Shannon Christen

Shannon Christen (she/her) holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master of Arts in English from Kent State University. She has experience teaching at both the high school and college levels. Currently, she teaches in-person and online Africana Studies sections of English courses (College Writing and Research Writing) and online Africana Studies courses including Black Experience I and II, Legacies of Slavery, and Secret & Maroon Societies. Her primary research and specializations include rhetoric and composition, African American literature, writing, history and culture, diversity and social justice education and scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). 

She also provides citizenship to Kent State by, for example, serving as a faculty hearing officer for academic cases in the Office of Student Conduct. 

Professor Christen is very passionate about teaching and learning. Here is her ever-evolving philosophy of education:

1. All students can be literate members of a diverse and inclusive society with the ability to communicate effectively in everyday life.
2. All students can develop the critical thinking, reading, composing, research and multimodal skills necessary to participate successfully in the public sphere as students, workers, citizens and life-long learners.
3. Participation in a learning community fosters social, civic, emotional and intellectual growth.
4. Diverse and inclusive instructional materials, strategies and environments enhance learning.
5. Teaching is an art, as well as a craft, and the teacher-student relationship is at its heart.
6. Kindness offered by honesty challenges continual growth.