Leah M. Van Vaerenewyck, MFA
LeahVanVaerenewyck@yahoo.com
76 Ray Road, Wrentham, MA
339.364.1359
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION
In Progress
Lesley University, PhD, Education
2012
Lesley University, Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing – Fiction concentration with interdisciplinary studies in
Non-fiction and Composition Pedagogy
2009
Bridgewater State College, Bachelor of Arts, English, Writing Concentration, Cum Laude
THESIS
Van Vaerenewyck, L. M. (2011) Mute Swan and Other Stories. Master’s Thesis. Advisor: Tony Eprile; Reader: Hester Kaplan
TEACHING
2014pres
Adjunct English Faculty
Lesley University
CLITR-2230: World Literature I; CLITR-2240: World Literature II
2012pres
Adjunct English Faculty
Emmanuel College
ENGL 1103: First Year Writing Seminar; ENGL 1105: Introduction to Literature
2012pres
Ad-hoc Interdisciplinary Study Advisor
Lesley University, MFA in Creative Writing Program
20132014
Adjunct Lecturer – Division of Liberal Arts
Quincy College
ENG 101: Composition I, ENG 230: Journalism, ENG 221: World Literature I
2012
Music as Muse – Graduate Seminar
Lesley University, MFA in Creative Writing Program
2011
Teaching Assistant
Lesley University, CLITR-1100: Writing and the Literary Arts
AWARDS
2014
Vermont Studio Center Merit-Based Residency Grant
Awarded for two week writer’s residency in 2015
2014
Research Travel Grant
Awarded by: Lesley University Graduate School of Education
2014
Teaching Fellowship Grant
Awarded by: Lesley University Graduate School of Education
2013
Dolores J. Brown Staff Award Nominee
Harvard Medical School
2012
Dean’s Community Service Award Recipient
Harvard Medical School, Presented by the Office for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Partnership
2012
Finalist Glimmer Train’s Very Short Fiction Contest. January, 2012.
2008
Edith G. Shoolman English Award, Bridgewater State College, 2008
Awarded to faculty-nominated senior based on academic achievements and creativity in English discipline
2008
Second Place, Non-fiction, The Bridge, Vol. 5, Winner of Associated Collegiate Press Peacemaker Award
2008
Second Place, Fiction, The Bridge, Vol. 5, Winner of Associated Collegiate Press Peacemaker Award
PUBLICATIONS
Van Vaerenewyck, L. M. (In-press) Writing Again. Stone Voices.
Van Vaerenewyck, L. M. (In-press) On Storytelling. Literary Brushstrokes.
Shinas, V. H., Steckel, B. & Van Vaerenewyck, L. M. (In-press) Artistic Technology Integration: Stories from Primary/Elementary
Classrooms. The Reading Teacher.
Van Vaerenewyck, L. M. (2013) Split. Mason’s Road, Issue 7.
Van Vaerenewyck, L. M. (2012) Left. SipsCard, Vol. 1, Issue 1.
Van Vaerenewyck L. M. (2008) Sense. The Bridge, Vol 5. Anniversary Edition, p 79-84.
Van Varenewyck, L. M. (2008) The Lady of North Babylon. The Bridge, Vol 5. Anniversary Edition. p 29-32.
PRESENTATIONS
Van Vaerenewyck, L. M., Steckel, B., & Shinas, V. H. (2014) Planning for Tech Integration. MassCUE Conference, Foxboro,
MA.
Van Vaerenewyck, L. M., Shinas, V. H. & Steckel, B. (2014) TPACK+ in the preK-12 Classroom: Examining Teacher’s Technology
Integrated Instruction. Roundtable session presented at annual Literacy Researcher Association Conference, Marco Island,
FL.
READINGS
2013
Mason’s Road Issue 7 Launch Party
Fairfield University Book Store, Fairfield, CT
2012
Creative Writing Student Reading
Sherrill Library, Cambridge, MA
2012
Winter Evening Reading Series
Marran Theater, Cambridge, MA
REVIEW ACTIVITIES
2015pres
Ad-hoc reviewer for Literacy Research: Theory, Method, and Practice
RESEARCH
20132014
Graduate Research Assistant
Lesley University Graduate School of Education
Project investigates ways preK-12 teachers use technology in the course of literacy instruction for an accepted book
proposal. Work includes literature review, transcribing field notes, coding qualitative data, developing an appendix of
educational technology, content for companion blog, and additional materials for presentation at Lesley University
Community of Scholars and Massachusetts Reading Association conferences.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Program Administrator
PEN New England, Freedom to Write Committee’s Prison Writing Program
MIT, Cambridge, MA
06/2010-09/2012
Volunteer Relations
 Manage and train up to forty volunteers for Bay State Correctional Center Programs
 Organize volunteer recruitment and information sessions & conduct orientations and trainings
 Act as primary liaison among instructors, DOC administration and PEN New England board.
Program Communications & Publishing
 Write and circulate internal and external program communications
 Edit and distribute annual program handbook and bi-annual chapbook
 Create and maintain program listserv
Curriculum & Development
 Drive program curriculum and planning discussions
 Secure funding for volunteer appreciation events

Recruit, appoint and on-board new Program Administrator
Creative Writing Workshop Instructor
02/2009-05/2013
PEN New England, Freedom to Write Committee’s Prison Writing Program
MIT, Cambridge, MA
 Co-teach five-to-six week fiction and nonfiction workshop units focused on developing and work-shopping new student
writing and examining mentor texts
ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS
Assistant Coordinator for Assessment and Placement Administration
01/2015-present
New England Institute of Technology, East Greenwich, RI
 Assess writing skills and determine English placement for incoming associates degree students
 Collect and analyze placement data
 Evaluate effectiveness of reading, math and writing assessment instruments at associate and master's program levels
 Develop new instruments as needed in collaboration with administrative directors and academic chairs
Program Associate
02/2014-08/2014
Harvard Graduate School of Education, Department of Academic Affairs, Cambridge, MA
 Collaborate with deans, the registrar and program administrators to develop master schedule process for thirteen masters
programs and three doctoral programs
 Coordinate internal reviews and promotions and draft letters from Dean to the Provost
 Write content for new school website developed for donor audience to be launched at start of five-year capital campaign
 Staff a variety of committee meetings, including the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Equity and Diversity, Program Review
Steering Committees and the Committee on Rights and Responsibilities
 Plan and host annual Teaching Fellow Appreciation event
 Promote various non-credit learning opportunities across the Harvard community
Academic & Training Coordinator (Promotion)
Harvard Medical School, Department of Systems Biology, Boston, MA
9/2012-8/2013
Curriculum Coordination
 Assist program faculty with all aspects of course coordination (catalogue, registration, websites, evaluations)
 Develop reports for Dean, Executive Director, Administrative Manager and Curriculum Committee as needed
 Advise students on courses and registration processes and policies
 Recruit, appoint and oversee salary payment for teaching fellows
 Coordinate semi-annual graduate student symposium
 Assist with training grant renewal and graduate program retreat
Website Management
 Develop faculty and student profiles and maintain news and event pages on the graduate program website
 Develop news clips and announcements and maintain faculty and course pages on the department website
 Develop and maintain relationship with support vendor Knectar and internal communications department
Training, Events & Communications
 Collaborate with Administrative Manager to screen, interview, hire, training and oversee Staff Assistants
 Develop departmental training protocols and compliance policies
 Collaborate with Center for Workplace Development and Work/Life offices to develop departmental trainings
 Coordinate programmatic events and meetings
Administrative Support
 Provide administrative support to one senior faculty member running two labs
 Arrange approximately twenty domestic and international travel itineraries annually
 Maintain CV, biosketches, publication lists, lab listserv, and trainees list
 Coordinate complex group and subgroup scheduling and reporting for multiple grants and sponsored projects
 Prepare and process expenses and corporate/purchasing card reports
Staff Assistant III
Harvard Medical School, Department of Systems Biology, Boston, MA

01/2011-09/2012
Provide exceptional customer service to four faculty members (two senior and two junior)








Manage complex calendars and domestic and international travel arrangements (arrange approx. thirty travel itineraries
annually)
Maintain CVs, publication records and trainee lists
Assist with grant submissions, renewals and progress reports
Coordinate faculty and postdoc candidate interviews, public seminars and guest arrangements
Manage submission of recommendation letters during peak times
Order and maintain inventory of general office supplies
Process corporate card and travel reimbursements
Work with Program Coordinator to provide support to program events and initiatives
Finance Administrative Assistant
Gyrus ACMI, Inc., An Olympus Company, Southborough, MA
09/2009-01/2011
Administrative Support
 Coordinate calendars and travel for VP of Finance, VP of Financial Planning & Analysis and Director of Credit and Collections
 Process reimbursements and maintain vendor database in Oracle
 Assist accounts receivable, accounts payable and payroll as needed with special projects
Program Administration
 Support Go Green (paperless) invoicing roll-out, including testing applications in Oracle production environment
 Create procedural documents, customer communications and internal communications
 Administer national American Express Corporate & Purchasing Card Programs across five domestic locations
 Coordinate company-wide transition to new travel (Orbitz for Business) and supply (StaplesLink) vendors
Marketing Coordinator
06/2006-09/2009
Mortgage Protection Associates, Foxboro, MA
 Manage direct mail department
 Create and maintain client databases
 Act as first point of contact for prospective clients and field agents
 Produce weekly and monthly distribution, rate of return and sales reports
 Research and maintain compliance with mail marketing regulations throughout northeast territory
 Reconcile vendor invoices and maintain payment schedule workbooks
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Oracle, Asperin, iSites, Blackboard, Canvas, WordPress and Drupal; basic Adobe CS;
SPSS, and HTML skills; aptitude and desire to learn new systems and programs.