SIGs

Thursday 6:40-7:40 

Download SIG spreadsheet.

Acapulco
Undergraduate Student Research
The SIG on Undergraduate Research will focus on the benefits and challenges of conducting undergraduate research in collaboration with faculty mentors. If you want to become part of our community and conduct research and participate in sampling with us, then hire letter writer from https://advanced-writer.com/hire-a-letter-writer will present and recommend your candidacy! We will be discussing a variety of benefits and potential challenges of this research for both undergraduates and Writing Centers. Audience participation and discussion will be strongly encouraged.
  • Sheila Foster, Shippensburg University
  • Abigail Brumback, Shippensburg University 
  • Nicole Koenig, Shippensburg University
  • Jessica Johnson, Shippensburg University
  • Giuliana Caranante, Loyola University, Maryland
  • Michael Ebmeier, Loyola University, Maryland
  • Jennifer Harmon, Loyola University, Maryland
  • Lisa Zimmerelli, Loyola University
  • Karen Johnson, Shippensburg University
Baja
LGBTQ
Intended to help writing centers foster an academic culture inclusive of LGBTQ communities, the LGBTQ SIG develops and pursues “activist” agendas in WC scholarship and pedagogy. We encourage participants to carry our conversations forward, and to create presentations, publications, and other resources for tutors and administrators locally, regionally, and (inter)nationally.
  • Trixie Smith, Michigan State University
  • Nikki Caswell, East Carolina University
  • Harry Denny, St. John’s University
  • Michele Eodice, Oklahoma University
  • Andrew Rihn, Stark State College
  • Jay Sloan, Kent State University-Stark
Cancun
The Risks of Contingent Writing Center Directorships
With an increase of contingent NTT writing center director positions comes an increase in risk. This SIG hopes to raise awareness of those risks: personal, professional, and programmatic.
  • Dawn Fels
  • Maggie Herb, Stetson University
Durango 1
Graduate Student Writing Center Leadership and Professionalization
The purpose of this SIG is to create a space for WC scholars to converse with graduate students who have an interest in WC careers and scholarship. WC leadership will be the ultimate focus, and thus all IWCA participants are welcome to attend.
  • Rebecca Hallman, University of Houston
Coronado M
Sites of Transition: 2-year, Community, and Small Colleges Writing Centers
This special interest group will focus on the unique considerations and challenges
facing two-year, small, and community college writing centers. This is a
round-robin table talk session in which small groups will discuss and offer
support concerning relevant topics including transitional/developmental writing
students, non-traditional students, center identity, retention efforts, and
training resources
  • Erica Mead, Bay College
Coronado N
Making the Most of a Writing Program Advisory Committee
This SIG focuses on writing program advisory committees. The SIG organizers will briefly share their experience with an advisory committee. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experience and ask questions of each other about starting or making the most of an advisory committee.
  • Kathy Block, University of Manitoba
  • Laryssa Bogucki, University of Manitoba
  • Anureet Lotay, University of Manitoba
Coronado P
Assistant and Associate Directors
Join other staff and graduate assistant/associate directors to discuss where and how our positions fit in the “wonderful world of writing centers.” We will dedicate time during the SIG to identifying the unique needs of both populations of assistant directors, as well as time for sharing our lived experiences.
  • Jessica Reyes, Towson University
  • Kelsey Hixson-Bowles, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Coronado Q
Writing Center Research Project
The Writing Centers Research Project at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock conducts and supports research on writing center theory and practice and maintains a research repository of historical, empirical, and scholarly materials related to Writing Center Studies. This SIG seeks to reinvigorate this important work.
  • Allison Holland, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Friday 6:10-7:10

Acapulco
Student Athletes and Writing Centers
By emphasizing student ownership and accountability, writing center practice and pedagogy can benefit student athlete academics. Building on the work of authors such as Bitzel, Broussard, Cheville, and Kent, participants will brainstorm ideas for building and strengthening student athlete writing programs and connecting writing centers and student athletes.
  • Alanna Bitzel, University of Texas at Austin
Baja
Religious-Affiliated Writing Centers
The Religious Affiliated Writing Centers (RAWC) SIG examines writing centers as sites where religious belief, broadly defined, can incite productive, transformative social action. Topics for discussion may include writers’ and tutors’ religious identities; institutional religious affiliations; the intersection of doctrinal and educational values; and tensions between religious belief and secularism.
  • Lisa Zimmerelli, Loyola University, Maryland
  • Mitch Nakaue, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Durango 1
Peer Tutoring
This peer tutor-led SIG will focus on key issues in tutoring and include discussion of forming and maintaining tutor-student learning relationships, student voices in writing, addressing professor’s expectations, negotiating language barriers and student perceptions of writing centers. A special prize will be given to anyone who shows up in a Halloween costume.
  • Sahar Ali, Fashion Institute of Technology – SUNY
  • Shayna Fairclough, Fashion Institute of Technology – SUNY
Cancun
Antiracism Activism
The IWCA SIG on Antiracist Activism supports writing center practitioners in working to undo racism at multiple levels: in the immediate context of the writing conference and local writing center and more widely through systematic cross-curricular and cross-institutional initiatives.
  • Clint Gardner, Salt Lake Community College
  • Andrea Malouf , Salt Lake Community College
Coronado M
Expanding Perspectives on Consultant Professionalization
Little attention has been given as to how writing center directors can intentionally foster the holistic professionalization of consultant beyond writing center theory and skills. This SIG invites consultants and directors to discuss how the consultant position can more proactively equip students as professionalized workers and scholars beyond college.
  • Hannah Adderley, Taylor University
Coronado N
Writing Centers and Technology
This SIG allows writing center professionals to describe uses of technology in their writing centers and share ideas for useful technology development in areas such as tutoring, administration, training, and outreach. The goal of this SIG is to support discussion about best practices, resources,and research in writing center technology.
  • Tammy Conard-Salvo, Purdue University
  • Shareen Grogan, National University
  • Dennis Bennett, Oregon State University
  • Kim Abels, UNC-Chapel Hill
  • Russell Carpenter, Eastern Kentucky University
  • Beth Carroll, Appalachian State University
Coronado P
Strategic Ally-ship in the Writing Center
“Difference” is something writing center practitioners strive to respect, and sometimes ignore. How do you create a safe space for writers and consultants to negotiate difference deliberately? This SIG moves from conversation to creating materials
for and planning strategic, cross-campus collaborations needed to make your WC a “safe” space.
  • David Martins, Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Jill Swiencicki, St. John Fisher College
  • Rachel Chaffee, University of Rochester
Coronado Q
Matchmaking: Graduate Writing Needs & Writing Center Outreach Initiatives
The de-centered, specialized nature of graduate education necessitates a complex and flexible approach to graduate writing support. Writing Centers offer a range of services, including seminars, workshop series, boot camps, and retreats, but which best meet graduate student needs, and which render measurable results?
  • Jen Lagedrost, California Lutheran University
  • Craig Medvecky, Loyola University, Maryland
Coronado R
High School Writing Centers
The High School Writing Center SIG invites directors, peer tutors, and other interested parties to celebrate successes, discuss current realities and challenges, share best practices, and imagine new possibilities. The SIG will be a place to network with others working in high school writing centers.
  • Tom Brandt, Berkeley Prep Academy
  •  Amber Jensen, Thomas A. Edison High School
  •  Andrew Jeter, Niles West High School
  •  Kerri Mulqueen Baldassaro, Nazareth Regional High School
  •  Zaneta Franklin, University of Pittsburgh