海角社区

BATON ROUGE, LA 鈥� Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education senior faculty member, Margaret-Mary Sulentic Dowell, PhD, recently completed a two-week writing residency, courtesy of the Roundhouse Foundation at , located near Sisters, Oregon.

Sulentic Dowell鈥檚 residency provided her with a rare opportunity for focused, uninterrupted work 鈥� an environment she describes as essential for her productivity. Her primary goal during the residency was to write two children鈥檚 books about environmental pioneers who have largely been overlooked in mainstream narratives. Sulentic Dowell completed both and hopes the two books will introduce young readers to environmental history and inspire them to see conservation as a responsibility shared by all. 

鈥淓nvironmental concerns are interconnected with social issues, underscoring the collective responsibility to address them,鈥� Sulentic Dowell said.

As part of the residency, on March 18, she also provided a three-hour workshop for local writers, teachers, and other interested individuals, titled 鈥淧oetry, Narrative & Argument: A Writing Workshop on Environmental Issues.鈥� Using powerful and evocative environmental images, she engaged participants in working through the three genres utilizing photographs provided by fellow resident, Ellie Kingsbury, a Minneapolis lens-based artist. Sulentic Dowell led the workshop attendees through various writing exercises exploring the power of writing in shaping environmental awareness, merging writing with environmental advocacy.

Sulentic Dowell was joined during the residency by fellow artists, Mallory Craig from New York City, and Kingsbury. Collectively, they shared their work and ideas at the PMRCAA

鈥淲e are extraordinarily pleased at Dr. Sulentic Dowell鈥檚 selection for this opportunity and look forward to her books,鈥� Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education Interim Director Eugene Kennedy, PhD, said. 鈥淪he is an incredible scholar and continues to make contributions that make a difference in the lives of Louisianans and others.鈥�

As a scholar, Sulentic Dowell鈥檚 work centers on empowering educators, school system leaders, and students to become confident, effective writers. Sulentic Dowell has spent decades shaping the way writing is taught, understood, and used as a tool for change. For Sulentic Dowell, writing isn鈥檛 merely an academic exercise 鈥� it鈥檚 a means of advocacy and a lifelong passion that continues to evolve. 

Sulentic Dowell, who is the Cecil "Pete" Taylor Endowed Professor of Literacy Leadership & Urban Education, also serves as the director of the 海角社区 Writing Project. As a career educator, author, and fierce advocate for public education, through the 海角社区 Writing Project, a site of the , she helps educators and students find their voices by engaging in meaningful, passion-driven writing. Her belief in the transformative power of writing extends beyond academic writing.

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About the 海角社区 Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education
A school of the 海角社区 College of Human Sciences & Education, the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education (SOE) offers undergraduate programs for students who want to pursue a career as a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teacher or acquire dual certification in both traditional elementary and special education classrooms. In addition, SOE offers 3 graduate certificates, 17 master鈥檚 degree program areas, 9 EdS certificate programs, and 2 PhD degrees in 11 areas of focus. SOE鈥檚 focus is not only on preparing highly qualified teachers but also in preparing educational leaders, curriculum studies scholars, educational technology experts, applied researchers, higher education professionals, school counselors, and clinical mental health counselors. SOE specializes scholarly expertise regarding pressing educational and wellness issues across the entire lifespan.

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About the College of Human Sciences & Education 
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of 海角社区. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan.
 
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