University Writing Program (UWP) Professors and Supervisors

Sean McDonnellView profile

Lecturer

University of California, DavisUnited States

Sean McDonnell is a Continuing Lecturer in the University Writing Program at UC Davis. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in English from UC Davis, along with dual B.A. degrees in English and Economics from Pennsylvania State University. His teaching focuses on Advanced Composition, Business Writing, and discipline-specific writing courses for Health Professions, Science, and Fine Arts. Education: Ph.D. English (UC Davis), M.A. Creative Writing (UC Davis), B.A. English/Economics (Penn State) McDonnell has held significant administrative roles including Chair of the UWP Curriculum Committee, Assistant Director for Upper Division Writing, and Associate Director of Personnel. His expertise spans writing pedagogy across disciplinary contexts.

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Wrye SententiaView profile

Lecturer

University of California, DavisUnited States

Dr. Wrye Sententia is a Continuing Lecturer in the University Writing Program (UWP) at UC Davis, focusing on writing pedagogy, neuroscience of learning, and equity in education. She holds a Ph.D. in English and an M.A. in Comparative Literature. Her research interests include cognitive liberty, neuroethics, and public policy at the intersection of neuroscience and technology. She co-founded the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics (CCLE), advocating for mental freedom and ethical use of neurotechnologies. Dr. Sententia has received the 2016 UCD Excellence in Teaching Award. She advocates for immigrant professionals through Upwardly Global and emphasizes equity in education, particularly for English Language Learners. Her professional service includes roles with DELAC and ELAC in the Davis Joint Unified School District. Outside academia, she explores sailing, singing, and environmental activism with her family in Davis, California. She and her husband Richard Glen Boire live with their two children, Finn and Tesla, emphasizing off-grid sustainability practices.

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Theresa WalshView profile

Lecturer

University of California, DavisUnited States

Theresa Walsh is a Continuing Lecturer in the University Writing Program (UWP) at the University of California, Davis. She specializes in medical humanities, rhetorics of health and medicine, and pedagogical innovation in online/hybrid learning environments. Walsh has held leadership roles including Assistant Director for Online Writing Instruction (2019–present), managing transitions to hybrid/hyflex courses during the pandemic. She teaches over 15 courses across UWP, including specialized sections on health professions writing and global health internships. Education: PhD Candidate (anticipated May 2024), Technical Communication and Rhetoric, Texas Tech University Graduate Certificate in Teaching Technical Communication, Texas Tech University (2022) M.A., English/Composition, California State University, Sacramento (2013) B.A., University of California, Davis (2005) A.A., Liberal Arts, De Anza College (2002) Research & Service: Walsh focuses on intersections of health communication, humor studies, and structural competence. She secured a Pathways Course Innovation grant (2019–2021) to develop hybrid writing courses and mentors Fulbright scholars. Her service includes roles on UWP committees for curriculum, assessment, and teacher evaluations. She also coordinates global health writing internships in Bolivia, Ghana, the Philippines, and South Africa.

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Karma WaltonenView profile

Lecturer

University of California, DavisUnited States

Dr. Karma Waltonen is a Continuing Lecturer in the University Writing Program (UWP) at UC Davis since 2000. She specializes in rhetoric, composition, and pop culture analysis, with research interests spanning Margaret Atwood, science fiction/fantasy, and humor studies. She teaches courses like UWP 48, 101, and Freshman Seminars on topics such as *The Simpsons* and Margaret Atwood’s works. She co-authored books on *The Simpsons* and edited *Margaret Atwood Studies*, a peer-reviewed journal. Education: PhD (Literature) and MA (Literature) from UC Davis, BA (Theatre and English) from Florida State University. Awards include the 2015 Academic Federation Excellence in Teaching Award and the Margaret Atwood Society’s Best Edited Collection Award for *Margaret Atwood’s Apocalypses*. Her work explores intersections between literature, media, and pedagogy. She co-developed innovative writing assignments and textbooks on ethical source evaluation. She engages with popular culture through speaking at ComicCons and international conferences. She also teaches a summer abroad course in Oxford, *Oxford on Film*.

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Nate BrownView profile

Senior Lecturer

Johns Hopkins UniversityUnited States

Nate Brown is a Senior Lecturer and Associate Director of the Writing Center at the University Writing Program (UWP) of Johns Hopkins University (JHU). He joined JHU in 2022 after teaching fiction and creative nonfiction in the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins for five years. Education: B.A. from Cornell University, MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin Affiliations: Managing Editor at American Short Fiction , Board Member of Writers in Baltimore Schools His research and teaching intersect with contemporary American publishing, focusing on equity and access, community-based writing initiatives, and the interplay of written and visual rhetoric. He has taught composition and creative writing at institutions including the University of Iowa's International Writing Program, Stevenson University, Georgetown University, and George Washington University. Professionally, he has experience in literary publishing, having worked at Random House and currently at American Short Fiction . He also contributes to arts education through his board membership with Writers in Baltimore Schools, supporting student writers in Baltimore City.

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Schuler BensonView profile

Research Fellow

Johns Hopkins UniversityUnited States

Schuler Benson is a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow in the University Writing Program (UWP), joining in Fall 2024. His first-year writing courses emphasize passion and enthusiasm as core motivators, encouraging students to treat their personal interests and experiences as expertise to integrate into academic conversations. Education: Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric, University of South Carolina, 2022 Research Interests: Schuler’s scholarly work centers on rhetorical theory, sound studies, and embodiment, exploring how audiences assign meaning in composition and the relationship between meaning and accessibility across the extreme music spectrum. His research bridges academic pursuits with personal interests in music and culture, focusing on niche subgenres like punk, metal, and electronic. Artistic Collaborations: In April 2024, his debut album with a collaboration blended punk, metal, and electronic subgenres with body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) samples. His current collaboration examines eating disorders and drug use by contrasting ‘90s industrial rock/metal with modern grindcore and harsh noise.

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Chris TaylorView profile

Research Fellow

Johns Hopkins UniversityUnited States

Christopher Taylor is a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at the University Writing Program (UWP) of Johns Hopkins University. He holds a PhD in Comparative Thought and Literature from Johns Hopkins and a BA in Philosophy from Yale University. PhD, Comparative Thought and Literature, Johns Hopkins University BA, Philosophy, Yale University Dr. Taylor specializes in the history, philosophy, and aesthetics of artificial life, with a focus on Japanese modernism and its intersections with technology, media, and global animation history. His research bridges interdisciplinary cultural studies, modernity studies, and affect theory. His accolades include prestigious fellowships from the Blakemore Foundation, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and the Alexander Grass Humanities Institute. He served as a guest speaker at the 2025 Osaka World Expo and co-chairs the Animated Media Scholarly Interest Group at the Society for Cinema and Media Studies.

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