Faculty
Cheryl Nims
College Associate Professor
Email:
cnims@nmsu.edu
Office Address:
New Mexico State University
Department of English
P.O. Box 30001, MSC 3E
Las Cruces, NM 88003
Office Location:
English (Clara Belle Williams Hall) #111
Phone:
(575) 646-1716
Fax:
(575) 646-7725
Education:
- Ph.D in Rhetoric and Professional Communication
- Masters of Arts in English with Emphasis on Technical and Scientific Communication
- B.S in Secondary Education. Minor in Spanish. Teaching fields English and Spanish.
- Certified Mediator: University of New Mexico School of Law
- Bilingual: Spanish and English
Courses Commonly Taught:
- English Education Courses: English 416/516 and 470/570
- Rhetoric and Composition: English 111 G and 111H and 211
- Grammar: English 451/551
- Technical and Scientific Writing: 218, 318, 319, and 418
- McNair Program Liaison and Professor
- AMP (Alliance for Minority Participation)
Teaching Statement/Emphasis:
I am a strong believer in the value of learning, and therefore of teaching. My teaching paradigm has shifted over the years and I find myself more interested in my students' pursuit of excellence rather than in the still-important issues of "leveling the playing field and making sure everyone feels good about everything." Especially in my English Education classes, I want students to understand how important it is that we not settle for less than the best. It is my job (and that of future teachers) to be sure that we are doing all we can at all times and under all circumstances to be sure that my/our students are getting the best education possible. I am particularly struck by pieces such as Dumbing Down Our Kids which remind me that we only get one chance to do the best we can do in each class we teach.
Departmental Projects and Cross-Curricular Work at NMSU:
- Coordinator of English Studies and degree program for the Master's in the Teaching of English degree.
- Director of Rhetoric and Composition and Associate Director of Writing. New Mexico State University, 2003 to 2007.
- Acting Writing Program Administrator. New Mexico State University, 2003-2004.
- Coordinator for the English 111 writing program. English Department. NMSU Fall 2002 and 2003.
- Project Director—General Education Outcomes Assessment. New Mexico State University. May 2000 to 2004.
- Private Consultant. AMP (Alliance for Minority Participation) Program. NMSU. 1998-2007.
- McNair Program liaison. NMSU 2001-2007.
- Co-Chair of the Dean's Council on Academic Excellence. 2004-2007.
- NSF –Supported Science Literacy: 2000-2001.
- New Mexico Teacher Assessments Panel. 2004.
- K-20 Writing Initiative for Bilingual Education. 2004-2007.
- U.S. Mexico Conflict Resolution Center
- Alcohol Abuse Prevention Task Force, NMSU
- Campus Initiatives committee for NMSU
Outside Interests
I am an avid SCUBA diver and snow skier. I love to travel and have spent time in China, Egypt, Palau, Fiji, Mexico, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Portugal, Australia, Bonaire, Honduras, Belize, Costa Rica, Peru, and Argentina. I LOVE to discuss places and ideas, and my office door is always open. My husband and I have 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and 3 dogs.