Paul Rogers
Year Graduated:
2003
Associate Professor of Writing Studies
Job description
As an Associate Professor in the UC Santa Barbara Writing Program, my responsibilities include research, teaching, administrative work, and service to the department, university, and the University of California system. I am currently working on a number of research projects focused on writing engagement in K-12 education, longitudinal studies of writing development, and a study of the roles writing and reading play in the development of professional expertise.
Why did you choose this program?
I initially chose to study at Humboldt because of my love of nature. But, while I came for the redwoods and the ocean, it was the people I met in earning my B.A. in Communication and my M.A. in English who literally transformed my life, including former Dean of CHSS Karen Carlton, and faculty members extraordinaire Tom Gage, David Stacey, Marianne Ahokas, Greg Young, Tracy Duckart, and the one and only Dan Faulk. There were many other faculty members who made a real impact on my life: Sheila Rocker Heppe, Julie Yingling, Kathleen Doty, Scott Paynton, Laura Hahn, and many others.
How did this program prepare you for your job?
My first experiences teaching writing were at Humboldt. First, I worked in the Writing Center and then I had the tremendous opportunity to teach a section of first-year writing, which was a transformative experience for me. I loved teaching writing and realized I could be good at it. At that time, I was exposed to the deep scholarship of writing studies, especially by Professor Gage and Professor Stacey. It was those experiences and opportunities that set me on the course I have been on and am still on today.
What did you enjoy most about the program?
I loved the quality of interactions between faculty and students, the conversation-based classes, and the combination of rigorous scholarship with a real-world focus. I had mentors not just teachers. I could and did meet with faculty during office hours and I asked the burning questions I had and they would patiently work with me. The faculty challenged me, supported me, and gave me opportunities to grow. For example, Dean Carlton asked me to lead a couple of sessions of her "Women in Literature" course. It was completely intimidating but those experiences helped me learn how to facilitate discussion, prepare for class, and to think about learning in new ways. Professor Gage invited me to present with him at the historic Asilomar Language Arts conference on the novels of Orhan Pamuk, which led to many other opportunities and relationships. And, Professor Stacey invited me to attend the CCCC conference in Chicago with him, which is where I met Charles Bazerman for the first time who was to become my dissertation chair at UC Santa Barbara. It's kind of overwhelming to think about how these opportunities impacted my life.
What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?
There simply is no better place to study than Cal Poly Humboldt. Authenticity and innovation are the hallmarks of the English Department at Humboldt and anyone who studies there will be stepping into dynamic opportunity to develop as a human being and professional.
Other comments?
I would be remiss not to mention the enormous contributions of my peers. I made so many lifelong friends while working on my B.A. and M.A. It's amazing to look back now and think of how formative the friendships I made at Humboldt have impacted every aspect of my life.