Curriculum Vitae

Michele N. Zugnoni
7458 Greenhaven Drive Apt. 235
Sacramento, CA 95831
(916) 261-9134
mzugnoni@ucdavis.edu

Education

Ph.D. in Education, Emphasis in Writing, expected June 2019; University of California, Davis
Dissertation Topic: The benefits of a self-reflective writing group in fostering community among
first-generation college students; creating connections between first-generation college students
and instructors; and aiding first-generation college students in establishing goals both inside
and outside of the university. All three are considered essential in student retention.

M.A. in English, Concentration in Rhetoric & Teaching Writing, May 2013; California State
University, Stanislaus

J.D., May 2008; University of California, Davis

B.A. in History, June 2002; California State University, East Bay

A.A. in General Studies, May 1999; Las Positas College

Teaching Experience

Teaching Associate
University of California, Davis – September 2014-Current
Classes Taught:
Expository Writing: UWP 1, fully in-class; UWP 1Y, hybrid version; and UWP 1V, fully online
Business Writing: UWP 104A
Advanced Composition: UWP 101
Utilizing a scaffolding approach, instructed writing classes of up to twenty-five students in the
form and mechanics of narratives, letters, memos, timed writing, research papers targeted to each
student’s individual field, resumes, cover letters targeted to employers, personal websites, and
purpose papers targeted to employers. Designed and guided students through activities which
taught skills in audience, voice, research, discourse community, design, APA/MLA citation
style, and grammar. Embraced the motto that all students have a voice, and that voice matters.
Led small group and large group workshops, as well as individual writing conferences.
Instructed thirteen hybrid-based courses in writing. For three quarters, taught an online writing
course which required tri-weekly assignments in Canvas and bi-monthly meetings in Adobe
Connect. Designed all Canvas assignments according to the principles of online learning.

Graduate Student Researcher, McNair Program

University of California, Davis – January 2015-March 2015, June 2015-August 2015
Classes Taught: Writing for the Academic Article, GRE Verbal, GRE Writing
Worked with junior- and senior-level university students on writing academic articles to be
published in the McNair Scholars Journal. Taught form, research and editing practices.
Instructed classes in GRE Verbal and Writing, preparing students to take the GRE over the
subsequent year. Mentored first-generation and underrepresented college students.

Teaching Assistant
University of California, Davis – September 2018-December 2018
Classes Taught: Educating Children with Disabilities
Worked with multiple- and single-subject teaching students on the understanding and application
of case studies to real student populations. Graded assignments according to a rubric.

University of California, Santa Barbara – March 2014-June 2014

Classes Taught: Blacks and Western Civilization
Instructed and tutored up to 150 students on the fundamentals of writing, including choosing a
subject, developing a thesis and an outline, writing a cohesive paper, and techniques of revision.
Evaluated and scored up to 150 essays on various topics in the Black Studies curriculum.

California State University, Stanislaus – August 2012-May 2013

Classes Taught: Stretch Composition, English 1006 and 1007
Instructed college students, freshmen through senior, on the mechanics and nuances of collegiate
reading and writing, and computer usage. Designed curriculum based on CSU guidelines,
conducted lectures, held student-teacher conferences, led peer workshops, and evaluated grades.
Transformed occasional writers into active participants of the classroom community.

University of California, Davis – January 2008-December 2008

Classes Taught: Legal Writing
Assisted legal writing students in two legal writing courses in such areas as Bluebook citation,
writing essentials, and paper formatting. Delivered lectures on Bluebook citation. Scored and
evaluated papers based on course objectives.

Writing Center Tutor

California State University, Stanislaus – September 2012-April 2013
Met with and instructed up to 20 students, freshmen through graduate level, on the fundamentals
of scholastic writing and collegiate reading. Transformed reluctant learners into eager scholars
who eagerly anticipated their next tutoring session.

Substitute Teacher
Elk Grove Unified School District – September 2015-June 2016
Manteca Unified School District – May 2003-May 2012
San Lorenzo Unified School District – February 2002-December 2003
Supervised instruction and classroom activities. Organized lesson plans and performed clerical
duties for up to 50 students at 35 schools, preschool through adult. For three months, taught
creative writing, music, and choir; transformed from passive, unrelated classwork to active,
relevant participation.
Other Professional Experience

Assistant to the Director of First-Year Composition

University of California, Davis – September 2017-June 2018
Mentored graduate-student instructors and conducted classroom observations. Organized and
presented UWP 1 workshops, providing fundamental lessons on the teaching of first-year
writing. Edited the FYC student writing journal.

Curriculum Designer, Expository Writing

University of California, Davis – June 2015-September 2015
Worked in a team of four to develop multimodal curriculum for the University Writing
Program’s hybrid expository writing course. Curriculum was adopted by the university for use
by instructors.

Assessment Evaluator
University of California, Santa Barbara – May 2014
Took an active role in two TEP retreats, collaboratively analyzing the work of teacher candidates
and discussing the implications of candidates’ learning. Trained and calibrated on rubrics used in
the evaluation of candidate performance on the edTPA assessment.

Assessment Professional
University of California, Santa Barbara – May 2014
Evaluated, trained and calibrated on rubrics designed by the University Writing Program to
assess work of writers across all grade levels. Assessed student writing in accordance with these
rubrics. Discussed the implications of such findings.

Assessment Engineer
California State University, Stanislaus – January 2013-May 2013
Developed an assessment tool to analyze the assignments and work of teacher candidates in the
English program and determine whether such assignments and work met departmental goals.
Protocol adopted by university for later use.

Law Student Mentor

Central California Legal Services – June 2009-October 2010
As a working attorney, instructed law students in legal representation, writing case briefs, and
proper citation format. Guided students in proper implementation of high-stakes legal cases.

Legal Policy Analyst

U.C. Davis Center for Public Policy Research – October 2007
Researched federal and state laws and regulations concerning collateral sanctions, rewriting said
laws into general, lay terms in order to facilitate understanding among politicians and political
staff in an effort to formulate fundamental changes to the legal system.
Academic Honors

Dean’s Prize for Best Oral Presentation in Education, UC Davis Interdisciplinary Graduate and
Professional Student Symposium. Spring 2015.

Second Place, California State University, Stanislaus Student Research Competition. Spring
2012.

Finalist, Carr Intraschool Trial Advocacy Competition, Fall 2007

Golden Key International Honor Society, inducted Fall 2001

Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society, inducted Fall 1997

Scholarships and Grants

UWP Travel Fellowship 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

SOE Travel Fellowship 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Mark Cary Reflective Learning Award, Fall 2015 & Fall 2017

SOE Summer Research Fellowship, Summer 2016.

Gevirtz Travel Fellowship 2014

Promise Fund, Research Scholarship and Creative Activity Grant 2012

Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship (full tuition to UC Davis School of Law) 2004-2008

Presentations

“Encouraging Empowerment Through Expression: Creation of a Self-Reflective Writing

Program for First-Generation College Students,” Conference on College Composition and
Communication, March 14-March 17, 2018; Council of Writing Program Administrators
Conference, July 26-July 29, 2018.

“Self-Reflection for the Working Writer.” Cruising Writers Land Retreat. Capestang, France.
April 19-April 26, 2017.

“The New Research Phases of the International WAC/WID Mapping Project.” International
Writing Across the Curriculum Conference. Ann Arbor, MI. June 23-June 25, 2016.

“Encouraging Empowering Through Expression: The Effects of a Self-Reflective Writing

Program on Young Adults at Risk.” Council of Writing Program Administrators Conference.
Boise, ID. July 12-15, 2015.
“Encouraging Empowerment Through Expression.” University of California, Davis
Interdisciplinary Graduate and Professional Student Symposium. Davis, CA. April 3, 2015.

“Self-Reflective Writing in the K-12 Classroom.” University of California, Davis Poster

Presentation. Davis, CA. December 8, 2014.

“Reducing Levels of Alienation Experienced by Incarcerated Adolescents: A Self-Reflective

Writing Model.” University of California, Santa Barbara Grad Slam. Santa Barbara, CA. April 2,
2014.

“Literacy in Gaming.” Thirty-Fifth Annual Southwest Popular Culture and American Culture
Association. Albuquerque, NM. February 19-22, 2014.

“Self-Reflective Writing as a Means of Decreasing Levels of Alienation Among Incarcerated

Adolescents.” University of California, Santa Barbara Poster Presentation. Santa Barbara, CA.
December 2, 2013.

“Coming of Age Amidst Family Pressures and Cupid’s Deadly Influence: The Love-Death
Theme in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.” University of California, Riverside “Narratives
Mediated” Conference. Riverside, CA. April 14, 2012.

“Incorporating Self into Composition.” California State University, Stanislaus Student Research
Competition. Turlock, CA. March 9, 2012.

“The Footpath Toward Mastery: Incorporating Individuality and Identity into the Composition
Writing Classroom.” Thirty-Third Annual Southwest Texas Popular Culture and American
Culture Association. Albuquerque, New Mexico. February 8, 2012.

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

Author, U.C. Davis International WAC/WID Mapping Project, 2016-2017 results (pending)

Editor, Readings About Writing, UC Davis Student Journal, Winter 2018

Copy Editor, The Journal of Writing Assessment, 8(1)

Author, Black Studies Writing Resources Website, UC Santa Barbara

Professional Affiliations

Co-Chair, Rhetoric at Davis, UC Davis, 2015-2016

Member, Chancellor’s Graduate & Professional Student Advisory Committee, UC Davis, 2014-

2015
Vice President of Communications and Records, GSA, UC Santa Barbara, 2014

Conduct Officer, Faculty/Student Conduct Committee, UC Santa Barbara, 2013-2014.

Secretary, Graduate Student Apartment Community Council, UC Santa Barbara, 2013-2014.

Member, California State Bar, 2008-Present.

Certifications

Passage of California State Bar Examination; August 2008.

References

Dr. Chris Thaiss Dr. Carl Whithaus Dr. Dan Melzer

Emeritus Professor Professor Associate Professor / Director
University Writing Program University Writing Program of FYC
UC Davis UC Davis University Writing Program
Davis, CA 95616 Davis, CA 95616 UC Davis
cjthaiss@ucdavis.edu (530) 752-0778 Davis, CA 95616
Phone number by request cwwhithaus@ucdavis.edu (530) 754-2690
dmelzer@ucdavis.edu