Professor Chris Thaiss, who led the University Writing Program into the top national rankings for writing in the disciplines as program director from 2006 to 2011, has taken on a new directorship, this time at the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Thaiss

Thaiss joined the UC Davis faculty in 2006, appointed to the Clark Kerr Presidential Chair, and as the director of the writing program and as a professor in that program.

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, part of the office of Undergraduate Education, provides leadership, education and support to faculty and other teaching staff, while also administering the Freshman Seminar Program, and numerous grant and award programs. He started as the director on Sept. 1.

The center designs and presents workshops, offers online resources and other teaching improvement materials, provides video analysis of classroom technique, and assists teachers in the development of new modes of instructional delivery. Other services deal with student learning outcomes and assessment tools. 

As director of the University Writing Program, Thaiss worked with members of the Academic Senate and the Academic Federation to add new courses to the program’s strong foundation in teaching writing in the disciplines and professions, and he oversaw the establishment of the university’s new minor in professional writing, and a Ph.D.-designated emphasis in writing, rhetoric and composition studies.

In addition, he fostered the series Conversations with Writers, bringing in well-known nonfiction writers and journalists for lively discussions with students, faculty and the Davis community.

He has served on the Undergraduate Council, and chaired the General Education Committee and Task Force, among other committee assignments.

An internationally-known scholar in writing studies, his latest book is Writing Programs Worldwide: Profiles of Academic Writing in Many Places (2012), co-edited with an international team.

Before coming to UC Davis, he taught in the Department of English at George Mason University for 30 years, holding a range of positions, including department chair. In 2004, he received the university’s David King Award for career excellence in teaching.

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