Austin VanKirk

2525 Meanwell Rd.

Petersburg, Mich. 49270
419.297.5824
advankirk@me.com

EDUCATION
MFA CREATIVE WRITING | WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, BELLINGHAM, WASH. | 2016
THESIS: OF THE HEARTS DESIRE (NOVEL)
CHAIR: ASSOC. PROF. KATHRYN TRUEBLOOD
Multi-genre creative writing studies, focusing in fiction with thesis work culminating in the first stages
of a novel that explores the norm-bending Taos, New Mexico Artist Colony of the 1930s.
BA ENGLISH | MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, EAST LANSING, MICH. | 2012
Dual majors: English, focus in Creative Writing and Professional Writing focus in Editing and
Publishing.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
JACKSON COLLEGE (ENG 091, ENG 131, & ENG 132) | AUG. 2016 PRESENT
ADJUNCT FACULTY
I privileged inquiry and discovery in my composition courses, and encouraged my students to access
their own ideas in their own unique ways. I assigned students writing projects rather than traditional
essays because I believe these other genres offer increased student participation and engagement, and
consequently, learning. Given Jackson Colleges wide array of students with variable educational
backgrounds, my use of contract grading proved invaluable to creating an equitable learning
environment.
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (ENG 101: WRITING & CRITICAL INQUIRY) | SEPT. 2015 JUNE 2015
TEACHING ASSISTANT
I taught a place-based curriculum in three quarter-long classes. Influenced by training and practicums,
I adopted a teaching philosophy that values inquiry, discovery, and labor. I was the instructor-ofrecord, meaning I was fully responsible for the day-to-day activities of the course, including grading,
responding to student questions, lesson planning, teaching, etc.
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (ENG 351: INTRO TO FICTION WRITING) | SPRING 16
TEACHING ASSISTANT
Under the supervision of Prof. Kathryn Trueblood, I instructed ENG 351, Introduction to Fiction
Writing. I facilitated discussion and class momentum in general, but more specifically, I taught a
section of the class focusing on technique, using Anne Lamotts Bird by Bird as our text.
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (ENG 350: INTRO TO CREATIVE WRITING) | SPRING 15
TEACHING ASSISTANT
Under the supervision of Dr. Brenda Miller, I instructed ENG 350, Introduction to Creative Writing. I
taught poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction by focusing on shared craft elements among the three
genres before delving into instruction of each genre independently.
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (SAA 340: PARAPROFESIONAL ADVISING) | SPRING 15
INSTRUCTOR
Western Washington University requires its incoming resident advisors to enroll and pass SAA 340. A
creative writing portion was introduced to encourage students to explore personal identities. I
developed lessons, readings, and creative writing exercises for students during this course segment.

Austin VanKirk | Curriculum Vitae Page 1 of 4

SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY
JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL CONTROVERSY | BELLINGHAM, WASH. | SEPT. 2014 AUG. 2015
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
This position requires me to be aware of the current state and paradigms of the American education
system. Other duties include author correspondence management, proofing and organizing
manuscripts, and writing occasional posts for our affiliated blog.
CONTENT REVIEWER, WRITE MOVES CREATIVE WRITING TEXTBOOK | SUMMER 15
At the request of Dr. Nancy Pagh, Senior Instructor at Western Washington University, I served as a
content reviewer for her forthcoming creative writing textbook Write Moves. Specifically, I
analyzed the manuscript from an undergrads perspective with the aim to improve its accessibility.
RED CEDAR REVIEW | EAST LANSING, MICH. | MAY 2011 AUGUST 2012
PRODUCTION EDITOR
Duties include formulating and maintaining the production schedule; managing art work, ads, and
author info; proofing and reconciling page proofs; and creating covers for each issue.

SERVICE
DIRECTOR & FOUNDER, TEACHING EXPERIENCE FOR ENGLISH MASTERS STUDENTS (T.E.E.M.S.)
I created this program in response to a desire for Western Washington Universitys English graduate
students to have the opportunity to teach literature and creative writing classes of their own design.
The program incorporates low-stakes learning environments, small class sizes, and hands-on
learning which extends to both students and our graduate instructors. We offer our free, non-credit
classes to the WWU community during winter and spring quarters.
ENGLISH GRADUATE PROGRAM ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE
As a member of this committee, I worked to create a new graduate outcomes assessment plan to
be implemented in the 201617 school year.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BNP MEDIA, (SDM MAGAZINE) | TROY, MICH. | APRIL 2014 OCTOBER 2014
ASSISTANT EDITOR
I remotely fulfilled duties away from the primary office in Deerfield, IL. Proofreading monthly issue
content, writing articles on security industry issues, preparing editorial budgets and layouts, and
creating and monitoring web content are a few of the responsibilities of this position.
FLAME MAGAZINE | REMOTE | JULY 2013 AUGUST 2015
MANAGING EDITOR; COLUMNIST
Responsibilities include editing articles for both print and web issues, executing magazine layout and
design using InDesign in conjunction with the publisher and photographers, and monitoring the
magazines website and social media channels. Also, beginning in August 2014, FLAME took on two
interns from Michigan State Universitys professional writing program. I am responsible for training
and supervising them, assisting as needed, as well as serving as a general information resource as
they prepare to enter the industry workforce.

Austin VanKirk | Curriculum Vitae Page 2 of 4

(PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE CONT.)

BNP MEDIA | TROY, MICH. | MAY 2013 APRIL 2014; OCTOBER 2014 AUGUST 2015
ONLINE SUPPORT COORDINATOR
With a break in 2014 while acting as SDMs assistant editor, I resumed this position to utilize my
knowledge of Search Engine Optimization and website coding. I was a part of a project in early 2015
to redesign 50+ magazine websites responsiveness and suitability for mobile viewing, requiring
collaboration with art directors, editors, production managers, and fellow OSCs.
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS | EAST LANSING, MICH. | APRIL 2010 AUG. 2012
MARKETING ASSISTANT AND EDITORIAL & PRODUCTIONS ASSISTANT
My part-time stint at MSU Press taught me the basics of the publishing industry. My first experiences
with editing and proofing, author correspondence, professional deadlines, creating press releases for
distribution, and various other forms of book promotion happened here.

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

Putting the Queer Back In Queer Families: Reconciling Family, Convention, and Queerness in E. M.
Forsters Maurice. 2016 PCA/ACA Conference, April 2016
The Stars Care for None, a novel. Grey Wolfe Publishing, March 2014
Home for the Holidays. Winter Legends 2013, May 2014
Monthly column Become Who You Are in FLAME Magazine since Sept. 2013
Sticks and Stones, The Offbeat Vol. 12, May 2013
Alone on the Subway, The Offbeat Vol. 11, May 2012
Open for Opinion. Consider Magazine, October 2012. Co-authored with Shelby Hearn

HONORS & AWARDS

THE 201516 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT HONORABLE MENTION AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE
Awarded yearly to a second-year graduate instructor of English in recognition for valuable
contributions to the Western Washington University English Dept.
PASSED WITH DISTINCTION, CREATIVE WRITING MFA QUALIFYING EXAM
All Creative Writing MFA candidates must pass this written exam to be considered for the degree.
MSU CREATIVE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP
Awarded based on the creative merit of a portfolio to an incoming freshman to the College of Arts
and Sciences at Michigan State University totaling $10,000.
JIM CASH CREATIVE WRITING AWARD
Granted to a creative writing student at Michigan State University who has submitted a portfolio of
exceptional work.
MARCIA E. PLATT AND DOUGLAS L. RUBLE SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship is awarded to creative writing students at Michigan State University whove
submitted 1030 pages of work for consideration.

Austin VanKirk | Curriculum Vitae Page 3 of 4

SKILLS

Familiar with book and journal publication, schedules, and processes

Proficient with Microsoft Office
Conversational proficiency in Spanish
Familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style and AP style
Experience in Web Design using HTML and CSS, as well as content management systems

Austin VanKirk | Curriculum Vitae Page 4 of 4