ELIZABETH BENSEN

Curriculum Vitae
ebensen65@gmail.com ⚫ http://bbensen-barber.com/digital_portfolio/

Education
Ph.D. in English, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, August 2015
• Specialization: New Media and Professional Writing
• Dissertation: Multimodal Composing across Disciplines: Examining Community
College Professor’s Perceptions of Twenty-First Century Literacy Practices
(Committee Members: Julia Romberger (Chair), Rochelle Rodrigo, Kevin Depew,
Scott Lloyd DeWitt)

M. A. in English, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, August 2005

• Specialization: English and American Literature
• Thesis: “Charlotte Turner Smith and William Wordsworth: In Search of the Natural
Sublime” (Committee Members: John Pendergast, Jeffrey Skoblow (chair), Jack
Voller)

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, August 2005

• Specialization: Teaching of Writing

B. S. in English, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, English, December 2002

• Specialization: English Education
• Graduated Summa Cum Laude

Administrative Appointments
Program Head, English Department, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Reynolds
Community College. Fall 2015 – Present.

Assistant Program Head, English Department, School of Humanities and Social Sciences,
Reynolds Community College. Fall 2011 – Spring 2015.

Academic Advisor, Liberal Arts and Social Science Programs, Reynolds Community College.
Spring 2007 – Present.

Professional Activities
Steering Committee, The 2018 Mid-Atlantic Conference on College Composition and
Communication, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. Spring 2018.

Planning Committee, 2018 Composition Summit. Summit occurred January 19, 2018 as a
collaboration between John Tyler Community College, Virginia Commonwealth
University, and Reynolds Community College. Summer 2017 – Fall 2018.

Editor, Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges. Summer 2014 – Present.
 Elizabeth Bensen 2

Teaching Appointments
Professor, Reynolds Community College, Richmond, Virginia, School of Humanities and Social
Sciences, August 2016 – Present

Associate Professor, Reynolds Community College, Richmond, Virginia, School of Humanities

and Social Sciences, August 2013-August 2016

Assistant Professor, Reynolds Community College, Richmond, Virginia, School of Humanities

and Social Sciences, August 2010-August 2013

English Instructor, Reynolds Community College, Richmond, Virginia, School of Humanities

and Social Sciences, January 2007-August 2010.

Lecturer, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois, Department of

English Language and Literature, August 2005-December 2006

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois,

Department of English Language and Literature, August 2003-May 2005

Writing Consultant, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois,

Instructional Services (Writing Center), August 2003-May 2005
• Accumulated a total of 225 hours over a two year period of time.
• Provided assistance to graduate and undergraduate students from various university
departments.
• Consulted with students on essays, research papers, cover letters, and grant proposals.
• Tutored developmental English students and non-native speakers of English.
• Assisted business students with preparation of research papers for General Business
Administration (GBA) classes.

Courses Taught
Reynolds Community College
• ENG 111: College Composition I (Computer and conventional, distance learning,
dual enrollment, learning community, OER. Content delivered via Blackboard)
• ENG 112: College Composition II (Computer and conventional, dual enrollment.
Content delivered via Blackboard)
• ENG 115: Technical Writing (Video conferenced between two campuses; computer
classroom. Content delivered via Blackboard)
• ENG 210: Advanced Composition (Computer classroom, OER. Content delivered via
Blackboard)
• ENG 241: Survey of American Literature I (Conventional, distance learning. Content
delivered via Blackboard)
• ENG 242: Survey of American Literature II (Conventional, distance learning. Content
delivered via Blackboard)
• ENG 250: Children’s Literature (Spring 2019)
 Elizabeth Bensen 3

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

• ENG 101: English Composition I (Two Semesters and one semester co-teaching with
a Master Instructor)
• ENG 102: English Composition II (Two semesters)
• English 101 and English 102 in computer and conventional classrooms, using course
management platforms to include WebCT, Speakeasy Studio and Café, and The
Bedford Researcher.

Presentations/Conferences
Hutichson, Micol, Johnson, Melissa, Bensen, Beth, Privot. Meredith. “Composition Summit:
Community College and University Instructors Partner to Improve Transfer Student.”
AGLS Constitute 2018. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September 2018.

Bensen, Beth. Community College Perspectives: Multimodality and Inclusivity in the Writing
Classroom.” The 2018 Mid-Atlantic Conference on College Composition and
Communication. Richmond, Virginia. May 2018.

Hashmi, Ghazala, Beth Bensen, William Ziegler, and Kevin Carey. Supporting, Reading &
Writing in the Disciplines through Effective Faculty Development. The 2017 Mid-
Atlantic Conference on College Composition and Communication. Richmond, Virginia.
June 2017.

Bensen, Beth, Kathy Larue, Renee Garris, Tracy Creech, and Tamara Watkins. Understanding
Digital Humanities: What Is It and How Do I Integrate It into My Pedagogy? VCCS New
Horizons 2017. Roanoke, Virginia. March 2017.

Hashmi, Ghazala, and Beth Bensen. Faculty Learning Communities: A Guide to Implementation
and an Analysis of Impacts. VCCS New Horizons 2017. Roanoke, Virginia. March 2017.

Bensen, Beth. “Digital Technologies across Disciplines: A Community College Perception.”

Ninth Annual Reynolds 2015 Faculty Research Symposium, Richmond. Virginia, April
2015

Bensen, Beth. “Digital Technologies in the Classroom: Examining Professors’ Perspectives of

Multimodal Pedagogy.” VCCS New Horizons 2015. Roanoke, Virginia. April 2015.

Rochelle Rodrigo, et al. “Multimodal Composing on Mobile Devices.” 65th Annual Convention
of the Conference on College Composition and Communication. Indianapolis, Indiana,
March 2014.

Hashmi, Ghazala, Hong Wu, and Denise Woetzel, and Beth Bensen-Barber. “Teaching Research
Skills: A Collaboration Among Peers for Student Success.” VCCS New Horizons 2013.
Roanoke, Virginia, April 2013.

Lemieux-Spiegel, Cheri, and Beth Bensen-Barber. “Eat, Teach, Learn: Professional

Development for the Twenty-First Century Community College Professor.”
 Elizabeth Bensen 4

VCCS English & English as a Second Language Peer Group Meeting. Richmond,
Virginia, November 2012.

Hashmi, Ghazala, Hong Wu, Denise Woetzel, and Beth Bensen-Barber. “Aligning Course
Outcomes, Instructional Resources, and Assessment: Cross-Disciplinary Efforts to
Impact and Evaluate Information Literacy.” Virginia Assessment Group 2012
Conference. Richmond, Virginia, November 2012.

Bensen-Barber, Beth, Hong Wu, Denise Woetzel, and Josh Watson. “Developing Student
Research Skills Through Online Library Resources.” The Art and Science of Online
Education, Richmond. Virginia, October 2012.

Hashmi, Ghazala, Hong Wu, Denise Woetzel, and Beth Bensen-Barber. “The QEP and Its
Ripple Effects on Student Learning and Assessment.” JSRCC Fall Convocation.
Richmond, Virginia, October 2012.

Hashmi, Ghazala, Hong Wu, Denise Woetzel and Beth Bensen-Barber. “Assessing Learning in
Information Literacy: Impetus, Implementation, and Impact.” Georgia International
Conference on Information Literacy. Savannah, Georgia, September 2012.

Rochelle Rodrigo, et al. “The Crossroad of Computers and Writing and Two-Year Colleges: A
Speed Panel.” Computers and Writing 2012, Raleigh, North Carolina, May 2012.

Rochelle Rodrigo, et al. “Lost and Found in the Wonderland of Mobile Learning.” Computers
and Writing 2012. Raleigh, North Carolina, May 2012.

Bensen-Barber, Beth. “Prezi: The Zooming Presentation Editor.” J. Sargeant Reynolds

Technology Summit. Richmond, Virginia, April 2012.

Bensen-Barber, Beth. “Defining Multimodal Composing: Investigating Twenty-first Century

Notions of Composing.” 63rd Annual Convention of the Conference on College
Composition and Communication. St. Louis, Missouri, March 2012.

Watkin, Marty, and Beth Bensen-Barber. “A Bloggy Experience: Using Blogs to Motivate
Students.” Fifth Annual J. Sargeant Reynolds 2011 Faculty Research Symposium,
Richmond. Virginia, April 2011.

Watkin, Marty, and Beth Bensen-Barber. “A Bloggy Experience: ESL and Native Speakers of
English Collaborate.” Annual Virginia Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of
Other Languages (VATESOL) Conference. Fredericksburg, Virginia, October 2010.

Rosecrans, Jane, and Beth Bensen-Barber. “Writing Intensive Courses in the Social Sciences.”
Fourth Annual J. Sargeant Reynolds 2010 Faculty Research Symposium. Richmond,
Richmond, Virginia, April 2010.
 Elizabeth Bensen 5

Bensen-Barber, Beth. “A Pedagogical Stance: Visual Rhetoric for the Visually (Il)literate.” J.
Sargeant Reynolds 2009 Faculty Symposium. Richmond, Virginia, April 2009.

Hashmi, Ghazala, and Beth Bensen-Barber. “Moral Education: Where Does It Fit in
Composition Studies?” English/ESL Peer Group Meeting. Richmond, Virginia,
November 2008.

Bensen-Barber, Beth. “The Collaborative Argument in First-Year Composition.” Professional

Development Presentation. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, March 2006.

Bensen-Barber, Beth. “Developing the Research Question and Thesis Statement.” Professional
Development Presentation. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, January 2006.

Bensen-Barber, Beth. “Representations of the Silent Other: Eavan Boland and the Female Poet.”
The Forty-Sixth Annual Convention of the Midwest Modern Language Association. St.
Louis, Missouri, November 2004.

Publications

Bensen, B., Woetzel, D., Wu, H., & Hashmi, G. (2016). “Impacting information literacy through
alignment, resources, and assessment.” In B. J. D’Angelo, S. Jamieson, B. Maid, & J. R.
Walker (Eds.), Information literacy: Research and collaboration across disciplines (pp.
401-425). Boulder: University Press of Colorado. Retrieved from
http://wac.colostate.edu/books/infolit/collection.pdf

Bensen-Barber, B. (2011, March 14). “The question of multimodal composing: What’s that
(visual) argument?” In The Reynolds ripple. Retrieved from
http://thereynoldsripple.blogspot.com/2011/03/question-of-multimodal-composing-
whats.html

Bensen-Barber, B. (2005, March/April). “A master juggler of time.” In Write on! (2)7/8.

Retrieved from http://www.siue.edu/IS/WRITING/Newsletter/index.html

Bensen-Barber, B. (2004, April). “Reflections of a first-year writing center graduate assistant.”

In Write On! (1)8 .Retrieved from
http://www.siue.edu/IS/WRITING/Newsletter/index.html

Workshops Facilitated
Bensen, Beth. Topics in Online Teaching and Learning (TOTAL): Writing Directions. Center
for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Reynolds, Community College, Fall 2018.

Bensen, Beth and William Ziegler. CFE 210: Reading in the Disciplines – Nurturing Disciplined
Readers. CFE Teaching and Learning Institute. Reynolds Community College, August
17, 2017.
 Elizabeth Bensen 6

Hashmi, Ghazala, Beth Bensen, William Ziegler, and Kevin Carey. CFE 210: Reading in the
Disciplines – Nurturing Disciplined Readers. Reynolds Professional Development Day,
May 10, 2017.

Bensen, Beth. Understanding Digital Humanities: What Is It and How Do I Integrate It into My
Pedagogy? Reynolds Community College, Faculty Learning Community, Spring 2016 –
Fall 2017.

Bensen-Barber, Beth. “Defining Multimodal Composing: Investigating Twenty-first Century

Notions of Composing.” J. Sargeant Reynolds Professional Development Workshop.
Richmond, Virginia, May 2012.

Rosecrans, Jane, and Beth Bensen-Barber. “Writing in the Disciplines: A How to.” J. Sargeant
Reynolds Professional Development Workshop. Richmond, Virginia, May 2011.

Rosecrans, Jane, and Beth Bensen-Barber. “What Is a Writing Intensive Course.” J. Sargeant
Reynolds Professional Development Workshop. Richmond, Virginia, May 2010.

Grants Awarded
“Multimodal Composing on Mobile Devices.” Reynolds Community College Professional
Development and Renewal Grant to attend the 65th Conference on College Composition
and Communication. March 2014. $1,373.00.

“Defining Multimodal Composing: Investigating Twenty-first Century Notions of Composing.”

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Professional Development and Renewal Grant
to attend the 63rd Conference on College Composition and Communication. March 2012.
$1,116.00

“The Question of Multimodal Composing: What’s That Remediated Argument?” J. Sargeant

Reynolds Community College Professional Development and Renewal Grant to attend
DMAC 2011. May 2011. $1,250.00.

College-Wide Committees
Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Committee, Promoting Equity in Education at Reynolds
(P.E.E.R.). Reynolds Community College. Spring 2018 – Present.

SACS Faculty Credential Review Process, Reynolds Community College. Summer 2018.

Search Committee (Chair), English Instructor Position (2), Reynolds Community College.
Spring 2018.

Advising Task Force, Reynolds Community College. 2017/18 – Present.

Search Committee, Assistant Dean Position, School of Humanities and Social Sciences,
Reynolds Community College. Summer 2017
 Elizabeth Bensen 7

Search Committee (Chair), English Instructor Position, Reynolds Community College. Summer
2017

Accelerated Competency in Developmental Education, Task Force, Reynolds Community.

2016/17 - Present

Open Education Resources (OER), Task Force, Reynolds Community College. 2015/16 –
Present,

Senator, Faculty Senate, Reynolds Community College, Academic Years: 2015/16, 2016/17,
2017/18, 2018/19.
• Second Vice President, 2017/18, 2018/19

Developmental Education Advisory Committee, Strategic Priority Committee, 2015/16 - Present

(committee on hiatus 2016/17 and 2017/18).

Search Committee, English Instructor Position, Reynolds Community College, Spring 2015

Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Committee, The Ripple Effect: Transforming Student Success
in Distance Learning. Reynolds Community College. Fall 2012- 2015

Search Committee, English Instructor Position, Reynolds Community College, Fall 2012

Advance College Academy, English Faculty Liaison, Reynolds Community College, Fall 2012 –
Spring 2013

Book Discussion Series Committee, Reynolds Community College, 2007-Present

• Fall 2010 (Chair)
• Freedom Writer’s Essay Writing Contest, Spring 2008 (Chair)

Search Committee, English Instructor Position, Reynolds Community College, Fall 2011

Search Committee, English Instructor Position, Reynolds Community College, Fall 2010

Search Committee, Early Childhood Education Position, Reynolds Community College, Fall
2009

Multi-year Contract Committee, Reynolds Community College, Spring 2007, Spring 2016,
Spring 2017 (chair)

Professional Development Luncheon Committee, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville,

2005-2006

Departmental Committees
Writing Committee, Reynolds Community College, 2007-Present
• Chair, Fall 2012-Present
 Elizabeth Bensen 8

• ENG 112 Learning Outcomes Committee, Fall 2010, Fall 2012

• Assessment Committee, Spring 2009-Fall 2010
• Textbook Selection Committee, Fall 2007-Spring 2008 (Chair), Spring 2013 (Chair)
• ENG 111/ENG 112 Learning Outcomes Committee, Fall 2007

English Assessment Committee, Reynolds Community College, Spring 2009-Fall 2011

• Chair Fall 2011

Literature Committee, Reynolds Community College, 2007-2009

Professional Development Luncheon Committee, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville,

2005-2006

Expository Writing Committee, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2005-2006

Literature Committee, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Fall 2004/Spring 2005

Graduate Student Representative, Expository Writing Committee, Southern Illinois University

Edwardsville, Fall 2004/Spring 2005
• Reader Text Book Selection Subcommittee, Fall 2004
• Research Text Book Selection Subcommittee, Fall 2004

Undergraduate Student Representative, Undergraduate Studies Committee, Southern Illinois

University Edwardsville, Department of English Language and Literature, Fall
2000/Spring 2001

Academic Honors
VCCS Chancellor’s Faculty Fellowship, Virginia Community College System, 2014-15
Academic Year.

Academic Scholar Award, Reynolds Community College, May 2012.

Honorable Mention, Nicholas T. Joost Memorial Award for Graduate Thesis in American and
English Literature, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Department of English
Language and Literature, Spring 2006

Nominee, Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, Southern Illinois University

Edwardsville, Department of English Language and Literature, Fall 2005

Nominee, Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Award, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville,
Department of English Language and Literature, Fall 2002

Faye and Phillip Benjamin Outstanding English Student Award, Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville, April 2002
 Elizabeth Bensen 9

Professional Organizations
Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC)
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Two Year College Association (TYCA)