JANICE OWENS-FILER
6342 Woodland Forrest Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
(205) 292-4280
jfiler@sheltonstate.edu
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Psychology: March, 2014 – Present, Grand Canyon University
M.A. Bilingual Education/ESL, University of Alabama: December,
2001
M.A. Secondary Education/Language Arts, University of Alabama:
December, 2001
B.A. Economics, Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS: 1984
WORK
EXPERIENCE
The Marimac Academy - April, 2010 – Present.
Chief Executive Officer – Responsible for creating and incorporating
the Academy. Successfully ran its first summer program in conjunction
with Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church. Continues to provide
tutoring services and ACT preparation courses.
University of Alabama NSBE Jr. – August, 2009 – Present
Principal Advisor –
Precollegiate initiative for students interested in engineering and other
STEM areas. Students meet, travel, and compete in science and
engineering competitions
Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. May, 1999
– Present
 Developed ESL Academic Program
 Implementing College Reading Redesign Project
 Chair – Language & Communications Division, which includes
English, French, Spanish, Reading, and Mass Communications
 Tenured Instructor – Teaching the Reading and English curricula
(including Developmental Education Courses)
 Adjunct Instructor – Teaching critical and developmental Reading
 Skill Center Instructor. Teaching GED preparation, basic computer
applications (i.e., typing, word processing skills, Internet usage,
etc.)
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
May 2003 –December, 2007
 English Language Institute - Part-time ESL Instructor
 Responsible for language instruction to students entering the
University from various countries
 Also taught functional English to employees of local
corporations (i.e., Mercedes, JVC, Delphi)
 Volunteered for social groups to give students opportunities to
practice language skills
Human Resource Director, Sheraton Capstone Inn, Tuscaloosa,
Alabama. August, 1992 – February, 1996.
 Total responsibility for all staffing needs (recruiting, applicant

processing, new hire processing/exit interviewing. Assist
supervisors with disciplinary actions. Prepare safety training
procedures and manuals.
Manage payroll department.
Professional/Community
Affiliations
Alabama Educators Association
National Association of Bilingual Educators
National Association of Developmental Education
Alabama Association of Developmental Education
International Reading Association
Optimist International
Literacy Council of West Alabama
National Society of Black Engineers Pre-Collegiate Charter (Advisor)
Tuscaloosa City Council PTA President
Alabama PTA (Board Member)
Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Advisory Committee
Tuscaloosa City Schools Facilities Development Steering Committee
PRESENTATIONS
-
Mesa College – Best Practices and Redesign in Developmental Reading
-
Optimist International – Internet Safety
-
Dekalb Technical College, Dekalb, GA “Making Mylabs Work” –
-
CRLA National Conference. Using Technology in the Developmental Lab.
-
Montgomery Public Schools Writing Across the Curriculum Workshop – “It’s OK to Use
Writing to Teach Math”
-
Pearson National Sales Conference – “How to sell Mylabs”
-
Alabama College Association Conference – “Service Learning in Developmental Education”
-
NISOD Conference – presented “Using Art as a Comprehension Tool in Developmental
Reading” and “Innovative Teaching Techniques for Developmental Education Students”
-
Innovations - presented “Strategies for Successful Learning Communities at the Developmental
Level”
-
Alabama College Association Conference – participated on a forum discussing “Innovations in
Courseware for Developmental Reading, English and Math”
-
Innovations – presented “Designing a Successful Developmental Curriculum in English and
Reading”
-
Content Area Literacy: Strategies for Success. Workshop presented to Tuscaloosa Public School
Language Arts Teachers: Holt High School, Tuscaloosa, AL.
-
Spring Conference on Diversity: Alabama Council of Teachers of English. Presented paper
entitled Using Personal Narratives to Teach the Writing Process.