Graduate Programs in Writing Faculty

Writing Studies courses are primarily taught by Writing Studies faculty members Emily Isaacs, Melinda Knight, Jessica Restaino and Bob Whitney, though other faculty in English with expertise in related areas of creative writing, creative non-fiction, journalism and the essay also teach in the program.

Emily Isaacs received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst. Since 1996 when she arrived at Montclair State University, she has been developing curricula and programs designed to better prepare teachers for the challenging and exciting work of teaching writing. Prof. Isaacs’ research and teaching provide her with opportunity to learn from teachers working in a broad range of different settings. Continually she finds that as much as our individual contexts appear to control what is possible for teachers, it is also true that best practices of teaching writing have strong similarities across levels. Prof. Isaacs’ primary interests are in composition theory and practice, pedagogy, and writing program administration. Recent publications include: “General Education Writing: Is there a Place for Literature?” in Pedagogy, and “Recasting Writing Center Missions for Best Support” in Writing Lab Newsletter. Articles on new developments in writing center practices and partnerships with public schools are forthcoming. Public Works: Student Writing as Public Text (Boynton/Cook), co-edited with Phoebe Jackson, was published in 2001.

Melinda Knight is Professor of English and Director of the new Center for Writing Excellence (formerly known as the Writing Center), and she joined Montclair State in the Fall of 2008. Previously, she directed programs at George Washington University, University of Rochester, University of San Francisco, and New York University. She earned a B.A. from Cornell University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. are from NYU. Her teaching and research interests include writing center theory and practice, writing in the disciplines, technology, teacher education, English for academic purposes, professional communication, and American Studies. These diverse interests have given her insights into how writers develop and the best practices for facilitating improvement. She is co-author of a groundbreaking book on composition, Writers Writing (Boynton/Cook 1982), and recent publications include “Understand the Gap between High School and College Writing” (Assessment Update) and “Hybrid Writing Courses: Combining the Best of Online and Classroom Learning” (Spotlight). Recent grants include sponsored awards from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Jessica Restaino completed her Ph.D. at Temple University and joined the MSU faculty in 2005. Her interest in writing pedagogy and rhetorical theory has its roots in dialogue, in the communities and conversations we construct around and within texts. Much of her work with students involves exploring this dialogue in its many textual forms, including engaging students in writing beyond the classroom walls through community-based projects. Her work with secondary-level English teachers, in particular, has allowed her to experiment with this interest in bridging school and community; she is regularly inspired by her students’ inventive project ideas. Jessica’s additional research interests include composition and rhetorical theory, collaborative writing, teacher preparation, experiential learning, Hannah Arendt, and rhetorical study of the politics and culture of motherhood. Her writing has appeared in journals such as Reflections: A Journal of Writing, Community Literacy, and Service-Learning, Academic Exchange Quarterly, Thirdspace, and Literary Mama. She is currently working on a book project that studies the preparation of new writing teachers through the lens of Arendt’s political thought.

Bob Whitney completed his doctoral training in composition and English education pedagogy at New York University, though his undergraduate degree, from the University of New Hampshire, is in Philosophy. Propagator of the near-infamous "metatexts" -- a method of writing and thinking to engage deep thinking from writers --, Bob Whitney's dedication to engaging students in controversies and radical questioning of fundamental beliefs about education and writing is local legend at Montclair State University.