About Me

Hi. I'm Joanna. I received my M.F.A. in Creative Writing and English from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and my B.A. in Creative Writing and Comparative Literature from Hampshire College. I have more than 25 years of experience teaching. Before publishing an award-winning collection of poems, I worked especially closely with 6th-8th graders as a creative writer-in-residence at middle schools across Westchester County, New York. Students who worked with me wrote pieces that went so far beyond anyone's expectations that The New York Times sent a reporter to the school to interview the students, the teachers, and me. The ekphrastic student writing (i.e., writing about art) produced at one residency was displayed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. For many years I taught Creative Writing and Literature on the college level, as a lecturer at varied colleges in the CUNY system. I then went on to join the full-time Creative Writing and English faculty at Penn State and, later, Franklin & Marshall College. Now, I work one-on-one with students of all ages, tailoring instruction to meet individual needs, inspire confidence, and help students achieve their goals. I'm friendly and approachable and passionate about the subject matter I present. Students develop trust in me and the writing process, and discover talents and skills they may not have recognized in themselves before. I love what I do and am gratified that new students choose to work with me year after year.

Education & Certifications

Tutoring Subjects