Center for Teaching and Learning Staff

PhD, English, University of Denver (1990)
Major field of concentration: creative writing
Secondary field of concentration: American Literature
MA, English Literature, Purdue University (1985)
BA, English Literature, Purdue University (1983)

Work History
Before coming to Knox, John studied, worked, and/or taught at Purdue University, where he worked in both the Writing Lab and the Office of Writing Review; the University of Denver; LeMoyne College, where he worked in both the Higher Education Opportunity Program and the African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American program; and Syracuse University, where he taught American Literature.

Areas of Academic Expertise

• Academic support services, including curricular, pedagogical, and student development based models for academic student retention
• Composition and rhetoric
• Learning center theory, development, implementation, and assessment
• Teaching writing
• TRIO: Student Support Services, including assessment and grant writing
• Writing center theory, development, implementation, and assessment
• Writing program development, implementation, and assessment

Books

• Webster's New Compact Desk Dictionary and Style Guide, second edition. Style Guide Consultant, first edition. Wiley Publishing, Inc. 2002
• Webster's New Style Guide, Editor. Wiley Publishing, Inc. 2005
• Co-author, Terry Parmelee Prints, 1966-1999: A Catalogue Raisonne, Bassett Publishers (2003)
• Editor, Webster's New Style Guide, Wiley Publishing (2000)
• Editor, Webster's New World Notebook Grammar and Punctuation Guide, Macmillan Publishing (1998)
• Consultant, Style Guide, Webster's New World Compact Desk Dictionary and Style Guide, Macmillan Publishing (1998)
• Editor, Webster's New World Pocket Style Guide, Macmillan Publishing (1997)

Personal Interests
When I am not spending time with my family and friends, I am an avid geode collector, house renovator, and writer, mostly of bad poetry and improving prose.

Jane Varakin
Academic Coordinator

Years at Knox: 2006 to present

Education
MEd, Rehabilitation Counseling, Kent State University (2003)
BS, Communication Sciences and Disorders, James Madison University (2001)

Teaching Interests
Peer Tutoring, Academic Mentoring, Student Development and Learning Theory

Academic Expertise

• Academic Accommodations
• Academic Counseling
• Program development and assessment
• Alternative Textbook Process
• Student self-advocacy
• Study Skills Enhancement

Personal Interests
Swimming, volleyball, yoga, networking, adventurous road trips and of course spending time with family, friends and my Italian Greyhounds

What Students Say
"Jane's door is always open and she always seems available to help with whatever special accommodations I am needing at the moment."

"Jane is so much fun to talk with and really good at leading group discussions and pushing us to find the answers. I really enjoyed CTL 151 and felt like I learned a lot, not only about tutoring others, but also about myself and my own capabilities."

"Jane was born to this job...every year she makes the program significantly better."