Summary:
Dr. Ashly Bender Smith earned her PhD in the English department at UofL in 2015, where she held a position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA). As a GTA, she served as a writing consultant and, later, Assistant Director of the University Writing Center (2012-2014). She later worked at the UofL the College of Business as a BizComm writing consultant. She describes how writing center work in multiple settings, but particularly with Bronwyn Williams, has informed her ethos in providing feedback and understanding students as developmental writers. As an Assistant Director, she worked with Adam Robinson and Barrie Olsen to revise the website and online resources. Bender Smith describes how she came up with the "How I Write" blog series and recruiting some of the early guest authors for it, including Mike Rutherford and James Ramesey. She describes participating and leading several early Dissertation Writing Retreats and "Kick Back in the Stacks" events. She speaks fondly of her interactions with Bronwyn Williams as a Writing Center Director and dissertation advisor. She also speaks fondly of her work with Adam Robinson, Robin Blacket, Barrie Olsen, Amy Nichols, Carly Johnson, and Jessica Winck.
Topic(s):
Writing centers, Information literacy, University of Louisville, Graduate teaching assistants, University of Louisville Writing Center
