Susan Bennett

sgb1@humboldt.edu

I am currently beginning my 42nd year of teaching. Although I have entered the CSU Faculty Early Retirement Program, I don't feel or act retired. I expect to be teaching full time for the next four fall semesters, working on my own writing during spring and summer semesters, and participating in Redwood Writing Project events, activities, and workshops throughout the year.

I started my career as a junior high school language arts teacher in East L.A. immediately after graduating from Ohio State University. After two years, I moved to Berkeley to work toward my M.A. in curriculum and instruction and ended up spending 7 years there and leaving with a PhD. My first university-level job was at the University of Texas, Austin where I was asked to assume the directorship of the fledgling Texas Hill Country Writing Project in 1980, in addition to administering the secondary English teaching program, teaching graduate courses in young adult literature, secondary teaching methods, and composition. This summer marks my 30th year involved with a Writing Project site.

I jumped at the chance to return to Northern California when the position opened at Humboldt State doing the same things I had been doing at Texas for nine years. So in 1987, I joined the English faculty at HSU. As Emeritus RWP Director, Professor, Department Chair , I am thrilled to be teaching First-Year Composition, Writing for Elementary Teachers, and the Senior Portfolio seminar. In spite of being at this stage of my teaching career, I am determined to become comfortable and confident using technology to be a more effective teacher; I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the RWP 2010 Tech Institute, and to share with other novice tech users what I have learned.

Q & A
1. I love the sound of horses chewing hay on a quiet morning.
2. I am turned off by bullies.
3. I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio--the Queen City
4. The best car I ever drove was a 1968, red Camaro.
5. I love all my pets, but Rugby is the best dog I ever had.
6. My most surprising guilty pleasure is playing Farmville.