Lora H. Zill

  • Adjunct Lecturer
    English Department
  • Adjunct Lecturer
    Col.Humanities,Ed.&SocScience

     
      Along with classes here at GU I teach creative writing for Allegheny College’s gifted programs for public schools and summer arts program.  I also teach public and charter school students as a teaching artist with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (ArtsErie).  I am passionate about how engaging in artistic processes creates better thinkers and writers and I use that passion to teach College Composition and Critical Analysis.   In Comp we study logic and rhetoric and develop our thinking through writing for various audiences.  In Critical Analysis we learn the process of research and writing.  So even if you aren’t an English major, and most of my students aren’t, these courses are valuable for critical thinking and learning to be a literate person in every way:  reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
      I am widely published, mostly in nonacademic fields like newspapers, national religious periodicals, and regional magazines, with some credits in scholarly publications.  I speak at educators’ and writers’ conferences across the country and enjoy interaction with students of all ages.  I also edit and publish a literary Christian poetry magazine.  With 12 years of service on a public school board I bring many different experiences to the classroom and share lots of stories to illustrate my points.
      I treat my students as fellow writers, thinkers, and researchers.  We enjoy lively class discussions where all viewpoints are welcomed and we might even laugh once in a while.
      I sail, kayak, bike ride, quilt, read and watch classic movies.  I have two adult children and one cat and twirl my Terrible Towel each fall.  My son graduated from Duquesne and my daughter is a senior at GU.

 
  • M.A. English, Gannon University, 2006                                                                                                                                                      Thesis:  “The Discipline of the Imagination:” Shaping and Acquiring Language through Imaginative Writing and Teaching"
  • B.A.  English and Religion (double major), Allegheny College, 1978.
  • Pennsylvania School Boards Association:  Attendance at three national conferences, state and regional conferences
  • Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Artist-In-Education training 

Adjunct Instructor, Gannon University (August 2006-present)  Courses: College Composition and Critical Analysis

Faculty, Allegheny College Gifted and Talented Senior High Program and Middle School Arts Immersion Program Faculty     Courses:  Creative Writing and Poetry

Faculty, Allegheny College Creating Landscapes (summer arts programming) for Educators and Students

Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (ArtsErie) Artist-In-Education                                                                                                    Creative writing and poetry residencies in public and charter schools and the ARC of Crawford County.

National Endowment of the Arts, PCA, and ArtsErie “Poetry Out Loud” national recitation contest regional coordinator

Pennsylvania Council on the Arts: Interview Committee for Roster Artist Applicants, Program Stream Advisor Panelist                         

Pennsylvania Governor’s School of the Arts Writing Entries Judge

Director, St. Davids Christian Writers' Conference held at (not sponsored by) Grove City College

  • Assistant Coach for Conneaut Lake High School's Shakespeare competition team and assistant for theater productions.
  • Girl Scout Assistant Leader
  • Church volunteer
  • Girls' Summer League Softball Coach
  • Co-Advisor for Conneaut Lake High School's literary magazine
Lora H. Zill


Office: PC 3227

Contact Lora Zill