Jennifer Wells

Science | Math | Humanities

Education

Ph.D., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
M.A., San Francisco State University
B.A., University of Denver

As the Director of Writing, Dr. Wells is developing NCF’s new Writing Program, which includes Writing Studies Courses, Writing Enhanced Courses, the Writing Resource Center, and the NCF Pilot Study of Writing.

Prior to coming to New College, Dr. Wells was the Director of Florida State University’s Reading Writing Centers and Digital Studio, a multi-site center that provides 9,000 hours of tutoring annually. While at FSU, Dr. Wells was also recognized for her teaching when she was awarded a 2013 University Undergraduate Teaching Award.

From 2005-2011, while completing her Ph.D., Dr. Wells was the Reading and Writing Specialist at Mercy High School Burlingame, where she created their Reading and Writing Center. Her co-edited book, “The Successful High School Writing Center: Building the Best Program with Your Students” was published by Teachers College Press in 2011. During that time, Dr. Wells also won the Paul and Kate Farmer English Journal Writing Award for her 2008 article, “It Sounds Like Me: Using Creative Nonfiction to Teach College Admissions Essays.”

Dr. Wells’ primary research area is knowledge transfer, or how students can take what they learn in one context and apply it, successfully or unsuccessfully, in a new context.  Her research has also focused on the role writing centers play in preparing students and peer tutors for college and for their later careers.

When she is not at New College, Dr. Wells is a globe-trotting adventurer who has been spotted with orangutans in Borneo, gorillas in Rwanda, merchants in the souks of Morocco, and spirit healers in Bali.  Locally, she slowly completes triathlons, fishes from her kayak, and explores the restaurants of the greater Tampa Bay Area.

Recent Courses

Writing Studies: Writing About Writing
Writing Studies: Entering Academic Conversations Through Genre Studies