Center for Writing alumni—Candance Doerr-Stevens

read another alum's response

11 Questions for Center for Writing Alums

• Your name: Candance Doerr-Stevens
• Your email: candance.doerrstevens@gmail.com
• When did you work with us? Fall 2006-Spring 2013
• What was your role? writing consultant, front desk/computer lab attendant, Teaching Assistant for MWP
• What education and/or occupation(s) have you pursued since working with us? I am working as assistant professor of reading at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (UWM). I also work (although not officially) with the UWM Writing Project.

Reflections on your center experience:

• Did your work with us influence your educational or occupational choices? If so, how? My work at the Center for Writing definitely influenced my career choices. It first and foremost made me want to work in a supportive and creative work environment. C4W was so much this kind of environment that I had a hard time leaving :-) Also, my extensive work with MWP while at C4W affirmed my desire to work with both inservice and preservice teachers. Without my work at MWP I would not have been exposed to the leadership development that occurs in teachers at mid-career. As a result, I am committed to making connections with the local writing project at my current location.
• What are the most significant abilities, values, or skills that you developed in your work with us? C4W did much to develop me as a leader in my field. Through actually giving us leadership responsibilities, rather than just assistant-based tasks, I developed the confidence to initiate and develop new programs. While I did most of this program building through my work with MWP, I also did this through SWS when encouraged by Katie Levin and Kirsten Jamsen to submit a conference proposal to 4Cs in 2008. I see this same blossoming of leadership in the undergrads when they are encouraged to submit to MWCA or when they are invited to co-present at staff meetings.
• In your personal and professional life today, how do you find yourself using what you learned from working with us? While I have only just started in my professional responsibilities here at UWM, I am already course planning for a new series of literacy courses that I will teach starting next spring. Because of the range of freedom and creativity I was granted through my course planning as part of the instructional team for the MWP Edina Cohort, I feel well prepared and confident that I will be able to plan new courses with similar impact.
• Anything else you want to tell us and your fellow Center alums? I feel so fortunate to have worked in so many capacities and for so long (seven years!!) at the Center for Writing. The environment was truly collegial and intellectually stimulating. I doubt I will come across such a professionally creative work space again. That said, I hope to bring C4W's imprint with me as I plant my own seeds of collaboration and creativity in my current and future work spaces.
• Provide a link to your personal or professional website (if you’d like to). cyborgdance.wordpress.com