Leader, A Day of Authors
(2003)
California State University, Fullerton
Spoke about inspiration and creativity

Workshop Leader, Foothill College Writing Conference
(2000, 2001, 2003)
Taught workshops on Beginnings and Endings, Plot, the novel, and led fiction workshops.

Faculty, Gemini Ink, University Without Walls, San Antonio
(2002, 2003)
Taught "Let Your Story Find its Way: Beginnings and Endings. Carrying the Places We’ve Come From: Writing About Place

Faculty, North-Coast Redwoods Writers’ Conference
(2002)
Facilitated workshop on writing the novel

Panelist, Napa Valley Writer’s Conference, Napa Valley College
(2002)
First Books Panel

Focus on Writers Conference, Sacramento State University
(2002, 2003)
Workshop Leader on writing the novel and finding an agent

English Instructor, part-time, Chabot College
(1988-1990)
Taught Developmental Writing, Freshman Composition, Introduction to Literature, The Research Paper

English Instructor, part-time, Las Positas College
(1988-1990)
Taught Developmental Writing, Freshman Composition

Book Tour 2001—Orinda Books Orinda, CA, Barnes and Noble Concord, CA, Bonanza Books Walnut Creek, CA, Border’s San Ramon, CA, Boadecia’s Books, Kensington, CA, Barnes and Noble Burbank, CA, Central Coast Book Festival San Luis Obispo, CA, Odyssey Books Grass Valley, CA, Friends of the Diablo Valley College Library Pleasant Hill, CA, KWMR, West Marin, CA

Book Tour 2002—Orinda Books Orinda, CA, Barnes and Noble Walnut Creek, CA, Bonanza Books, Clayton, CA, Bonanza Books Walnut Creek CA, Boadecia’s Books Kensington, CA, Laurel Books Oakland, CA, Cody’s Books Berkeley, CA, Barnes and Noble Fullerton, CA, Barnes and Noble Burbank, CA, Barnes and Noble Manhattan Beach, CA, KWMR, West Marin, CA, Barnes and Noble San Jose, CA, Barnes and Noble Sacramento, CA, Barnes and Noble Riverside, CA, Diablo Books, Walnut Creek, CA, Barnes and Noble Fremont, CA.

Book Tour 2003—Barnes and Noble, Fullerton, CA, Barnes and Noble, Emeryville, CA, Barnes and Noble, Fremont, CA, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA, Barnes and Noble Chico, CA, Barnes and Noble Walnut Creek, CA, Bonanza Books, Clayton, CA, Border’s Books Montclair, CA, Barnes and Noble Bakersfield, CA, Barnes and Noble Medford, OR, Barnes and Noble Reno, NV, KWMR, West Marin, CA, Barnes and Noble, Roseville, CA.

References:

Richard Jones
Department of English
DePaul University
802 West Belden Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614-3214
email: rjones1@DePaul.edu

Patrick Leong
Current English Department Chair
Diablo Valley College
321 Golf Club Road
Pleasant Hill, California 94523
925-253-1230 x 2783
email: PLeong@dvc.edu

Laury Fischer
Former English Department Chair
Diablo Valley College
321 Golf Club Road
Pleasant Hill, California 94523
925-685-1230 x 2488

Kim Silviera Wolterbeek
Co-Director, Foothill Writers Conference
12345 El Monte Road
Los Altos, California 94022-4599
650-949-7316

Linda Venis, Director, Department of the Arts, UCLA
Program Director, The Writers’ and Literature Program
10995 Le Conte Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90024-2883
310.825.9415
email: LVenis@unex.ucla.edu

View Website in Frames