New Faculty Profile: Jennifer Grouling

Last semester, the Ball State English Department began a short series to celebrate and profile our newest faculty members. This week, the department continues the series of new faculty profiles by featuring Dr. Jennifer Grouling. Continue reading below to see Dr. Grouling’s interview conducted by English intern Tyler Fields and don’t forget to see past profiles featuring Dr. Jason Gladstone, Dr. Susanna Benko,  Dr. Miranda Nesler, Dr. Maria Windell, Prof. Liz Whiteacre, Prof. John King, and Dr. Andrea Wolfe.

*Photo provided by Jennifer Grouling

Tyler Fields: Can you talk about what sparked your interest in Rhetoric & Composition?

Jennifer Grouling: I always wanted to teach writing, but I didn’t really realize that was a field. I was an undergraduate English education major, and I did teach high school for a little bit. But I really didn’t want to teach literature; I didn’t want to teach Romeo and Juliet for an entire quarter, which is what I was required to do. So when I went back to school for my M.A., I wasn’t exactly sure exactly where I wanted to take my interest in teaching. Once I realized that Rhetoric & Composition was an option, I thought, “that’s what I want to do. I want to teach writing.”

Andrew Neylon on his Trip to New York City for the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library

Last summer, English professor Dr. Rai Peterson headed an immersive learning internship with several Ball State undergraduate students. The seminar, which spanned two semesters, focused on building a 5-year marketing plan for the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library in Indianapolis. The students worked on a number of areas for the Library including archival research, film, and design. This past fall semester, Dr. Peterson and seminar-student Andrew Neylon took a trip to New York City in order to gain an in-depth perspective about Kurt Vonnegut’s life according to his closest family and friends. Continue reading below where Andrew chronicles his New York trip and discusses the opportunities he was afforded by the internship.

-WFYI camera operator Andrew Warren, Dr. Rai Peterson, Comedian Lewis Black, student interviewer Andrew Neylon, KVML Board President Kip Tew
*Photo provided by Rai Peterson

New Faculty Profile: Jason Gladstone

Last semester, the Ball State English Department began a short series to celebrate and profile our newest faculty members. This week, the department continues the series of new faculty profiles by featuring Dr. Jason Gladstone. Continue reading below to see Dr. Gladstone’s interview conducted by English graduate student Craig Schmidt and don’t forget to see past profiles featuring Dr. Susanaa Benko,  Dr. Miranda Nesler, Dr. Maria Windell, Prof. Liz Whiteacre, Prof. John King, and Dr. Andrea Wolfe.

*Photo provided by Jason Gladstone