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Karen Wink, Ph.D.

KWink
Dr. Karen A. Wink has taught 4/c (freshman) composition and literature courses as well as an upperclass Myths and Epics literature course at the Academy for 20+ years. Her research interests include: pedagogy for rhetoric and composition and teaching Shakespeare. Her student text, Rhetorical Strategies for Composition, was published in 2016. Currently, she is writing a text for instructors: “Engaging Students in the Feedback Process for Writing.” Dr. Wink has spoken at many regional and national conferences on her research topics. The New England Association of Teachers of English (NEATE) gave her an “Excellence in Teaching English” award in 2010.

Education

  • Ph.D., English Education, magna cum laude, University of Maryland, 1999
  • MaEd., Reading Education, summa cum laude, Baldwin Wallace College, 1989
  • B.S., English Education, cum laude, Kent State University, 1985

Courses Taught

  • Introduction to Literature
  • Introduction to College Communications
  • English Composition and Speech
  • Art of Effective Writing
  • Writing About Literature
  • Humanities and World Literature: Greek, Roman and Other Myths
  • Special Topics: Romanticism

Selected Publications and Presentations

  • “A Lesson from the Holocaust: From Bystander to Advocate in the Classroom”/English Journal and Voice on America segment; The McGraw-Hill Exercise Book to accompany A Writer’s Resource, Editorial Consultant
  • “An Afghani Girl on the Other Side of the Sky: A Reader’s Guide”/SimonSaysTeach.com
  • “Poet Laureate Inspires Aspiring Poets”/Connecticut English Journal
  • “Rhetorical Pedagogy for Active and Passive Voice”/WritingInstructor.com
  • Presented many workshops and served on many panels at NCTE, NEATE, CRLA and CCCC conferences, 1995-present.

Honors

  • Tenure and Promotion, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 2005
  • Outstanding Teacher Fellowship Grant, The Cambridge England Teacher Seminar, 1997
  • Outstanding Contributions and Dedication, Sylvan Learning Systems, 1993

Professional Memberships

  • National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
  • New England Association for Teachers of English (NEATE)
  • College Composition and Communication (CCC)

Contact Information

Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

  1. If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
  2. If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
  3. If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at  Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
  4. If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at  Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
  5. All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.

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