Lauren E. Obermark
{ Academic Appointments }
{ Education }
Ph.D, English-Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy, The Ohio State University, May 2013
Dissertation: Revising Rhetorical Education: Museums and Pedagogy
Committee: Dr. Wendy S. Hesford (chair); Dr. Brenda Brueggemann; Dr. Elizabeth
Weiser
M.A., English Language and Literature, University of Missouri-Kansas City, May 2008
B.S., Secondary Education with an emphasis in English, University of Missouri-
Columbia, Summa Cum Laude, May 2003
{ Grants }
University of Missouri Research Board Grant, $26,000, University of Missouri System, 2016
Project: Revising Rhetorical Education: Museums and Pedagogy
Obermark CV 3
Junior Faculty Travel Grant, $500, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Office of Research
Administration, 2015
College of Arts and Sciences Visiting Scholar Grant, University of Missouri-St. Louis, College
of Arts and Science, 2015
Project: Normal is Overrated: Disability in the 21st Century (visiting scholar Dr. Brenda
Brueggemann)
Faculty Research Award, $6,500, University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Arts and Science,
2014
Project: Revising Rhetorical Education: Museums and Pedagogy
Collaborator for Curriculum Grant (with Dr. Sally Ebest, Dr. Zoe Peterson, and Prof. Jim Craig),
$6,800, University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Arts and Science, 2014
Project: Development of Gender and the Military Capstone Course
Junior Faculty Travel Grant, $1000, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Office of Research
Administration, 2014
iPad Innovation Grant, $500, University of Missouri-St. Louis Information Technology
Services, 2013
Collaborator for Seed Grant for GTA Program Enhancement (with Dr. Kay Halasek and Dr.
Elizabeth Brewer) $10,000, The Ohio State Universitys Center for Advancement of
Teaching, 2012-2013.
Graduate Schools Alumni Grant for Graduate Research and Scholarship
(AGGRS), $1600, The Ohio State University, 2011.
Graduate Assistance Fund Immediate Aid Grant, University of Missouri-Kansas
City, $250, 2007.
{ Awards }
{ Fellowships }
The Ohio State Teaching Enhancement Program Graduate Teaching Fellow, The Ohio
State Universitys Center for Advancement of Teaching, 2011-2012.
The Ohio State University Graduate School Fellowship, 2008.
Farnsworth Fellowship in Postcolonial Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2007.
{ Presentations }
Rhetoric and Engagement in the Shadow of Ferguson. Rhetoric Society of America
Conference, Atlanta, GA, May 2016.
Transforming Graduate Education. Conference on College Composition and Communication
Convention. Houston, TX, March 2016.
In the Shadow of Ferguson. Conference on Community Writing. Boulder, CO, October 2015.
Participant in Rhetoric Society of Americas Biennial Summer Institute, workshop on Spatial
Rhetorics, Madison, WI, June 2015.
Disrupting the Kairotic Space of the Graduate Seminar. Conference on College Composition
and Communication Convention. Tampa, FL, March 2015.
Expanding the Canon of Memory: A Case Study of the Oklahoma City National Memorial
Museum. Rhetoric Society of America Conference, San Antonio, TX, May 2014.
From the Museum to the Writing Classroom: Connecting Public and Academic Pedagogies.
Conference on College Composition and Communication Convention. Indianapolis, IN,
March 2014.
Obermark CV 5
Revising Rhetorical Education: Collective Rhetoric at History Museums. Feminism(s) and
Rhetoric(s) Conference, Palo Alto, CA, September 2013.
Cotton Candy or Peanuts: Assessing the Needs of GTAs. Writing Program Administrators
Conference, Savannah, GA, July 2013.
WPA Work as a Graduate Student. Invited Presentation. Dr. Kay Halaseks
Graduate Composition Seminar, The Ohio State University, October 2012.
Mad Women on Display: Rhetoric and the Female Body at the Glore Psychiatric
Museum. Co-Presented with Dr. Madaline Walter. Rhetoric Society of America
Conference, Philadelphia, PN, May 2012.
The History and Rhetoric of Museums. Invited Presentation. Dr. Valerie Kinlochs
Multicultural Education Class for Pre-Service Teachers, The Ohio State University,
February 2012.
What the Heck is College-Level Writing Anyway?!: Strategies To Be a Successful
Writer in College and Beyond. First-Year Success Series, The Ohio State
University, October 2011.
Digital Archive of Literacy Narratives Workshop. Computers and Writing, Ann
Arbor, MI, May 2011.
Panel on Leading Class Discussion. Invited Presentation. First-Year Writing
Program Teacher Training, The Ohio State University, August 2010.
Panel on Blogging. Invited Presentation. Digital Media and Composition Institute,
The Ohio State University, June 2010.
Out of the Academy and Into the Museum: Rethinking Spaces of Rhetorical
Education. English Graduate Organization Colloquium, The Ohio State University,
May 2010.
Representing America: The Historical Meets the Rhetorical. Conference on College
Composition and Communication, Louisville, KY, March 2010.
Rhetorical Representations of History: The Liberty Memorial and the National
World War I Museum. Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference, Lansing, MI, October
2009.
Victorian Match.com: Courtship Letters, Personal Ads, and Womens Rhetorical
Power. Co-presented with Dr. Jennifer Phegley. Interdisciplinary Nineteenth-Century
Studies Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY, April 2009.
Obermark CV 6
More than Technology: (Re) Envisioning Visual Literacy. Co-presented with
Madaline Walter. Expanding Literacy Studies Conference for Graduate Students,
Columbus, OH, April 2009.
Writerly Identity in the Extracurricular Publications of Mary Gamble
Meriwether, 1941-1944. Conference on College Composition and Communication, San
Francisco, CA, March 2009.
A knowledge and right use of English: G.A. Gaskells Compendium of Forms as
Rhetorical Education and Empowerment for Nineteenth-Century Women. Feminist
Rhetorics for Social Justice Post-Symposium Workshop, Syracuse, NY, October 2008.
"A New Sort of Rhetor: The Role of Museums in Civic Discourse." Research Network
Forum. Conference on College Composition & Communication, New Orleans, LA, April
2008.
Is it possible to teach English so that people stop killing each other?: Developing a
Pedagogy of Nonviolence through the Use of Visual Rhetoric. English Graduate
Student Association Conference, University of Missouri-Kansas City, December 2007.
The Overlooked Rhetoric of Pauline Hopkins. Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s)
Conference, Little Rock, AR, October 2007.
From Theory to Practice: Engaging Multiple Literacies in the Composition
Classroom. Greater Kansas City Writing Project Workshop, University of Missouri-
Kansas City, August 2007.
Melodrama as a Rhetorical Strategy: Pauline Hopkins Contending Forces.
English and History Graduate Student Conference, University of Missouri-Kansas City,
April 2007.
We Lacked Access to Many Things and Many People: The Literacy Profile of Rita
Alexander. English Graduate Student Association Conference, University of Missouri-
Kansas City, November 2006.
{ Teaching Experience }
Professor for The New Normal: Introduction to Disability Studies (English 5950), University of
Missouri-St. Louis, Autumn 2014, Spring 2016
Professor for Introduction to Rhetoric/Rhetoric and Social Justice (English 4160), University of
Missouri-St. Louis, Spring 2015, Spring 2016
Graduate Student Independent Study on Advanced Disability Studies: Mental Illness and
Rhetoric (English 5970), University of Missouri-St. Louis, Spring 2016
Obermark CV 7
Graduate Student Independent Study on Narrative Writing in Gender Studies (Gender
Studies), University of Missouri-St. Louis, Spring 2016
Professor for Rhetoric and Social Justice (English 5850), University of Missouri-St. Louis,
Autumn 2015
Undergraduate Student Independent Study on the writing of Judith Butler (Gender Studies),
University of Missouri-St. Louis, Autumn 2015
Professor for Teaching College Writing (English 5890), University of Missouri-St. Louis, Spring
2014, Spring 2015
Co-Teacher for Gender and the Military (English 2120), University of Missouri-St. Louis,
Autumn 2014
Graduate Student Independent Study in Disability Studies (English 5970), University of
Missouri-St. Louis, Spring 2014
Graduate Student Independent Study in Qualitative Methods in Composition Studies (English
5970), University of Missouri-St. Louis, Autumn 2013
Professor for First-Year Writing (English 1100), University of Missouri-St. Louis, Autumn 2013,
Autumn 2015
Professor for Junior-Level Writing (English 3100), University of Missouri-St. Louis, Autumn
2013, Autumn 2014
Course Theme: Writing about Writing
Co-Teacher for Introduction to the Teaching of First-Year Writing (English 6781),
The Ohio State University, Autumn 2012.
Graduate Teaching Associate for Introduction to Disability Studies (English 2277),
The Ohio State University, Winter 2011, Spring 2011, and Summer 2011.
Graduate Teaching Associate for Second Year Writing (English 2367), The Ohio
State University, Autumn 2010 and Spring 2012.
Course Themes: Places, Spaces, and Memory (AU10); Writing about Writing (SP12).
Graduate Teaching Associate for First Year Writing (English 1110), The Ohio State
University, Autumn 2009-Summer 2010.
Course Themes: The World as a Text: Defining, Exploring, and Composing Rhetoric (AU 09,
WI 10); Local Sites and Spaces: Exploring the Rhetoric of/in Our Community (SP 10; SU
10).
Obermark CV 8
Writing Center Consultant, The Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing at
Ohio State, 2009-2011.
Teaching Assistant to Professor Brenda Brueggemann for Disability Experience in
the Contemporary World (English 597), The Ohio State University, Spring 2009 .
Graduate Teacher for Intermediate Composition (English 225), University of
Missouri-Kansas City, 2007-2008.
Course Theme: Understanding and Composing Visual Rhetoric.
Graduate Teacher for Introductory Composition (English 110), University of
Missouri-Kansas City, 2006-2007.
Course Theme: Language Use in Academic Contexts.
Teaching Assistant to Professor Joan Dean for American Social Film, University of
Missouri-Kansas City, 2007-2008.
Eighth Grade English Teacher, Lees Summit R-7 School District, 2003-2006.
{ Administrative Experience }
{ Service }
Mentoring
Thesis Director for Lauren Terbrock, MA Student at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2015-
2016.
Research and Writing Collaboration with Michael Smith, MA student at University of Missouri-
St. Louis, 2013-2014.
Professional
Peer Reviewer, Reflections: A Journal of Public Rhetoric, Civic Writing, and Service Learning,
2016-2017.
Interviewer/Narrative Collector, The Digital Archive of Literacy Narratives (DALN), 2013-2016.
Manuscript Reviewer, The Best of the Independent Rhetoric and Composition Journals 2011,
November-December 2011.
Camp Rhetoric Organizer and Liaison, The Ohio State University (in collaboration
with Pennsylvania State University and University of Maryland), 2010-2011.
University
Member, Disability Studies Minor Development Committee, University of Missouri-St. Louis
College of Arts and Sciences, Fall 2016-Present.
Chair of Planning Committee for Normal is Overrated: Disability in the 21st Century (Dr. Brenda
Brueggemann CAS Visiting Scholar Events), University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2015-
2016.
Inspire Mentoring Program, University of Missouri-St. Louis Multicultural Student Services,
2015-2016.
Invited Panelist, Award Winning Teachers, Focus on Teaching and Technology Regional
Conference, University of Missouri-St. Louis, November 13, 2015.
Invited Facilitator, The F-Word Panel/Perspectives on Feminism, Co-Sponsored by the Office
of Student Life and Gender Studies, Womens History Month Event, March 2015 and
March 2016.
Obermark CV 10
Invited Lecturer, Methods in Rhetorical Studies, Dr. Stephanie Van Stees Research
Methods in Communication (Communication 3330) at University of Missouri-St. Louis,
December 2014.
Gender Studies Film Series Leader, Disability in Focus, University of Missouri-St. Louis,
October 2014.
Team Member, University of Missouri-St. Louis Service Learning Leadership Team, 2014-2015.
Invited Lecturer, Academic Job Market Interviews, University of Missouri-St. Louis Certificate
in University Teaching Program, October 3, 2014.
Invited Panelist, Advice for New Faculty at UMSL, University of Missouri-St. Louis New
Faculty Orientation, August 28, 2014.
Gender Studies Affiliate Faculty, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2013-2o15.
Committees: Member, Writing Awards Committee, Spring 2014, 2015, 2016; Scholarship
Committee, Spring 2015.
Discussion Leader, First-Year Experience Buckeye Book Community, The Ohio
State University, 2009 and 2010.
Volunteer Writing Tutor, Africentric Elementary, The Ohio State Universitys
Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing, 2008-2009.
President, University of Missouri-Kansas City English Graduate Student
Association, 2007-2008.
Department
Member, Writing Certificate Committee, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2014-2016.
Member, Graduate Committee, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2013-2016.
Workshop Leader, Writing a Proposal for an Academic Conference, University of Missouri-St.
Louis English Department, April 30, 2014.
Member, Writing Program Committee, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2013-2015.
Member, Corbett Lecture Selection and Organization Committee, The Ohio State
University, 2010-2011.
Executive Editor, Commonplace, The Ohio State University, 2010.
Obermark CV 11
Reviewer for English 110 General Education Curriculum (GEC) Assessment, The
Ohio State University, 2009.
Proposal Reviewer, Expanding Literacy Studies Conference, The Ohio State
University, Fall 2008.
Outreach
Invited Facilitator/Tour Leader, Perspective: Visualizing Protest, Contemporary Art Museum,
St. Louis, June 2016.
Invited Discussion Leader, Books@Work Program, The Boeing Company, St. Louis, April 2016.
Professional Membership
Member, Coalition of Woman Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition,
2007-present.
Member, Conference on College Composition and Communication, 2006-present.
Member, National Council of Teachers of English, 2003-present.
Member, Rhetoric Society of America, 2009-present.
Member, Modern Language Association, 2006-present.
Professional Development
Participant, University of Missouri Faculty Scholars Program, UM System, 2014-2015
Participant, iPad Teaching Circle, University of Missouri-St. Louis Center for Teaching and
Learning, 2013-2014
Participant, Faculty Colloquia, University of Missouri-St. Louis Center for Teaching and
Learning
Participant, New Faculty Orientation, University of Missouri-St. Louis Center for Teaching
and Learning, 2013
Participant, Workshop with Professor Anis Bawarshi (English 993), Using Genre to
Facilitate Knowledge Transfer. Ohio State University English Department,
May 27, 2011.
Obermark CV 12
Participant, Digital Media and Composition Institute with Dr. Cynthia Selfe and
Dr. Scott DeWitt (English 993), Ohio State University English Department,
June 2009.
Participant, Workshop with Professor Guy Beiner (English 993), Remembering to
Forget. Ohio State University English Department, February 18-19, 2009.