people

kirsten jamsen

As Director, I am honored to lead the Center for Writing staff as we work together to improve writing and writing instruction at the University of Minnesota.   I came to Minnesota in 2002 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where I received my Ph.D. in English and taught writing and literature for more than a decade.  At Wisconsin, I also taught in and helped direct the writing center and writing-across-the-curriculum program, learning from Dr. Bradley Hughes, whose vision and generosity continue to inspire me.

The longer I teach in higher education, the more convinced I am that centers like ours are some of the very best places to improve teaching and learning at the University.  In one-to-one conferences, students work collaboratively with writing consultants, who help them develop critical thinking skills and strategic, practical knowledge about effective writing in a wide range of disciplines.  We use that same individual consultation model with faculty, instructional staff, and graduate students as we help them develop strategies to teach writing effectively and to conduct research into literacy and the writing process.  Whether I'm teaching students, mentoring new teachers, consulting with colleagues, or conducting research, my work is guided by my belief that writing is one of the most powerful ways we learn about ourselves and the world.  When I'm not thinking about writing, I spend my time playing ice hockey, running, biking, and tackling home improvement projects with my husband, Anton Jachim.

kjamsen@umn.edu
612.625.5355