Jaclyn Wells

Jaclyn Wells serves as Associate Professor and Director of the University Writing Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is affiliated with the English Department within the College of Arts and Sciences, where she plays a critical role in supporting student writing development across campus.

Her educational background includes a B.A. in English from Knox College, an M.A. in English from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and a Ph.D. in English with emphasis in rhetoric and composition from Purdue University.

Dr. Wells' research focuses on writing center administration, community engagement, and faculty writing practices. Her work emphasizes practical applications of writing pedagogy through partnerships with local Birmingham organizations including Inglenook Elementary School, Inglenook Library, and Workshops, Inc. in Avondale. She has made significant contributions to the field through her co-authored book Partners in Literacy: A Writing Center Model for Civic Engagement, which documents a three-year partnership between the Purdue University Writing Lab and adult literacy programs in Lafayette, Indiana.

As Director of the University Writing Center, she oversees services that help UAB students with all types of writing while mentoring writing tutors. She also teaches courses in first-year composition and professional writing, incorporating community engagement opportunities into her curriculum.

Dr. Wells is actively involved in academic service through her directorship and teaching responsibilities, with no indication of retirement or part-time status in her current position.