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Resume

Cynthia H. Whitesel
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SUMMARY

For more than 35 years, I have taught literature and writing in community colleges, universities, and for organizations, both in the classroom and online, and worked in industry and government. My primary teaching interests have been in Liberal Arts, Communication Studies, and Education. My research interests are in classroom assessment research and effective online teaching strategies. My distance education experience ranges from faculty training and mentoring, instructional design and teaching for online classes, and course design and classroom research, for all undergraduate levels. Currently, I am completing a dissertation in Education Policy and Leadership at the Department of Education, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, and hope to complete the PhD in Education within the year. My dissertation research is a phenomenological hermeneutic study in the lived experience of teaching within technology.

EMPLOYMENT

Visiting Lecturer, English and Mass Communication

Lincoln University

Lincoln University, Pennsylvania

September 2004 –

Collegiate Associate Professor, Communication Studies
Professor of Practice
Faculty Development/Training Specialist

University of Maryland University College

3501 University Blvd East

Adelphi MD 20783

301-985-7625/ 301-985-7787

Since 1976 –

Adjunct Instructor, English

Park University Online Programs

8700 River Park Drive

Parkville MI 64152

816-741-2000

Since 1996 –

Consultant in Distance Learning

Specializing in Best Teaching Practices, Instructional Design, Course Development, Pilot Programs, Strategic Planning for Online Programs, and Faculty Training  

PREVIOUS INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT

Lead Technical Writer/ Information Analyst

Data Computer Corporation of America, Inc.

5310 Dorsey Hall Road

July 1990 – April 1995 Ellicott City, MD 21043

Lead Technical Editor/ Documentation Manager

IIT Research Institute

185 Admiral Cochrane Drive

(Oct 1983 - Jul 1990) Annapolis, MD 21401

Cryptanalyst, NSA

Fort Meade, MD

1982-83

EDUCATION

University of Maryland Pursuing Ph.D. in Education Policy and Leadership: Curriculum Theory [2006]

University of Maryland MA in Comparative Literature, 1973.

College Park , MD 20740 BA in Comparative Literature/English, 1970.

Johns Hopkins University MS courses in Information Systems, Human Resource Management, Managing Technological Innovation, Organizational Theory, and Management Styles, 1986-87.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Attend Education Research Conferences and present research.

Facilitate online and site-based workshops on best practices in distance learning.

Serve on Advisory Board for American Association for Liberal Learning (AALE): serve as distance education expert to advise AALE on their FIPSE grant activities.

Mentor new online faculty members each semester for UMUC.

Faculty sponsor to several co-op students each term.

Consultant in Distance Education and Curriculum Development

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION

Distance Education Fellow USM's Web Initiative in Teaching Project (WIT)

United States Distance Learning Association

Society for Technical Communication

American Education Research Association

Society for Phenomenology and Human Science Research

National Council of Teachers of English

College Composition and Communication

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Nominated six times for Stanley Drazek Excellence in Teaching Award (UMUC)

Received Stanley Drazek Teaching Recognition Award, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002 (UMUC)

Received Award for Outstanding Contributions in Faculty Mentoring, 1996 (UMUC)

Nominated by UMUC for Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award, 1999

Nominated by UMUC for Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award, 1998

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Bringing imagination to the distance classroom: Strategies for engaging learners at a distance . (September 1997), guide for distance education faculty.

"Connecting with the Other through Technology," presented at the Society for Phenomenology and Human Sciences, October 5, 2001, at Goucher College, Baltimore, Maryland.

Online Guide to Writing and Research , 2nd edition (September 2002), University of Maryland University College. A guide for students who write college assignments and the teachers who teach them. This Guide is also available online at http:/www.umuc.edu/writingguide/.

Hypertext. Narrative. Art. Tech. Technique, structure, and technology: From Weblog to Webtale. Round table on hypertext as narrative, Weblogs as writing assignments, and technology for teaching critical thinking. May 10 – 11, 2003, Boston.

“Reflections from a virtual paladin,” (Spring 1997), Faculty Focus: A newsletter for the faculty, University of Maryland University College.

“Reframing our classrooms, reframing ourselves (The virtual learner),” (January/February 1998), Chapter Relations – Communications, American Society of Association Executives.

“Reframing our classrooms, reframing ourselves (The virtual teacher),” (April 1998), The Technology Source, HORIZON E-Journal, Microsoft Corporation. Also delivered as Keynote Address at Fall 1997 Faculty Meeting.

Encountering the Other in text. Presented at the Society for Phenomenology and Human Sciences, November 10, 2003, Boston. Paper was requested for a special issue of Human Studies; currently preparing paper with the editor.

“Tips for collaborative learning assignments,” (Spring 1998), Faculty Focus: A newsletter for the faculty, University of Maryland University College.

UMUC-Verizon, Virtual Resource Site for Teaching with Technology. (2000). Module Two and contributed to the design and content of this award winning virtual teaching resource site. Available online at http://www.umuc.edu/virtualteaching/.

UMUC Faculty Research Grant, 2000-2001. Discovering the experiences of teachers teaching online. Presented at a brown bag lunch for the UMUC Graduate School Fall 2001.

UMUC Office of Evaluation, Research, and Grants, Best Online Instructional Practices (BOIP) Study, presented at the 21 st Annual Distance Teaching and Learning Conference, Monona Terrace, Madison Wisconsin, August 5, 2005.

"Virtual conversations: A modest means for engaging faculty at a distance," (1999). Written and presented jointly with John Floyd. 15 th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning ConferenceProceedings. Madison: University of Wisconsin.

“What kind of writer are you? Identifying and honing your talents,” (November 1991), Chesapeake Chapter of Women in Communications.

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