CURRICULUM VITAE
Steven T. Lessner
Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures
Michigan State University
3B Olds Hall
East Lansing MI 48824-1033
517-348-7489
lessner1@msu.edu
EDUCATION
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
 PhD Candidate in Rhetoric and Writing
 Area(s): First Year Writing as Intellectual Space, Gender, Race, and Intellectual Work in Rhetoric and
Writing, Invention in Writing, African American Rhetoric, WPA Studies, Writing Studies
 Expected graduation date: May 2013
 Dissertation: Vital Voices In Our Field: Recognizing and Learning from the Intellectual
Contributions of African American Undergraduate Male Writers in First Year Writing Classes
 Committee: Dr. Nancy C. DeJoy (Chair), Dr. Laura Julier, Dr. Leonora Smith, Dr. Trixie Smith
Towson University, Towson, MD
 M.S. Professional Writing, Teaching College Writing track, May 2007
Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD
 B.A. English cum laude, Writing and Rhetoric track, May 2005
AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
Excellence-In-Teaching-Citation Award, Michigan State University, February 2012
Letter of Recognition for Excellent Teaching and Mentoring—Department of Residence Life, Michigan State
University, May 2011, April 2008
College of Arts and Letters Summer Fellowship—Michigan State University, Summer 2010
Writing Program Administration (WPA) Research Assistantship to Dr. Nancy C. DeJoy, Fall 2008, Spring
2009, Summer 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010
Graduate Student Commencement Speaker—Towson University, College of Liberal Arts Commencement
(May 2007)
Graduate Assistant—Towson University Writing Lab (Fall 2006-Spring 2007)
Finalist for commencement address—Salisbury University (Spring 2005)
Recipient of Robert Elderdice Memorial Award—Department of English,
Salisbury University (Spring 2003)
Recipient of Salisbury University grant—(Fall 2003-Spring 2005)
Recipient of Maryland Hope Scholarship—(Fall 2001-Spring 2005)
PUBLICATIONS
Invited to co-author a chapter with Collin Craig on “Invention as Inquiry Based Learning” to the Springer
Encyclopedia on Creativity, Invention, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. Forthcoming 2012.
DeJoy, Nancy C., Collin Craig, Steven T. Lessner and Bonnie J. Williams, eds. Reading and Writing Literacies (a
revised reader for First Year Writing Program at Michigan State University). Boston: Pearson, 2011. Print
and Online.
Lessner, Steven and Collin Craig. “Finding Your Way In: Invention as Inquiry-Based Learning in First Year
Writing.” Reprinted in Writing College, Writing Life (a reader for the First Year Writing Program at Boise State
University). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012.
DeJoy, Nancy C., Collin Craig and Steven T. Lessner, eds. Reading and Writing Literacies, (a reader for the FirstYear Writing Program at Michigan State University). Boston: Pearson, 2010. Print and Online.
Lessner, Steven and Collin Craig. “Finding Your Way In: Invention as Inquiry Based Learning in First Year
Writing.” Ed. Charles Lowe and Pavel Zemliansky. Parlor Press and WAC Clearinghouse, 2010. Print and
Online.
Contributor to The iDeal Reader published online by The McGraw-Hill Companies, writing questions for
reading selections and providing author biographical information, March 2009-present
Barry, Terri, Staci Perryman Clark, Collin Craig, Nancy C. DeJoy, Andrea Davis, Steven T. Lessner and
Suzanne Webb. Guidebook for Teaching Tier I Writing at Michigan State University, 2008.
English as Second Language Learners at Michigan State University videos, interviewed and filmed in classroom, 2008.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Lessner, Steven. “Vital Voices In Our Field: Recognizing and Learning from the Intellectual Contributions
of African American Undergraduate Male Writers” in “Our Call For Action: Reframing The Constructed
Identities of Students and Teachers Of Writing In Higher Education” (session chair) with Elizabeth Edelstein
and Amanda Gates. Rhetoric Society of America Conference, Philadelphia, May 2012. Conference Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “Space, Portal, Passage: Invention and the Near Invisible” with Leonora Smith, Nancy C.
DeJoy, Bump Halbritter, Julie Lindquist, Jenn Fishman, Sarah Arroyo, and Jason Wirtz. Conference on
College Composition and Communication, St. Louis, March 2012. Full Day Workshop.
Lessner, Steven. “Jammin’ with Sources: Using Popular Music to Help Students Explore Citation
Possibilities” in “Get In There And Act Right: Using Citations to Open Up Intellectual Spaces for First-Year
Writers” with Walter Sistrunk and Natalie Graham. National Council of Teachers of English Conference,
Chicago, November 2011. Teaching Demonstration.
Lessner, Steven. “Breakin’ It Down: Creating Dialogues Between Popular and Academic Literacies by Using
Popular Music in First Year Writing” in “Music, Microphones, Multimedia: Writing with Sound in the
Composition Classroom” with Crystal VanKooten and Bump Halbritter. Computers and Writing
Conference, University of Michigan, May 2011. Conference Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “Situated Invention---Mapping, Documenting, Theorizing and Contesting Generativity”
with Leonora Smith, Nancy C. DeJoy, Bump Halbritter, Julie Lindquist, Jenn Fishman, Sarah Arroyo, Jason
Wirtz. Conference on College Composition and Communication, Atlanta, April 2011. Full Day Workshop.
Lessner, Steven. “Mapping the Process of Globalization across Institutional Contexts: The Place of FirstYear Writing In Global Curricula” in “All Our Relations: Teaching Writing in the Global Now” with Collin
Craig, Nancy C. DeJoy, and Beatrice Smith. Conference on College Composition and Communication,
Atlanta, April 2011. Conference Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “Theories of Technology” (Session Chair). Conference on College Composition and
Communication, Atlanta, April 2011. Conference Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “Creating Safe Cultural, Emotional, and Physical Spaces for Diverse Students in the Center”
with Trixie G. Smith, Pamela B. Childers, Tammy Conard-Salvo and Richard Severe. Joint Conference of
International Writing Centers Association and National Conference on Peer Tutoring In Writing, Baltimore,
November 2010. Workshop.
Lessner, Steven. “Workin’ It: Breaking Down Literacy Boundaries” with Collin Craig and Nancy C. DeJoy.
Thomas R. Watson Conference, University of Louisville, October 2010. Conference Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “Revising, Arranging and Inventing New Curricula for Composition Studies” with Nancy C.
DeJoy. Summer Seminar in Rhetoric and Composition, Michigan State University, June 2010. Full Day
Workshop.
Lessner, Steven. “Gender Remix: Masculinity in a Global Frame” in “Global Literacies in Context: Remixing
The Geography of First-Year Writing Programs in America” with Nancy C. DeJoy, Beatrice Smith, and Amy
Stolley. Conference on College Composition and Communication, Louisville, March 2010. Conference
Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “Creating Safe Spaces in the Writing Center for Diverse Students”with Trixie G. Smith,
Pamela B. Childers, Tammy Conard-Salvo, and Richard Severe. Conference on College Composition and
Communication, Louisville, March 2010. Half Day Workshop.
Lessner, Steven. “Breaking Down Gender Binaries: Generative Invention, Arrangement, and Revision
Strategies for Reading Between the Lines” with Nancy C. DeJoy. National Council of Teachers of English
Conference, Philadelphia, November 2009. Conference Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “Analyzing Representations of Masculinity in Hip Hop with Students in Writing Courses” in
“Grappling with the Queer(s)” with Trixie G. Smith, Matthew B. Cox, Adam J. Greteman, Lee Sherlock,
Travis Webster. Midwest Popular Culture Association/ American Culture Association Conference, Detroit,
October 2009. Roundtable Discussion.
Lessner, Steven. “Beyond Gender Binaries: Opening Spaces for Exploring Masculinities In First Year
Writing” with Collin Craig and Matthew B. Cox. Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference, Michigan State
University, October 2009. Conference Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “He’s Gonna Break Through” in “Rethinking the Feminization of the WPA: Our Call For
Inclusion”with Collin Craig and Staci Perryman-Clark. Writing Program Administration Conference,
University of Minnesota, July 2009. Conference Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “Challenging the Boundaries of First-Year Composition: Reflections and Strategies for
Invention, Arrangement, and Revision,” with Julie Platt, Lee Sherlock and Katie Wittenauer. Conference on
College Composition and Communication, San Francisco, March 2009. Conference Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “Roads to Realization: Writing Center Approaches to College Aged Men’s Use of Sexual
Metaphor.” Joint Conference of International Writing Centers Association and National Conference on Peer
Tutoring In Writing, Las Vegas, October 2008. Conference Presentation.
Lessner, Steven. “The Responsibility of Reviewing Rhetoric: Learning From Feminist Argument.” Rhetoric
Society of America Conference, Seattle, May 2008. Conference Presentation.
Lessner, Steven. “Big Man on Campus: Violent and Sexual Metaphor in American College Men’s Language”
in “565 Masculinities and Popular Culture VI: Gender Roles” with Matthew B. Cox (Session Co-Chairs).
Joint Conference of the National Popular and American Culture Associations, San Francisco, March 2008.
Conference Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “Preserving Identity Through Diverse Dialects: The Validity of Using AAVE in
Composition Classrooms” in“Language Conflicts? African American Vernacular English, Standard English
and Students Rights to Their Own Texts” (Session Chair). Conference on College Composition and
Communication, New York, March 2007. Conference Panel.
Lessner, Steven. “The Evocative Unfurling of Nature: Gilman’s ‘The Yellow Wallpaper.’” National
Conference on Undergraduate Research, Indiana University-Purdue University, April 2004. Conference
Presentation.
Lessner, Steven. “The Evocative Unfurling of Nature: Gilman’s ‘The Yellow Wallpaper.’” Annual
Undergraduate Research Conference. Salisbury University, April 2003. Conference Presentation.
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Instructor of First Year Writing Fall 2012, Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures at Michigan State
University.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Fall 2007, Spring 2008, Summer 2008, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Summer 2011,
Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Summer 2012, Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures at Michigan State University.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
Assessment
Evaluator for Writing Placement Examination: Spring 2011, Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures at
Michigan State University
Proctor and Evaluator for Writing Placement Examination: Spring 2010, Fall 2009, Summer 2009, Fall 2008,
Summer 2008, Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State University
Member of Research Assessment Team for Tier I Writing, Michigan State University, September 2009present
Head of Tier I Writing Undergraduate Student Survey Collection/Data Entry, Michigan State University,
August 2008-present
Undergraduate Writing Evaluator and Assessor: Fall 2006, Spring 2006, “ENGL 190- Honors Writing
Seminar” students’ essays, Towson University
Professional Development
“Invention, Arrangement and Revision Strategies for Tier I Writing,” co-presenter with Dr. Nancy C. DeJoy
for Office of Supportive Services, Michigan State University, October 2009
Presenter/Facilitator at Teaching Orientation for New Teaching Assistants at Michigan State University with
Dr. Nancy C. DeJoy, August 2009
Assistant Director of Summer Seminar in Rhetoric and Composition, Michigan State University, June 2009
Acting Writing Program Administrator, Michigan State University, Spring 2009
“Invention, Arrangement and Revision Strategies for Tier I Writing,” co-presenter with Dr. Nancy C. DeJoy
in undergraduate preparatory course, Michigan State University, November, September 2008
“Creating Safe Spaces for LGBT Students,” co-presenter with Dr. Trixie G. Smith in an undergraduate
Education course, Michigan State University, November, April 2008
“Learning Goals for Tier I Writing,” presented to Michigan State University Writing Center staff, August
2008
Presenter/Facilitator at Teaching Orientation for New Teaching Assistants at Michigan State University with
Collin Craig, Staci Perryman-Clark and Dr. Nancy C. DeJoy, August 2008
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Preparation for College Writing (first year writing course): Fall 2012, Summer 2008, Fall 2007, Writing,
Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State University
Writing—The Evolution of American Thought (first year writing course): Summer 2012, Summer 2011,
Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State University
Holden Hall Writing Center Consultant: Spring 2012 at Michigan State University
Student Athlete Support Services Writing Center Consultant: Spring 2012, Fall 2011, Fall 2010, Spring 2010 at
Michigan State University
Writing—Men In America (first year writing course): Spring 2012, Fall 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2010, Spring
2008, Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State University
Facilitator for Personal Statement Writing Workshops for McNair Scholars, Michigan State University
Writing Center, October 2010, 2011.
Guest Lecturer, “Investigating Disciplinary Literacies,” two sections of Walter Sistrunk’s Writing— The
Evolution of American Thought (first year writing course), Michigan State University, November 2010
Writing—Women In America (first year writing course) (co-teaching): Spring 2010, Fall 2009, Writing,
Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State University
Writing Center (main center) Consultant: Summer 2008 at Michigan State University.
Graduate Writing Tutor: Fall 2006, Spring 2007, Writing Lab at Towson University
Observer of full-time English lecturer: Fall 2006, Towson University
Writing for a Liberal Education (first year writing course) (teaching assistant): Summer 2006, English
Department, Towson University
SERVICE
National
Invited to be a Stage I Reviewer of proposals for College Composition and Communication Conference, Las
Vegas, 2013.
Article Reviewer for Writing About Writing Newsletter. January 2012-present.
Invited to serve as a Member of an Inquiry Panel for the Office of Research Integrity, Michigan State
University, served Fall 2011
Invited to be an Article Reviewer for Composition Forum: A Journal of Pedagogical Theory in Rhetoric and Composition.
June 2011-present.
CCC Online, Assistant Editor, Michigan State University, October 2009-December 2011
Writing Program Administration Graduate Student Organization, committee member, August 2009-present
Proposal Reviewer for 2009 Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference, Michigan State University, February-April
2009
Department
Faculty Member of the First Year Writing Committee, Michigan State University, September 2012-present
Invited to Be Video Recorded Teaching First Year Writing for Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures
Website, Michigan State University, August 2012
Organizer and Participant (First Year Writing class presented) in the First Annual First Year Writing
Conference, Michigan State University, January-April 2012
Organizer in Jessica Care Moore Visit to First Year Writing classes and Poetry Performance/Reading,
Michigan State University, Spring 2011
Graduate Student Member of the Tier I Writing Program Committee, Michigan State University, August
2008-August 2009
Writing, Rhetoric and Praxis Graduate Student Organization President, Michigan State University, May 2008May 2009
Rhetoric and Writing Council of Graduate Students Representative, Michigan State University, January 2008January 2009
ACADEMIC ASSOCIATIONS
Phi Kappa Phi (National Honors Society)
Lambda Iota Tau (National Collegiate Honor Society of English Majors)
Phi Eta Sigma (National Freshmen Scholastic Honor Society)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
International Society for the History of Rhetoric
International Writing Centers Association
National Council of Teachers of English
College Composition and Communication
Council of Writing Program Administrators
Rhetoric Society of America
REFERENCES
Nancy C. DeJoy, PhD
dejoy@msu.edu
Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures
Michigan State University
Laura Julier, PhD
julier@msu.edu
Associate Chair of Department
Director, Professional Writing Program
Editor, Fourth Genre
Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures
Michigan State University
Leonora H. Smith, PhD
smithleo@msu.edu
Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures
Michigan State University