The Emerging Voices Series

Shuvro Das talks about his ethic of kindness in both his teaching and writing practices. He reflects on his experience as an international student from Bengal and discusses what he calls a “gap” in the mentorship experiences for graduate students in the United States who come from other countries. Das explores his ideas about developing more research and teaching around immigration rhetoric.

In this interview, Bethany Davila discusses her research in Writing Studies, particularly as it pertains to language and identity. She highlights the importance of being a lifelong learner despite expectations of expertise. Additionally, she explores the work-life balance and reminds us to have a life outside of our work.

Genie Giaimo talks about her writing process by reflecting on the importance of collaboration, which she calls a “superpower.” She also critiques the publication process and explores the labor of peer review.

Mandy Olejnik discusses her work at the Howe Center at the University of Miami Ohio. She reflects on the process of transitioning from graduate school to an administrative position with research expectations. She also discusses her work about the graduate student experience.

Marie Pruitt explains her use of big data and mixed methods approach to research, particularly as it pertains to her dissertation. She reflects on the role of AI in the peer review and publishing process and shares what it is like being a copy editor for Composition Studies.

Kimberly Thomas discusses her writing process through various public outlets including Medium. Additionally, she talks about grappling with finding her voice during graduate school and her transition to faculty. Thomas emphasizes the importance of mentorship.

Annette Vee discusses her writing processes and shares the journey of her career. She reflects on writing her dissertation in graduate school and turning it into her first monograph. She details the importance of writing for many types of audiences and demonstrates how she does so in various mediums including Substack. Additionally, she reflects on AI and its role in the college classroom.

Andrea Stark Bishop talks about her position in training leadership and management. She discusses her unique position using her degree and skills in writing studies to transfer across disciplines. She highlights the importance of networking and learning to value people as humans first. When this interview was conducted on September 26, 2025, she was Director for Leadership and Development and Assistant Professor at Harding University.

Alyssa Guadalupe Cavazos talks about the importance of advocating for writing feedback. She also discusses the lengthy process of hand coding data and the importance of collaboration. When this interview was conducted on August 29, 2025, she was a professor of Rhetoric and Composition in the Department of Writing and Language Studies at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence.

Sherri Craig talks about navigating the tenure process, particularly as it pertains to publication. She elaborates on her writing process by sharing ideas about handwriting, embodiment, and the politics of academic journals. When this interview was conducted on August 19, 2025, she was Assistant Professor of English at Virginia Tech.

Engelson discusses her writing process during her 13 year book project. She reflects on her positionality while working with international writers. She emphasizes the importance of community and finding writing partners to stay motivated. When this interview was conducted on August 22, 2025, she was Professor of English at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Sarah Marie Fischer shares her experience vlogging while completing her doctoral studies. She reflects on the importance of access and not “gate-keeping” in academia. She believes writing studies can be a vehicle for students and researchers to study whatever they want and reminds us to cold email our colleagues in appreciation. When this interview was conducted on September 5, 2025, she was an Assistant Professor at the University of Miami.

Emily Gresbrink talks about teaching technical and professional writing during a time of AI. They share their experience working in industry and how it impacts their teaching. Additionally, they go into depth reflecting on their writing process. When this interview was conducted on August 20, 2025, she was Assistant Professor of Technical Communication in the Integrated Engineering program at Minnesota State Mankato.

Gabrielle Kelenyi reflects on research in writing studies, particularly the unique opportunity to write with her research participants. She is interested in collaboration as an important part of her writing process and advocates for more opportunities to work with people. When this interview was conducted on September 5, 2025, she was an Assistant Professor of English at Lafayette College.

Ana Milena Ribero discusses her responsibility as a professor with tenure. She reflects on the politics of immigration. She talks about taking risks in writing and how to find your people. When this interview was conducted on September 3, 2025, she was an Associate Professor in the School of Writing, Literature and Film at Oregon State University.

Bukky Salako discusses her work with TESOL and advocating for international students, both in policy and pedagogy. She reflects on her writing process by discussing her novel The Ancestral Secrets. Additionally, she discusses AI and how it impacts her pedagogy. When this interview was conducted on August 19, 2025, she was a lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Maryland.

Shawna Shapiro explains how navigating academia is like a game. She highlights the importance of liking what you research. Additionally, she advocates for new structures and systems by giving examples of how Writing Studies might grow as a discipline. When this interview was conducted on August 19, 2025, she was Professor of Writing and Linghistics at Middlebury College and director of the Critical Language Awareness Collective.

Faith Thompson reflects on her dissertation writing process and meeting with her tutor at the writing center regularly. She talks about presenting at conferences and other ways to stay motivated. She discusses her research on multilingual writers. When this interview was conducted on August 20, 2025, she was professor of English at Howard Community College and was writing her dissertation as she pursued her Ed.D. in Literacy in the Seidel School of Education at Salisbury University.

Lan Wang-Hiles shares her experience learning English and her writing process. She explains many different strategies to keep her motivated like promotion, peers, and the desire to share her unique experience with the field. When this interview was conducted on August 22, 2025, she was up for full promotion as an Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Humanities at West Virginia State University.