Heidi M. Williams
Associate Professor
Department of Languages, Literature and Philosophy
Telephone: 615-963-5303
Office: HUM 220
Education:
PhD, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
MA, Murray State University, Murray, KY
BA, Murray State University, Murray, KY
BIO
Dr. Heidi M. Williams is an assistant professor of English in Rhetoric and Composition. She teaches lower division and upper division writing. In her ENGL 1010 and 1020 courses, students will find a structured, fast-paced, active, and creative environment. Some past course themes for 1010 and 1020 include: diversity, stereotyping, money, food, technology, education, conspiracy theories, and her personal favorite, family. Dr. Williams especially enjoys teaching Technical Writing where students research their potential job fields and leave the course with a business portfolio (to include resumes, cover letters, and writing samples) ready to present to a future employer.
Dr. Williams’ dissertation focused on Deaf students in the college composition classroom. Her first area of interest in research is Disability Studies and the unique assets, challenges, correlations, and intersections between disability and writing. Other areas of research interest include aspects of diversity (race, gender, dis/ability, age, economic status, veteran status, etc.) as related to higher education in general.
Outside of classroom and research endeavors, Dr. Williams enjoys spending time with her husband and two young daughters, participating in church activities, and maintaining her lively photography hobby.
Select Presentations
"'My Teacher Be Flexin!':The Reasons Why I Write and Perform with My Students." Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC). Cincinnati, OH. June 8-10, 2017.
"Flanking Home: Personal Agency from John Lewis' March 1-3." Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Regional Conference. Nashville, TN. Oct. 13-15, 2016.
“The Cost of Free Tuition on a Writing Program: A Glimpse into Tennessee Promise.” Council of Writing Program Administrator’s Conference. Raleigh, NC. July 14-16, 2016.
“Great Power, Responsibility, Disability: Analyzing Disabilities in Superhero Comics.” Comics Arts Conference at Comic-Con International. San Diego, CA. July 9-12, 2015.
“Affirming Difference: “Dis”Ability and Writing Center Practice.” The Midwest Writing Centers Association Conference. Chicago, IL, Oct. 17-19, 2014.
“Gateways into the Postsecondary Mainstream Institution: Access to Academic Support Services for Deaf Student Writers." The Conference on College Composition and Communication. St. Louis, IL, March 21-24, 2012.
Session Chair.
“Challenging Traditions in English Studies.” Southern Illinois University—Carbondale Graduate Conference in Literature and Rhetoric/Composition. Carbondale, IL, March 26-27, 2011.
“The Composing Process of Mainstream Deaf College Student Writers.” The Conference on College Composition and Communication Research Network Forum. Louisville, KY, March 17-20, 2010.
“Fostering Communal Literacy: Utilizing Interactive Forums to Explore Shared Spaces.” Expanding Literacy Studies Conference. Ohio State University. Columbus, OH, April 3-5, 2009.
“Fueling Students' Writing Processes: Utilizing Creativity Theory in the Writing Classroom.” Southern Illinois University—Carbondale Graduate Conference in Literature and Rhetoric/Composition. Carbondale, IL, March 26-27, 2010.
Classes Taught
English 1010 and 1020, English 1011, UNIV 1000, English 3106 and 3107
Selected University Committees, Campus Groups
•English Major Academic Advisor
•Sigma Tau Delta Faculty Advisor
•Sigma Alpha Iota Faculty Advisor
•Faculty Senate Curriculum and Instruction Committee
•Student Judicial Committee for Student Affairs
•Advisement Committee
•First Year Writing Committee
•TSU Day of Service Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2014
•Recruitment and Retention Committee
•Upper-Division Writing Committee
•Textbook Committee
•Assessment Committee
•Annual University-Wide Research Symposium Judge