lane fields
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teaching

learning together

Starting in my junior year of college, I have worked as a teaching assistant or fellow for five different classes in three different years (2009, 2011, and 2020). I taught postsecondary coursework in sociology, women’s/gender/sexuality studies, and creative writing. I have experience guiding undergraduate and postgraduate students, including non-traditional and continuing ed students, from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds at both private liberal arts and public, commuter four-year institutions.

My greatest passion is coaching new writers of all ages and seeing their weirdest, funniest, deepest, and saddest truths come to life. Since 2018, I have been visiting a teacher friend’s creative writing classes at a charter high school in my home county in North Carolina. I make every effort to come see these exceptional young adults at least twice a year and answer their questions about what it’s like to be a working writer (and real, live adult). We even get to workshop their poems together. Showing up in the lives of these teens has enriched my life immeasurably; I’ve been fortunate to receive the sweetest thank-you letters and spiral-bound compendiums of their best work for their year-end showcases.

Outside the classroom, I have facilitated interfaith dialogue among marginalized religious communities; designed and delivered diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging corporate training; and implemented programming related to marginalized identities (with an area of specialization in LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS education).

Teaching is one of the greatest professional and personal joys I have in life. If you or someone you know might benefit from working with me, please feel free to contact me with a proposal for (very limited) pro bono mentoring or paid consulting opportunities. I can’t help everyone, but let’s talk.

Education

Warren Wilson College, Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing (2021-2024, on leave 2022)

University of Massachusetts, Boston, Graduate coursework, Creative Writing (2019-2020)

Brandeis University, Master of Arts, Sociology and Women’s/Gender Studies (2011-2014)

Elon University, Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and Anthropology (2007-2011)

Courses Taught

  • Elon 101, Elon University, 2009 (TA, first-year orientation course)

  • Women and Men in Society, Elon University, 2011 (TA)

  • Society and Social Change, Brandeis University, 2011 (TA + led weekly discussion outside of lecture)

  • Advanced Poetry Workshop, University of Massachusetts, Boston, 2020 (TA)

  • Introduction to Creative Writing, University of Massachusetts, Boston, 2020 (teaching fellow; independently taught with synchronous, asynchronous, and virtual elements)