Director of LSU’s Writing Project featured in American Education Research Association’s Writing and Literacies Special Interest Group Podcast
November 15, 2022
BATON ROUGE, LA - Every November 15, the education world and the literacy field celebrate
national I LOVE TO WRITE DAY. Recently, School of Education Professor and Director
of LSU’s Writing Project, Dr. Margaret-Mary Sulentic Dowell, was tapped to participate in one of the American Education Research Association’s
Special Interest Group’s podcast to celebrate writing and specifically, to honor I
LOVE TO WRITE DAY. A career educator who began teaching in a rural Iowa school as
a high school English teacher, Sulentic Dowell has sustained her love of writing for
over 40 years. As Director of LSU’s Writing Project site, a site of the National Writing
Project (NWP), she works hard to promote writing pedagogy. When invited to participate
in the Writing and Literacies SIG’s podcast series called “Inquiring Minds,” Sulentic
Dowell jumped at the chance.
Joining Sulentic Dowell was Alabama’s Red Mountain Writing Project Director, Dr. Tonya
B. Perry, who is not only a sister Writing Project Director but a member of the National
Writing Project’s Board of Directors and incoming President of the National Council
of Teachers of English. In a fortuitous twist of fate, Sulentic Dowell presented research
last July at the NWP-Midwest Regional Conference, hosted by the Illinois Writing Project
at Northeastern Illinois University where Perry was the keynote speaker. In another
amazing twist of fate, Kyley Pulphus, a doctoral student in the School of Education
whose major professor is Sulentic Dowell, was chosen to facilitate the podcast. Sulentic
Dowell provided, “writing has emerged as a viable kind of currency as the world maneuvered
through the pandemic and all kinds of individuals worked from home offices. Writing
is emblematic of thinking and understanding and writing is a vital component of literacy
word-wide, something literacy scholars champion. Interim Director of the School of
Education, Dr. Laura Choate, stated, “I am excited about this opportunity for Dr. Sulentic Dowell to collaborate
with other Writing Center Directors. The fact that one of our own doctoral students
is facilitating the podcast makes its impact even more powerful”. The podcast can
be accessed here.
About the LSU Writing Project
Established in 1985, the Louisiana State University Writing Project (LSU WP), an official
site of the National Writing Project, promotes the exploration of writing, dissemination
of writing research, and the sharing and diffusion of recommended writing practice
among educators. Housed in the School of Education, within the College of Human Sciences
and Education, the LSU Writing Project is the School of Education’s most senior Project
and enjoys a rich tradition of disseminating writing pedagogical practices in Louisiana
and beyond. Visit the LSU Writing Project.
About LSU School of Education (SOE)
A school of the College of Human Sciences & Education, the SOE offers undergraduate
programs for students who want to pursue a career as a pre-kindergarten through 12th
grade teacher or acquire dual certification in both traditional elementary and special
education classrooms. Besides providing graduate certification in instructional coaching,
educational technology, and urban & community education, the SOE offers a Writing
Pedagogy Minor, and a master’s degree in arts, arts in teaching, education (MEd),
education in counseling (MEd), certificate of education specialist (EdS) and PhD.
The School’s mission is to prepare educational professionals to be leaders, practitioners,
and scholars knowledgeable in contemporary educational issues.
About LSU College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE)
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division
of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education,
the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development,
the School of Library & Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the University
Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs, 18
graduate programs, and 7 online graduate degree and/or certificate programs, enrolling
more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,120 graduate students. The College is committed
to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed
to improving quality of life across the lifespan.