Hart—Curriculum Vitae--1
Melissa Hart
P.O. Box 50703, Eugene, Oregon 97405
541/431-6922
[email protected]
http://www.melissahart.com
Professional Profile
Melissa Hart is an author and teacher with 17 years of online and classroom experience. Her numerous
published essays, three published nonfiction books, and her decade-long position as adjunct faculty at the
University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication make her the ideal person to educate
students on both the craft and business of creative writing.
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Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature with a focus on
magazine/newspaper essays and book publication
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Extensive nonfiction publication in newspapers and magazines across North America. Three
published nonfiction books, a fiction book forthcoming, and numerous commentary pieces on radio
and in print
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A long-running column in a major writing magazine
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In-depth knowledge of social media outlets including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Wordpress, and
professional websites

Proficiency in Mac, Windows, Blackboard, Brainhoney, AdobeConnect, Excel, Photoshop, FinalCut

Frequent guest speaker at Pacific Northwest writing conferences, workshops, libraries, bookstores
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Publications
Avenging the Owl (middle-grade fiction). Sky Pony Press, January 2016.
Wild Within: How Rescuing Inspired a Family (creative nonfiction). Lyons Press, Guilford, CT, 2014.
Gringa: A Contradictory Girlhood (memoir). Seal Press, Berkeley, CA, 2009.
The Assault of Laughter (memoir) Port Orchard, WA: Windstorm Creative, 2005.
Published essays and articles including The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times Sunday
Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, Hemispheres, Orion, The Advocate, Fourth Genre,
High Country News, Northwest Review, Oregon Quarterly, Horizon Air Magazine, Writer’s Digest,
Runner’s World, Woman’s Day, Chronicle of Higher Education, The Christian Science Monitor, Open
Spaces, The Oregonian, Brain Child, Mothering, Conscious Choice.
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Hart—Curriculum Vitae--2
Employment
1/04-present Journalism Instructor
Feature Writing, Environmental Writing, Travel Writing, Writing for Multimedia
University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97402
Supervisor: Julianne Newton
2007-present Columnist (monthly)
The Writer Magazine
Supervisor: Alicia Anstead
9/98-present Online English/Literature/Creative Writing Instructor
Laurel Springs Distance-Learning High School, Ojai, CA 93024
Supervisor: Diane Elliott
8/98 - 6/00
Composition Teacher
Santa Barbara City College, 721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, California 93109
Supervisor: Jim Stevens
8/97 - 12/00
Composition/Literature Teacher
Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura, California 93003
Supervisor: Diane Moore
6/96 – 6/97
Special Education Teacher—Third Grade
Carl Dwire School, 3150 Via Marina Avenue Oxnard, Ca 93035 805•985•7200
Supervisor: John Gahan
Workshops/Speaking Engagements
“Writing about Animals in the Age of Extinction.” Spring Creek Writers Project workshop, Corvallis,
OR. (February 2015)
“Go Out and Write the Thing Yourself”—keynote, and “Scene in Memoir and Fiction”—Claim Your
Story Writers Conference, Ashland, OR. (October 2014)
Book tour for Wild Within in California, Oregon, Washington, New York. (Sept. 2014-Jan. 2015)
“Write and Sell Short and Book-Length Memoir”—six-week workshop for Whidbey Island Writers
MFA Program (August 2014-September 2014)
“Feature Articles for Magazines and Newspapers.” Willamette Writers Conference, Portland, OR.
(August 2014)
“The Power of Literary Citizenship.” Willamette Writers Mid-Valley Chapter, Eugene, OR. (March
2014)
“Go Out and Write the Thing Yourself”—keynote, and “Write and Sell Short- and Book-Length
Memoir”—South Coast Writers’ Conference, Gold Beach, OR. (February 2014)
“Challenges and Rewards of Writing Memoir,” “How to Write and Sell Book Reviews,” “Literary
Hart—Curriculum Vitae--3
Agents—Secrets of Success”--Whidbey Island MFA Residency (January 2014)
"YA Memoir," "The Power of Literary Citizenship." Willamette Writers' Conference, Portland, OR.
(August 2013).
“Deep into Memoir," "Making Waves: Write and Publish Your Essays." Summer in Words
Conference, Cannon Beach, Oregon. (June 21-23, 2013)
"The Sincerest Form of Flattery: How Copying Published Literature Can Enhance Your Writing."
Eugene Public Library. (June 13, 2013)
“Travel Writing for Magazines and Newspapers” Willamette Writers’ Conference, Portland, Oregon.
(August 2010)
“The Art of the Nature Essay” Sitka Center for Art & Ecology, Otis, Oregon. (July 2010).
“Write and Sell Personal Narratives” Southern Chapter of Willamette Writers, Central Point, Oregon.
(May 2010)
Visiting Faculty-workshops in memoir/fiction writing for Whidbey Island MFA Residency. (Jan. 2010)
Extensive West Coast tour to promote Gringa. (October-January 2009).
Discussion and reading from Gringa: A Contradictory Girlhood Pacific Northwest Booksellers’
Conference, Portland, OR. (September, 2009)
“Writing Memoir for Fun and Profit,” “Writing Short Humorous Essays” Willamette Writers’
Conference, Portland, OR. (August, 2009)
“Writing Memoir,” “Writing Short Humorous Essays” Northcoast Redwoods Writers’ Conference,
Crescent City, CA. (September 2008).
“Writing for Educational Publishers” Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Portland.
(May 2008).
“A Journalism Professor and a Snowy Owl” International Association for Avian Trainers and
Educators, Amsterdam. (March, 2008).
Kick-off Speaker for Eugene’s “Everyone Reads” program, Readin’ in the Rain. Nature Translated
from Nest to Page. 2007.
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Awards
Award for Outstanding Teaching by an Adjunct Instructor, School of Journalism and
Communication, University of Oregon. (June 2010).
Recipient of $5,000 research grant for Gringa: A Contradictory Girlhood. Center for the Study of
Women in Society, 2007.
Second Place Winner in Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest, sponsored by Oregon Quarterly, for
“The Politics of Dog Parks.” 2005. Finalist in 2006.
Hart—Curriculum Vitae--4
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Education
Master of Fine Arts
Creative Writing
Goddard College
Plainfield, Vermont
February 1996
Bachelor of Arts
Literature
University of California
Santa Barbara, California
June 1992
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Online Presence
Website:
Facebook:
www.melissahart.com, Twitter: @MelissaMHart
https://www.facebook.com/MelissaHart.Author?ref=hl
References for Melissa Hart
Julianne Newton--Edwin L. Artzt Interim Dean
School of Journalism and Communication.
1275 University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403-1275
Phone: 541-346-2167
E-mail: [email protected]
Marilyn Linton-- Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies
470 Oregon Hall
Eugene, OR 97405
Phone: 541-346-1421
E-mail: [email protected]
Ana Maria Spagna—Assistant Director of Whidbey Island MFA Program in Creative Writing
P.O. Box 639
5577 Vanbarr Place
Freeland, WA 98249
Phone: 360-331-0307
E-mail: [email protected]