2013 Conference Team
Conference Chairs
Katelyn Burton (Co-Chair) is currently a second-year PhD student in the URI Department of English, specializing in Writing & Rhetoric. She is originally from Kansas, where she completed both her undergraduate and master’s degree. Katelyn received her MA in English with a concentration in Composition & Rhetoric at Pittsburg State University. Much of her research has revolved around issues in new media, particularly social networking media, and its potential for pedagogical applications. However, she also has interests in feminist and gender theory. Aside from her background in academia, Katelyn hopes to put to good use her experience working in public relations and event planning. She is thrilled to co-chair this year’s graduate conference with Jamie Remillard and is looking forward to the work ahead.
Jamie Remillard (Co-Chair) is a second-year Ph.D. student in English, specializing in Rhetoric and Composition. Before joining the URI Department of Writing and Rhetoric, she worked for nine years as a reporter, copy editor, freelance writer, and grant writer. She teaches writing and literature. Her scholarly interests include creative nonfiction, multimodal composition, urban studies, spatial rhetoric, gender and women’s studies, and environmental communication. This is her second year contributing to the URI Graduate Conference committee.
Finance Committee
Jamie Remillard (Director) see bio above
Other members: Katelyn Burton, Kara Watts
Marketing & Outreach Committee
Clarissa J. Walker (Director) is a first year Ph.D candidate in English, specializing in Rhetoric and Composition. A journalist for more than a decade, Clarissa relies heavily on ethnographic and pragmatic approaches in her work. Her research examines various technologies used by marginalized groups of the African Diaspora as they create their own discourse and re-construct identity.
Other members: Serei Eng, Wendy Grosskopf, Charles Kell, Judah-Micah Lamar, Rachael Leary, Alyson Leitch, Rachel May, Jenny Platz, Karen Shea, Jason Shrontz, Rhiannon Sorrell
Hospitality Committee
Anna Brecke (Director) is a second year PhD student at URI. Her interests include Victorian studies, women’s and gender studies, and popular fiction and culture. Currently she is investigating transgressive, boundary crossing bodies, such as prostitutes and vampires, in Victorian popular novels. (Photo by Matt Brecke)
Other members: Wendy Grosskopf, Judah-Micah Lamar, Jenny Platz, Nicole Wheatley
Technology Committee
Derick Ariyam (Director) is a second-year Ph.D. student at the University of Rhode Island and holds academic backgrounds in both Computer Science and English. In addition to being a student, Derick is also a professional software developer. He is co-founder of the cfplist.com, and currently serves as lead software developer for the Department of Education in Rhode Island. His academic interests are diverse and interdisciplinary: focused largely in the fields of Postcolonial Studies and the Digital Humanities.
Other members: Thomas Barkman, Geoffrey Blanchette, Michele Meek, Diane Quaglia Beltran
Programming and Logistics Committee
Gabriel E. Romaguera (Director) is a graduate student at the University of Rhode Island working on his PhD in English. He obtained his BA in English and his MA in English Education at the University of Puerto Rico in his hometown of Mayaguez. He specializes in analyzing classic and contemporary forms of serial literature through a variety of critical theories. He is also the President and Founder of ICWAA, the International Council for Webcomic Analysis in Academia, an up and coming academic society featuring grad students from all over the world.
Other members: Collin Syfert, Nicole Wheatley
Art & Design Committee
Krysten Manke (Director) is currently working towards a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition, after completing her Master’s in 2012. When she is not chairing committees or writing papers, Krysten enjoys finding new ways to explore multimedia, cross-genre writing both for her own projects and as a pedagogical tool. She looks forward to seeing how interdisciplinary ideas cultivate in this year’s conference, and is excited to watch prospects develop for future projects.
Other member: Katelyn Burton
Additional Members-at-Large:
Allana Allik, Mike Becker, Kim Evelyn, Bridget Heaney
