Karen A. Wink, Ph.D.
Professor of English
United States Coast Guard Academy
Dept. of Culture and Languages
15 Mohegan Ave.
New London, Connecticut 06320
Karen.A.Wink@uscga.edu
Education
University of Maryland, 1999
College Park, MD.
Ph.D. English Education. Dissertation: Examining Perceptions: A Teacher and Students
Negotiate Meaning of the Rhetorical Situation in an Advanced Composition Class.
Baldwin-Wallace College, 1989
Berea, OH.
Ma.Ed. English/Reading Education. Thesis: The Effectiveness of Reading
Tutoring Programs for At-Risk Secondary Students
Kent State University, 1985
Kent, OH.
B.S., English Education with Minors in Public Speaking and Journalism Education.
AWARDS
“Mace Bear” for serving as Mace Bearer at U.S. Coast Guard Academy Commencement,
May, 2026.
Bears Coin and Recognition, for series of opportunities to coach Distinguished Graduates and
Admiral for their Graduation Speeches, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, spring, 2022.
Center for Advanced Studies Fellowship, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, summer, 2014.
“Outstanding Leadership, Associate Chair for College Level,” National Council of
Teachers of English, 2013.
Ten-year Service Commendation for Public Service, 15-year Service Commendation, 2014;
20-year Service Commendation, 2019, U.S. Coast Guard Academy
“Excellence in Teaching Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Teaching of
English/Language Arts,” New England Association of Teachers of English, 2008
Research
- Main Areas of Focus: Rhetoric and Composition Pedagogy; Feedback Practices for
Student Writing - Additional Areas of Focus: Connecting Greek Values, Ideals, and Traditions to Modern
Culture; Pedagogy for Teaching Shakespeare’s Comedies and Tragedies - Methodologies: Classroom-Based Evidence, Empirical Research of Best Teaching and
Commenting Practices, to Benefit English Instructors and Composition Students
Professional Academic Ranking Positions
U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT.
2016-Present
Full English Professor
Develop curriculum and assessments, deliver instruction, tutor students, and manage 4/c developmental and advanced composition and literature courses. Additionally, created and taught an upper-class Literature of Humanity and Conflict: Myths and Epics of World Mythologies course for government majors. Created a full rhetorical curriculum for students in advanced composition and writing about literature courses. Mentored PCTS member, junior officers, and instructors in art and science of teaching English. Created, developed, and (overall) assessed nine literacy courses and co-created three literacy courses. Severed in an array of leadership roles at the section, department, and administrative levels. Very engaged in departmental and Academy-wide professional activities.
Associate English Professor
2003-2015
Developed curriculum and assessments, delivered instruction, tutored students, and served as Course Coordinator for 4/c developmental and advanced composition and literature courses. Additionally, created and taught Humanities in World Literature: Myths and Epics course for government majors. Served on search committees for temporary English and Spanish faculty and first time served as Section Chief for English and Foreign Language. Mentored junior officers, observed their classes and provided feedback; chaired and served as member of multiple search committees for temporary faculty and mentored them also; worked in collaboration with English section faculty to enhanced pre-requisite composition and literature courses.
Assistant English Professor and Director of Reading Program
1999-2003
Served in a dual position in English and Academic Resources departments: (1) Instructed two fourth-class Composition and Speech or Introduction to Literature courses each semester; and (2) Directed an Advanced Reading Program for cadets who needed assistance with improving their comprehension and rate of reading college texts. As an English professor, developed curriculum, participated on a textbook adoption committee, assisted with a writing portfolio project, tutored cadets in writing, mentored adjunct writing instructors, and served as course coordinator of a 4/c writing course. As Director of the Reading Program, conducted strategic reading workshops for many cadets, conferred with humanities faculty, tutored individual cadets, coordinated mini-courses in rapid reading and note taking; and co-supervised and trained 70 peer cadet tutors.
Professional Academic Leadership Positions
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
2011-2015, 2019-2022
Chief, English and Foreign Language Section
Led section of four permanent faculty, two rotating military officers, and several temporary faculty. Supervised curriculum in English studies; consulted on curriculum in Spanish studies; ensured learning objectives and outcomes consistent and rigorous across multiple sections of fourth-class developmental, standard, and advanced composition and literature courses; coordinate assessments of course content as core-courses and situated within all majors; served as “voice” of the Section in departmental meetings; advocate for resources, including for temporary faculty to ensure high quality and adherence to national English guidelines for class sizes; provided input on OERs and PARs; provided counsel for Section members on variety of academic and personnel issues; and coordinated morale events in times of stress for Section.
Program Advisor, Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships
2024-Present
Guided student to Fulbright Scholarship in Norway; two students to Truman Scholarships with one finalist, and, currently, two students to Fulbright and one student to Marshall Scholarship; consulted with other potential applicants, supporting them to find more fitting paths in CG
*Attended National Association of Fellowship Advisors’ Introductory Training in Chicago, IL.
and Biennial NAFA Conference in Washington D.C. Also, served on Mock Interview Panels for
former Candidates.
*Additional positions found in Leadership section
College Courses Taught
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
- Advanced Composition in Cultural Contexts (4/c pre-req alternate for College
Composition) - Cultural Perspectives: Gender and Sexual Orientation in Literature (4/c pre-req; one of several choices of CP courses)
- English Composition and Speech; now College Composition (4/c pre-req)
- Humanities in World Literature: Greek, Roman, and Other Classics (req; upper-class government majors; one of several choices of HWL courses)
- Introduction to College Communications (4/c pre-reg, developmental)
- Literature of Humanity and Conflict: Global Epics and Myths: Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse, Native American, Japanese, and Others (req. upper-class government majors; one of seve3ral choices of LHC courses)
- Romanticism: Dreaming, Daring, and Despairing (elective for upper-class government majors); co-taught with Dr. Zuczek
- The Art of Effective Writing (4/c advanced/pre-req, alternate course for English Composition and Speech)
- Writing About Literature Honors (4/c advanced/pre-req, alternate course for Writing About Literature)
- Writing About Literature (4/c pre-req)
Scholarly Texts (Authored, Edited, and Reviewed)
August, 2027
Wink, K. Public Speaking Matters: A Student Guide to Audience Connection Bloomsbury, New York, NY. [forthcoming text for higher Education public-speaking courses]
October, 2022
Wink, K. The Feedback Process: Engaging Students with Meaningful Comments About Their Writing. Roman and Littlefield, Lanham, MD.
November, 2021
Wink, K. Rhetorical Strategies for Composition: Cracking an Academic Code. 2nd ed. Rowman and Littlefield, Lanham, MD.
August, 2015
Wink, K. Rhetorical Strategies for Composition: Cracking an Academic Code. 1 st ed. Rowman and Littlefield, Lanham, MD.
August, 2015
Wink, K. Rhetorical Strategies for Composition: Cracking an Academic Code. Comprehensive Instructors’ Guide, Rowman and Littlefield, Lanham, MD.
2015-2019
Wink, K. CONNECT Composition 3.0, Online Composition Program. Content Writer of Composition Assessments and Exercises for Student Writing Development, McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, New York, NY.
June-August, 2014
Wink, K. CONNECT Composition 3.0, Online Composition Program. Content Reviewer for English Content: Writing and Conventions. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, New York, NY.
August, 2006
Wink, K. The New McGraw-Hill Exercise Book to accompany A Writer’s Resource. Editorial Consultant. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. New York, NY.
November, 2004
Wink, K. A Guide to MLA Documentation. 7th ed. Contributing Editor. Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company, Boston, MA.
Scholarly Presentations
Writing Pedagogy
November, 2026
“Emotional Intelligence as an Innovative Part of Feedback on Student Writing.” National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Philadelphia, PA. [forthcoming]
October, 2025
Featured Author, The Feedback Process: Engaging Students with Meaningful Comments About Their Writing. New England Association of Teachers of English Conference, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT.
March, 2024
“Enough or Surplus? Instructor Commentary on Students’ Drafts in First-Year Composition.” New England Modern Language Association Conference, Boston, MA.
February, 2024
“Providing Effective Feedback for Student Writing.” New England Association of Teachers of English; selected to Provide Online Interactive Workshop for English Educators
November, 2023
“Response or Reaction? Connecting with Emotions in the Feedback Process for Student Writing.” National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Columbus, OH.
October, 2023
“Providing Effective Feedback for Graduate Students’ Writing.” Selected to provide an Online Interactive Workshop. Johns Hopkins Education Department, Baltimore, MD.
November, 2022
“Increasing Students’ Transference of Teacher Commentary to Subsequent Drafts Using a Digital Tool.” National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Anaheim, CA.
April, 2016
Session Chair, “Rhetoric of Literature.” College Composition and Communication Conference, Houston, TX.
July, 2013
“Can You Hear Me Now? Using Audio-Taped Commentary in the Composition Classroom.” Conference on English Education, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO.
May, 2012
“Deliberative Discourse Surrounding the Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” Rhetorical Society of America Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
June, 2010
“The War Collective, The War Individual.” Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Summer Teacher Institute Presenter and Panelist, Cleveland, OH.
November, 2007
“Speak Up: Student Writers Choose and Use Voice Effectively.” Poster Presentation at the National Council of Teachers of English Convention. New York, NY.
October, 2006
“Speak Up: Student Writers Choose and Use Voice Effectively.” Presentation at New England Association of Teachers of English Conference, Nashua, NH.
July, 2005
“Raising the Writer’s Voice: Actively or Passively?” Workshop presentation at The Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar Conference, Chicago, IL.
October, 2004
“Teaching Techniques for More Glamorous Grammar.” Workshop presentation at New England Association of Teachers of English Conference, Nashua, NH.
March, 2003
“Lost Art; Found Genre: Letters as Rhetorical Genre.” Presentation at College Composition and Communication Conference, New York, NY.
November, 2001
“Determining the Credibility of Websites.” Roundtable Presentation at National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Baltimore, MD.
October, 2001
“Reincarnating Shakespeare: Strategies and Activities for Teaching the Bard’s Plays.” Co-Presentation at the New England Association of Teachers of English Conference, Nashua, NH.
November, 2000
“Cadets and their Seventh-Grade Comrades: A Cross-Curricular Writing Project.” Presentation at National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Milwaukee, WI.
March, 1999
“Examining Perceptions: A Teacher and Students Negotiate Response in an Advanced Composition Class.” Research presented in a panel session at the College Composition and Communication Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Writing and Literature Pedagogy-International
June, 2016
“Language and Laughter in Shakespeare’s Comedies.” National Association for the Teachers of English Conference. Stratford-Upon-Avon, England.
April, 1999
“Examining Perceptions: A Teacher and Students Negotiate Meaning in an Advanced Composition Class.” Research presented in Paper Session, American Education Research Association Conference, Montreal, CN.
Humanities and Reading Pedagogy
March, 2018
“Reading Strategies for International Cadets” Presentation at Conference on Academic Success, USAFA, Colorado Springs, CO.
April, 2008
“The USCGA’s Humanities Dept. Curriculum and Courses with ‘Hugh the Manatee.’” USAFA Humanities Summit, Colorado Springs, CO.
February, 2003
“Conflict Management in Peer Tutoring Programs.” Co-Presentation at the National Association of Developmental Education Conference, Austin, TX.
Scholarly Articles and Conference Proceedings
Writing and Literature Pedagogy
January, 2014
Wink, K. “Speaking Up: Examining Voice in War Correspondence.” Journal of Teaching Writing, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN.
February, 2011
Wink, K. “Why Faulkner, Still?” Center for Faulkner Studies—Teaching Series Publication, Southeastern Missouri State University, MO.
June, 2010
Wink, K. “The War Collective, The War Individual.” Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Summer Teacher Institute; Selected Conference Proceedings, Cleveland, OH.
September, 2009
Wink, K. “Leadership Lessons Through Storytelling: Tim O’Brien’s Visit to My Classroom.” New Jersey English Journal. New Jersey Council of Teachers of English, Hillsdale, NJ.
September, 2006
Wink, K. “A Lesson from the Holocaust: From Bystander to Advocate in the Classroom.” English Journal, National Council of Teachers of English, Urbana, IL.
May, 2000
Wink, K. “Rhetorical Pedagogy for Active and Passive Voice.” WritingInstructor.com, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Professional Publications at U.S. Coast Guard Academy
June, 2024
Wink, K. Effective Public Speaking Guide for Coast Guard’s Junior Officers, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT.
December, 2008
Wink, K. “Leadership Lessons through Storytelling: Tim O’Brien’s Visit to My Classroom.” USCGA Alumni’s The Bulletin.
October, 2009
Wink, K. “Wally Lamb’s Wisdom.” USCGA Alumni’s The Bulletin.
January-May, 2000
Wink, K. and Stevens, G. Navigational Guide to Success. Co-edited Guide for wide usage in Fourth Class Academic Orientation Program (FCAOP) courses to strengthen the study skills of all fourth-class cadets. Wrote and revised separate chapters for Guide on reading and writing skills. U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT.
June-August 2000
Wink, K. and Stevens, G. Coast Guard Academy Peer Tutor Manual. Co-authored and edited a “user-friendly” manual for 70 peer tutors on such topics as reading strategies, learning styles, conflict management, and test-taking anxiety. U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT.
Presentations at U.S Coast Guard Academy and Coast Guard Sector
Writing and Public Speaking Pedagogy
September, 2024
“Effective Public Speaking for Coast Guard Officers,” Sector Long Island, New Haven, CT.
April, 2025
“Commenting on Students’ Writing in Humanities Courses,” Presentation to pxl and pxg faculty.
February, 2016
“Writing Meaningful Comments for Students’ Writing,” Center for Teaching and Learning Lunch Presentation and Discussion.
January, 2014
“Using Audio-Taped Commentary in Writing-Based Courses. Presentation at Faculty In-Service.
February, 2011
“Approaches to Reading College Texts,” Center for Teaching and Learning Lunch Presentation and Discussion.
Scholarly Service in English Education
November, 2024
Volunteer for Professional Activities, National Council of Teachers of English Conference, Boston, MA.
December, 2004-Present
Reviewer of Manuscripts, English Journal, Publication of the Education, Wellesley College, National Council of Teachers of English, Urbana, IL.
September, 2006-2015
Board Member, New England Association of Teachers of English.
January-November 2013
Associate Chair for the College Level, National Council of Teachers of English Conference, Boston, MA.
March, 2007-2012
Chair, New England Teachers’ Poetry Competition, New England Association of Teachers of English.
October, 2009-2010
Participant, Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Institute for Women in Higher Education, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA.
Professional Memberships
* National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
* New England Association of Teachers of English (NEATE)
Karen A Wink, Ph.D. 