CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
MFA, Creative Nonfiction Writing, May 2023.
Thesis Title: "Unsealed"
Committee: Judy Blunt (chair), Chris Dombrowski, and Dr. Anna Prentiss
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
M.S., Literature and Writing, Creative Writing Specialization, Aug. 2020.
Thesis Title: “When Ice Isn’t Slippery”
Committee: Dr. Jennifer Sinor (chair), Dr. Michael Sowder, and Dr. Keri Holt
B.S., major in Creative Writing and a minor in Family Life Studies, May 2018.
Graduated Summa Cum Laude
PUBLICATIONS
CREATIVE NONFICTION
"Making Espresso," Fiction Attic Press, 2023. https://fictionattic.substack.com/p/making-espresso.
"Latched," Miracle Monocle, issue 20, 2023. https://louisville.edu/miraclemonocle/issue-20/alyssa-witbeck-alexander.
"Baptized in Ice," Chestnut Review, vol. 3, no. 2, 2021. https://chestnutreview.com/cr_v3_n2/baptized-in-ice/.
“Starved,” Sink Hollow Literary Magazine, 2020. https://issuu.com/sinkhollow/docs/cwc_magazine_final__1_.
“Moments of Impact,” Sink Hollow Literary Magazine, 2019. https://issuu.com/sinkhollow/docs/cwc_2019__issuuu/2.
“Language of Loss,” Outrageous Fortune, vol. 9, no. 2, 2018. https://go.marybaldwin.edu/outrageousfortune/current-issue-volume-9-2/fiction-9-2/alyssa-witbeck-alexander/.
“More Than a Vase,” Facing Depression in Cache Valley, 7 Apr. 2017, pp. 15–17.
“Hold on, Pain Ends,” Facing Depression in Cache Valley, 7 Apr. 2017, pp. 52–54.
FICTION
“Pink Carnations,” Sink Hollow Literary Magazine, 2019. https://issuu.com/sinkhollow/docs/cwc_2019__issuuu/2.
POETRY
"Pink Lines," Door is a Jar Magazine, Forthcoming March 2022.
"Mermaid Dreams," Door is a Jar Magazine, Forthcoming March 2022.
"Are You My Mother," Door is a Jar Magazine, Forthcoming March 2022.
"Orbit," Door is a Jar Magazine, Forthcoming March 2022.
“20th Annual Paint Race with Solo Runner Performing Live—You Won’t Want to Miss This!” The Utah Statesman, 20 Oct. 2016. https://usustatesman.com/student-submission/.
Publications Continued
ARTICLES
“Teaching in Training: On Tutoring Before Teaching,” Digital Commons at USU, 12 Nov. 2018. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/wc_analysis/16/.
REVIEWS
“Self-Contained: On Nuar Alsadir’s Animal Joy,” Cleveland Review of Books, 2022. https://www.clereviewofbooks.com/writing/nuar-alsadir-animal-joy-review.
“Living as a Twenty-First Century Mother in The Year of the Horses by Courtney Maum,” Chicago Review of Books. 11 May 2022. https://chireviewofbooks.com/2022/05/11/the-year-of-the-horses/.
"'Aurelia, Aurélia' by Kathryn Davis," The Rupture, 15 Apr. 2022. https://www.therupturemag.com/rupture/aurelia-aurelia
"'The Breaks' by Julietta Singh," Salt Hill Journal, 1 Feb. 2022. https://salthilljournal.net/reviews-and-interviews/singh-alexander.
“‘The Suit’ by Julie Marie Wade,” New Pages, 18 Nov. 2019. https://www.newpages.com/blog/suit-julie-marie-wade.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
Teaching Assistant, Creative Writing: “Introduction to Creative Nonfiction.” August 2022–December 2022.
Teaching Assistant, Writing 101: "College Composition 1." Aug. 2021—May 2022.
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
Temporary Instructor, English 2010: “Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode.” Aug. 2020–Present.
Graduate Instructor, English 2010: “Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode.” Aug. 2019–May 2020.
Taught four sections.
Graduate Instructor, English 1010: “Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose.” Aug. 2018–May 2019.
Taught four sections.
Instructor, Physical Education 1671: “Figure Skating Intermediate.” Aug. 2017–May 2018.
Taught two sections. Coaching included show choreography, as well as working with students in a group and individually.
Instructor, Physical Education 1670: “Figure Skating Beginning.” Aug. 2017–May 2018.
Taught two sections. Coaching included show choreography, as well as working with students in a group and individually. Taught with Hannah Halverson and Gabrielle Barton.
ECCLES ICE CENTER
Private figure skating coach. July 2016–Aug. 2018.
Coached competitive figure skaters. Responsibilities included teaching individual lessons, show and competition choreography, and competitive testing.
Group figure skating coach. Aug. 2015–Aug. 2018.
Coached beginner to intermediate figure skaters ages three through adult in several programs, including the Utah State University figure skating class, Learn-to-Skate (including show choreography), School Outreach, and the Hot Chocolate Club.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
WRITING
Nonfiction Writing Workshops. Sept. 2017–May 2018, Sept.–Dec. 2019, Aug. 2021–Dec. 2021
Cultivated creative nonfiction writing skills in lyric, braided, linear, and memoir forms, as well as studying published writing and workshopping essays written by peers. Instruction by Dr. Jennifer Sinor and Judy Blunt.
Creative Research for Creative Writers Seminar. Aug. 2021–Dec. 2021.
Instruction by Dr. Sean Hill
Poetry Writing Workshops. Jan.–May 2018, Jan.–May 2019, Jan.–May 2020.
Practiced the craft of poetry, including formal and free verse poetic styles, as well as reading published poetry and workshopping work written by peers. Instructed by Dr. Ben Gunsberg and Dr. Michael Sowder.
Fiction Writing Workshop. Aug. 2018–Dec. 2018.
Studied literary fiction through practicing craft and reading published work, as well as workshopping essays written by peers. Instructed by Charles Waugh.
TEACHING
Teaching College Level Composition Writing Seminar. Aug. 2021–Dec. 2021.
Instruction by Dr. Erin Wecker.
New Graduate Student Mentor. Sept. 2019–Apr. 2020.
Counseled two new graduate students through their first year of graduate school, met with students to help them connect to faculty, build thesis committees, and complete required forms. Directed by Dr. Jared Colton.
Writing Center Tutor. Jan. 2016–Apr. 2020.
Tutored students from all academic levels (high school to graduate school), workshopped with them at varying stages of the writing process. Directed by Star Coulbrooke and Susan Anderson.
2019 Bennion Teacher’s Workshop on Suffrage and the Media. May 2019.
Participated in a teacher’s workshop centered around implementing historical suffrage text into the classroom. Included writing lesson plans for a composition unit that I used while teaching intermediate English. Instructed by Cathy Bullock and Candi Carter Olson.
Composition Online Teaching Certification. Dec. 2018.
Completed certification to teach online composition courses. Instructed by Sherena Hunstman.
Practicum in Teaching Writing. Aug.–Dec. 2018.
Developed lesson plans and studied a variety of composition teaching theory to develop a diverse and inclusive teaching style. Instructed by Lezlie Christensen-Branum.
Writing Fellow, AV 4490 “Human Factors in Aviation.” Jan.–May 2017.
Provided feedback to students on their papers and conferenced with them to enhance their writing according to the expectations of their instructor, Andreas Wesemann. Directed by Julie Foust.
Writing Fellow, NDSF 4480 “Community Nutrition.” Aug.–Dec. 2016.
Provided feedback to students on their papers and conferenced with them to enhance their writing according to the expectations of their instructor, Mateja R. Savoie Roskos. Directed by Julie Foust.
PRESENTATIONS
“Are You My Mother.” The 44th annual Utah Arts Festival. Salt Lake City, Logan, UT. June 2020, cancelled due to COVID-19.
“‘Confronting Deficit Thinking:’ analysis of Mark Letta.” Theory in Practice. Utah State University, Logan, UT. Feb. 2020.
“River of Words.” Helicon West. Logan Library, Logan, UT. Dec. 2019.
“Pink Carnations.” Helicon West and Sink Hollow: USU Creative Writing and Art Contest Winners. Utah State University Library, Logan, UT. 25, Apr. 2019.
“Moments of Impact.” Helicon West and Sink Hollow: USU Creative Writing and Art Contest Winners. Logan Library, Logan, UT. 25, Apr. 2019.
“the earth is a living thing” by Lucille Clifton. Women’s Voices, Women’s Votes. Utah State University, Logan, Utah. 26, March 2019.
“Shower for Two.” Helicon West. Logan Library, Logan, UT. March 2019.
“Moments of Impact.” Teach In: Supreme Stakes: Understanding Sexual Violence. Utah State University, Logan, UT. 8, Oct. 2018.
“Nonlinear Form and Its Relationship to Subject.” Utah State University Undergraduate Research Symposium. Utah State University, Logan, UT. 25, Apr. 2018.
“Question Number Thirteen.” Helicon West. Utah State University, Logan, UT. Apr. 2018.
“The Massacre” by Marie Howe. A Memory, A Monologue, a Rant, and a Prayer. Utah State University, Logan, UT. 2–3, March 2018.
“The Bra” by unknown. A Memory, A Monologue, a Rant, and a Prayer. Utah State University, Logan, UT. 2–3, March 2018.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
EDITOR
Creative Nonfiction Editor. CutBank Literary Magazine. August 2022–Present.
Assistant Editor and Writer. Facing Depression in Cache Valley Project. Logan, UT. Oct. 2016–Apr. 2017.
READER
Creative Nonfiction and Hybrid Reader. Psaltery and Lyre Magazine. Logan, Utah. March 2022–Present.
Creative Nonfiction Reader. CutBank Literary Magazine. Missoula, Montana. August 2021–Present.
INVITED GUEST FACILITATOR/PANEL MEMBER
"'Woman Suffrage is a Matter of Education': On Suffrage Analysis in Collegiate Composition Classrooms." Suffrage Symposium. Utah State University, Logan, UT. March 2020, cancelled due to COVID-19.
“English 2010 Instructors’ Panel in English 4910.” Utah State University, Logan, UT. Feb. 2020.
“Cache County School District Writing Center Workshop Series,” Led with Terysa Dyer and Shaun Anderson. Green Canyon High School, North Logan, UT. Oct. 2019.
“Responding to Student Feedback,” English 6820. Utah State University, Logan, UT. Sept. 2019.
“The Promises and Pitfalls of the Nonlinear Form in Creative Nonfiction.” Utah State University Undergraduate Research Symposium. Utah State University, Logan, UT. Apr. 2018.
PANEL MODERATOR
Moderator and program committee member. “Leveling with Nature: Pleas for Human Connection to Animals and Nature.” Utah State University Undergraduate Research Symposium. Utah State University, Logan, UT. 24, Apr. 2019.
Utah State University Citizen Scholar Conference. Utah State University, Logan, UT. Apr. 2019.
AWARDS AND HONORS
AWP Intro Journal Project contest nomination, “Freeing Lucy.” 2022.
Best of the Net nomination, “Baptized in Ice.” Chestnut Review. September 2022.
First Prize in Creative Nonfiction Essay, “When Ice Isn’t Slippery.” Utah Original Writing Competition. Salt Lake City, Utah. October 2021.
Second Place in Graduate Creative Nonfiction Essay, “Starved.” Utah State University Creative Writing Contest. Logan, Utah. March 2020.
Acceptance into the Prague Summer Program. Prague, Czech Republic. 2019.
First Place in Graduate Fiction, “Pink Carnations.” Utah State University Creative Writing Contest. Logan, Utah. March 2019.
Third Place in Graduate Creative Nonfiction Essay, “Moments of Impact.” Utah State University Creative Writing Contest. Logan, Utah. March 2019.
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Teaching Assistantship. University of Montana English Department. $28,000. Aug. 2021–May 2023.
Graduate Instructorship. Utah State University English Department. $28,000. Sept. 2018–May 2020.
Mountain West Center for Regional Studies Graduate Student Research Grant. $1,000. Utah State University Mountain West Center. Apr. 2019.
Janice Dee Scholarship. $2,900. Utah State University English Department. Sept. 2019.
Vaclav Havel Scholarship. $1,000. Prague Summer Program, Czech Republic. 2019.
Kathy Miller Foundation Scholarship. $3,500. Utah State University College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Aug. 2017–May 2018.
PROFESSIONAL GOALS
WRITING
I intend to continue the development of my writing with the apprenticeship of faculty and other graduate students, particularly in creative nonfiction. I plan to take my master’s thesis and turn it into a full-length memoir.
RESEARCH
I aim to continue studying the relationship between institutional truth and personal truth. I am especially interested in the truth of trauma, and what happens when personal truth contradicts institutionalized truth.
TEACHING
I strive to pursue teaching, especially in creative writing, literature, and composition. Through working as an instructor, I hope to continue helping students share their stories.