By Mary Sheehan
Professor Paula Patch was recently awarded the Excellence in Service award by the College of Arts and Sciences for her overall service to Elon University’s English department and Core Curriculum. Her dominant service role is is serving as the College Writing Coordinator, therefore overseeing more than 70 sections of English 110: Writing, Argument, and Inquiry, and up to four sections of English 100 Supplementary Writing Workshops. According to Professor Patch, this oversight includes “developing, assessing, and refining the course goals; helping hire and orient faculty to teach ENG 110; offering a variety of workshops and other opportunities for the 25 English faculty who teach ENG 110 to learn and talk about teaching writing; and making the classes run in general.” Professor Patch is also heavily involved with the Leadership Advisory Board as well as the Class of 2018 Leadership Fellows.
Secondly, Professor Patch has also been recognized for her service outside of Elon University. In July of 2016, Professor Patch was appointed to the Executive Board of the Council of Writing Program Administrators. As a member of the Executive Board, Patch assists in making decisions about all aspects of the organization. Professor Patch was appointed to the Council’s Diversity committee shortly thereafter due to her status as a non-tenure track faculty member, as this is typically a marginalized group in academia. Professor Patch is also the co-chair of the Tenure-Free Caucus of the Council of Writing Program Administrators. This group organizes panels, conferences, social activities, and outreach specifically for untenured faculty members.
Professor Patch cites that she has always been a service oriented person. She says, “I prefer building relationships, designing programs, and hands-on writing activity to writing and study.”