We are pleased to announce that Dr. Anne Whitesell was recognized as the winner of the 2024 Roger and Joyce Howe Award for Excellence in Disciplinary Writing Instruction at the University Awards ceremony on March 20. She was nominated by her colleague Monica Schnieder, professor of political science.

Whitesell truly deserves recognition for her hard work. She has availed herself of nearly every opportunity that the Howe Center for Writing Excellence offers. She is a Howe Faculty Fellow alumni, has presented about her incorporation of ePortfolios in her course in a Howe workshop, and has been a frequent attendee at workshops and faculty learning communities offered through the Howe. As a faculty member in political science, Whitesell has transformed her writing instruction to emphasize reflection and prioritize the kind of writing students will use in their professional lives.

Exemplifying this is Whitesell's redesign of POL 366: Policy Evaluation, an advanced writing course in the political science program. Moving away from traditional essays in political science, she emphasizes public facing genres like policy briefs, policy comments, infographics, and op-eds. This kind of reflective experience challenges students to consider genre and audience in authentic contexts, encouraging them to think about their future careers. 

Whitesell’s work also motivates students to reflect on their writing by building a course-based ePortfolio. Through this process her students grow as writers and critical thinkers when it comes to public policy, and are equipped with tools to engage diverse audiences with different modes and purposes. 

In addition to engaging with our community through Howe workshops, Whitesell has been a Howe Faculty Fellow since 2023 and an avid supporter of writers and writing at Miami, also serving on our Local Advisory Board. 

“It is clear that Dr. Anne Whitesell represents what it means to be an outstanding teacher who is dedicated to improving the disciplinary writing of undergraduate students at Miami University within the Political Science Department and beyond. I firmly believe that Dr. Whitesell exemplifies the teacher/scholar model at Miami University.” –Monica Schnieder, Professor of Political Science

Congratulations to Anne Whitesell! Please see our website for more information about the Roger and Joyce Howe Award for Excellence in Disciplinary Writing Instruction. Applications will open again in January of 2025.