Curriculum Vitae

Aja Y. Mart ine z

3209 E. 2nd Street Tucson, AZ 85716 (520) 390-7401 aym@email.arizona.edu

E D U C AT I O N
PhD in Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English, Expected May 2012 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Dissertation: Critical Race Counterstory as Rhetorical Methodology: A Chicanas Academic Experience told through Sophistic Argument, Narrative, and Allegory Committee: Adela C. Licona (Chair), Thomas P. Miller, Maritza E. Cardenas, and Victor Villanueva, Jr. Dissertation Description: My dissertation focuses on Chicana/o identity in academia and uses critical race counterstory (a methodology of critical race theory) to construct a dialogue, a narrative, and an allegory based on personal experience and related literatures. The counterstories illustrate a Chicana/o undergraduate and graduate student experience and address the topics of cultural displacement, assimilation, the American Dream, and ethnic studies. Areas of Specialization: First-Year Composition, Writing Program Administration, Service Learning, Rhetorics of Race and Racism, Critical Race Theory, CRT Counterstory, Qualitative Research Methods (Ethnography) MA in Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English, December 2007 University of Arizona BA in Anthropology, May 2005 University of Arizona Minor: English; Family Studies & Human Development

Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Tucson, AZ Mexican American Studies: Special Topics in Transformative Education Two Sections Emphasis on student success through focus on perceptions and expectations about college, on coping and learning strategies, and on practical skills for taking ownership and making the most of the opportunity presented at the university. Students in this course are mainly UA Hispanic Alumni Scholarship recipients. English 101+/197B: First-Year Composition for Basic Writers Six Sections Emphasis on a wide range of multicultural social issues and texts. The myth of biological race and the lived social reality of race and racism are explored through multimedia texts such as teen film, stand-up comedy, song lyrics, and underrepresented literature. Follows an assignment sequence similar to standard 101 sections, but is paired with a one credit studio craft session, English 197B.

Martinez 2 English 101: First-Year Composition Six Sections Emphasis on close reading and written analysis of a wide range of multimedia texts concerning issues of diversity. Through both formal and informal writing assignments, students practice a variety of methods for reading and analyzing texts. Writing process is a major emphasis in this course. English 102: First-Year Composition Eight Sections Emphasis on issues pertaining to access and retention in higher education. Key concepts and skills covered in 102 are rhetorical analysis, research, reflection, and revision. Students read critical race theorists and education theorists and also take part in a service learning partnership with students from local high schools. UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA NEW START SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM Tucson, AZ English 101: First-Year Composition One Section Emphasis on close reading and written analysis of a wide range of multimedia texts concerning issues of diversity. Through both formal and informal writing assignments, students practice a variety of methods for reading and analyzing these texts. Writing process is a major emphasis in this course. English 102: First-Year Composition Two Sections Emphasis on issues pertaining to access and retention in higher education. Key concepts and skills covered in 102 are rhetorical analysis, research, reflection, and revision. Students read critical race theorists and education theorists. PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Tucson, AZ Writing 100 One Section Review of sentence structure, mechanics and usage. Includes review of sentence patterns, designing and writing effective paragraphs, and developing short essays. Writing 101 Five Sections Introduction to the principles of rhetorical strategies, writing as a process, and MLA format. Writing as a process is a major emphasis for this course. Writing 102 Five Sections Includes writing analytical, analysis and discussion of various types of literature, developing research skills and writing a research paper.

W R I T I N G P R O G R A M A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
University of Arizona WRITING PROGRAM Tucson, AZ English 101+ Teacher Collaborative Coordinator Fall 2008 In this position I coordinated and facilitated weekly meetings for graduate and adjunct teachers of English 101+. I provided sample lesson plans and classroom activities from my own experience teaching the course and scheduled lesson plan presentations from other experienced instructors. Because English 101+ serves a basic writing population with various needs I arranged for campus representatives from Athletics, the Disability Resource Center, Center for English as a Second Language, and Alternative Learning Strategies to join our weekly meetings and provide presentations about the student demographic each organization serves. First-year Composition Curriculum Development Fall 2007 I developed, successfully piloted, and taught for four years this first-year composition curricula specially designated toward multicultural topics including colorblind and institutional racism, access to higher education, and service learning.

Martinez 3 Wildcat Writers Service Learning Partnership Fall 2007-Present In this service learning partnership I coordinate writing exchanges between my university first-year composition students and students in an African American Literature course at Cholla High Magnet School, in which UA students peer review Cholla students Personal Statement essays that will serve as part of their application packet for admission to the University of Arizona. To initiate this service learning partnership I schedule meetings between collaborating teachers from the university and high school. I also write for and secure grants to cover costs associated with a field trip to Chollas campus for a forum to discuss college, and costs associated with a field trip for Cholla students to the UA campus. Finally, for the past two years I have been training new graduate students in my program for their own servicelearning partnerships. WRIPAC Difference and Inequality Committee Member Fall 2007-Spring 2008 I served on the committee responsible for setting program curricular goals concerning the promotion and integration of readings, assignments, activities, and writing projects that foster awareness of differences of a broad range of historical experiences, cultural perspectives and social issues in the writing classroom. NEW START SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM Tucson, AZ Academic Conference Planning Committee Summer 2007-2009 In this position I was responsible for coordinating all arrangements for this two-day conference in which high school students present scholarly works from their summer bridge courses in a professional academic conference setting. Arrangements included designing and advertising the call for proposals to accepting presentations and coordinating daily happenings during the two-day conference.

P U B L I C AT I O N S
Edited Book Young, Vershawn Ashanti and Aja Y. Martinez, ed. Code-meshing as World English: Policy, Pedagogy, and Performance. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, 2011. Peer-Reviewed Young, Vershawn Ashanti and Aja Y. Martinez. Code-meshing as World English Introduction. Code meshing as World English: Policy, Pedagogy, and Performance. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, 2011. Martinez, Aja Y. The American Way: Resisting the Empire of Force and Colorblind Racism. College English. 71.6 (2009). 584-595. Textbook Do, Tom Hong and Aja Y. Martinez. Writing About Film and Other Visual Texts. Writing As Revision. Ed. Beth Alvarado and Barbara Cully. 4th ed. Needham Heights, NJ: Pearson Custom, 2011. Book Review Martinez, Aja Y. Chicana/Latina Education in Everyday Life: Feminist Perspectives on Pedagogy and Epistemology. Ed. Dolores Delgado Bernal, et al. Community Literacy Journal. 3.2 (2009). Work in Progress Martinez, Aja Y. Critical Race Theory Counterstory as Allegory: A rhetorical trope to raise awareness about Arizonas ban on ethnic studies Across the Disciplines. Spring/Fall (2012). Under review. 46pp.

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H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S
HONORS Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, Honorable Mention, 2011. University of Arizona Graduate College Fellowship, 2010-2011. $5,316. University of Arizona Graduate College Stipend, 2011. $1,000. Texas State University-San Marcos Predoctoral Summer Dissertation Fellowship, 2010. $11,000. University of Arizona Diversity Fellowship, 2007-2008. $1,000. Arizona Scholars Fellowship, 2005-2007. $1,000. University of Arizona McNair Scholars Summer Research Institute Fellowship, 2003. $2,000. Founder of Gamma Alpha Omega Jessica Aguirre White Rose Scholarship, for Outstanding Female Southern Arizona High School Seniors, 2002. AWARDS Julie Christakis DeFazio Excellence in Teaching Award, 2010. $2,000. University of Arizona Centennial Achievement Graduate Student Award, 2011-2012. $500. University of Arizona New Start Summer Bridge Program Outstanding Instructor Award, 2009. $100. Conference on College Composition and Communication Scholars for the Dream National Award for Underrepresented Scholars, 2008. $700. Johnnie Raye Harper Teaching Award, Finalist, 2006. University of Arizona Centennial Achievement Undergraduate Student Award, Nominee, 2005. PEO Culver Stetson Memorial Fund Scholarship, 2004-2005. $1,000.

S C H O L A R LY P R E S E N TAT I O N S
NATIONAL Conference on College Composition and Communication

St. Louis, MO March 2012 Digital Intertextuality and Cultural Production: Using Critical Theories to Produce and Question Film and Video in the Composition Classroom (Accepted) Mankato, MN October 2011 Pan Dulce or Cornbread?: A Chicanas Critical Race Counterstory vs. the Institutions Stock Story Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference Atlanta, GA April 2011 Teaching Writing with Latino/a Students in the South: A Workshop Sponsored by the NCTE/CCCC Latino/a Caucus Conference on College Composition and Communication Denver, CO October 2010 Pedagogies for Social Justice: The Examination of Transborder Epistemologies and Media Literacy as Sites for Transformative Pedagogies American Educational Studies Association

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Conference on College Composition and Communication Reconsidering Chicano English: English Only Policy and the Borderlands

Louisville, KY March 2010

San Francisco, CA March 2009 Latina/o Pedagogy, Research, and Service: A Workshop Sponsored by the NCTE Latino/a Caucus Conference on College Composition and Communication

Token Teens and Unrecognizable Minorities: Using the Visual Rhetorics of the American Teen Pic to Teach Color-Blind Racism
New Orleans, LA April 2008 Where We Enter: LatCrit as Means for Development and Implementation of Conscious Composition Praxis in a Changing World Conference on College Composition and Communication The Society for Applied Anthropology Memphis, TN March 2008 I Am the Token Black Guy: Teaching With Teen Film to Illustrate Color-blind Racism

Little Rock, AR October 2007 Where We Enter: LatCrit as Means for Development and Implementation of Conscious Composition Praxis in a Changing World Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference Council of Writing Program Administrators Ready or Not?: On the Prospect of Becoming jWPAs Santa Fe, NM March 2005 Traditional Knowledge, Ownership, and Practice: Generation Land and Commonages The Society for Applied Anthropology GPS Mapping of Marine Resource Exploitation, Great Exuma Bahamas The Society for Applied Anthropology Generation Land: Traditional Forms of Owning Land and Sea REGIONAL University of Arizona Spring Conference Literacy Practicum Discussion Proper Form!: Demystifying MLA Citation and Documentation for the College Student (poster presentation) Tucson, AZ April 2007 Dallas, TX March 2004 Tempe, AZ July 2007

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I N V I T E D L E C T U R E S A N D P R E S E N TAT I O N S
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH CONFERENCE Chicago, IL November 2011 Code-meshing as World English: Pedagogy, Policy, and Performance Author Strand Session San Marcos, TX February 2011 Pan Dulce or Cornbread?: An Examination of a Chicana's Critical Race Counterstory vs. the Institution's Stock Story Texas State Summer Fellows Speaker Series February 2010 Visual Rhetorics and the American Teen Pic: Introducing Color-Blind Racism Theory in the First-Year Composition Classroom Texas State Summer Fellows Speaker Series TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY-SAN MARCOS Tucson, AZ March 2010 Hybridity and Latin America: Discourse, History, and the Limits of Race, A Roundtable Discussion with Visiting Scholar Dr. Joshua Lund UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA July 2007 & 2008 What We Know Now that We Wish We Knew Then: Word of Wisdom from Instructors who have Been There New Start Summer Program Speaker Series April 2007 Personal Perspectives Concerning Thirdspace English Graduate Student Union Diversity and Inequality Brownbag October 2004 Traditional Knowledge, Ownership, and Practice: Community-Based Resource Management in the Exuma Cays, Bahamas Graduate & Professional Student Council 12th Annual Student Showcase August 2004 Traditional Knowledge, Ownership, and Practice: Community-Based Resource Management in the Exuma Cays, Bahamas UA Ronald E. McNair Colloquium

P R O F E S S I O N A L A C T I V I T I E S A N D D E PA R T M E N TA L S E R V I C E
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs Tucson, AZ Graduate Assistant Fall 2011-Spring 2012 I assist and support the Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs staff in creating an affirming and supportive environment through specific outreach, programming and student interaction that promotes community building, self exploration and personal, as well as, leadership development. Activities and programs include paraprofessional counseling, making referrals, designing and implementing educational cultural experiences that deepen understanding of racial identities and social justice. Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching English Mentoring Program Tucson, AZ Mentor Fall 2010-Spring 2011 I mentored an incoming first-year student in this graduate program. I also discussed strategies that would assist the student in his adjustment to the first year of graduate study in the RCTE program.

Martinez 7 Arizona Assurance Scholars Program Tucson, AZ Mentor Fall 2009-Spring 2011 I mentored first-generation college students from underserved populations. I also discussed strategies that would assist students in their adjustment to the first year of undergraduate study. Graduate College Tucson, AZ Editor Summer 2007 I edited a Masters thesis for a student in an Environmental Sciences program. I also discussed ideas and provided editing and revision related feedback about her thesis. Graduate and Professional Student Council Travel Grant Application Evaluator Tucson, AZ Summer 2007

English Graduate Union Difference and Inequality Committee Tucson, AZ Co-Chair/Member Fall 2006-Spring 2008 I held weekly meetings in which graduate students gathered to discuss departmental and campus issues of difference and inequality. In addition to the meeting this committee made arrangements for speakers from a variety of disciplines to speak at a series of brown-bag discussions concerning campus issues of difference and inequality. NATIONAL Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference Conference Proposal Evaluator The Society for Applied Anthropology Invited Session Chair

East Lansing, MI Spring 2009 Memphis, TN March 2008

S E RV IC E A N D OU T R EA C H
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Peter and Pat Likins Day for Outstanding Seniors Tucson, AZ Invited Instructor Spring 2009 I conducted an English 101 course demonstration for both parents and students invited to this event. Womens Basketball Tucson, AZ Guest Coach Spring 2009 Members of the Womens Basketball team nominated me to join the team as a guest coach for a game as a thank you for my service as an instructor and tutor with UA Athletics. Language, Reading, and Culture Freshman Seminar Tucson, AZ Guest Speaker Fall 2009 I visited the LRC 197A Investigative Learning Strategies course to discuss my educational path. This course is held for first-generation freshmen to assist in their adjustment to campus. I am a first-generation college student and was invited to tell my story and answer any questions the new students had about strategies for academic success. LOCAL COMMUNITY GEAR UP Tucson, AZ Volunteer 2007-2009 I participated as a volunteer during Family Literacy events at local middle schools. I also assisted in event set up and facilitation of discussion. GEAR UP is a discretionary grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

Martinez 8 GEAR UP provides six-year grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. Pima Community College Adult Education Tucson, AZ Volunteer Spring 2006 I participated as a classroom volunteer with the At-Risk-Youth GED course. I assisted students with their in-class work in disciplines such as math, social studies, and writing.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Bureau for Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA) Tucson, AZ Undergraduate Research Assistant 2004-2005 I conducted research for the Bureau for Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA), at the University of Arizona in Cultural Anthropology, under the direction of Dr. Richard Stoffle. Research involved transcription of ethnographic interviews conducted on the Arizona Strip with Kaibab and San Juan Paiute Native American Nations, for a Bureau of Land Management project concerning the nomination of culturally significant sites for conservational protection. Ronald E. McNair Achievement Program Tucson, AZ Undergraduate Research Assistant Summer 2004 I conducted research for the Ronald E. McNair Achievement Program at the University of Arizona in Anthropology, under the direction of Dr. Richard Stoffle. Research involved ethnographic and archival research on the subject of community-based resource management systems and their relationship to proposed Marine Protected Areas in Exuma, Bahamas. Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Tucson, AZ Undergraduate Research Assistant Summer 2004 I conducted research for the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) at the University of Arizona in Archaeology, under the direction of Dr. Charles Bollong. Research comprised the archaeological component of the Bahamas Marine Protected Areas project. This research sought to map recent, historic, and prehistoric distributions of conch shell within the Marine Protected Area zones in order to provide evidence for long-term patterns of resource use by Exuma, Bahamas residents. Diebold Linguistic Anthropology Teaching Laboratory Tucson, AZ Independent Study Spring 2003 I conducted research for the Diebold Linguistic Anthropology Teaching Laboratory at the University of Arizona in Linguistic Anthropology, under the direction of Dr. Norma Mendoza-Denton. Research was based on Dr. Mendoza-Dentons works involving females aspects of Hispanic gang affiliation through representative mediums including language, make-up, hair, and clothing. Bureau for Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA) Tucson, AZ Undergraduate Research Assistant 2002-2005 I conducted research for the Bureau for Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA), at the University of Arizona in Cultural Anthropology, under the direction of Dr. Richard Stoffle. Research focused on the Bahamas Marine Protected Area Social Impact project, funded by the National Science Foundation. This project is conducted with ethnographic research methods to determine the potential social impact of proposed Marine Protected Areas in the Bahamian sea.

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MEMBERSHIPS
NATIONAL Coalition of Women Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition Modern Language Association Conference on College Composition and Communication Latino Caucus Conference on College Composition and Communication Council of Writing Program Administrators National Womens Studies Association National Council of Teachers of English American Anthropological Association Society for Applied Anthropology UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Ronald E. McNair Achievement Program Scholar Gamma Alpha Omega Latina Sorority, Beta Chapter 2011-Present 2010-Present 2008-Present 2007-Present 2007-Present 2007-Present 2006-Present 2004-2006 2003-Present

2004-Present 2002-Present

GRANTS
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Writing Program Funds to Foster Collaboration Grant for service-learning activities, 2011. $100. Student Affairs Student/Faculty Interaction Grant, 2010 & 2011. $150 & $250. English Graduate Union Travel Grant, 2009 & 2010. $320 & $345. IGERT Minority Student Integrated Graduate Training in Archaeological Science Summer Research Grant, 2004. $2,000. PADI Foundation Research Grant, Cultural Connections to the Sea: Traditional Knowledge and Marine Protected Areas, 2003. $2,000.

REFERENCES
Thomas P. Miller, Associate Provost of Faculty Affairs The University of Arizona Telephone: (520) 626-0202 Email: tpm@email.arizona.edu Victor Villanueva, Jr., Professor and English Department Head Auburn University Telephone: (334) 844-9079 Email: vzv0006@auburn.edu Adela C. Licona, Assistant Professor University of Arizona Telephone: (520) 621-0777 Email: aclicona@email.arizona.edu Erec Toso, Writing Program Teaching Supervisor University of Arizona Telephone: (520) 621-3223 Email: netoso@email.arizona.edu

Martinez 10 Vershawn Ashanti Young, Associate Professor University of Kentucky Telephone: (859) 257-1271 Email: vershawn.young@uky.edu