to retire following spring semester
Terry Davis joined the faculty in 1986 as a visiting writer-in-residence. In 1988, his position was converted to tenure-track, and he has taught here ever since. His primary teaching areas have been fiction writing and screenplay writing, but he has also taught general education literature and form and technique courses that concentrate on prose.
Terry grew up in Spokane, Washington, where he wrestled for Shadle Park High School. He later attended Eastern Washington University, the University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop, and Stanford University, where he received a Wallace Stegner Literary Fellowship. He taught and coached wrestling at the high school level, as well as taught writing at East Carolina University. His first book, Vision Quest, was made into a popular film starring Matthew Modine. A new edition of the novel has just been released to go along with recent re-releases of his second and third novels, Mysterious Ways and If Rock and Roll Were a Machine.
Terry was scheduled to read with his colleagues Diana Joseph and Richard Terrill at the April 16 Good Thunder reading; however, he was unable to participate, so Roger Sheffer read tributes from Terry's students as well as passages from If Rock and Roll Were a Machine.
One student said of his influence: "I've learned from his constant reminders to be a generous writer, to ground the reader in a story." Another said, "His encouragement kept me going when I wanted to quit. I'm fortunate to have studied under him." Another said, "How do you repay a person for the kindness and encouragement they have shown you over the course of your graduate school years? It’s impossible. But I will forever be encouraging young writers because of the kindness and wisdom that Terry gave to me."
We all wish Terry the very best!
To learn more about Terry Davis and his work, visit his website.
100% online learners in technical communication are able to do both
The technical communication program at Minnesota State Mankato is is proud to introduce three graduate students who are 100% online learners residing out of state but working in Mankato: Marina Kamenetskiy, Julie Stella, and Katie Tormala.
Marina is originally from Russia and came to the United States when she was 11 and has been living in Atlanta, Georgia for the last 17 years and is completing an internship with a company in Mankato. Julie is a non-traditional student from St. Paul and is currently living Virginia attending school part-time and will be working for the Center for Scholarship and Research (CESR) this fall as a graduate assistant. Katie started out as an on-campus student in Fall 2008 and moved to Michigan for Spring 2009. She is currently the English Department's Special Publications and Research GA.
All three students are also involved in the MSU Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication, with Katie Tormala serving as the communication officer. STC hosts online meetings and events which allow many of the students enrolled from out of state to be involved.
Read more about Marina, Julie, and Katie.
5-9-2009
Spring Commencement
During the first half of spring semester 2010, we will hold weekly classes to learn and prepare for the tour. Then, over spring break (March 4-14, 2010), we will travel as a class to Northern Italy with stops in Venice, Florence, Lake Como and Milan.
For questions about the trip , visit the Italy Study Tour 2010 webpage.
Want information about the latest Valley Writing Workshop? As a teacher, do you want suggestions or advice about teaching writing in your writing-intensive course? Or, as a student, do you want some help with writing in college courses? Contact Valley Writing for assistance.
