Torke La Vita Creative

Kyle Torke 2851 Keystone Circle Colorado Springs, CO 80918 torke.kyle@gmail.com SUMMARY

A dedicated Professional Educator, Writer, and Editor with exceptional experience teaching Creative Writing, Literature, Composition, and Reading courses, facilitating Program Creation and Management, and orchestrating Faculty Development and First Year Student programs.

EDUCATION

Ph.D., English Studies, University of Denver, August 1994. Dissertation: Novel (Current Storm) with Academic Component (The Fabulists). Comprehensive Examinations: Renaissance, 18th Century, 19th Century, 20th Century. Language: Latin.

M.A., English Studies, University of Denver, January 1993. Thesis: Short Stories (Kicking Stones) with an Academic Component. Language: Spanish.

B.A., Anthropology, conferred with honors, Grinnell College, May 1988.

FACULTY and STAFF EXPERIENCE

Reading, Rhetoric, and First Year Programs Specialist, Colorado College, Professional Staff –Writing Center, Summer 2011 – 2012.

Colket Fellow in Reading and Rhetoric, Colorado College, Summer 2008 – Summer 2011 (half-time).

Visiting Associate Professor, Colorado College, Fall semester 2008 – Fall 2011.  First Year Experience and Summer Courses (Block Visitor).

Associate Professor, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), teaching Writing and Literature Courses, 2003 – 2011 (full and half-time faculty).  Outstanding Academy Educator 2005-2006.

Assistant Professor, Elon University, teaching Creative Writing, Literature, General Studies, and Writing Courses, 1995 – 2003.  Professor of the Year designation from the Student Government Association, Spring 2002.  Professor of the Year designation from the Student Government Association, Spring 1998.  Professor of the Year nomination 1999, 2000, and 2001.

Instructor, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, teaching Creative Writing, Writing, and Literature Courses, 2003 - 2007.

Adjunct Professor, Pikes Peak Community College, teaching Composition, 2003.

Adjunct Professor, Arapahoe Community College, teaching Expository, Technical, and Creative Writing courses, 1994 - 1995.

PUBLICATIONS

In Sum: Four books, sixteen fiction/nonfiction essays in fifteen unique publications, fifty-four poems in thirty-seven unique publications, and twenty-two edited books.

Tanning Season, original short fiction, World Audience Publishers, illustrated, January 2009.

Books

Still in Soil, original poems, World Audience Publishers, January 2007.

Archeology of Bones, original poems, Gorsky Press, June 2001.  Literary Sashimi Award, Gorsky Press, 2002: presented to a work of fiction or poetry that exhibits literary excellence.

Dead Triathletes Speak, race reports, tips, and strategies with Dr. Tom Arcaro, Carpe Viam Press, Fall 1999.

Fiction and Nonfiction

Poetry

“Entrance Exam,” nonfiction essay, Mount Hope, Spring 2013.  “Sex Ed or How It’s Done,” nonfiction essay, Words for Things: How We Learned about Sex, forthcoming 2012.  “Skin,” nonfiction essay, Sliver of Stone, Spring 2012.  “Pearl,” nonfiction essay, Trans Lit Vol 6, Spring 2012.  “Human Suffering or Dining out in Denver,” nonfiction essay, Front Range Review, July 2011.  Oceans of Light, nonfiction essay, The Write Room, Spring 2011.  Walls, nonfiction essay, Epiphany Magazine, December 2010.  “Selling Doors,” nonfiction essay, Audience Review #15, February 2010.  “Sunshine Falls,” nonfiction essay, Two Hawks Review, September 2009.  “The Band Played,” nonfiction essay, Ward6Review, November 2007.  “Courage,” nonfiction essay, Amoskeag, Fall 2006.  “Travel Box,” short story, in The Front Range Review, May 2005.  “Bullet,” nonfiction essay, VerbSap, May 2005.  “Tanning Season,” short story, in The Jabberwock Review, summer 2004. *Nominated for a Pushcart Prize.  “This New June,” short story, in Cities and Roads, Fall 1997.  “Lacunae,” short story, in Cities and Roads, April 1997.  Reprinted in a special issue of The MacGuffin, “Let the Games Begin!” June 1997.

“A Good Walk” and “After Examining Eleven Skulls in a Crevice and Thinking of My Ex-Wife,” poems, Sleet Magazine, Spring 2011.  “Skirt,” poem, Blood and Stone Review, Spring 2011.  The First Time, Out of Our journal, February 2011.  “A Runny Nose in January,” Two Hawks Quarterly (aula press), February 2010.  “Inspiration,” Seven Circle Press / Duotrope, August 2010.  “Upon Meeting a Pregnant Woman with M.S.,” Hospital Drive Magazine, August 2009.  “A Garden,” poem, Karamu, Spring 2007.  “Construction” and “Frost,” poems, The Elegant Thorn Review, Nov. 2006.

Poetry

Screenplay

 “To the Moon,” “Tack,” “Butter,” “July 4th,” and “Move,” poems, HotMetalPress, Spring 2006.  “Beating My Father at Scrabble,” The Colorado Lawyer, October, 2006,  “Salt,” poem, Wild Goose Review, Spring 2006.  “Starwood,” poem, Tar Wolf Review, Spring 2006.  “Dander,” poem, Elixir, Spring 2006. *Nominated for a Pushcart Prize  “Swimming at Night” and “Just the Ticket,” poems, Perigee, October 2005.  “Sex of Rain” and “Old Woman,” poems, Dispatch, Fall 2005.  “Panic” and “Shell,” poems, Spire Press, Fall 2005.  “Fetch,” poem, September 2005, Main Channel Voices.  “Prayer,” poem, Freshwater, Spring 2005.  “Raining in the Mountains,” poem, SteamTicket, June 2005.  “Old Skins,” poem, Common Ground Review, winter 2005.  “Conus Geographus” and “Different Hands,” poems, Sage of Consciousness, Fall 2005.  “Placket,” poem, Rive Gauche, Spring 2005.  “Ride,” poem, Kerf, 2005.  “War Planes” and “Attention,” poems, War, Literature & the Arts, May 2005.  “Cave,” “Borrowings, ”and “The Market,” poems, Rogue Scholars, November 2004.  “Camping,” “Travelers,” and “Wordsworth Calls,” poems, The Front Range Review, Spring 2004.  “Breeze” and “Cannibal Freed,” poems, Gumball Poetry, Summer 2004.  “Heartland,” poem, New Letters, Spring 2001.  “Part Sea,” poem, The Comstock Review, Fall 2000.  “Tidal,” poem, Alkali Flats, Winter 1999.  “I Loved a Woman,” poem, Architrave, Fall 1999.  “Lacy Things,” poem, Hawaii Pacific Review, Fall 1999.  “Collar Bone” and “Still Time,” poems, in Argestes, Spring 1999.  “Though the Body Rests,” poem, The Higginsville Reader, Spring 1999.  “Sunday’s Lesson,” poem, The MacGuffin, Fall 1997.  “Stopped by Words (with apologies to Robert Frost),” poem, The Teaching Professor, Fall 1997.  “Night Fits,” poem, The Lucid Stone, August 1996.

“Match Play,” five minute video, writer and director, for the N.C. Film Studio and Workshop, Fall 1998.  “Fire Line,” five minute video, writer and director, for the N.C. Film Studio and Workshop, Spring 1998.  “Elon College: Who We Are,” screenplay, 1996; fourteen minute video used to acculturate new faculty and staff. Production complete summer 1997.  “The Brass Bed,” feature-length screenplay, romantic comedy. Patrician Films optioned for production, November 1994. Rights reverted 1996.  “Director’s Cut,” a feature-length screenplay, adult drama. Patrician Films optioned for production, April 1995. Rights reverted 1997.

“A Culture of Excellence,” article about the Air Force English Department’s Mentorship Program, The Educator, January 2008.

“Yackity Yack,” article offering pedagogical strategies for improving classroom discussion, Mind Matters, March 1996.  Reprinted in The Teaching Professor, December 1996.

CONTESTS

Poetry

Screenplay

EDITED BOOKS

“Cave,” a poem, selected as Best Submission for November, Rogue Scholars, January 2005.  “Dander” and other poems, selected as Finalist in 2004 New Letters Literary Awards, Fall 2004.  Heartland,” with other poems, selected as Runner Up in 2000 New Letters Literary Awards, Fall 2000.  “Part Sea,” poem, with other poems, selected as Finalist in the Comstock Review Year 2000 Contest, Fall 2000.  “Still Time,” chapbook, Honorable Mention in the White Eagle Coffee Store Press Fall 2000 Poetry Chapbook Contest.  “Natural History,” poem, in The Lyricist: Honorable Mention in their annual contest, Spring 2000.  “Though The Body Rests,” poem, Selected Honorable Mention in the Virginia Highlands Writing Awards, Fall 1997.  “Still Time,” chapbook: Honorable mention for Columbine Poets Poetry Chapbook Contest, August 1999.  “Greensboro Awards,” semi-finalist for five poem poetry collection, Fall 1998.  “Sunday’s Lesson,” poem, Honorable Mention, The MacGuffin’s National Poet Hunt contest, 1997.

“Critical Depth,” feature-length screenplay, 2nd Place in BlacklegZero 2000 International Screenplay Competition.  honorable mention in the National Quantum Quest 1997 Screenplay Competition.  “Imbroglio,” feature-length screenplay, 4th Place in BlacklegZero 2000 International Screenplay Competition.

A Dog, A Cat, A Rooster: Tails of Friendship by Pat Helm, nonfiction, World Audience Press (WAP), June 2012.

Fit for Life by Dr. Sasson Maulovi, health and fitness, WAP, January 2012.

Psalms of Death Row by Reginald Sinclair Lewis, poetry, WAP, September 2011.

Believe by Armando Aversa, nonfiction memoire. WAP, May 2011.

Jazz Hag by Golda Soloman, poetry. WAP, February 2011.

Blue Blood by Neil Salkind, nonfiction memoire. WAP, May 2010 Already There by Richard Weekly, poetry. WAP, May 2010.

Swingman by Alex Allred, nonfiction memoire. WAP, March 2010.

The Labyrinth by M. Stefan Strozier (2nd Ed.), memoire. WAP, March 2010.

When the Population Bubble Bursts by Jack Kevorkian, Nonfiction. WAP, February 2010. Reviewed in multiple major media outlets; release coincided with film, You Don’t Know Jack (HBO).

The Long Slide by Blair Oliver, novel. WAP, February 2010.

Broken by J. Matthew Nespoli, novel. WAP, January 2010.

Death’s Green Eyes by Kent Wallace, novel. WAP, January 2010.

Devil Worship: A Fan’s Journey with Manchester United by Kevin Leyland, nonfiction memoire. WAP, October 2009.

Lucky Streak by Christopher Iovenko, stories. WAP, October, 2009.

Glimmer IQs by Dr. Jack Kevorkian, nonfiction memoire. WAP, August 2009.

The Anatomy of a Porn Film by Sunset Thomas and R. Richard, novel. Shibboleth Press (subsidiary of WAP), May 2009. Featured on Howard Stern, Opie and Andy, Penthouse Radio, and over one hundred other media outlets.

The Tonya Tapes by Lynda Prouse, nonfiction memoire. WAP, May 2008. Featured on Oprah, The Today Show, ESPN, CNN, People, Inside Edition, and over one hundred other media outlets, including an AP story and radio slots.

The Collected Poetry of Hugh Fox by Hugh Fox. WAP, January 2008.

A Genealogy of Greatness by Quentin Skrabek, academic history. WAP, Feb. 2008.

Last Call: Stories by Blair Oliver, stories. WAP, November 2007.

Cyber Law: A Legal Arsenal for On-Line Business by Brett J. Trout, legal - technical.

WAP, September 2007.

CONFERENCES

“Avatar: Strategies for Improving Student Writing” presenter, National Collegiate Learning Center Association National Conference (NCLCA), Indianapolis, September 2011.  “Burning Books: Inspiring Students to Better Reading,” presenter, NCLCA, Charlotte, September 2010.  “This is the Thing: A Writing Revolution,” presenter, NCLCA Conference, 2010.

"Human Suffering," nonfiction essay, The Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture since 1900 (LCLC), Louisville, Kentucky, 2011.  “Sunshine Falls,” nonfiction, LCLC, Spring 2010.

 “The Apartment” and “The Band Played,” nonfiction, chair and panel presenter (Air Force Writers Read), LCLC, Spring 2008.  “Sex Ed” and “Death in the Rain,” nonfiction, chair and panel presenter (Air Force Writers Read), LCLC, Spring 2007.  “Blue,” original collection of poems, LCLC, Spring 2002.  “Natural History,” original collection of poems, LCLC, Spring 2000.  “Tanning Season,” story, LCLC, Spring 1998.

Selections of Original War Poetry, Panel Reader, War, Literature & the Arts National Conference, USAFA, September 2010. *Panel Moderator, two additional sessions “The Shadowy Ideal: T.S. Eliot and Joseph Conrad’s ‘Lord Jim,’” Panel Presenter, The Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture since 1900, Spring 2009. *Chair, Panel on Hemingway, West, and Fitzgerald “Girl, Slave, Prostitute, Woman: Nabokov and Keats Approach the Ideal,” academic paper, The Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture since 1900, Spring 2000.

“War, Literature & the Arts: A Reading from 20 years of Great Writing,” Associated Writing Programs (AWP) National Conference, panel organizer and reader, 2007.

“The Hero After Life: Jacob’s Ladder and the Dreamscape Hero,” essay, S.I.S.S.I. Special Topic/Conference: The Image of the Hero, Colorado Springs, CO, Spring 2004.

Those Who Cannot Shake Their Fetters: Meta-Text in Ben Jonson’s Bartholomew Fair,” academic paper, Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, St. Louis, October 1999.

“A Drama of Dress: Machiavelli and Hamlet’s Princely Revenge,” The Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, Atlanta, October 1997.

“An Arresting Essay: ‘Law & Order’ and the Argumentative Strategy,” academic essay, The Wyoming Conference on English, June 1995.

“Repetition and Rhyme: a Strategy for Teaching List,” a pedagogy paper, discussed and included in a published collection of papers at the Associated Writing Program’s (AWP) annual conference, Austin, TX, Spring 2006.  “Divine Energy: Making Voltage in the Classroom,” a pedagogy paper, AWP, New Orleans, Spring 2004.  “Catch Ten: Vocabulary Building,” a pedagogy paper, AWP, Palm Springs, Spring 2001.  “The Circle Game,” a pedagogy paper, AWP, Kansas City, Spring 2000.

North Carolina Poetry Festival, Keynote Poet and workshop leader, National Poetry Day readings, April 2002.  Invited reader, April 2000.  Keynote Poet and workshop leader, April 1998.  Invited reader, April 1997.

“Lacunae,” story, Valdosta State University, March 1996.  “Revisioning the Story,” lecture and discussion on writing screenplays, Valdosta State University, March 1996.  “Still Time,” story, Colorado State University, May 1995.  “Night Walks,” excerpts from “Current Storm,” December 1993, Colorado State University.

“The English Job Market,” Interview for NPR’s “All Things Considered,” at MLA Conference, broadcast January 1995.

“Old Church, New Church, Cult,” Iowa Academy of Sciences, March 1988.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

Reading, Rhetoric, and First Year Programs Specialist, comprehensive program at Colorado College, including Reading Program facilitation and First Year Programs development, 2011 - 12.

Colket Fellow in Reading and Rhetoric, comprehensive program at Colorado College, including tutoring, workshops, courses, and faculty liaison, 2008 -11.

Course Director, English 111, Freshman Core Writing Program (~25 sections per semester), USAFA, Fall 2005 – Fall 2006 (three semesters).

Course Director, English 211-FR, Core Literature Course for those validating Standard 211 (~10 sections per semester), USAFA, Spring 2006, Spring 2007.

Program Director, English Faculty Development, USAFA, teaching portfolio creation and management as part of a larger assessment program. Fall 2004 – Spring 2008.

Program Director, New Faculty Orientation, English Department, USAFA, Fall 2009 and 2004 - 2006. Contributor, 2006 - 2008.

Program Director, New English Faculty Mentorship, USAFA, Fall 2009 and 2004 - Spring 2008.

Director, Creative Writing Program, Elon University, Fall 2001 - Spring 2002; co-director 1997 - 2001.

CAMPUS-WIDE EXPERIENCE

First Year Programs Committee, Colorado College, 2011-12.

Writing Programs Committee, Colorado College, 2011-12.

Professional and Peer Writing Staff Committee, Colorado College, 2011-12.

Coach, Colorado College Club Women’s Water Polo Team, 2009-2010.

Chair, Water Polo Eligibility Committee (NCAA), USAFA, Fall 2005 – Fall 2008.

Student Life, Standing Committee, Elon University, 1999 - 2001. Appointed by Provost.  Chair, 2000-01.

New Athletics Identity Task Force, appointed role as Faculty Representative, Elon University, Fall 1999. Changed from Fightin’ Christians to Elon Phoenix.

Honors Advisory Council, Elon University, 1999 – 2002. Appointed by Provost.

Student Life, Standing Committee, Elon University, 1999 - 2002. Appointed by Provost.

Athletics, Standing Committee, Elon University, 1997-2000. Appointed by Provost.  S.A.C.S. review committee, 2000.

Media Board, Advisor’s Role, Elon University, 1998 - 2002.

Strange Tales, a master class for incoming Honors students and Fellows Program applicants, including essay evaluation for scholarship consideration, Elon University, Spring 2002.  Writing Strange, a master class for Honors and Fellows Scholarship Competition, for in-coming freshmen, Spring 1999.  Weird Writing, a master class for Honors and Fellows Scholarship competition, for in-coming freshman, Spring 1997.  Telling Stories, a master class for Honors and Fellows Scholarship competition, for in-coming freshman, Spring 1996.

Colonnades, Faculty Sponsor and Director of Elon University’s literary and art journal, producing four journals, four calendars, and one special retrospective edition, Fall 1998 – Spring 2002.

Poetry Reading, all new poems, Elon University, Spring 2001  Poetry Reading, all new poems, Elon University, Spring 2000.  “Travel Box,” an original story, read April 1999.  Poetry of Fall, collection of poems about Fall by various writers, read at Will’s Bookstore, N.C., October 1996.  “Island Time,” a photography exhibit of thirty-three original photographs, Elon, from October 1996 to February 1997.  “Deep Dive,” an original story, Elon University, October 1996.

Phi Eta Sigma, Honorary Inductee and Guest Speaker, Elon’s Academic Honor Society; voted by students, Fall 1999.  “The Gift of Image,” invited lecturer on the art of screenwriting, Cinelon (Film Society), Elon, October 1999.  “Open the Book!” presentation and discussion about approaches to teaching literature for non-English professors teaching General Studies courses, Fall 1998.  “Movie Magic? Movie Work!” Tasty Tuesday Topics, invited speaker, Creative Learning Community, Elon, November 1997.

Teaching Creative Writing, a two-hour course developed for the Education Department, Elon University, offered Fall 1998.

Elon 101 Manual Development, Ad-Hoc Committee, designing and creating a new resource for teachers of “transition/first year experience” course, Spring 1999.

Faculty Assisting New Students (F.A.N.S.), new student advisor and mentor selected by current freshmen students to guide the following class, Fall 1998.

Sports Club Council, Advisor’s Role, Elon University, 1995 – 2002.

Long-Range Planning Sub-Committee on Residential Life, Elon University, 1995 - 96.

Appointed by Dean of Student Life.

Assistant Campus Recreation Director, search committee, Elon University, Spring 1997.

Club Swimming Team Coach and advisor, 1995 – 2002.

Club Sport of the Year citation, Spring 2000.  Club Championships: Women’s Team Champion, 1999 and 2001.  Club Sport of The Year citation, Spring 1996.  East Coast Club Championship Meet, created and hosted, eleven participating teams, Fall 1998 and annual.

Faculty Sponsor for “Students Turning 21,” a mentoring program, three students, Spring 2002, 2001, and 2000.

Troupe Advisor for three-night whitewater rafting trip with Elon students and student leader, West Virginia, Spring 2002.  Troupe Advisor for three-night horseback riding trip with Elon students and student leader, Tennessee, Spring 2001.

Guest Participant on “Win Stuff,” Elon University game show, Fall 2001.  Guest Panelist on “University,” Elon, themed discussion show: “Technology in the Modern Consciousness,” Spring 2000.

Actor in two different student films, Elon University, Fall 2000 and Spring 2001.

Club Water Polo Team Coach and advisor, Elon University1998-9.

New Faculty Mentor, Elon University, for the 1997-98 and 1998-99 academic years.

Virginia “Arts Hall” Faculty Advisor, 1995-1998.

Coach for a Day, Elon University, Football, Fall 1997 / Women’s Volleyball, Fall 1996.

Judge for Greek Awards, April 1996.

DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP

Trusted Agent, CEE Faculty Course Evaluation team and Department coordinator, USAFA, Fall 2004 – Spring 2008.

Curriculum Committee, USAFA, Fall 2004 – Spring 2008.

Hiring for a one-year replacement to teach Writing and Business Writing courses, Elon University, Chair, Spring 2001.

Planning, long-range concerns, Elon University, 1998-2000.  Sub-Committee: Transition Tactics for successful integration of literature prerequisite, Fall 1999.  Sub-Committee: Hiring for two-year position for composition and introductory literature.

College Writing, Elon University, 1995-97.  Sub-committee: Hiring for composition position; interviewed candidates at MLA in Washington, D.C., 1996.

Hiring Committee, for tenure-track position in Professional Writing, Elon University, Fall 1997 - Spring 1998.

English Department Activities, Elon University, 1995-97.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY

Editor, Colorado College FYE Program, Course Descriptions for Fall 2011 First Year Experience Course offerings, Summer 2011.

Editor, USAFA Officer Development System (ODS) Brochure, document distributed to multiple external constituencies, Fall 2010.

Editor, USAFA National Character and Leadership Seminar (NCLCS) Glossy, document distributed to multiple external constituencies, Fall 2009.

Editor, USAFA Outcomes Glossy, document distributed to multiple external constituencies, Spring 2009.

Judge for Reville Fiction Awards / ‘Leviathan’ Magazine, undergraduate fiction, with honorarium, Spring 2009.

Associate Editor, War, Literature & The Arts, USAFA, 2004 - 2008.

Editor, Character Task Force #3: Officer Development Manual, USAFA, Fall 2008.

Judge for Bazzanella Literary Awards, graduate and undergraduate poetry, Sacramento State University, Spring 2008.  Judge for nonfiction essays, Spring 2006.

Icarus, USAFA, student creative journal, Assistant Editor, 2004 - 2005.

Judge for Best-in-Show Category, Rockingham Community College Arts Festival, Spring 1999.  Raymond Register Award for Short Fiction, judge, Spring 1998.  USA Today/Burlington Times Fiction Contest, judge, for area high-school students, February 1997.  North Carolina Writing Awards, Judge for “Non-Fiction” and “Novel” categories, Spring 1997.

Judge for Colorado Lawyer Colorado Lawyer’s Poetry Contest, Denver, Spring 2006.

GRANTS AND AWARDS

New Course Development Grant, $500, to create a new200-level literature course (“Finding Home: the loss, recovery, and definition of ‘home’ in literature”) for nonmajors in the English Department, Elon University, Spring, 2001.

Technology Course Enhancement Grant, $700, to explore the intersection between creative writing and the new electronic/computer mediums, Elon University, Fall 1999.

General Studies Course Grant, $500, to develop course “Measuring Angels: Myth Making, God, and Science,” Elon University, summer 1999. Course offered Fall 1999, and subsequently.

Visiting Writers Program Grant, $11,000, to coordinate year-long program 1997 – 98, Elon University, Renewed 1998 - 1999 for $5,500. Established budget line, 1999.

General Studies Course Grant, $500, to develop course “Life Spans and Literature,” Elon University, Summer 1998. Course taught in Spring, 1999.

Colorado Scholar’s Grant, Elon University, Fall 1989-90.

RESPONDENT

Critical Reviewer/Respondent for new composition handbook by Anne Wysocki and Dennis Lynch (The DK Handbook), Pearson/Longman, with honorarium, Spring 2007.  Reviewer for new composition handbook, The Brief Holt Handbook, from Heinle and Heinle/Thomson Learning, with honorarium, Spring 2002.  Reviewer for new anthology, Contemporary Poetry: Behind the Scenes, from Longman Publishers, with honorarium, winter 2001.

PRESENTED FACULTY / STUDENT WORKSHOPS

For Faculty: Teaching Teachers to Teach Reading; Approaches to Grades and Grading; Sparking Class Discussion; Incorporating Smaller Writing Assignments; Using Style Sheets; Speed Reading.

For Students: Successful College Reading; Navigating Complex Texts; Reading for non-native Readers; Speed Reading; Successful Literature Review (MAT and seniors); MCAT Preparation; Reading Movies.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA), 2009.

Phi Eta Sigma, Honorary Inductee and Guest Speaker, Elon’s Academic Honor Society; voted by students, Fall 1999.

Associated Writing Programs, 1996.

Sigma Tau Delta, honorary inductee, 1995.

Modern Language Association, 1995.

REFERENCES

Dr. Kevin Boyle: Professor, Director of Creative Writing, Chair English Department, Elon University Campus Box 2252 Elon, NC 27244 (336) 278-5628 / boylek@elon.edu

Dr. Paul Kuerbis: Professor, Director of Crown Faculty Center The Colorado College 14 E. Cache La Poudre Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 331-1733/ paul.kuerbis@coloradocollege.edu

Dr. Joshua McKinney: Professor Sacramento State University 6000 J. Street Sacramento, CA 95819-6075 (916) 278-6386 / jmckinney@csus.edu

Dr. Julie Tetley: Chief, Academic Advising and First Year Experience United States Air Force Academy 2354 Fairchild Drive, Suite 2G20J USAF Academy, CO 80840 (719) 333-8973/ julie.tetley@usafa.edu

Courses Taught Kyle Torke As of Spring 2013

168 Total Sections * 56 Composition Courses * 64 Literature Courses

ELON UNIVERSITY

* 38 Creative Writing Courses * 10 First Year Experience Courses

Introduction to Creative Writing (thirteen sections). Concentrated on fundamental skills necessary for writing fiction and poetry; emphasized effective reading habits, workshop acumen, vocabulary building, and in/out-of-class writing assignments.

Culminated in two portfolios of original poems and stories.

Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction (five sections). Built on students’ earlier work in the introductory course; focused on the production of original stories, critical reading, journal writing, workshop acumen, and review writing. Final pieces collected in a portfolio.

Advanced Creative Writing: Screenplay (three sections). Developed skills essential for creating marketable feature-length screenplays; emphasized critical reading skills, workshop acumen, and ancillary documentation (query letters, summaries). Cross-listed in the Communications Department.

Advance Creative Writing: Poetry (one section). Built on students’ earlier work in the introductory course; focused on the production of original poems, critical reading, contemporary author surveys, and workshop acumen. Final pieces collected in a portfolio.

Senior Seminar: Creative Writing (three sections). Created a capstone experience required for English majors with a Creative Writing Concentration; emphasized the production of a portfolio containing polished, professional poems and/or short stories; students’ finished pieces evaluated externally.

Making Myths: Creative Writing in Cozumel, Mexico (three sections).

Developed, promoted, and lead a Study Abroad trip which focused on the creation of original short stories and poems with a heavy emphasis on experiential learning.

The Writing Life: Non-Fiction (one section). Examined the role of a writing in a measured, thoughtful life; read significant examples of non-fiction; created a portfolio of original pieces. Offered for literature/writing credit.

Poetry Reading and Writing (one section). Taught as introductory poetry writing seminar with heavy emphasis on reading and analysis; primarily for non-majors.

Finding Home: The Loss and Discovery of Home (one section). A theme-based exploration of the idea of “Home” in multiple genres; primarily for non-majors.

Interpretations of Literature (twelve sections): Introduced techniques for analyzing literature with an emphasis on major critical movements and genres including short stories, poetry, plays, screenplays, and film.

Special Topic: Special Topic: Special Topic: Special Topic:

Boys World/Girls World (two sections).

The Literature of War: WWI, WWII, and Vietnam.

The Experience of Death and Dying (three sections).

The River in Literature (four sections). ďƒ˜ Honors Section

Elon 101 (six sections): Assisted Freshmen with the transition from high school to college, emphasizing personal, social, and academic development.

General Studies: Life Spans and Literature (one section). Considered novels, poems, short stories, and films in the context of psychological theories of life span development. Heavy emphasize on early adult, middle-life, and old age. Focused on theoretical and practical methods of analysis for both disciplines.

General Studies: Measuring Angels (two sections). Explored the intersection between scientific and religious ways of myth-making, appreciating the universe, and understanding human experience; used texts from multiple disciplines, including physics, religion, sociology, anthropology, and literature (and others). ďƒ˜ Honors Section Short Stories (one section). Read multiple examples from diverse writers and developed techniques of reading and analyzing the qualities unique to short stories; incorporated film to illustrate and contrast major points.

Plays and Films (one section). Read plays and screenplays, incorporating various styles, and developed strategies for appreciating and understanding their unique qualities; watched films representing texts read in class as well as films independent of their written form.

British Literature I (one section): Surveyed major British writers, trends, and forms from Chaucer to Swift; included a historical appreciation.

British Literature II (one section): Surveyed major British writers, trends, and forms from Blake to Philip Larkin; included a historical appreciation.

College Writing (six sections). Encouraged the development of an effective writing style by emphasizing coherent and expressive writing techniques, analytical reading skills, and correct grammatical/mechanical usage.

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, COLORADO SPRINGS

Introduction to Genres: Creative Writing (two sections). Concentrated on fundamental skills necessary for writing fiction, non fiction, and poetry; emphasized effective reading habits, workshop acumen, vocabulary building, and in/out-of-class writing assignments.

Culminated in three portfolios, one each of original stories, nonfiction essays, and poems.

Advanced Poetry Writing (one section). An intensive, seminar-style exploration of the dynamics and styles of contemporary poetry in a workshop setting, building on two earlier, sequential courses; focused on developing a sophisticated, individual style, critical reading skills, and workshop acumen.

Intermediate Poetry Writing (one section). An intensive, seminar style course that focuses on practicing skills developed in the Introductory course; an opportunity for students to build workshop acumen, vocabulary, and general writing skills.

Introduction to Literature/Majors (two sections). A rigorous investigation of literary tropes, styles, terms, critical reading strategies, and genres, including poetry, fiction, drama, and film. Designed as a gateway course.

Introduction to Poetry Writing (two sections). An opportunity for less experienced writers to learn the skills necessary to compose interesting, original poems; emphasis on workshop acumen, analytical skills, and vocabulary building.

Rhetoric and Writing 1 (eight sections). First-year composition course focused on the development of powerful, cogent writing, analytical skills, and correct usage and mechanical control; semiotic/cultural literacy based design; taught in a wired classroom.

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Introductory Composition and Research (twenty two sections). A required, first-year writing course focused on the development of effective analytical writing and research acumen; emphasis on critical reading and evaluation, mechanical control, argumentative technique, and usage skills. Course Director, fall 2005 – spring 2007.

Literature and Intermediate Composition (nineteen [four FR] sections). A required, second year course focused on a comprehensive literature survey involving multiple genres and time periods with an emphasis on cogent and expressive written responses to texts. Course Director, English 211-FR, spring 2006 and 2007.

Junior Seminar: Whitman and Dickinson (one section). A required, junior/senior level seminar class on the writing, life, and literary place of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson with an emphasis on style, poetic ideals, and contemporary culture.

First Year Experience (one section). A required, first year course emphasizing skills to assist fourth class cadets to make the intellectual and academic transition from high school to the rigorous demands of the Air Force curriculum. Taught inaugural year.

COLORADO COLLEGE

Introduction to Literature (five sections / two blocks each). Introductory literature course taught for a West in Time credit; designed to cover multiple genres, periods, and styles with an emphasis on close analysis, form and nomenclature, Western critical thought, and the research and implementation of professional critical inquiry. Themed: the river (and water) in literature. Taught as a First Year Experience and as Summer School course. (equivalent to ten semesters) Masterpieces of Literature: Greeks to Modern (one section / two blocks). Introductory literature course taught for a West in Time credit; designed to include a range of significant literary touch-stone texts covering the Greeks to the Moderns (The Odyssey to A Farewell to Arms ); includes an emphasis on close analysis, form and nomenclature, Western critical thought, and the research and implementation of professional critical inquiry. Taught as a First Year Experience course. (equivalent to two semesters)

As Colket Fellow in Reading and Rhetoric: Practicum: Reading for College: Faster, Better, More Efficiently (thirteen sections) Reading Film and Image (three sections) Reading: Winter ½ Block: Reading Extremes-Short Story Cycles (one section) Reading Extremes-Faith/Doubt in Fiction (one section) Reading Extremes-Death in Literature (one section) Reading Genre / Theory (one section) PIKES PEAK COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Introduction to Writing (five sections). As “College Writing,” above.

Taught four sections in a technology classroom.

ARAPAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Introduction to Writing (four sections). As “College Writing,” above. Taught two sections in a pilot program exploring collaborative teaching and writing techniques (Spring 1995).

Technical Writing (three sections). Concentrated on developing a writing style that would facilitate the creation of clean, effective business documents, including memos, resumes, cover letters, reports, and analytical reports.

Creative Writing (one section). An introductory course taught as above.

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER (Graduate Student)

Writing About Literature (seven sections). Introduced various genres and developed an ability to respond verbally and in writing to literature.

The Persuasive Voice (five sections). Increased knowledge and use of persuasive writing techniques. Taught in computer classroom, Winter 1991.

Expository Writing (two sections). As “College Writing,” above.

Re-visioning Genre: Writing to Film (one section). Focused on the nature and elements of genre: compared plays, novels, and stories to their film adaptations.

Creative Writing (one section). Taught as an introductory level poetry and fiction writing seminar.

Advanced Standing Seminar: Literary Voices of Belief and Unbelief (one section). Studied pre- and post-World War II responses to religious faith and doubt in novels, emphasizing the Holocaust and its effects on literature.

Description of Institutions Elon University: Assistant Professor; Full-time; 3 and then 4 s.h. courses; over-load, inter-term, and summer courses.

Colorado College: Visiting Associate Professor; each “block” is equivalent to a one semester course.

United States Air Force Academy: Associate Professor; Part-time and full-time contracts; 3 s.h. courses.

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs: Full-time one year, part- time after; 3 s.h. courses; summer courses.

Pikes Peak Community College: Part-time; 3 s.h. courses.

Arapahoe Community College: Part-time; 3 s.h. courses.

University of Denver: Graduate Instructor, full-time; one course per quarter, 3 s.h. courses.