Dr. Kelly Sassi, Assistant Professor

Email: Kelly.Sassi@ndsu.edu
Phone: 231-7156
Office: 322 F-1 Minard Hall

Newly hired as assistant professor of English and Education after
finishing my doctorate at the University of Michigan, I'm excited to
return to my birthplace, Fargo. I hope to get to know the town better
since I left it at age two and spent most of my life in Alaska, where I
earned both my B.A. and M.A. in English at the University of
Alaska-Fairbanks. My master's thesis focused on 19th century women
writers' portrayal of the Arctic and colonization, though I also began
developing my interest in composition and pedagogy at this time. After the
M.A., I completed a teaching certificate and taught high school English
for six years before moving to Ann Arbor, MI, to pursue a Ph.D. Degree in
English and Education.

My dissertation was on pedagogical approaches to Native American/American
Indian literatures, but I also co-authored two books on Writing on Demand
and developed research on uses of technology in student collaboration.
While I enjoyed my studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
winters just didn't seem cold enough. Now I'm happily waxing up my
cross-country skis in between preparing my fall courses on American
Literature 2, Business and Professional Writing, and Methods of Teaching
Writing. I look forward to continuing my research on uses of technology in
student collaboration, bringing indigenous ways of learning into teacher
education, the high school to college transition in writing, teaching
Native American/American Indian literatures, and writing on demand.

Last Updated: October 3, 2008