Susan’s Publications & CV
What Wildness Is This: Women Write about the Southwest
TEXAS STATE VITA
I. ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Susan Hanson, Senior Lecturer
Educational Background
M.A. 1975, Texas State University, English (creative writing emphasis), A Collection of Original Poetry with a Critical Introduction
B.A. (Summa cum laude), 1973, Texas State University, English
University Experience
Senior Lecturer in English, Texas State University, 1985-present; Fall 1984, Fall 1983
Instructor in English, Texas State University, 1975-1978, Spring 1979
Teaching Assistant in English, Texas State University, 1973-1974
Relevant Professional Experience
Columnist and Book Reviewer, The Chautauquan, 1999-2001
Lay Campus Chaplain (part-time) at Texas State, Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, 1994-2007
Feature Writer, Columnist, Book Reviewer, San Marcos Daily Record, 1982-1999
II. TEACHING
Courses Taught
First-Year Composition (Parts I and II)
Developmental Composition
Advanced Reading and Writing
Professional Writing
Nature and the Quest for Meaning (Honors course)
University Seminar
Courses Prepared and Curriculum Development
Nature and the Quest for Meaning (Honors course)
Honors Theses
Supervising Professor
Christopher Cyprus Walter, “The Eye of Storms: A Short Novel” (2006)
Christa Margaret Nelson, “What I Learned in College: A Mythic Existential Fairy Tale” (1999)
III. SCHOLARLY/CREATIVE
Books
What Wildness Is This: Women Write About the Southwest, co-editor/author (Austin: University
of Texas Press, 2007).
Icons of Loss and Grace: Moments from the Natural World (Lubbock: Texas Tech University
Press, 2004).
A Creation Steward’s Handbook, published by the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas (2002).
Maverick Lawyer (biography of J. Edwin Smith), published by Texas State University (1997).
Chapters and Essays in Books
“Deep in the Heart: A Texan Looks at the Night Sky.” Let There Be Night: Testimony on Behalf
of the Dark. Reno: University of Nevada Press, forthcoming 2008.
“Homeland Security: Safe at Home in the World.” To Everything on Earth: New Writing on Fate,
Community, and Nature. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press, forthcoming 2008.
“Education: Lessons in Ameaning.” Moral Cruelty: Ameaning and the Justification of
Harm. Timothy Hulsey and Christopher Frost (Lanham, MD: University Press of
America, 2004) 41-54.
“Why Write About Nature?” Getting Over the Color Green. University of Arizona Press: 2001.
“Oh, for a Yellow Tablet.” The Minutes of the Lead Pencil Society. Bill Henderson, ed. Pushcart
Press, 1996.
Articles and Essays
“Review of Oh, Give Me a Home: Western Contemplations by Ann Ronald.” Southwestern
American Literature (Fall 2007), 95.
“Signposts.” ExploreFaith.org (daily online meditations for December 2007).
“Signposts.” ExploreFaith.org (daily online meditations for August, September, October, and
December 2004).
“Homeland Security: Safe at Home in the World.” EarthLight (Autumn 2004), 24-27.
“Instructed by a Seed: Or, How the Garden Tells Us What It Knows.” Writing Nature (Summer
2004).
“For Love of the Earth.” r•t•w: the magazine for reading •thinking• and writing (March 2002).
More than 20 columns and reviews for The Chautauquan (1999-2001).
“Let’s Talk About Interviewing.” r•t•w: the magazine for reading •thinking• and writing
(November 2001).
“Liturgy and Space.” The Church News (a publication of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas)
(July 2001).
“Icons of Loss and Grace.” ISLE (Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment)
(Summer 2001).
“What Is Dust.” Northern Lights (Spring 2001).
“A Knowledge as Heavy as Lead.” Story Circle Journal (May 2001).
“Wild in the City.” Texas Parks & Wildlife (October 2000).
“Another Day, Another Moment.” The Solitary Voice vii.2 (2000): 1-2.
“Seeds of Spring.” Sombrilla (Spring 2000).
“Observing Through the Seasons,” r•t•w: the magazine for reading •thinking• and writing,
(November 1999).
“In Native Harmony,” Texas Parks & Wildlife (February 1999).
Hundreds of feature stories, columns, and reviews for the San Marcos Daily Record (1982-1999).
“Palmetto Pocket,” Texas Parks and Wildlife (November 1998).
“Writing in Place: Teaching Attention to the World,” Writing Teacher magazine (March 1998).
“Why Write About Nature?” Southwestern Literature (Spring 1995).
“Advance Patient Directives: Assessing the Alternatives,” co-author. Medical Interface
(May 1994).
“A Suggested Paradigm for Developing Quality Initiatives in Health Care,” co-author. Medical
Interface (May 1993).
“Managed Health Care Systems: A Revolution in the Making,” co-author. Medical Interface
(October 1993).
“The Liberal Arts Yesterday and Today.” Symposium (Spring 1989).
Reviews
“Review of Oh, Give Me a Home: Western Contemplations” (Literature of the American West,
V. 16). Southwestern Literature, forthcoming 2008.
“But Is It Edifying?” A review of The Passion of the Christ. The Church News
(a publication of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas) (April 2004).
“Indigo Dying: A Review.” Texas Books in Review (Summer 2003), 17.
“Down by the Lemonade Springs: Essays on Wallace Stegner: A Review.” Southwestern
Literature (Spring 2003), 98.
“Birds of the Texas Hill Country: A Review.” Texas Books in Review (Spring/Summer 2002).
Papers, Presentations, and Readings
“By Water and the Spirit,” paper accepted for presentation at The Fifth Environmental
Writers’ Conference in honor of Rachel Carson, Boothbay Harbor, ME, June 2008.
“Deep in the Heart: A Texan Looks at the Night Sky,” paper presented at the conference of the
Association for the Study of Literature and Environment, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC,
June 2007.
Guest Reader, O Henry Competition, Austin, TX, May 2007.
Reading. Brackenridge Club, San Marcos, TX, December 2006.
“Formed in the Woods: Childhood Wonder in the Work of Barbara Kingsolver and Janisse Ray,”
paper presented at the conference of the Society for the Study of American Women Writers,
Philadelphia, PA, November 2006.
Panelist, Texas Book Festival, Austin, TX, October 29, 2005.
Reading from Icons of Loss and Grace, Conference of the Association for the Study of Literature
and Environment, the University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, June 2005.
Presentation for “Mind and Spirit,” Westlake Barnes & Noble, Austin, TX, April 2005.
Reading/Q&A. P.E.O. Sisterhood, Austin, TX, February 2005.
Reading. Barnes & Noble-San Pedro, San Antonio, TX, October 2004.
Reading. Barnes & Noble-Sunset Valley, Austin, TX, August 2004.
Reading. Book Woman. Austin, TX, July 2004.
Panel discussion on university presses. Writers League of Texas, Austin, TX, June 2004.
Reading. Viva Books, San Antonio, TX, May 2004.
Reading/Discussion. Texas Tech University Outreach & Extended Studies Program,
Fredericksburg, TX, May 2004.
Benefit Reading. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, May 2004.
Reading. Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, May 2004.
“Homeland Security: Safe at Home in the World,” paper presented at the conference of the
Association for the Study of Literature and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA,
June 2003.
“Where It All Begins,” paper presented at the Southwest Symposium, University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, NM, February 2002.
“Instructed by a Seed,” paper presented at the conference of the Association for the Study of
Literature and Environment, Arizona State University, Flagstaff, AZ, June 2001.
“Icons of Loss and Grace,” paper presented at the American Women Nature Writers Conference,
Castleton College, VT, June 2000.
“Finding a Practice in the Wilderness,” paper presented at the conference of the Association for
the Study of Literature and Environment, University of Western Michigan, Kalamazoo,
MI, June 1999.
Benefit Reading, Gemini Ink, San Antonio, TX, Fall 1997.
“Another Leave-Taking,” paper presented at the conference of the Association for the Study of
Literature and Environment, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, July 1997.
“The Allure of Marginal Places,” paper given at the first bi-annual conference of the Association
for the Study of Literature of Environment, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, June
1995.
Workshops and Conferences
“A Land Full of Stories: A Conference & Celebration of Writing about Place and Personal
History.” Planning Committee member. Texas State University. June 7-9, 2007.
“Aquarena Springs, San Marcos: A Writing Workshop.” Leader. “A Land Full of Stories: A
Conference & Celebration of Writing about Place and Personal History.” Texas State
University. June 7-9, 2007.
“Cultivating a Life: the Stories and Places That Shape Us.” Writing workshop, leader. “A Land
Full of Stories: A Conference & Celebration of Writing about Place and Personal History.”
Texas State University. June 7-9, 2007.
“’Our Endless and Proper Work’: the Practice of Attention.” Writing workshop, co-leader. “A
Land Full of Stories: A Conference & Celebration of Writing about Place and Personal
History.” Texas State University. June 7-9, 2007.
“Gruene: A Texas Historical Town.” Writing workshop, co-leader. “A Land Full of Stories: A
Conference & Celebration of Writing about Place and Personal History.” Texas State
University. June 7-9, 2007.
Workshop on the personal essay, “A Year of Writers” series. Leader. Westlake Barnes & Noble,
Austin, Texas. February 2006
“Earth Works,” a weeklong nature-writing workshop. Leader. Gemini Ink, San Antonio, Texas.
July 2005.
“Joint Lutheran-Episcopal Campus Ministry.” Workshop leader. National Episcopal Student
Gathering, Estes Park, CO. December 2006.
Nature-writing workshop. Co-leader with Susan Wittig Albert. Story Circle Conference in
Austin, Texas. February 2004.
“The Courage to Teach: A Discussion,” held for public school teachers in conjunction with
author Parker Palmer’s lecture series at Texas State. Leader. April 2003.
New Chaplains’ Orientation, National Episcopal Chaplains Conference, Co-Leader, University of
Denver, June 2000.
Nature-writing workshop. Leader. Gemini Ink. San Antonio, TX. November 1997.
“Writing Your Spiritual Geography.” Writing workshop, co-leader. The Church of
Reconciliation-Episcopal, San Antonio, TX. January-March 1997.
Other
Manuscript reviewer for textbook publishers including Houghton Mifflin and Longman,
2001-present
Judge, Polly Bonds Awards, a program of the national organization Episcopal Communicators
2001-2002
Submissions reviewer, ISLE (Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment)
1999-present
Member, Editorial Board, r•t•w: the magazine for reading • thinking• and writing, 1998-2003.
Editorial Assistant, Simone Weil: On Politics, Religion And Society (Women of Ideas series)
(Paperback) 1997
Fellowships, Awards, Honors
Sam Portaro Award for Creative Expression & Intellectual Enquiry, National Episcopal
Chaplains Organization, June 2007
Runner-up, ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award (category: nature), 2005
Nomination: 2004 Whiting Writer’s Award (The recipients are nominated and chosen by a
committee of writers, literary scholars, and editors. There is no application process.)
Runner-up, Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activity, Texas State,
2004-05
Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activity, School of Liberal Arts, Texas State,
2004-05
More than 30 awards for journalism, including the Texas AP Sweepstakes Award
Gates Thomas Award (for Poetry), Texas State University, 1973
Sigma Tau Delta (English Honor Society), 1972
Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society), 1972
Phi Theta Kappa (Honor Society of the Two Year College), 1971
IV. SERVICE
University
Introductions of guest lecturers at Texas State: the Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong, author (1996);
Gary Snyder, poet (1997); Parker Palmer, author and educator (2003); Kathleen Dean Moore,
author and philosophy professor (2007)
Invocation, Women’s History Month Luncheon, 2006, 2007
Organizer, “Faith Fair,” January 2006
Founding Faculty Advisor, Red Cross Club, 2004-2005
Secretary, Interfaith Campus Chaplains Association, 1999-2007
Member, Price Lecture Committee, 1995-2003
Invocation, Campus-wide 9/11 Memorial Service, September 11, 2002
Presentation on J. Edwin Smith, Herstory, Fall 1998
Presentation on American Women Nature Writers, Faculty Lunch Bunch, Fall 1997
Editor, Mosaic (Liberal Arts Newsletter), 1996-1997
Faculty Advisor, Baha’i Student Organization, circa 1990
Departmental
Chair, First-Year English Reader Selection Committee, 2007
Member, First-Year English Textbook Committee, -present
Member, Gates Thomas Committee -present
Banquet Speaker, Sigma Tau Delta, April 2002
“Nature Writing as a Genre,” Presentation for Sigma Tau Delta, September 1999
Publications Committee, Editor of Folio, 1997-2000
Community
Disaster Relief Volunteer, Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, March 10-17, 2007
Member, Ministry in Higher Education Committee, Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, 2007-
present
Provincial Coordinator for Ministry in Higher Education, Province VII (TX, OK, NM, KS, AR,
western LA, western MO), Episcopal Church U.S.A., 2004-present
Member, Environmental Stewardship Committee, Episcopal Diocese of West Texas,
2000-present
Member, the Committee for Continuing Education, Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, 2000-2003
Member, Long-range Planning Committee of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, San Marcos,
2001-2002
Member, Worship Committee of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, San Marcos, 2001-2002
Member, Task Force on Younger Generations of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, 2001
Member, Communications Committee, Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, 1995-1997
Presentation, “Writing Your Spiritual Autobiography,” Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship in San
Marcos, Fall 1998
Member, Habitat for Humanity-San Marcos Area, 1993-1998; Publicity Chair, 1997-1998
Board Member, Hospice San Marcos, 1990-1993
Board Member, American Heart Associations
Professional
Conference Panel Chair, Association for the Study of Literature and Environment, Wofford
College, Spartanburg, SC, June 2007
Participant, national continuing education conference for Episcopal campus chaplains, Seattle,
WA, June 2007
Participant and trip sponsor/organizer, “Celebrate!” (a national ecumenical student gathering),
New Orleans, LA, December 2006
Conference Panel Chair, Association for the Study of Literature and Environment, University of
Oregon, Eugene, OR, June 2005
Participant, national continuing education conference for Episcopal campus chaplains, Berea
College, Berea, KY, June 2004
Invited participant in Peer Ministry Institute, Concordia University, St. Paul, MN, July 2004
Invited participant in “Writing the Natural,” a weekend workshop for nature writers sponsored by
the Southwest Collection at Texas Tech University and led by author Barry Lopez, Junction,
TX, October 2004
Participant, National Episcopal Student Gathering, Estes Park, CO; also organized a bus trip for
50 participating students and chaplains from throughout Texas, December 2004
Invited reviewer, Grasshopper Dreaming: Reflections on Killing and Loving by Jeffrey A.
Lockwood for Skinner House Books (a division of Beacon Press), 2002
Participant, national continuing education conference for Episcopal campus chaplains, Tulane
Medical School, New Orleans, LA, June 2002
Participant, national continuing education conference for Episcopal campus chaplains, University
of Denver, June 2000
Participant, national continuing education conference for Episcopal campus chaplains, Incarnate
Word University, San Antonio, TX, June 1996
Organizations
Association for the Study of Literature and Environment, Society for the Study of American Women Writers, Episcopal Ministry in Higher Education
