Keri L. Overall
Springfield
Summary
Dynamic educator with extensive experience in English instruction, women's literature, and curriculum development, dedicated to fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment. Expertise in collaborative teaching methods tailored to meet diverse classroom needs while consistently achieving measurable student outcomes. Proficient in designing innovative lesson plans, mentoring students, and seamlessly integrating technology into the educational process. Committed to promoting academic excellence and critical thinking through reliable teamwork and a passion for lifelong learning.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Adjunct Instructor, English
Tarrant County College
01.2000 - Current
- American Literature, Beginnings to 1865 (face-to-face and online)—Examined the beginnings of American literature, focusing in particular on the uses of nature and the notions of gender in the early writings
- American Literature Since 1865 (face-to-face and online)—Explored major works of literature by American authors using a thematic approach
- American Literature Since 1865: Latino Literature (face-to-face)—Explored the writings of authors of Latino/a descent in the United States, focusing on cultural and social themes
- World Literature, Ancient World through the Renaissance (face-to-face)—Introduced students to canonical literary works from around the world
- World Literature, Enlightenment to the Present (face-to-face)—Introduced students to literary works from around the world, focusing on depictions of gender and environment
- British Literature, 1800 to the Present (face-to-face)—Explored the writings of authors from the British Isles and their colonies, using the seven deadly sins as themes
- Composition and Literature (face-to-face and online)—Used poetry, short stories, and plays, taught students to write literary analysis papers and research papers
- Computer Assisted Composition (face-to-face)—Used computers to teach students how to write papers for the college level, including formats such as comparison/contrast, description, and argument
- Developmental Writing/English (face-to-face)—Taught students the basics of English grammar and mechanics and how to compose paragraphs and essays
Adjunct Assistant Professor, English
Texas Woman’s University
01.2008 - 01.2024
- American Women and Literature (online and face-to-face)—Explored major works of fiction, poetry, and drama by women writers in the United States from the 17th to the 21st centuries
- American Fiction (online)—Examined both novels and short stories by major American writers from the 18th century through the 20th century
Adjunct Instructor, English
Weatherford College
01.2013 - 01.2023
- Survey of English Literature I (face-to-face)—Explored major works of the British Isles from the Middle Ages through the first half of the 18th century
- Survey of English Literature II (face-to-face)—Investigated major works of literature from the British Empire from the late 18th century to the present
- Composition II (face-to-face)—Examined techniques for researched papers using rhetorical analysis
- Composition I (face-to-face and online)—Taught techniques for composing college-level papers with a focus on creating memoir, editorial, short academic article, and proposal papers
Adjunct Instructor, English and Humanities
DeVry University
01.2000 - 01.2013
- Society, Technology, and Culture—Taught students to look for and understand the connections between Humanities and the scientific and technological fields
- Contemporary Literature—Explored how to read short stories, poems, plays, and novels in terms of a thematic concept such as the environment, place, or the seven deadly sins and how to write literary research papers
- Professional Writing—Focused on writing documents used in the workplace such as memos, proposals, and reports
- Technical Writing—Tackled documents used on the job in technical fields
- Advanced Composition—Taught students to use readings to support their writing and how to write research papers
- Composition I—Taught students to write papers for the college level, focusing on expository styles such as description, exploration, and explanation
- Public Speaking—Taught techniques for preparing and presenting speeches on a variety of topics, including informative and persuasive modes
- Career Development—Provided guidelines for preparing documents and material for a job search, interviewing, and applying for jobs
Adjunct Instructor, English
University of North Texas
01.2000 - 01.2005
- American Literature, 1860 to the Present—Examined major works of American literature, focusing on comparing and contrasting themes and styles of white writers with those of various ethnic writers, including African American, Native American, Asian American, Jewish, and Hispanic writers
- American Literature, Beginnings to 1860—Discussed the development of literature in American, focusing on canonical as well as lesser-known works and depictions of gender and environment
- American Fiction—Discussed the development of fiction in American literature and its prominent themes from the 19th century to the present
- Short Story—Examined works of short fiction from around the world from the beginnings in the 1700s to the present
- World Literature, Ancient World through the Renaissance—Introduced students to canonical literature from around the world
- World Literature, Enlightenment to the Present—Introduced students to canonical literature from around the world, focusing on both classical and contemporary works in the large lecture format and in the small classroom format
Education
Ph.D. - Women’s Studies
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC12-2001
M.A. - American Literature
University of North Texas
Denton, TX05-1998
B.A. - Literature, Creative Writing
Pacific University
Forest Grove, OR05-1995
Skills
- Pedagogical strategies
- Teaching english
- Student engagement
- Collaborative learning
- Student-centered learning
- Literary analysis
- Inclusive teaching
- Distance learning
- Plagiarism prevention
- Multimedia integration
- Teaching literature
- Teaching writing
Affiliations
Committee Chair and Member, Warren-Brooks Award for Outstanding Literary Criticism (2015-2019, 2024-present)
President (2007-2009, 2023-2025) and Member of the Board, Robert Penn Warren Circle (2002-2009, 2015-present)
Publications and Contributions
- “Louise Erdrich,” essay in Critical Survey of Short Fiction, Second Revised Edition, Salem Press, 2001.
- “Re-Viewing History: Native Americans in Night Rider and Chief Joseph,” article in The Journal of the Robert Penn Warren Circle, Volume 3, Western Kentucky University Press, 2004.
- “Robert Penn Warren,” essay in The Facts on File Companion to the American Novel, Facts on File, 2006.
- “Susan Power,” essay in The Facts on File Companion to the American Short Story, Facts on File, 2009.
- “Mourning Dove,” essay in The Facts on File Companion to the American Short Story, Facts on File, 2009.
- “John M. Oskison,” essay in The Facts on File Companion to the American Short Story, Facts on File, 2009.
- "Democracy, Media, and Warren's Chief Joseph." Seminar panel paper to be presented at Robert Penn Warren Circle Annual Meeting, Clarksville, TN (April 2026)
- “Absence, Silence, and the Complicated Role of Indigenous Figures in the Prose of Robert Penn Warren and Katherine Anne Porter.” Paper presented at Robert Penn Warren Circle Annual Meeting, Guthrie, KY (April 2023)
- “Robert Penn Warren and Civil Rights Beyond African Americans.” Seminar panel paper presented at Robert Penn Warren Circle Annual Meeting, Guthrie, KY (April 2022)
- “Hawk Poems: Approaches to Teaching Warren, Jeffers, Yeats, and Hughes.” Paper presented at Weatherford College Interdisciplinary Academic Conference, Weatherford, TX (February 2020)
- “Understanding Poetry, Close Reading, and the Classroom in the 21st Century.” Teaching panel paper presented at Robert Penn Warren Circle Annual Meeting, RPW Birth House, Guthrie, KY (April 2019)
- “Savage Heathens to Noble Savages: Redefining Native Americans in the Eighteenth Century.” Paper presented at Annual Meeting of the South Central Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies, Texas Woman’s University, Dallas, TX (February 2019)
- “Understanding Culture and History: Native Americans in Robert Penn Warren and Elizabeth Bishop.” Paper presented at Robert Penn Warren Circle Annual Meeting, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY (April 2017)
- “The History’s in the Details: The Accurate and the Missing History in ‘How Willie Proudfit Came Home’.” Paper presented at Robert Penn Warren Circle Annual Meeting, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN (April 2014)
- “Robert Penn Warren vs. John Wayne: Historical and Political Interpretations of The Alamo.” Paper presented at Robert Penn Warren Circle Annual Meeting, RPW Birth House, Guthrie, KY (April 2013)
Other Instructional Experience
- Instructor, Department of Continuing Education, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 2000-2001
- Attacking the GRE-CAT—Verbal, Logical Reasoning, and Analytical Reasoning sections based on the Fairfax Lectern Program
- Attacking the GMAT-CAT—Reading Comprehension, Analytical Writing Assessment, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction sections based on the Fairfax Lectern Program
Awards
Adjunct Instructor of the Year 2002, DeVry University, Irving, TX
Timeline
Adjunct Instructor, English
Weatherford College
01.2013 - 01.2023
Adjunct Assistant Professor, English
Texas Woman’s University
01.2008 - 01.2024
Adjunct Instructor, English
Tarrant County College
01.2000 - Current
Adjunct Instructor, English and Humanities
DeVry University
01.2000 - 01.2013
Adjunct Instructor, English
University of North Texas
01.2000 - 01.2005
Ph.D. - Women’s Studies
University of South Carolina
M.A. - American Literature
University of North Texas
B.A. - Literature, Creative Writing
Pacific University