معرفی
Rhonda Claridge is an Instructor of English at Colorado Mesa University-Montrose Campus since 1999, specializing in English Composition and Mythology. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes developing strong communication skills for professional and personal success through independent thinking and diverse writing forms.
Education:
- MA in English Literature and Creative Writing from University of Colorado
- BA in Journalism and Classical Literature from New York University
Research and Writing Interests: Claridge focuses on creative writing genres including fiction and personal essays, alongside researched non-fiction exploring human and natural history. Her work integrates mythology with cultural heritage studies, encouraging students to investigate ancestral myths and community connections through narrative forms. She bridges academic writing with real-world applications by incorporating regional expert interviews and identity exploration into coursework.
Literary Awards:
- 2008: First Prize, Telluride Literary Mirror Contest
- 2007: Robin Magee Fellowship Award
- 2001: Honorable Mention, Katherine Anne Porter Prize (The Nimrod/Hardman Awards)
- 2001: Highly Commended, Commonwealth Broadcasting Prize for Short Fiction
- 1999: Literature Artist Fellowship, Colorado Council on the Arts
- 1998: Phoebe Fiction Award, George Mason University
- 1997: Philip Roth Writer-in-Residence, Bucknell University
- 1996: Third Prize, Writers' Society of the Bahamas Playwright Competition
- 1995: Transatlantic Review Award for Fiction, The Henfield Foundation
- 1995: Jovanovitch Imaginative Writing Award for Fiction, University of Colorado
- 1993: Scholarship, Squaw Valley Community of Writers
Teaching Philosophy and Community Engagement: Claridge challenges students to develop versatile writing skills through collaborative and independent projects. Her assignments frequently connect classroom learning with local communities via interviews of regional experts and ancestral research. Originally from the Bahamas and resident of Colorado's Southern Rocky Mountains since 1992, she maintains an active freelance writing career while fostering student growth through personalized exploration of writing strengths and interests.
