C/V
Rachel Colleen Kurasz
Northern Illinois University Ph.D. Candidate
Rhetoric and Composition: Multimodal Rhetoric and Composition/ Comics and Animation Studies
Phone Email
(630) 234-0268 rckurasz@gmail.com
Current Ph.D. Candidate at Northern Illinois University is seeking tenure-track professorship. Her tentative Graduation Date is 12/2024.
Education
Fall 2018- Present Northern Illinois University, PhD. in Rhetoric and Composition
1425 W Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL 60115.
Dissertation- I Think We've Learned Something Today: South Park and Dialectical Rhetoric amidst Trumpism.
Director: Dr. Bradley Peters
Committee Members: Dr. Scott Balcerzak and Dr. Ryan Shepherd.
Comprehensive Exams Taken: Rhetoric and Multimodal Composition & Comics/Cartoon Pedagogy. (Passed Jan. 2021)
Committee Members: Dr. Bradley Peters (chair), Dr. Jessica Reyman (reader), Dr. Scott Balcerzak (reader).
GPA: 3.72
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2024
Fall 2015-Fall 2017 Roosevelt University M.F.A. in Creative Fiction Writing
430 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605
Thesis: De-Partments, A Novel. (Completed October 2016)
Advisor: Kyle Beachy
Reader: Christian TeBordo
Graduated December 2017
GPA: 3.86
Fall 2010- Fall 2013 Southern Illinois University B.A. in Mass Communication & Media
Arts. 1263 Lincoln Dr. Carbondale, IL 62901.
Major : Radio-Television Production
Minor : English
Graduated December 2013
GPA: 3.68, Graduated Cum Laude.
Teaching Experience
Fall 2019- Present Northern Illinois University
1425 W Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL 60115.
GA: First Year Composition Instructor
Courses Taught: Eng 103: Introduction to College Writing, Eng 203: Introduction to Research Writing, Eng 204: Honors Writing Course, & Eng 110: The Graphic Memoir.
Fall 2018 & Fall 2023 North Central College
30 N. Brainard St. Naperville, IL 60540.
English Adjunct Instructor
Course Taught: English 101- Introduction to College Writing & Multimodal Composition and CARD 101: Introduction to College Writing.
Fall 2016-Fall 2017 Roosevelt University
430 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605
Writing Center Tutor
Reoccurring lectures given: The Quote Sandwich, Evaluating Sources.
Creative Publications
May 2021- “The Monster in the Drain” (Under Pen Name) Quail Bell Magazine
http://www.quailbellmagazine.com/the-unreal-20/fiction-the-monster-in-the-drain-by-rachel-head.
2020- “Death Potato Casserole” Roanoke Review
http://www.roanokereview.org/prose2020/rachel-kurasz
Other Publications
Currently Under Consideration for Publication- "Not all Pirates are Captain Hooks: A Queer Rhetorical Analysis of Disney's 1953 Peter Pan."
Animation Studies Journal.
March 2018- “What Feminism Should Look Like: A look at Tina Belcher from Bob’s Bugers”
FilmDaddy.com, https://www.filmdaddy.com/television/tina-belcher-is-a-feminist?rq=Kurasz.
Dec 2017- “ACT Therapy and ‘Rest and Ricklaxation”
FilmDaddy.com https://www.filmdaddy.com/television/2017/12/1/rest-and-ricklaxation?rq=Kurasz.
Dec 2017- “Big Mouth: an Honest Reflection of Middle School”
FilmDaddy.com https://www.filmdaddy.com/television/2017/12/11/big-mouth?rq=Kurasz.
Relevant Experience
2022-Present- Writer for Liberium Studios
I am a contract writer for Liberium Studios located in Chicago and California. My current main project for them is a television series.
2022-Present- Writer for Gravity Studios
I am a writer for Gravity Studios in Chicago. They are currently producing various audio dramas. My current projects are Project Gravity, a science fiction audio drama; and Chicago Noire, a mystery series rooted in Chicago History.
2017-2019- Communications and Editorial Intern for Cambridge Writer’s Writing Group.
Made promotional materials, sat at the informational booth during writer’s conferences, attended and organized writing conferences in Rock Port, MA, and New Orleans, LA.
Fall 2017- AWP Writer to Writer Mentee.
I was accepted to this prestigious group of seasoned, established authors and was paired with fiction author Laura Creedle, who helped me develop my work, gain valuable connections, learn how to query and get published, and develop confidence in my work.
2015-2016- Poetry and Fiction Editor of The Oyez Review
Helped select which pieces made it into the review, edited pieces according to Chicago Style, helped assemble the issue in Microsoft Publisher, contacted the printers, helped sell the review by attending writer’s conferences.
Memberships
The National Council of Teacher’s of English (NCTE)
The Popular Culture Association
The Comics Studies Society
Authors Writers & Poets (AWP)
AWP Writer to Writer Alumni Group
Conference Presentations and Readings
March 2023- Popular Culture Association National Conference- Oh, I Was A Lesbian Back Then: South Park, Gender, & Sexuality & I Think I've Learned Something Today: Using South Park to Teach Dialectical Rhetoric in Higher Education.
May 2022- Gender and Sexuality Conference at Northern Illinois University- Not all Pirates are Captain Hook, A Queer Multimodal Rhetorical Analysis of Disney’s Peter Pan.
March 2022- Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC)- Neurodiversity in Higher Education Roundtable Presented by Neurodiverse Instructors and Students.
2021- Allerton English Articulation Conference- Neurodiversity Considerations in the First Year Composition Writing Prompts and Course Design.
2020- (Cancelled due to COVID) National Comic Arts Conference- Prof. Hulk as a Reflection/ History of American Psychological Practices
2020- Authors Writers Poets National Conference San Antonio- Writing with a Disability/ Disabled Participation Considerations- Panelist
AWP Writer to Writer Short Readings, “Death Potato Casserole”- Reader
Cambridge Writers Group Reading, “Death Potato Casserole”- Reader
2020- Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture Since 1900- The Punchline is Desire: A Psychoanalytic Interpretation of Alan Moore’s Batman: The Killing Joke.
2019- Midwestern Conference on Literature, Language, and Media- Neurodiverse Representation in Around the World in 80 Days.
December 2017- Graduation Reading- DePartments, A Novel. Fiction
October 2017-Cambridge Writer’s Workshop Conference- My Big Fat Romani Family. Creative Nonfiction
2016- Roosevelt University MFA Reading at The Book Cellar- The Haunted House Without A Story. Fiction.
Awards and Honors
Spring 2024- Professional Development Award- Northern Illinois University
Spring 2023- Graduate Fostering Belonging Award- Northern Illinois University.
2022- Recipient of a 2022 Disability in College Composition Travel Award- CCCC
2016- Recipient of a Student Travel Scholarship through the Cambridge Writer’s Workshop
2013- Illinois Residence Hall Association Program of the Month Award- “End the Hunger Games, Food Drive” Organizer and Participating Member
2013- Southern Illinois Residence Hall Association Program of the Year Award- “End the Hunger Games, Food Drive” Organizer and Participating Member
Languages
English- Native Language
Spanish- Proficient
Japanese- Intermediate
Professional Appointments
Aug 2023-Present IDEA Committee Member
Aug 2022-Jan 2023- First Year Composition Committee Member, Northern Illinois University.
2021-2022- Organizer of the MCLLM 2022 Conference “Tough But Necessary Conversations: Social Justice in Literature, Language, and Media.”
2021-2022- FYCOMP Textbook Selection Committee Member
2020-2021- English Graduate Student Association- Board Member
2012-2013- SIU National Residence Hall Honorary Vice President
2011-2012- SIU National Residence Hall Honorary National Communications Coordinator
Additional Activities and Experience
2015-2016 Roosevelt University ITS Student Worker
- My duties were to create instructional and promotional videos for the college’s ITS services and new Net ID system. I utilized YouTube, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop in addition to filming content myself.
2012-2013 SolidLine Media Post-Production Intern
-My duties were to edit commercial videos, conference presentations, short films, and marketing tools for various companies around the Chicagoland area. I utilized AVID Editing Software, Adobe Premire, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Final Cut Pro along with operating in-studio cameras and sound equipment to make content.
2012-2013 SIU Sports
- Camera Operator for Basketball Games and Football Games
2010-2013 WSIU PBS Production Team Member
- Had various positions including: Director, Assistant Director, Camera Operator, Floor Director, Technical Director, Switch Board Operator, and Graphics Operator.
- Worked on: River Region Evening Edition News, Scholastic Hi-Q!, Studio B Music Program.
2006-2011 Creative Digital Media Postproduction Member
- Started as an intern in 2006, was promoted to editor in 2008. Worked primarily in AVID Media Composer. Edited local dance troupe videos, plays, corporate events, concerts, and weddings.