My professional training is as a scholar of rhetoric, composition, and literacy studies—an interdisciplinary field that explores how people engage in literate acts in their daily lives. I earned my Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and I taught university courses in on writing, authorship, autobiography, literacy and culture, and rhetorical theory. At the University of Puget Sound, I directed the Center for Writing, Learning, and Teaching and served as Dean of Faculty Affairs, and I have extensive experience with faculty development, peer learning, and university administration.
In 2025 I retired early from university teaching and have shifted my focus to work with global Englishes. I earned my Cambridge CELTA certification from Teaching House in London in 2025 and have been working with English language learners in a variety of ways since then.
About Julie
I started learning a second language at age eight and have been working on additional languages on and off since then. I have taken coursework in French, German, Italian, Mandarin, and Swahili, and I have given professional presentations in German and in Swahili. I have studied Spanish and Ukrainian online and I have a language learning app streak going back to 2022.
With all of this language study, am I able to speak fluently in all these languages and switch seamlessly between them? Alas, no. Do I know what it feels like to be corrected or, worse, dismissed by people because of my language proficiency? Yes. Do I have a deep understanding of how hard it is to become fluent? Absolutely.
I bring this work in other languages to my perspective on global Englishes. While I am highly fluent in English, I do not take it for granted, and I am appreciative of the work it has taken for other professionals to engage in the work they do in English.
Global Experience
Taiwan: Fulbright English Medium Teacher Trainer, Student Travel Study Leader, Faculty Exchange Participant
2024-2027
As Fulbright scholar, will offer professional to English medium university faculty and Fulbright English Teaching Assistants, through visits, observations, consultations and coordination as Fulbright Scholar; led undergraduate travel study program for 10 days in Taiwan as culmination of course on Global Englishes; participated in faculty learning tour across Taiwan; engaged in Mandarin language learning through academic coursework in the US and in Taiwan and through immersion.
Ukraine: Peace Corps Virtual Service Pilot, ESL Faculty Development
Summer 2026
Co-designed and taught summer workshop for English medium faculty, focused on business communication themes in English, incorporating research in ESL teaching techniques and technologies and intercultural communication.
Germany: Visiting scholar, Goethe University Writing Center; DAAD German Language Learning Grant; University of Passau Exchange Scholar
2012-2017, residences of 1-3 months per year
Conducted interviews with students on their identity as expressed in their academic writing, gave lectures, and engaged in German language learning through 4 university courses in the US, grant-funded coursework and homestay in Germany, and immersion.
Zanzibar, Tanzania: Fulbright Scholar and Research Partner
2009-2010 and virtually to the present
As Fulbright scholar, tught two university courses at the State University of Zanzibar and conducted published research on adult basic literacy in Zanzibar; collaborated with scholars in Zanzibar virtually, resulting in published research; engaged in Swahili language learning through private tutor and immersion.
England: Study Abroad and Cambridge CELTA Certification
1992 and 2026
Participated in Study Abroad semester on film and theatre in London as an undergraduate, and earned Cambridge CELTA certification in person in London in 2026.
Recognition
Walter Lowrie Faculty Service Award
Awarded in 2026: given to one faculty member annually at the University of Puget Sound for distinguished service.
Martinson Award of Excellence
Awarded in 2021, in recognition of an innovative and successful initiative in a writing program for my creation of Sound Writing: the highest national recognition for Small Liberal Arts Colleges Writing Program Administrators.
Ron Maxwell Distinguished Leadership Award
Awarded in 2019, for distinguished leadership in peer tutoring, the highest national recognition awarded by the National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing.
Fulbright Scholar
Awarded in 2009 and 2026, in recognition of outstanding promise in promoting mutual understanding between nations.