“I never intended to spend more than a decade at DePaul, so I think the fact that I’m still here is a pretty strong testament to the value of being part of the DePaul community.” — Sarah Brown (2010), Assistant Director for Faculty Development and Instructional Technology and WRD Instructor
Alumni from the DePaul MA program go on to pursue a variety of careers and futures. Some alumni, like Eric Iberri (2010), go on to become technical writers. Others, like 2018 graduate Natalie Schawel (2018), go into content development and professional writing. Many pursue careers in higher education, not only teaching writing but also working in instructional technology and administration. Others still graduate and pursue their PhDs, such as graduates Alex Gonzalez (2018) and Sarah Hughes (2012).
There are many different paths for alumni with WRD bachelor and master’s degrees, as the program allows students to follow their interest, take a wide range of courses, and develop their writing and thinking skills in innovative – and marketable – ways.
Why DePaul?
While there are many places a WRD degree can take you, many alumni decide to stay and continue their professional work at DePaul University. With 15+ MA in WRD students currently working at DePaul University, we were interested to find out what it was about DePaul that made them stay, or return.
WRD alumni can be found working in multiple departments and offices throughout campus, WRD’s First Year Writing program, the University Center for Writing-based Learning (UCWbL), and the Center for Teaching and Learning, to name a few, but a few common themes arose about the culture and community of DePaul University.
Relationship Building
Carolyn Vos (2015) is the Assistant Director of Instructional Technology in the Center for Teaching and Learning, and also teaches 1-2 courses per quarter in the First Year Writing program. When asked what makes the DePaul community so special to her, she points to the relationships she made in the WRD program and maintained after her graduation.
“I cannot say enough about the friends I made during my MAWRD program,” she said. “I was lucky enough to have a cohort of amazing people that now even teach at DePaul. I still meet up with them during the quarter. We meet at Whole Foods, like we would do during our program, and we catch up on each other’s lives, help finalize new syllabi, and even just sit together while we grade. Having them to talk to, both during and after the program, and has been invaluable to how I teach.”
Alumna Allie Gourley (2017) also points to the power of strong relationships when it comes to what makes the DePaul community so welcoming. Allie teaches in the First Year Writing program, currently teaching one section of WRD 103, but also teaches WRD 104 and Transition DePaul.
Being a double demon meant that Allie had a personal understanding of the First Year Writing program that was furthered by completing the Teaching Apprenticeship Program. With this first-hand knowledge, “coming to teach at DePaul seemed like a no-brainer.”
“You have a lot of chances to build those relationships with, not only your peers but also your instructors,” Allie said, pointing to the impact of these connections. “It’s… a very unique moment when your previous professors become your colleagues.”
Support for Professional Development and Personal Growth
Katie Martin (2016), is the Workshops Coordinator in the UCWbL, where she plans, develops and facilitates in class writing workshops for instructors across all disciplines in the university. While many are familiar with the phrase “double demon” (i.e. someone who has completed both their undergraduate and graduate coursework at DePaul University), Katie is currently a triple demon, as she is pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership with DePaul’s School of Education.
Having worked in the UCWbL since her junior year as a peer tutor, an office manager, and now Workshops Coordinator, Katie shares that the support she has received and continues to receive has been a key component in continuing her education, and being a part of the DePaul community for eight years.
“It really feels like DePaul has my back in terms of my professional development,” Katie said. “To have a full-time job and still be able to be in school is really amazing. Everybody seems to value everyone’s personal growth and development. I’ve felt really supported by this community, and I feel really at home here.”
The Students
Marta Shcherbakova (2015) is a WRD instructor, teaching firs- year composition courses for “native and non-native speakers of English,” as well as WRD 202: Professional Writing for Business. Following graduating from the MA program, Marta taught at multiple local colleges before returning to teach at DePaul in 2018. She shares that, to her, what makes the DePaul community so unique and enjoyable is the students.
“The students at DePaul are so special,” Marta shared. “The students at DePaul are very involved, motivated. There is so much in the city for them to explore, and they bring that energy into the courses. Even though they first come into the [composition] courses saying, ‘I’m here because this is required,‘ they come in with so much motivation and energy.
Advice for Current MA Students
— Sarah Brown
While all of these alumni pointed to the different factors that make the DePaul community so special, Sarah Brown, Assistant Director for Faculty Development and Instructional Technology and WRD Instructor, emphasized that job-searching graduates should reflect on what workplace characteristics are most important to them, and then seeking out the places where these values are enacted.
“I know this seems pretty obvious,” Sarah said, “but I think we often default to [only] thinking about how our skills and interests intersect with job descriptions. I’ve found that things like autonomy, flexibility, and service-orientation are most important to me, and my positions at DePaul have had those characteristics.”
More generally, Marta offered a simple mantra for students in the MA in WRD program to hold onto throughout their studies and job search.
“Be curious. Ask questions. Pay attention.”