Leadership

Dr. Christopher Burnham

Dr. Chris Burnham, Regents Professor of English, has served at NMSU since 1981. Formerly Department Head and Writing Program Director in the English department, his academic specialties include writing and the teaching of writing, writing across the curriculum, rhetorical history and theory, the essay as a literary genre, journals and autobiography. For more than 20 years he has directed the annual Writing Across the Curriculum Faculty Seminars. His primary pedagogical and scholarly objective is encouraging the ethical and civic development of students and assisting teachers in this same work.

From 1981 to 1993, I Co-Directed the New Mexico State Writing Project, the original National Writing Project site in New Mexico. Returning as Director of the Borderlands Writing Projects allows me to continue my most important work, helping teachers and students become better learners and writers.

Barbara Pearlman

bpearlman@zianet.com

I always say that I came to Hillsboro and Truth or Consequences as a kind of mistake but it was really by accident. Born and raised in New York and suburban Long Island, my first life was centered in the arts getting undergraduate and graduate degrees in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Photography. Seventeen years in Los Angeles was grounded in the visual arts, graphic design, art direction, and teaching. From 1975 I taught and coordinated the Photography Department for UCLA’s Extension program until I left for El Paso in 1990. My teaching hiatus ended in January of 1992 when, by fortunate accident, I was contacted and asked if I would be willing to teach freshman English at Hot Springs High School mid-term. I now consider myself not only a high school teacher but having found my “home” and part of the community that embraces both TorC and Hillsboro. A MA from NMSU and Middlebury College has made the last 12 years a rich and continually changing experience. My involvement with Writing Project began as a participant of the 1995 NM State Summer Institute, and continues now as the Co-Director of the Borderlands Writing Project. My passions are political and environmental, good food and conversation, teaching and learning. I share my heart with David, Ellie, my family, and close friends. Contentment has been hard won and remains a work in progress.

Rebecca Sanchez

I am currently a student at New Mexico State University. My work as a teacher, a student, and a community member has been influenced by the unique needs, experiences and possibilities that emerge from living in a border community. My involvement with the National Writing Project, specifically the Borderlands Writing Project has been a meaningful and positive way for me to connect with other teachers committed to social change through written expression, coalition building, and critical reflection. My hope is that my future work in education is an extension of this experience.

Sandra Nakamura

nakamurm@zianet.com

I was born and raised in the very small town of Wahiawa on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. My Dad worked for Dole Pineapple. Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher, and belonged to the Future Teachers of America in high school. I pursued my dream and graduated from the University of Hawaii with a B.A. in Elementary Education. After teaching kindergarten for a year, I married my husband, Masashi, a military army officer. Though we moved eleven times, having lived in Hawaii, Oklahoma, Texas, Germany, and finally Las Cruces, New Mexico, I was able to teach in Hawaii, Texas, and Germany. The joy of watching children learn to read as a first grade teacher led me back to school for an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from New Mexico State University. I also took part in the National Writing Project many summers ago and learned about the power of writing. My husband, now retired from the U.S. Army, is an Operations Research Analyst at White Sands Missile Range. I have been a Staff Development Specialist in Math and Science for Las Cruces Public Schools for the last six years. Now that my children, Mari, Brian, and Sachi, are young adults pursuing their own interests and careers, I have returned to New Mexico State University to pursue a doctoral degree in Language, Literacy, and Culture.

Rita Caccamise

rcaccami@mh.lcps.k12.nm.us

Presently I am employed by the Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) as an Advanced Education Service (AES) Facilitator. I have been an educator for over 28 years; first in New Jersey then in New Mexico. I value teaching and the opportunity to share my experiences with others. During the summer of 2003, I had the privilege of being a fellow in the Borderlands Writing Project (BWP) at NMSU. Without question this experience was one of the most rewarding of my literary career. Until that time, my written expression was restricted to the minimal, or required, obligation. After my involvement and participation in the BWP, I came to understand that writing is not necessarily about perfecting your syntax, but about writing from the heart, exchanging ideas, and learning. Today I write with willingness and joy. I also enjoy traveling, films, the performing and visual arts, chatting, studying diverse cultures, volunteering, interacting with students, and enjoying life.

Connie Longley-Copeland

clcopeland@swrecnm.org

I have been an educator for the past twenty-seven years. I spent twenty-four years as a special educator in Silver City, Albuquerque, Los Alamos, and Truth or Consequences. I am currently a program specialist at the Southwest Regional Education Center. Because of my experience teaching students with disabilities, I have always been aware of the diverse needs of students and felt I was sensitive to their plight in our educational society. During the summer of 2003, I was fortunate enough to participate in the BWP and not only found my personal voice, but really faced the issue of social justice in education for the first time in my teaching career. That experience has made me a better teacher and a better person because I not only realize, but embrace the importance of questioning all I do, both professionally and personally. I continue this journey with my family; Doug, Nicholas, and Elizabeth.

Monica Gabitzsch

mgabitzsch@yahoo.com

I have been teaching for the past nine years. I taught special education for five years before teaching 8th grade Language Arts. I was lucky enough to have participated in the 2003 BWP before I jumped head first into this job. My experience that summer made me more confident in my own writing which in turn helped me be a better teacher. I was able to let myself be vulnerable in my thoughts and my writing as well as learning to have fun with writing and with teaching it! Even though I have moved on to other subjects, the experiences from that summer will always stay with me. I am glad to be able to stay with the project and work as one of the coordinators and webmaster.