DWC alumna named assistant professor at University of Central Arkansas
Graduated from NSU in 2013
Department of Writing and Communication alumna Cristine Busser will be starting her next chapter this fall as an assistant professor of writing at the University of Central Arkansas. Busser graduated with an M.A. in Writing from Nova Southeastern University in 2013 and with a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition from Georgia State University in 2017.
"After applying to several Ph.D. programs, I was accepted into Georgia State University and felt it was a good fit since the program is small but very energized," Busser said. "They have new, young faculty interested in really putting the program on the map."
Busser's dissertation focused on the many retention initiatives employed by institutions of higher education to keep students in school and encourage them to graduate within four years.
"I'm hoping to turn my dissertation into a book," she said.
While completing her master's at NSU, Busser worked in the CAHSS Writing Fellows program – an experience that inspired her to pursue teaching as a career. Despite having a fear of teaching, she said, the mentoring she received while working in the Writing Fellows program encouraged her to overcome her fears.
"Cristine was one of our first graduate students to work as a Writing Fellow, and she was also one of the first to present research at both regional and national conferences," said Kevin Dvorak, Ph.D., CAHSS Writing Center coordinator and professor of writing. "She was a wonderful mentor and role model for the undergraduate fellows, and it was obvious then that she was going to be an excellent professional in our field."
In her new role as an assistant professor, Busser is looking forward to further developing her teaching skills.
"I would like to focus on my pedagogy and improve my teaching," she said.
To learn more about DWC's graduate program, click here.