Sara Webb-Sunderhaus

Associate Professor and Associate Director of Writing

Department of English and Linguistics
Affiliated Faculty, Womens Studies Program
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW)
2101 E. Coliseum Boulevard
Ft. Wayne, IN 46805
Office: 260-481-0153
webbs@ipfw.edu

Education
PhD, English (Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy). The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH,
2006. Dissertation committee: Beverly J. Moss (chair), Harvey J. Graff, and Patrick B.
Mullen.
MA, English. Miami University, Oxford, OH, 2001.
BA, English with 7-12 Teacher Certification. Bluffton College, Bluffton, OH, 1995.

Publications
Edited Collection
Rereading Appalachia: Literacy, Place, and Cultural Resistance. Co-edited with Kim Donehower.
Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, December 2015.
Peer-Reviewed Articles and Book Chapters
Life Gets in the Way: The Case of a Seventh-Year Senior. Retention, Persistence, and Writing
Programs. Ed. Todd Ruecker, Dawn Shepherd, Heidi Estrem, and Beth Brunk Chavez. Utah
State University Press, forthcoming 2017.

Webb-Sunderhaus 2

Keep the Appalachian, Drop the Redneck: Tellable Student Narratives of Appalachian Identity.
College English 79.1 (2016): 11-33.
Re-Shaping Literacy Studies: A Theory ofand forAppalachia. Rereading Appalachia:
Literacy, Place, and Cultural Resistance. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2015.
179-198.
Introduction. With Kim Donehower. Rereading Appalachia: Literacy, Place, and Cultural
Resistance. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2015. 1-12.
The Kairotic Moment (with new afterword). With Stevens Amidon. Ecologies of Writing
Programs: Profiles of Writing Programs in Context. Ed. Mary Jo Reiff, Anis Bawarshi,
Michelle Ballif, and Christian Weisser. Anderson, SC: Parlor Press, 2015. 22-40.
Its Me and the Adjuncts: Writing Program Administration and Marginalized
Students/Teachers. Open Words: Access and English Studies 6.1 (2012): 19-32.
The Kairotic Moment: Pragmatic Revision of Basic Writing Instruction at Indiana
University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. With Stevens Amidon. Composition Forum 23
(Spring 2011).
Living with Literacys Contradictions: Appalachian Students in a First-Year Writing
Course. Reclaiming the Rural: Essays on Literacy, Rhetoric, and Pedagogy. Ed. Kim
Donehower, Charlotte Hogg, and Eileen E. Schell. Carbondale: Southern Illinois
University Press, 2011. 207-221.
When Access Is Not Enough: Retaining Basic Writers at an Open-Admission University.
Journal of Basic Writing 29.2 (2010): 102-121.
A Family Affair: Competing Sponsors of Literacy in Appalachian Students Lives.
Community Literacy Journal 2.1 (2007): 5-24. Print. Reprinted in: The Norton Book
of Composition Studies. Ed. Susan Miller. New York: W.W. Norton, 2009.
Deep Shit: A Dialogue About Rhetoric, Pedagogy, and the Working Class. With John Paul
Tassoni and Richard Lee Walts. Open Words: Access and English Studies 1.2 (2007): 24-47.
Work in Progress
I Know I Can Say This to You: Tellability and the Case for Interactive Interviews. Manuscript in
progress for submission to CCC.

Webb-Sunderhaus 3

Literacy Beliefs and Practices of Appalachian Academics. Currently analyzing data for this book
project, which will focus on how Appalachians with graduate degree negotiate literacy and
identity decisions.

Refereed Presentations
The Possibilities of Interactive Interviews for Composition and Literacy Research. 50 th
Anniversary Dartmouth Conference. Hanover, NH, August 2016.
Re-Shaping Literacy Studies: A Theory ofand forAppalachia. Conference on College
Composition and Communication. Houston, April 2016.
Rhetorical Theories of Appalachian Literacy. Conference on College Composition and
Communication. Indianapolis, March 2014.
A Narrative Can Be Explained in More Ways than One: Digital Media and the Transition
from Basic to First-Year Writing. Conference on College Composition and
Communication. Las Vegas, March 2013.
Mapping Appalachia: Current Research in Literacy Studies. Conference on College
Composition and Communication. St. Louis, March 2012.
Scholarly Resistance: Appalachians Re-reading the Academy. Conference on College
Composition and Communication. St. Louis, March 2012.
Writing in Crisis: Retaining Basic Writers during Difficult Times. Conference on College
Composition and Communication. Atlanta, April 2011.
Retention Practices and the Work of Basic Writing. Thomas R. Watson Conference.
Louisville, October 2010.
Writing the First Year: Retaining Basic Writers. Conference on College Composition and
Communication. Louisville, March 2010.
Literacy Inside and Out: The Retention of Basic Writers. Conference on College
Composition and Communication. Louisville, March 2010.
Basic Writing and Retention. Fort Wayne Teaching Conference. Fort Wayne, IN,
February 2010.

Webb-Sunderhaus 4

We're All in This Together: Collective Identities, Classroom Space. Feminism(s) and
Rhetoric(s) Conference. East Lansing, MI, October 2009.
Curricular Design, Basic Writing Courses, and Student Success. College English
Association. Pittsburgh, March 2009.
All in the Family: The Influence of Multi-Generational Literacy on the Composition
Scholar. Conference on College Composition and Communication. New Orleans,
April 2008 (in absentia).
Mapping Identities: Place-Based Literacies in the Composition Classroom. National
Council of Teachers of English. New York City, November 2007 (in absentia).
I Thought She Would Like It: Appalachian Students Performance of Identity in the
Composition Classroom. Conference on College Composition and Communication. New
York City, March 2007.
(Re)Inventing the University: Appalachian Students Composing Community in the
Composition Classroom. Conference on College Composition and Communication. Chicago,
March 2006.
Resisting the Connection: Appalachian Students in the College Composition Classroom.
Appalachian Studies Association. Dayton, OH, March 2006.
Community, Identity, and Resistance in Appalachian Composition Courses. Women of
Appalachia Conference. Zanesville, OH, October 2005.
A Space of Ones Own: Appalachian Students Creating Community in a College
Composition Classroom. College English Association. Indianapolis, March 2005.
Community, Literacy, and Identity: Appalachian Students in the College Composition
Classroom. Appalachian Studies Association. Radford, VA, March 2005.
Balancing Acts: Appalachian Students Negotiating Literacy and Identity in a College
Composition Classroom. National Council of Teachers of English Assembly for Research
Mid-Winter Conference. Columbus, OH, February 2005.
Higher Learning: Literacy Practices and Beliefs of Appalachian College Students. Women of
Appalachia Conference. Zanesville, OH, October 2004.

Webb-Sunderhaus 5

Thats What Friends Are For? The Case of an Appalachian College Student. College English
Association of Ohio. Columbus, OH, April 2004.
It Dont Matter if Youre Black or White? Student Reaction to Feminist Pedagogy. Conference
on College Composition and Communication. San Antonio, March 2004.
Thats What Friends Are For? The Case of an Appalachian Student. Conference on College
Composition and Communication. San Antonio, March 2004.
And Never the Two Shall Meet? The Role of the Teacher in Classical Rhetorical and Feminist
Pedagogies. Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference. Columbus, OH, October 2003.
Killing Me (None Too) Softly: A Young Feminist T.A. Negotiates Authority, Critical Pedagogies,
and Gender. Midwest Modern Language Association. Minneapolis, November 2002 (in
absentia).
I Will Remember You: Death Narratives in an Urban Appalachian Family. American Folklore
Society. Rochester, New York, October 2002.
The Story of Truth: Representations of Domestic Violence in Early Modern and TwentiethCentury Literature. Northeast Modern Language Association. Toronto, April 2002.
Whats a Working Class, Urban Appalachian Doing in a Place Like This? A Graduate Students
Experience. Conference on College Composition and Communication. Denver, March
2001.
Materialist Feminist Mimesis in the Theatre of Caryl Churchill. Midwest Modern Language
Association. Kansas City, Missouri, November 2000.
In A Sweat Over Sweat: One Students Experience Writing a Summary. Conference on College
Composition and Communication. Minneapolis, April 2000.

Invited Talks and Workshops

National
Theorizing Appalachian Literacy Research. Keynote address, Celebration of Scholarship
Conference. Shawnee State University. Portsmouth, OH, April 2016.
Re-Reading Appalachia: Literacies of Resistance. Department of English Graduate

Webb-Sunderhaus 6

Workshop. The Ohio State University. April 2013.

Appalachians Re-Shaping the Academy. Public lecture sponsored by Literacy
Studies@OSU and the Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy program in the
Department of English. The Ohio State University. April 2013.
Skype Discussions
I have discussed my research via Skype with graduate seminars at Michigan State
University and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Local Workshops and Presentations (selected)
Grading with Digital Tools. Co-facilitator for workshop for over 50 English graduate students,
adjuncts, and full-time faculty, August 2016.
The Role of Formative and Summative Peer Review. Co-facilitator for workshop for the College
of Health and Human Services, October 2014.
Summer Writing and Project Development Institute. Mentor at two-day faculty workshop
focusing on developing writing plans, selecting publication venues, and submitting IRB
protocols, May 2013.
Teaching with Blackboard Learn. Co-presenter at panel discussion for over 30 faculty members
across the university, November 2011 and April 2012.
Conducting Formative Peer Review. Co-facilitator for workshop for over 20 faculty members of
the nursing department, October 2011.

Refereed Research Seminars

50th Anniversary Dartmouth Institute, August 2016.
Dartmouth Summer Seminar for Composition Research, August 2015.

Fellowships, Grants, and Awards

Purdue Research Foundation Summer Faculty Grant. Purdue University, 2013. $8,000.
Summer Faculty Grant. IPFW, 2010. $8,000.
Robert Hacke Scholar-Teacher Award. College English Association. 2009.

Webb-Sunderhaus 7

Teaching
IPFW, Associate Professor, August 2006-present
(tenured and promoted April 2013)
Undergraduate
English W129: Introductory Elementary Composition
English W130: Principles of Composition
English W131: Elementary Composition I (f2f and online)
English W395: Individual Study of Writing
Folklore F101: Introduction to Folklore
Womens Studies W225: Gender, Sexuality, and Popular Culture
Womens Studies W302: Gender, Violence, and Popular Culture
Cross-listed
English W397/C507: Introduction to Writing Center Theory and Practice
English W400/C505: Issues in Teaching Writing (hybrid)
English W460/B502: Introduction to Literacy Studies
English W462/C682: Composing Communities (cross-listed with FOLK F430)
English W462/C682: Women and Literacy (cross-listed with WOST W302)
Folklore F430/F512: Composing Communities
Womens Studies W302: Women and Literacy (cross-listed with ENG W462/C682)
Graduate
English C506: Teaching Composition Practicum
English C517: Professional Scholarship in Writing Studies
English C697: Independent Study in Writing
English C780: Composition in the 21st Century (online)
English C780: Teaching on the Margins

The Ohio State University, Graduate Teaching Associate, September 2002June 2006
English 109.01: Intensive Reading and Writing
English 109.02: Intensive Reading and Writing
English 110.01: First-Year English Composition

Webb-Sunderhaus 8

English 110.03: Intensive First-Year English CompositionService Learning

English 367.01: The U.S. ExperienceService-Learning
English 367.01: The U.S. Experience
English 367.06: Composing CommunitiesAppalachia, Folkways, and Language
English 467: Writing and Learning (apprentice to Dr. Beverly J. Moss)

Miami University, Graduate Teaching Associate, August 1999-May 2001

English 111: College Composition
English 112: College Composition and Literature
English 112: College Composition and Literature-Pilot Course

Administration
IPFW
Associate Director of Writing, 2016-present.
English W129 Course Coordinator, 2008-2014.
Writing Center Director, 2006-2007.

The Ohio State University

Peer Writing Consultant Director, The Writing Workshop/Center for the Study and
Teaching of Writing, 2004-2005.
Graduate Administrative Associate, The Writing Workshop, 2002-2003, 2004-2005.
Placement Reader, The Writing Workshop, 2002-2003, 2004-2005.

Service
National
National Council of Teachers of English
Judge, Norman Mailer Writing Awards, 2014.
College Section Reviewer, NCTE Annual Convention, 2014.

Webb-Sunderhaus 9

Selection Committee, Richard Ohmann Award for Outstanding Article in College

English, 2014.
Conference on College Composition and Communication
Co-Creator and Chair, Special Interest Group on Appalachian Literacies and
Rhetorics, 2012-present.
Stage I Proposal Reviewer, CCCC Annual Convention, 2013, 2015, 2016.
Council on Basic Writing
Executive Board, 2013-present.
Executive Board Community Committee, 2012-2013.
Review Work
Manuscript Reviewer, Basic Writing e-Journal (BWe), 2014-present; College English, 2013present; Journal of Basic Writing, 2015-present; Journal of Research in Rural Education,
2014-present; Research in the Teaching of English, 2002; Peitho, 2016.
Textbook and Digital Tools Reviewer, Cengage, McGraw-Hill, Pearson.
External Reviewer, Bluffton University Research Center Summer Grant proposals, 2012.

IPFW
University
Summit Scholars Competition Essay Evaluation Committee, 2015.
Peer Review Subcommittee, Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching,
2009-2015.
Developmental Studies Subcommittee, Faculty Senate, 2012-2015. Chair, 2013-2014.

Webb-Sunderhaus 10

Mentor, Student Research and Creative Endeavor Symposium, 2014.

Mentor, Summer Writing and Project Development Institute, Center for the Enhancement
of Teaching and Learning, 2013.
Advisory Board, Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching, 2009-2012.
Chapman Scholars Essay Competition Evaluation Committee, 2010.
College
Symposium on Teaching and Learning Planning Committee, 2011-2016.
Womens Studies Program Committee, 2012-2015, 2016-present.
Assessment Committee, 2008-2010. Chair, 2009-2010.
Department
Composition Committee, 2006-2007 and 2008-2014. Chair, 2009-2010 and 2012-2013.
Faculty Advisory Committee for Dr. Beth Keller, 2015-present.
Graduate Studies Committee, 2007-2009, 2011-2013, and 2016-present.
Tenure and Promotion Committee, 2015-2016.
Scholarships and Awards Committee, 2014-2015.
Faculty Review Committee, 2013-2015.
English W129 Subcommittee Chair, 2009-2010.
Faculty-Student Reading Series co-host, Fall 2007.

Student Advising

Webb-Sunderhaus 11

Travis Rountree, dissertation committee (University of Louisville)

Nancy Button, MA thesis committee (IPFW, graduated 2016)
Louisa Danielson, MA thesis committee (IPFW, graduated 2012)
Sadie King-Hoffmann, BA honors thesis committee (IPFW, graduated 2015)

References
Dr. Stevens Amidon
Associate Professor of English
Interim Chair, Visual Communication and Design
IPFW
Visual Arts Building Room 213
2105 E. Coliseum Boulevard
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
(260) 481-6709
amidons@ipfw.edu
Dr. Mary Ann Cain
Professor of English
IPFW
Liberal Arts Building Room 145
2105 E. Coliseum Boulevard
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
(260) 481-6759
cain@ipfw.edu
Dr. Kim Donehower
Professor of English
University of North Dakota
Merrifield Hall Room 110
276 Centennial Drive Stop 7209
Grand Forks, ND 58202
(701) 777-4162
kim.donehower@und.edu