09/23/99

Editors: A photo of Sherrie Gradin is available at: http://cscww.cats.ohiou.edu/news/pix/GRADIN.JPG

ATHENS, Ohio--Sherrie Gradin, former professor of English and director of writing at Portland State University, Portland, Ore., has been appointed director of Writing Across the Curriculum at Ohio University. The Writing Across the Curriculum program was started in 1995 to help faculty introduce writing throughout the curriculum and to develop writing criteria for writing-enriched courses.

Gradin's responsibilities include working with the university-wide writing committee to enhance the university's writing program, providing support and training to faculty to integrate writing into their courses and overseeing writing placement tests and the junior composition exemption exam. Gradin will collaborate with the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Center for Innovation in Technology for Learning to develop and offer faculty development programs.

Gradin is the author of "Romancing Rhetorics: Social-expressivist Perspectives on the Teaching of Writing," and the forthcoming, "Writing as a Reflective Action."

"I am delighted that we were able to attract a person of Dr. Gradin's caliber and background to direct our writing program," said Dean of University College and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies Patricia Richard. "She brings experience, knowledge, creativity, and good sense to the position. Through her collaborations with faculty, the Committee on Writing Across Campus and I anticipate that we can expand and improve our students' writing experiences. I am especially pleased at the timing of Dr. Gradin's joining us since we have just launched a review of our General Education Program for which her expertise will be invaluable."

Gradin completed a bachelor's and a master's degree in English at Portland State University and a doctorate in English at the University of New Hampshire in 1990.