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Plymouth State University
MSC 11
17 High Street
Plymouth, NH 03264-1595
Meg J. Petersen, Ph.D.
Professor of EnglishDirector of Plymouth Writing Project
Office phone number: (603)535-2684
e-mail: megp@plymouth.edu
Administrative contact: Mary Petz
Administrative contact phone number: (603)535-2264
Degrees and Education
- Ph.D. May, 1991 Program in Literacy and Schooling, University of New Hampshire. Interdisciplinary program (English, Social Science and Education) providing a strong background in literacy studies, linguistics and language development.
Dissertation title: Vivencias: Writing as a way into a new language and culture.
Dissertation advisors: Donald Graves, Thomas Newkirk, Jane Hansen, Patricia Sullivan, Elizabeth Chiseri- Strater, Susan Franzosa - NH Writing Program, University of New Hampshire, Regular and advanced courses in the process approach to teaching writing
- Bachelor of Arts Degree, Summa Cum Laude, Franklin Pierce College, Interdisciplinary major in Psychology, Sociology and Education
Research Interests
- Culturally Responsive Teaching
- Teaching of Writing
- Teachers as Writers
Publications
Poetry:- Rendezvous, and My Debt to the Moon in Regrets Only Pear Tree Press, 2005 (forthcoming)
- For Nine Nights Now, Mother’s Work, Rendezvous and Evolution (Featured Poet) Garden Lane Seventh Issue February 2004
- To Love the Silence in Bare Essentials Robbie Dean Press 2003
- Reading Lessons in English Journal May 2003
- Hospice in Evergreen Hospice Services Volunteer Newsletter October/November 2002
- Viene la Luz and End of an Infinite Interlude Acts of Emancipation Plymouth Writers Group, 2005
- Live Wildly in Raconteur Plymouth State University 2005
- Name, Date and Division and My Yucky Brains Defining Moments Plymouth Writers Group 2004
- The Ninth Step in Lost and Found Plymouth Writers Group Fall 2003
- Live Wildly in Journal of Expanded Perspectives on Learning
- On the Trail in Love and Trouble: An Anthology of Teachers’ Writing Plymouth Writers Group Fall 2002
- The Eleventh Month in Garden Lane Spring 2002
- Palmistry Southern New Hampshire University Journal Spring 2002
Associations, Boards and Committees
- Founding editor of the Plymouth Writers Group anthologies of teachers’ writing which publishes the creative writing of teachers from around the country, now in our eighth year.
- Director of the Plymouth Writing Project
- Founding editor of the High School Voices project, which publishes the writing of high school students around New Hampshire and brings them to campus for a conference in May, now in our fifth year.
Academic Distinctions
- Distinguished Graduate Teacher, Master of Education and CAGS Programs, 2006
- Honorable Mention, Grayson Books Chapbook Contest, 2004
- Finalist 2002 Concrete Wolf Chapbook Contest
- Finalist for the NH Eddy Award for Higher Education September, 2001
- Distinguished Teaching Award, Plymouth State College, May 2000
- Honorable Mention in the 1998 Monadnock Writers Group New England Area Poetry Contest for “The Silence”
- New England Poet of the Year for 1997 New England Association of Teachers of English
Professional Experience
September 2001–Present
Director of the Plymouth Writing Project
Wrote the grant to the National Writing Project to establish the Plymouth Writing Project, New Hampshire’s site of the National Writing Project. Directed the first invitational summer institute for writing teachers in the summer of 2002.
September 1999–Present
Coordinator of the M.Ed. Program in English
Responsible for the coordination of graduate programs in English, including certification for grades 5-12, and our master’s degree in the teaching of writing. Responsible for the administration of the programs and the advising of graduate students, teaching Writing Workshop for Teachers, Teacher Action Research, Teaching Literature for Cultural Understanding, Advanced Writing Workshop for Teachers and Internship in College Teaching, which involves supervision of graduate interns teaching composition to undergraduate students.
August 1996–Present
Associate Professor, English Department, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, NH 03264.
English Education position. Responsible for teaching Composition, Creative Writing, Introduction to Literature, Women Writers, Multi-ethnic American Literature, Introduction to English Teaching, Teaching Literature in the Secondary School and Teaching Writing in the Secondary School. Also teaching Personal Writing, The Immigrant Experience in Literature, Latin American and Caribbean Literature, Qualitative Research Writing, Internship in Secondary and College Teaching and two graduate level summer writing workshops for teachers. Responsible for supervising student teachers in English at the secondary and middle school levels, serving on the college Council of Teacher Education, other college committees and as an academic advisor.
August 1991–August 1996
Assistant Professor, English Department, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, NH.
Same as above
January 1989–July 1991
Language Coordinator, Entrena S.A., Apartado Postal 20369, Santo Domingo, DN, Dominican Republic.
Direct supervision of a staff of approximately 20 Spanish language/Cross Cultural Trainers. Coordination and supervision of language programs for Peace Corps trainees, including the language component of technical training. Classroom observation and written evaluation of teaching staff. Design of in-service language training for Peace Corps volunteers and language learning counseling. Responsible for hiring, training and orientation of new staff and for maintaining an on-going staff training program
August 1988–January 1991
Professor of English and Education, Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena, Santo Domingo, DN, Dominican Republic.
Taught "Composition in ESL" in the Masters in ESL program and served as a thesis advisor. Taught English Grammar II, English Composition I and II, Introduction to Literature, North American Culture and Teaching Methods
January 1988–July 1991
Professor of English, Universidad APEC (Accion Para la Educacion y Cultura), Avenida Maximo Gomez, Santo Domingo, DN, Dominican Republic.
Taught advanced English conversation courses to non-native speakers. Taught Advanced English Grammar, Composition and Style in English, American Literature, English Literature and History of Twentieth Century Culture in the Bachelor's degree program in Translation and served as a thesis advisor.
August 1987–August 1988
Professor of English, Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Taught English Grammar and English Composition and English 202 (Advanced Reading) courses. Created the 202 program booklet and guide.
October 1987–December 1987
Teacher, Centro Cultural Dominico Americano, Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Taught basic and advanced English courses to children, adolescents and adults.
June 1987- August 1987
Writing Consultant, Linguistic Minority Resource Center, Lawrence, Mass.
Served as a consultant in whole language and writing process methodology to elementary level bilingual and transitional bilingual teachers.
September 1985- January 1987
Coordinator, Academic Support Program, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire.
Provided support services to minority students to aid in their adjustment to a rigorous academic program, ran study groups in biology, chemistry, Spanish and English. Initiated and supervised a peer tutoring program.
September 1981–August 1985
Teacher, Devon Lane School, Robert's Avenue, Devonshire 4-04, Bermuda.
Taught a first year secondary (seventh grade) level class providing alternative programming for educationally disadvantaged children, many recent immigrants to Bermuda. The program stressed literacy skills and used a process approach to teaching reading and writing.
July 1977–August 1981
Therapeutic Teacher, Philbrook Center for Children's Services, 121 South Fruit St., Concord, NH 03301.
Taught a self-contained class for severely emotionally disturbed children at a residential treatment center Coordinated transfer to regular classrooms in public schools. Planned and implemented summer tutorial programs for residential students aged 5-18. Served as a camp counselor for severely disturbed adolescent girls in this residential setting
