Academic Support Services
Knutti Hall 114
Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV 25443
(304) 876-5221/ kaustin@shepherd.edu
Current Position
Director of the Academic Support Center. July 2005 to the present. Duties include hiring and supervising an administrative assistant and about two dozen tutors in the humanities and social sciences. Supervises a math learning specialist, who in turn hires and supervises about two dozen tutors in mathematics, business, and the sciences. Administers placement tests and counsels students about placement into writing and mathematics classes. Further duties include advising students returning from academic suspension, creating a new program for developmental writing, teaching first-year composition and peer tutoring / composition theory. Serves on a variety of campus-wide committees on concerns ranging from academic performance, retention, and advising.
Master's degree in English Studies with a minor in psychology from Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. Graduation date: August 1991. Thesis Title: "The Shape of Things to Come: Metaphors of American Literary History, 1985-1991." Course work emphasized composition research methods, history of rhetoric, and Shakespeare's plays.
Graduate work in Composition and Rhetoric at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Completed four years of coursework (August 1992 to May 1996) dealing with writing center scholarship, collaboration theory, composition research methods, history of composition, classical rhetorical theory, contemporary rhetorical theory, and teaching methods.
Bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Near Eastern Studies from Brigham Young University. Graduation Date: April 1984. Course work emphasized language, editing, and writing skills. Studied in Jerusalem for six months.
Adjunct Professor of English. Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, West Virginia. September 1997 to May 2005. Taught sections of English 101 (Written English 1), English 102 (Writing for Arts and Humanities), English 104 (Science and Technical Writing), English 204 (American Literature Survey), English 208 (Survey of World Literature I), English 209 (Survey of World Literature II), English 377 (Peer Tutoring and Composition Theory), and English 399 (Rhetoric of Religion: Mary Baker Eddy). Since 2002, taught Survey of American Literature in WebCT as a distance course.
Lecturer for the University of California, Santa Barbara Writing Program. September 1996-June 1997. Taught 5 sections of Writing 1 (Introduction to University Writing), 1 section of Writing 2 (Academic Writing), and 2 sections of Writing 109ST (Writing for Science and Technology).
Graduate Instructor for the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Composition Department. September 1992 to May 1996. Taught 4 sections of English 101 (Introduction to Writing) and 4 sections of English 112 (Introduction to Critical Thinking).
Faculty Instructor on one-year appointment and graduate instructor for Brigham Young University Composition Department. September to December 1984; September 1989 to August 1991. Taught 10 sections of English 115 (College Reading and Writing), 4 sections of English 114 (College Reading), 4 sections of English 316 (Technical Writing), and 2 sections of English 214 (Pre-professional Reading).
Committee Member to the English Department ad hoc committee on Writing Across the Curriculum. January 1999 to June 2001. Organized a workshop for Shepherd University Faculty, featuring Dr. Christopher Thaiss from George Mason University. Piloted a special section of English 102, Science and Technical Writing during Spring 2000. Helped organize a workshop for Shepherd University Faculty, featuring Dr. Byron Stay of Mount St. Mary's College.
Consultant to the Department of Education and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. September 1995 to May 1996. Worked with Dean Robert Balmer, faculty members, and engineering students in order to improve faculty instruction of writing skills and undergraduate ability in writing. Co-ordinated with other members of the WAC Project Team, including Dr. Alice Gillam and Dr. Charles Schuster.
Resource Coordinator for the Writing Across the Curriculum Project Team and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. September 1994 to May 1996. Collected materials for the team's library, attended workshops, assisted other project members with their research and presentation, and attended Barbara Walvoord's two-day WAC workshop in Shakertown, Kentucky.
Member of the First-Year Experience Task Force, Shepherd University, August 2006 to present.
Member of the Admissions and Credits Committee, Shepherd University, August 2005 to present.
Member of the Enrollment Management Committee, Shepherd University, August 2005 to present.
Member of the Advising Committee, Shepherd University, August 2005 to present.
Coordinator of General Studies Program. Two Year College of Shepherd College, August 2000 to August 2002. Advised all general studies majors and undecided majors and serve as the unofficial "department chair" of the general studies program by representing the program in a variety of campus committee meetings and signing all forms for students graduating with two year degrees in general studies.
Member of the Freshmen Composition Committee. Shepherd University, January 1999 to present. Wrote placement essay for Fall 2000 placement into composition series (ACFN 010, English 101 or English 102). Helped develop pilot courses for Writing across the Curriculum during Spring 2000. Led or participated in workshops on topics from WebCT to grading.
Member of the Committee for Drafting the Writing 1 (Introduction to University Writing) Common Final. University of California, Santa Barbara. Academic Year 1996-1997. Directed by Larry Behrens.
Member of the Committee for Redesigning Writing 1 (Introduction to University Writing). University of California, Santa Barbara. Academic Year 1996-1997. Directed by Valerie Hobbes.
Member of the Committee for Selecting 112 Textbooks. University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Spring Semester, 1996. Directed by Marianne Maris and Dr. Alice Gillam.
Director of the Shepherd University Writing Center for Shepherd University. January 1997-May 2005. Duties included setting the schedule, supervising tutors, preparing reports, meeting with faculty, overseeing online tutoring, and teaching English 377: Peer Tutoring & Composition Theory and directing students in English Practicum, Writing Center. Directed writing tutors who work in the Collaborative Learning Center, a computer classroom. In 2000, developed online tutoring or ShepOWL, which constitutes about 15% of the tutorials we conduct each semester. In 2004, developed "attached tutors," who work closely with classroom teachers and share information about assignments with other WC tutors. Each semester, we serve 225+ students by conducting 450+ tutorials.
Writing Tutor for the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Writing Center. September 1992 to May 1996. Prompted students to discover their problems with college writing and reading and helped them to explore various options for addressing these problems. Assisted several international, ESL, and economically disadvantaged students, and read some of the current literature on how to better serve these students.
Training Leader for the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Composition Department. Gave Presentations on critical reading skills, critical thinking, and Toulmin's model of argument in the August 1993, August 1994, and August 1995 workshops for new graduate instructors. Served under the direction of Dr. Alice Gillam.
Graduate Project Assistant to Dr. Alice Gillam, Director of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Composition Department. Assisted in tutor training, scheduling, and other administrative matters.
Reading Center Director of the Brigham Young University Reading Center. September 1991 to August 1992. Supervised and trained thirty undergraduate tutors to teach the reading process and various methods of reporting comprehension and interpretation of a variety of college texts. Scheduled and trained students to present min-classes in speed reading, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. Co-ordinated with the Composition Department to train and assist graduate instructors to teach critical reading skills.
Training Leader for the Brigham Young University Composition Department. Acted as a mentor to first-year graduate instructors of composition. Conducted bi-weekly training meetings and made class visits and gave peer evaluations. Also gave presentations on critical reading skills at the August 1990 and 1991 workshops for training graduate instructors. Served under the direction of Dr. Kristine Hansen.
Reading and Writing Tutor for Brigham Young University. September 1980 to April 1984. September 1988 to June 1989. Taught principles of effective writing and critical reading to undergraduate students from several disciplines.
Administrative Assistant for Robert W. Baird, Inc. Milwaukee, WI. May 1995 to August 1995; May 1994 to December 1994. Performed general office duties for the IRA and Lost Certificates Department. Helped design and edit a variety of internal documents for these departments and for the Vice-President of Operations, Russ Schwei.
Technical Writer for Sage Software Incorporated. Rockville, MD. October 1987 to May 1988. Wrote and produced software documentation for in-house products.
Technical Writer for Document Design Center. Washington, DC. October 1985 to October 1987. Wrote and copyedited documents for IBM, Ford, and Blue Cross, Blue Shield. Worked under the direction of Dr. Janice Redish.
Recipient of the 1990-91 Ed M. and Minnie Berry Rowe Award for Excellence in Teaching, given each year to the outstanding graduate instructor. Brigham Young University Composition Department.
Third Place Award for Best Graduate Essay on a Topic in Composition. "Why I Think Cheating Is OK: In Praise of Collaboration in the Classroom and in the Carrels," which is one of five cash awards given each year.
"Researching Asynchronous Electronic Tutoring," a chapter within the online publication The OWL Construction and Maintenance Guide, in manuscript form. NWCA Publishers, James Inman general editor. Published 2002.
"Critical Reading." English 115 Supplement. Ed. Kristine Hansen. Seventh Ed. Edina: Burgess International Group, Inc., 1990; 1991.
"Four-step Structure for Training Online Tutors." Read at the International Writing Center Association for their Annual Convention, Held October 26, 2002 in Hershey, PA.
"Primary Trait Analysis of Online Writing Tutorials." Read at the National Writing Center Association for their Annual Convention, held November 3, 2000 in Baltimore, MD.
"Clash of Rhetorics: A Review of The Lord's University: Freedom and Authority at BYU." Read at the Sunstone Conference, July 17, 2000 in Salt Lake City, UT.
"The Positive Uses of Church Gossip." Read at the Sunstone Conference, April 15, 2000 in Arlington, VA.
"One Room, Two Classes: Gender Difference in Sunday School Classes." Read at the Sunstone Conference, August 1, 1998 in Salt Lake City, UT.
"Birkenstocks and Briefcases: Various Approaches to Tutoring in the Writing Center." Read at the Conference on College Composition and Communication, March 14, 1997 in Phoenix, AZ.
"Without Stepping on Toes: The Dance of Politeness in the Writing Center." Read at the Conference on College Composition and Communication, March 23, 1995 in Washington, DC.
"Chameleons Across the Curriculum: The Role of Writing Tutors in WAC." Read at the Conference on College Composition and Communication, March 20, 1992 in Cincinnati, OH.
"The Missing Link: Teaching Technical Reading of Text and Graphics." Read at the California Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication, February 22, 1992 in Sacramento, CA.
"Encouraging Active Reading through Holistic and Informal Assessment." Read at the National Conference for Teachers of English Convention, November 24, 1991 in Seattle, WA.
Member of the National Council of Teachers of English. 1990 to Present.
Member of the National Writing Centers Association. 1991 to Present.
Member of the National Academic Advising Association. 2006 to present.