Upcoming Due Dates for Feminist Research Grant and Book Award

As our coalition grows, we are also able to expand our opportunities to celebrate and support feminist research in rhetoric and composition. We have two upcoming opportunities that we hope YOU will consider: the Feminist Research Grant (application due Dec 15, 2017) and the Winifred Bryan Horner Outstanding Book Award (nominations due December 1st, 2017) Read more

Changing the Landscape: Feminist Rhetorical Practices: New Horizons for Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy Studies Five Years Later

Five years ago, Gesa Kirsch and Jacqueline Jones Royster published Feminist Rhetorical Practices:  New Horizons for Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy Studies.  Met with much critical acclaim, Feminist Rhetorical Practices offered historians of rhetoric and composition a way to read, interpret, and analyze historical texts through the lenses of social circulation, critical imagination, strategic contemplation, and globalization. An immediate success, the text had—and continues to have—a major impact on the historical feminist thinking in our field.

To that end, the Coalition’s 2018 Wednesday evening session* will revisit Kirsch and Royster’s work and how it has changed (and continues to change) our discipline.  Read more

Join Us at FemRhet 2017

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Greetings!

We, the members of the planning committee, are thrilled to host the 2017 Feminisms and Rhetorics conference.   Read more

Feminisms and Rhetorics 2017: Call for Reviewers

The site host committee at the University of Dayton invites scholars to review paper and panel proposals for the 2017 Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference.  Reviewers will be responsible for: evaluating the potential quality of conference papers, panels, roundtables, and other presentations; evaluating the relevance of the proposed work according to the conference themes; and should be committed to the timely review for acceptance to the conference.  

There are several opportunities for review.  The committee asks for reviewers to commit by November 15, 2016 and to be available for review between January 1 and February 15, 2017.  

Reviewers will be asked to return their comments on proposals within two weeks of receiving proposals.  

Reviewers must be past or current members of Feminisms and Rhetorics or Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition, or attendees of previous Feminisms and Rhetorics Conferences. Interested persons should submit the following: name, contact information (email and/or phone), and areas of interest or expertise.  Please send details and inquiries to feminismsandrhetorics@gmail.com.   

The conference is scheduled for Oct 4-7, 2017 in Dayton OH. See you there!

Become the Next Web Coordinator for the CFSHRC

The Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Composition and Rhetoric seeks its next Web Coordinator to maintain, monitor, and update the organization’s website. The Web Coordinator typically collaborates with CFSHRC Executive and Advisory Board members as needed. Approximate time on task averages 5-10 hours per month, with some periods of the year being slower or busier (e.g., prior to CCCC or FemRhet). Proficiency with WordPress is required.

Position Details

The CFSHRC Web Coordinator performs the following activities:

  • Filtering and responding to user questions as well as general questions about the website;
  • Working with Peitho editors to upload each issue of the semi-annually published journal, overseeing the process of archiving past issues, and liaising with the Peitho editorial team as needed;
  • Coordinating the PayPal portion of the site (e.g., radio buttons, membership information) in collaboration with the Treasurer;
  • Working with the CFSHRC Archivist to maintain the group’s administrative archive;
  • Maintaining and (as needed) updating website style guidelines.

Timeframe and Remuneration

The web coordinator serves a two-year term, typically starting on May 1 and ending on April 30, although an earlier start date is both possible and preferable this term in advance of some of the new initiatives at 4Cs.

There are no geographical restrictions on this position, as the role can be performed remotely at the Web Coordinator’s convenience.

Compensation is $500 over a two-year term, plus complementary registration for one conference each year, either to attend CCCC or FemRhet.

Qualifications

We seek applications from graduate students, faculty, and/or independent scholars committed to helping the Coalition maintain and expand its strong presence in the field through digital means. All applications will be considered, but strong candidates will have the following qualifications:

  • Academic training and/or scholarly interest in one of several fields, including rhetoric, composition, feminist historiography, data design, or technical and professional writing;
  • Demonstrated experience managing and maintaining websites with shopping carts and PayPal connections;
  • Strong English language skills;
  • Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills both on and offline;
  • Commitment to serving the CFSHRC, which is the intellectual home of a diverse and growing group of scholars whose interests span histories of studies in gender and sexuality and feminist research in rhetoric and composition.

To Apply

Coalition members are encouraged to apply, but applicants need not be current members. Interested candidates should submit a brief letter of interest and current resume or CV. The latter should include URLs to sites designed or maintained, or access to other digital projects representing the candidate’s range of interests and abilities. Materials should be emailed to Lisa Mastrangelo (lmastrangelo919@gmail.com) and Tarez Graban (tarez.graban@gmail.com) by December 15, 2016.

Be the 1st CWSHRC Digital Media and Outreach Director (1/5/2016)

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The CWSHRC is seeking the organization’s first Digital Media and Outreach Director. Applications are due 1/5/2016. See below for complete details about this exciting new opportunity or download a PDF version of this post.

OverviewOver the past several years, digital media use within the Coalition of Women Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition has increased considerably. Currently, the CWSHRC boasts not only a long-standing listerv and website but also Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts and along with a 2015-16 Social Media Action Team 53 volunteers strong. Eager to make the most of these resources while meeting the demands of effective communication both within and beyond the Coalition, we are pleased to announce the creation of a new term-based position: the CWSHRC Digital Media and Outreach Director.

Position description: The Digital Media and Outreach Director will report directly to a designated member of the Executive Board and work in close collaboration with the group’s web coordinator. General responsibilities will include:

  • Overseeing communication across available digital platforms to promote effective communication among current and prospective
  • Coalition members and the greater professional community;
  • Generating and regularly posting appropriate content to the Coalition’s social media platforms and coordinating across platforms as appropriate;
  • Maintaining and purposefully increasing listserv use;
  • Generating meaningful website content, such as organizational news, member profiles, mentoring spotlights, and so on.
  • Working with available data and, when needed, generating new data about CWSHRC digital media practices.

The Digital Media Outreach Director will not work alone. Instead, the Director will establish and supervise committees, task forces, and teams as needed, working in accordance with the CWSHRC Bylaws.

Appointment and eligibility:The CWSHRC Digital Media and Outreach Director will be selected by a committee established by the CWSHRC President and will serve a two-year term beginning April 15, 2016 and ending April 14, 2018. The Director will have Ex Officio status on the Coalition Advisory Board (AB) unless the Director is an AB member. All CWSHRC members are eligible to apply except next term’s officers (including the Member-at-Large). Consideration will be given to applicants who already hold a terminal degree (i.e., PhD, MFA), and who have an established record of relevant research, teaching, and/or service. Applicants must be current members of the Coalition. To confirm membership status, contact Treasurer Marta Hess no later than 12/30/2015.

Since the Digital Media and Outreach Director will need to be an active participant in the Coalition’s two main conferences, CCCC and (in alternate years) Feminisms and Rhetorics, the Director will receive a stipend of up to $750 per year to defray the cost of conference travel and housing.

To apply: Email a cover letter and current CV to Coalition President Jenn Fishman. In the letter be sure to elaborate your interest in the position and in serving the Coalition; your ideas for fulfilling the role and your ability to do so in relation to your current and projected responsibilities; and your qualifications, including (but not limited to) relevant scholarship and/or scholarly projects. Applicants are welcome to send citations for or links to examples of relevant work. Applicants are also encouraged to get to know the Coalition’s current digital resources, including this website and our Facebook page, Twitter account, and Instagram site. In addition, copies of the recent Digital Task Force Report on the Coalition’s media needs and use are available upon request. Send initial questions to Jenn Fishman no later than 12/30/2015. 

Applications are due 1/5/2016

Be the 1st CWSHRC Archivist and Historian (1/5/2016)

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Consider becoming the Coalition’s inaugural Archivist and Historian. See below for complete details about this new position or download a PDF version of this post.

Overview: As the Coalition of Women Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition enjoys its second quarter century, we are pleased to announce the creation of a new two-year position: CWSHRC Archivist and Historian. To date, Tarez Samra Graban has created and overseen the Coalition’s administrative archive, which contains meeting minutes, organizational correspondence, and other similar documents. In addition, Kathleen Welch has set an example by amassing a personal collection of documents and artifacts that represent not only the Coalition’s history but also the growth of feminist scholars’ presence in our field. By establishing a formal, term-based role, the Coalition hopes to recognize and build on their efforts while ensuring they continue and expand, supported by the full range of resources the Coalition can provide.

Position description: The CWSHRC Archivist and Historian will take responsibility for building and maintaining the Coalition’s archives in both digital and analog forms. This work will include ongoing collection and curation of administrative documents, working in coordination with the CWSHRC Secretary, plus the acquisition of relevant materials from past and present CWSHRC members. The CWSHRC Archivist and Historian will also conduct research (i.e., surveys, interviews) designed to enhance our understanding of the Coalition’s evolution and its contribution to our field.

Specifically, the first CWSHRC Archivist and Historian will be responsible the following:

  • Maintaining the administrative archive designed and currently overseen by CWSHRC Secretary;
  • Working actively to collect relevant materials (i.e., memorabilia, personal notes, remembrances) from current and past CWSHRC members, especially emerita colleagues;
  • Leading a Task Force charged with identifying possible sites and arrangements for a physical CWSHRC archive;
  • Designing and conducting research to illuminate new aspects of CWSHRC members’ professional work (i.e., CWSHRC members’ relationship to WPA work or undergraduate research mentoring).

Appointment and eligibility: The CWSHRC Archivist and Historian will be selected by a committee established by the CWSHRC President and will serve a 2-year term (4/15/2016 to 4/14/2018) with the option of reapplication and reappointment for a total of 3 terms served. This role will have Ex Officio status on the Advisory Board unless the individual appointed is an AB member. All CWSHRC members are eligible to apply except next term’s officers (including the Member-at-Large). Applicants must be current members of the Coalition. To confirm membership status, contact Treasurer Marta Hess no later than 12/30/2015.

To apply: Email a cover letter and current CV to Coalition President Jenn Fishman. In the cover letter be sure to elaborate your interest in the position and in serving the Coalition; your ideas for fulfilling the role and your ability to do so in relation to your current and projected responsibilities; and your qualifications, including (but not limited to) relevant scholarship and/or scholarly projects. Applicants are welcome to send citations for or links to examples of relevant work. Applicants are also welcome to send preliminary questions to Jenn Fishman no later than 12/30/2015.

Applications are due 1/5/2016

Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Get Your Survey Here

In the spirit of back to school, with an echo of schoolhouse rock, we invite you to take our back to school survey, 2015-16 edition.

Whether you are in fierce denial regarding the coming academic year, furiously at work on fall syllabi, or packing for a last-chance holiday, this survey will give you something to look forward to: namely a host of upcoming Coalition events and opportunities to be involved.

A 4×4 grid shows silhouetted hands gesturing variously.

Here, I want to highlight one opportunity in particular—or really, up to 45 opportunities linked to the upcoming Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference, which will be at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ, from October 28-31. This year, the Coalition will again be sponsoring manuscript mentoring, and 45—yes, forty-five—colleagues have signed up, eager for feedback on work in progress, including articles, book chapters, and book proposals.  Now, it’s your turn, would-be mentors planning to attend FemRhet. We need 25-45 of volunteers to serve as manuscript mentors for one or two colleagues. You’ll learn more on page 2 of the survey.

We also have open spots on a variety of committees and task forces, as well as a 2015-16 Social Media Team. Too, the survey invites your feedback on the past year plus your  suggestions for the year ahead.

So, Coalition, welcome to Academic Year 2015-1016. Please join us in making it a great one! Please, too, don’t forget: FemRhet registration is open, and conferencegoers can join the Coalition at a special, discounted rate. Also, if you’ve been fantasizing about hosting FemRhet, now is the time to apply. Proposals to host the 2017 and 2019 conferences are due August 15th.

A tabby cat, Charlie, inspects a catnip-filled apple.

Lights, Camera, 4C16 Action!

Open Call for Proposals
Performing Feminist Action: CWHSRC@4C16

The Coalition of Women Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition is an activist organization. Think about it. Twenty-five years ago, how could a learned society dedicated to feminist research, histories of women, and studies of gender and sexuality in rhetoric and composition be anything else? Certainly, the Coalition’s founders understood that the personal and professional are political. They also knew the importance of coalitions, of groups that represent, of alliances that capacitate everyone involved to act.

Today’s CWSHRC members share these goals and are eager to share strategies for taking action. To that end, at 4C16 the Coalition will host a Wednesday night Action Hour featuring up to a dozen concurrent micro-workshops or short, interactive lessons in both old and new ways of performing feminist action.

Proposals, including an abstract (140 characters) and description (250-300 words), can be submitted online through Friday, April 24th at 5pm Central: <http://tinyurl.com/CWSHRC-4C16>.

Download a copy of this CFP: <4C16-CWSHRC-ActionHourCall2>.

Some As to FAQs about the Coalition’s 4C16 Action Hour

Q: What is a micro-workshop?
A: Micro-workshops are focused and brief, 5- to 10-minute pedagogical interactions that engage participants in hands-on, active learning (i.e., demonstrations, writing on site).

Q: What are some examples of micro-workshops on feminist action?
A: A micro-workshop might teach past feminist actions by staging tableaux of iconic protests or writing new verses of well-known anthems. Micro-workshops might demonstrate actions taken by particular individuals or groups, or they might engage participants in making things: a graffiti wall with messages to a specific audience, Lego or clay models of inclusive spaces, classroom activities that creatively and critically address particular issues, etc. Sky’s the limit—well, almost.

Q: What are the limits?
A: Workshops should take no more than 5-10 minutes from start to finish and involve activities that can be performed either at a round banquet table seating no more than 8-10 people or a 3×3 space. Workshop leaders will need to provide their own materials and equipment.

Q: The CWSHRC is hosting this event: how are H, R, and C involved?
A: Whether micro-workshops focus on past, present, or future feminist actions, workshop leaders should make clear how their workshops draw on one or more traditions of rhetoric and composition.

Q: Who can propose a micro-workshop?
A: Individuals, pairs, and groups of 3 interested in attending 4C16 can propose micro-workshops.

Q: How will proposals be selected?
A: NCTE/CCCC caucuses and groups have been invited to sponsor up to 6 workshops; a committee of Coalition Advisory Board members will select additional workshops (for a total of 12) from proposals received through this open call.

Q: Do I need to be a CWSHRC member to submit a proposal?
A: Individuals and at least one member of pairs and groups responding to this open call must be CWSHRC members; colleagues involved in workshops sponsored by NCTE/CCCC caucuses and groups are encouraged but not required to be members of the Coalition.

Q: Can I participate in the Action Hour and have a speaking role in a regular session?
A: Yes! The CWSHRC session is classified as a SIG, which means participants can also hold speaking roles in regular, Thursday-Saturday sessions.

CWSHRC Seeks Web Coordinator

That’s right, Coalition. We have not one but two open website positions. Currently, we are seeking not only a web designer to help reinvent the platform and format for Peitho; we are also seeking a new web coordinator, a webwork maven interested in working with the CWSHRC on a variety of tasks for a two-year term.

Interested? Read full details below and please share the link to this page and/or the affiliated PDF with all of the web aficionados you know.

 

Become the Next Web Coordinator for the CWSHRC

The Coalition’s web coordinator maintains, monitors, and updates the organization’s website, working in collaboration with CWSHRC Executive and Advisory Board members. For the next term, one of the web coordinator’s main responsibilities will be ongoing development of the CWSHRC online archive. Additional responsibilities are listed below.

Position Details

The CWSHRC coordinator position involves the following activities and responsibilities:

  • Managing the platform and domain for http://cwshrc.org;
  • Monitoring the appearance of the site and communicating style guidelines to site contributors;
  • Maintaining and (as needed) updating website style guidelines;
  • Filtering and responding to user questions as well as general questions about the site;
  • Providing site access (as needed) for different members of the CWSHRC;
  • Collaborating with the CWSHRC Secretary to establish and maintain the group’s administrative archive;
  • Coordinating the Paypal portion of the site (e.g., radio buttons, membership information) in collaboration with the Treasurer;
  • Working with Peitho editors to upload each issue of the biannually published journal, overseeing the process of archiving past issues, and liaising with the Peitho editorial team as needed.

Timeframe and Remuneration

The web coordinator serves a two-year term, typically starting on May 1 and ending on April 30 two years later. The next term begins 1 June 2015 and ends 30 April 2017.

There are no geographical restrictions on this position, and the job itself is designed to be performed remotely at the web coordinator’s convenience. Approximate time on task should average ~20 hours per month, with some periods of the year (prior to CCCC or FemRhet) being busier.

Compensation is $800 over a two-year term plus complementary registration for one conference each year, either CCCC or FemRhet.

Qualifications

In keeping with the Coalition’s dual mission of promoting the advancement of research in the history of rhetoric and composition and fostering the professional development of women scholars, we seek applications from graduate students, faculty, and independent scholars committed to helping the Coalition maintain and expand its strong presence in the field through digital means.

Strong candidates for web coordinator will have the following qualifications:

  • Academic training and scholarly interest that includes rhetoric, composition, feminist historiography, data design, or technical and professional writing, especially as it relates to the ongoing historical or theoretical study of women’s contributions to the discipline;
  • Demonstrated experience in web-designing, site-building, and/or site maintenance (especially with WordPress design);
  • Knowledge of web programming languages;
  • Demonstrated experience managing password-protected sites and/or sites with shopping carts and Paypal connections;
  • Strong English language skills;
  • Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills both on and offline;
  • Commitment to serving the CWSHRC, which is the intellectual home of a diverse and growing group of scholars whose interests span histories of women, studies in gender and sexuality, and feminist research in rhetoric and composition.

To Apply

While Coalition members are encouraged to apply, applicants need not be current members. Interested candidates should submit a brief letter of interest and current resume or CV. The latter should include URLs to sites designed or maintained, as well as access to other digital projects representing the range of candidates’ interests and abilities. Materials should be emailed to Tarez Samra Graban (tgraban@fsu.edu) by May 4, 2015. Duties expected to begin on June 1, 2015.

Download the PDF version of this ad via this live link.