Laurel Smith
English Faculty at Century College- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Kathryn Kysar
Laurel Smith is a talented, smart, energetic, and innovative college professor. I have had the joy of working with Laurel in the English Department at Anoka-Ramsey Community College for several years, where we have both been very active in the Creative Writing subcommittee. Laurel has been the driving force behind our annual faculty readings at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts: she pioneered adding musical guests and spoken word artists to the program, which has had recorded turn out and a packed room the last two years. Laurel has the ability to envision a marvelous event, then take logical steps to attain this ideal. More importantly, Laurel is a highly dedicated English instructor who is able to empower and energize students to succeed in their writing. She is organized and can implement complicated learner outcomes in engaging ways. She is a creative, kind, understanding, empathetic, intuitive, intelligent, and gifted teacher.
LinkedIn User
Laurel Smith is a professional, personable, and talented English instructor in the higher education disciplines of Accelerated (Developmental) English, Composition, Literature, and Creative Writing. We have worked together for over ten years at Century College, including the founding & launch of our college's Creative Writing Certificate, for which Laurel's work was key. Specifically, I recall when Laurel invited me to be a guest author in her Introduction to Creative Writing course. There, I encountered enthusiastic students who had carefully read my collection of short stories who asked insightful questions. I observed a positive and warm classroom community, established with Laurel and the helm. Later, when Laurel's Introduction to Creative Writing students studied with me in further creative writing courses, they were consistently well-prepared and had truly developed as creative writers.
Kathryn Kysar
Laurel Smith is a talented, smart, energetic, and innovative college professor. I have had the joy of working with Laurel in the English Department at Anoka-Ramsey Community College for several years, where we have both been very active in the Creative Writing subcommittee. Laurel has been the driving force behind our annual faculty readings at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts: she pioneered adding musical guests and spoken word artists to the program, which has had recorded turn out and a packed room the last two years. Laurel has the ability to envision a marvelous event, then take logical steps to attain this ideal. More importantly, Laurel is a highly dedicated English instructor who is able to empower and energize students to succeed in their writing. She is organized and can implement complicated learner outcomes in engaging ways. She is a creative, kind, understanding, empathetic, intuitive, intelligent, and gifted teacher.
LinkedIn User
Laurel Smith is a professional, personable, and talented English instructor in the higher education disciplines of Accelerated (Developmental) English, Composition, Literature, and Creative Writing. We have worked together for over ten years at Century College, including the founding & launch of our college's Creative Writing Certificate, for which Laurel's work was key. Specifically, I recall when Laurel invited me to be a guest author in her Introduction to Creative Writing course. There, I encountered enthusiastic students who had carefully read my collection of short stories who asked insightful questions. I observed a positive and warm classroom community, established with Laurel and the helm. Later, when Laurel's Introduction to Creative Writing students studied with me in further creative writing courses, they were consistently well-prepared and had truly developed as creative writers.
Kathryn Kysar
Laurel Smith is a talented, smart, energetic, and innovative college professor. I have had the joy of working with Laurel in the English Department at Anoka-Ramsey Community College for several years, where we have both been very active in the Creative Writing subcommittee. Laurel has been the driving force behind our annual faculty readings at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts: she pioneered adding musical guests and spoken word artists to the program, which has had recorded turn out and a packed room the last two years. Laurel has the ability to envision a marvelous event, then take logical steps to attain this ideal. More importantly, Laurel is a highly dedicated English instructor who is able to empower and energize students to succeed in their writing. She is organized and can implement complicated learner outcomes in engaging ways. She is a creative, kind, understanding, empathetic, intuitive, intelligent, and gifted teacher.
LinkedIn User
Laurel Smith is a professional, personable, and talented English instructor in the higher education disciplines of Accelerated (Developmental) English, Composition, Literature, and Creative Writing. We have worked together for over ten years at Century College, including the founding & launch of our college's Creative Writing Certificate, for which Laurel's work was key. Specifically, I recall when Laurel invited me to be a guest author in her Introduction to Creative Writing course. There, I encountered enthusiastic students who had carefully read my collection of short stories who asked insightful questions. I observed a positive and warm classroom community, established with Laurel and the helm. Later, when Laurel's Introduction to Creative Writing students studied with me in further creative writing courses, they were consistently well-prepared and had truly developed as creative writers.
Kathryn Kysar
Laurel Smith is a talented, smart, energetic, and innovative college professor. I have had the joy of working with Laurel in the English Department at Anoka-Ramsey Community College for several years, where we have both been very active in the Creative Writing subcommittee. Laurel has been the driving force behind our annual faculty readings at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts: she pioneered adding musical guests and spoken word artists to the program, which has had recorded turn out and a packed room the last two years. Laurel has the ability to envision a marvelous event, then take logical steps to attain this ideal. More importantly, Laurel is a highly dedicated English instructor who is able to empower and energize students to succeed in their writing. She is organized and can implement complicated learner outcomes in engaging ways. She is a creative, kind, understanding, empathetic, intuitive, intelligent, and gifted teacher.
LinkedIn User
Laurel Smith is a professional, personable, and talented English instructor in the higher education disciplines of Accelerated (Developmental) English, Composition, Literature, and Creative Writing. We have worked together for over ten years at Century College, including the founding & launch of our college's Creative Writing Certificate, for which Laurel's work was key. Specifically, I recall when Laurel invited me to be a guest author in her Introduction to Creative Writing course. There, I encountered enthusiastic students who had carefully read my collection of short stories who asked insightful questions. I observed a positive and warm classroom community, established with Laurel and the helm. Later, when Laurel's Introduction to Creative Writing students studied with me in further creative writing courses, they were consistently well-prepared and had truly developed as creative writers.
Experience
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Century College
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United States
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Higher Education
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400 - 500 Employee
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English Faculty
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Aug 2015 - Present
Courses taught: Basic Writing and Grammar (ENGL 80), Introduction to Writing (ENGL 90), Composition 1 (ENGL 1021), Express English (Accelerated Learning Program model of ENGX 90/ENGL 950 and ENGL 1021), Composition 2 (ENGL 1022), Writing Police Reports: Theory and Practice (ENGL 1024), Introduction to Creative Writing (ENGL 1027), Children's Literature (ENGL 2071), and Short Novel (ENGL 2273)Awarded the Board of Trustees 2023 Outstanding Educator Award for Century CollegeTaught diverse student populationsDeveloped curriculum and taught a cross-department collaborative course ENGL 1024: Writing Police Reports: Theory and PracticeAchieved an online course pass rate of 10% higher than the department averageAttained zero gaps in achievement between online and face-to-face coursesSaved MinnState students over $27, 500 since adopting Open Educational Resources and zero-cost textbooks in fall 2021Adopted culturally responsive teaching pedagogy and syllabiCreated content to supplement textbooks such as forms and templates for writingBuilt infographics for course content and syllabi to inspire student engagementProduced activities to support the Creative Writing CertificatePlanned and organized an Instapoetry event, including marketing, social media campaign, and event leadership Show less
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Writing Center Coordinator
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Jan 2003 - Aug 2015
Tutored writing for diverse student populationsIncreased usage by non-required students from under 30 to over 1000 studentsCreated and revised over 200 professional-level worksheets and other instructional materials Oversaw lab use by over 3,000 students with over 25,000 usage hours per semesterProduced and presented seminars and course training sessions on writing-related topics Interviewed, hired, trained, scheduled, and supervised staff membersCollaborated with English faculty to construct the Creative Writing Certificate Designed a training program specifically for student writing tutorsDirected workflow and provided leadership to other staff and facultySpearheaded renovation projects and upgradesSecured and maintained funding through usage and data reportsDeveloped marketing materialsRepresented the writing center on college committees and workgroupsPromoted the center writing at student outreach eventsInitiated the use of an electronic tracking system and database for student usageCommunicated the center’s mission, services, and goals to other departments and the collegeProofread professional college communications and reports, including for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and for Office of the President Show less
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Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Coon Rapids, MN
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English Instructor
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Aug 2015 - Present
Courses taught: Crosscurrent Composition (ALP ENGL 990 and ENGL 1120), Critical Reading and College Writing (ENGL 1121), Introduction to Literary Studies (ENGL 2202), Poetry (ENGL 2208), Children's Literature (ENGL 2209), Introduction to Creative Writing (ENGL 2241), Poetry Writing (ENGL 2262), Fiction Writing (ENGL 2263), A Writer's Life (ENGL 2281), Manuscript Development (ENGL 2291) Advised the Creative Writing Club Produced the student literary magazine for the Rapids Campus Co-chaired the Creative Writing Subcommittee Served as the host class for Write Like Us visiting author Brit Bennett Taught diverse student populations Adopted culturally responsive teaching pedagogy and syllabi Developed process-based teaching techniques through invention, drafting, revising, and editing Created content to supplement textbooks such as forms and templates for writing Worked effectively and collaboratively with colleagues through the English Scholarship Workgroup, the Composition Subcommittee, and the Creative Writing Subcommittee Co-wrote the department's diversity statement Co-hosted and organized the English Department Faculty Reading Assessed student learning through departmental eLumen initiative Demonstrated student-centered learning techniques Show less
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Freelance Proofreading
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Cottage Grove, MN
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Freelance Proofreader
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2002 - 2013
Proofread and edited various projects for various clients. Projects have included institutional documents, textbooks, self-help books, dissertations, novels, and various other types of documents. Proofread and edited various projects for various clients. Projects have included institutional documents, textbooks, self-help books, dissertations, novels, and various other types of documents.
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Student Teacher, 10th Grade Humanities Class
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Oct 2001 - Dec 2001
Taught a unit on the Titanic disaster. Led discussions and group work activities.
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Student Teacher, 10th through 12th Grade Creative Writing
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Oct 2001 - Dec 2001
Taught lessons and unit on creative nonfiction Developed lessons to enhance creativity through personal narrative.
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Chippewa Falls Middle School
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St. Paul, MN
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Student Teacher, 8th Grade
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Aug 2001 - Oct 2001
Taught a short story unit to several sections of 8th grade English Incorporated interactive group activities into daily learning Collaborated with team teachers to improve student learning Taught a short story unit to several sections of 8th grade English Incorporated interactive group activities into daily learning Collaborated with team teachers to improve student learning
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Education
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2010 - 2015
Hamline University
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Creative Writing -
2006 - 2007
Metropolitan State University
None, Technical Writing -
1998 - 2002
Bethel University
Bachelor's degree, English/Language Arts Teacher Education, 5-12 and Writing
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