Karen L. Taylor
Education
Masters of Arts, West Texas A & M University. Canyon, Texas. August 2010
Major: English, Traditional. GPA – 4.0.
Bachelor of Arts, West Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas. December 2007.
Major: English, Traditional. GPA – 3.525.
Associate of Science, Highest Honors, Amarillo College. Amarillo, Texas. December 2005.
Major: Psychology. GPA – 3.808.
Certified Peace Officer, Salutatorian, Panhandle Regional Law Enforcement Academy, Amarillo
College. Amarillo, Texas. December 1988.
GPA – 4.0, average 96.10.
Diploma, Tascosa High School. Amarillo, Texas. January 1981.
Class Ranking: Top Quarter of graduating class numbering 407.
Continuing Education
Part-time Certification. Amarillo College Part Time Instructor Certification Program. Amarillo
College. Amarillo, Texas. Spring 2011
Thesis (Defense Date: May 2010)
――There Nowt So Queer as Folk:‖ Annie Proulx’s Queering of the West‖
For my thesis, I take literary Queer Theory as my theoretical framework and Derridean
deconstruction as my methodology, which exposes moments that destabilize a pre-existing
construct. A close reading of Proulx’s text reveals that she refers to the works of canonical
writers, Fredrick Jackson Turner and Wallace Stegner, to debunk their constructs of the mythical
West and its mythical hero, the hyper-masculine cowboy. A deconstructive approach to Proulx’s
text exposes her rhetorical device of minutiae-driven metaphors to create a subtext that
simultaneously queers and debunks the myth of the West and its mythical hero.
Karen L. Taylor, Curriculum Vitae 1
Honors and Awards
Teaching


Teaching Excellence Award (SLATE) Fall 2011, West Texas A&M Systems. Must be in
the top 15% out of over 500 faculty members from eleven Texas A&M campuses to receive
the award.
NAACP Inspirational People Award Fall 2011, West Texas A&M’s Chapter of NAACP,
West Texas A&M, Canyon Texas. This award recognizes ―individuals of different races,
ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds who have positively impacted and inspired them. These are
individuals who have caused them to see life differently, expand their horizons, achieve their
best and contribute in meaningful ways to their classes, dorms, departments, organizations,
neighborhoods and the nation.”
Writing and Research




Letter of commendation from Assistant Dean, Robin Capt, Ph.D. of West Texas A&M
University Graduate School, Canyon, Texas, for ―fine work‖ and in-depth research and
review of literature pertaining to my thesis. July 2010
Editor’s Choice. Legacy, West Texas A&M. ―Polysyllabicus.‖ Spring 2009
Honorable Mention Willa Pilla Award. Western Literature Association’s award for most
humorous presentation. Western Literature Association. Boulder, Colorado. Fall 2008
1st Place Sophomore Winner. Writer’s Roundup contest. Amarillo College English
Department. Amarillo, Texas. Spring 2005
Academic











Evelyn & Kenneth Frieze English Scholarship for graduate student who shows a love of
language and literature. West Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas. Fall 2009.
Student Organizations Officers Scholarship. West Texas A&M University. Canyon,
Texas. Fall 2009
Honorable Mention Willa Pilla Award. Western Literature Association’s award for most
humorous presentation. Western Literature Association. Boulder, Colorado. Fall 2008
EPML Scholarship Committee Excellence Award. West Texas A&M University.
Canyon, Texas. Academic year 2008 – 2009.
Evelyn & Kenneth Frieze English Scholarship. West Texas A&M University. Canyon,
Texas. Academic year 2008 – 2009.
Mattie Swayne Mack Scholarship. West Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas.
Academic year 2008 – 2009.
Dean’s Honor Roll. West Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas. Spring 2007.
West Texas A&M Mesa Academic Excellence Scholarship. West Texas A&M University.
Canyon, Texas. Fall 2006, Spring 2007.
President’s Honor Roll. West Texas A & M, University. Canyon, Texas. Spring 2006.
Scholastic Honor Roll. Amarillo College. Amarillo, Texas. Fall 2005.
Scholastic Honor Roll. Amarillo College. Amarillo, Texas. Spring 2004
Karen L. Taylor, Curriculum Vitae 2
Other Professional




Letter of Commendation: Panhandle Regional Organized Crime Unit. .
Commendation for dedication and service as a decoy in an undercover operation.
Acknowledgement of my contribution, which generated the highest number to date of arrests
in an undercover operation of this type. Randall County Sheriff’s Office.
Canyon, Texas. 1990
Letter of Commendation: Potter County, County Attorney Dale Elliot. Commendation for
service in undercover operation and subsequent trial testimony leading to a 4 minute jury
conviction and maximum sentence. Randall County Sheriff’s Office.
Canyon, Texas. 1989.
Departmental Citation: Lt. Keith Ferguson, Service Division, Amarillo Police Department.
This type of citation is normally reserved for officers in the line of duty only; however, as a
civilian employee, I was awarded this citation for my work ethic. Amarillo Police
Department, Service Division. Amarillo, Texas. 1986.
Letter of Commendation: Sgt. Greg Soltis, Special Crimes Unit – Homicide Division.
Commendation for exemplary dedication and conscientiousness in performance of my duties.
I successfully intervened to resolve a situation that my peers had deemed unsalvageable.
Amarillo Police Department, Service Division. Amarillo, Texas. 1986.
Papers and Presentations
―The Cowboy has a Hitch in his Giddy-up: An Exploration of the Antithetical Western Hero in
Annie Proulx’s That Old Ace in the Hole.‖ Southwest/Texas Pop-Culture Conference.
Albuquerque, New Mexico. February 2010.
―Awash in Emotion: An Exploration of the Motif of Water in Evelyn Scott’s The Narrow
House.” Southwest/Texas Pop-Culture Conference. February 2009.
―Polysllabicus.‖ April Society’s Spring Symposium. West Texas A&M University. Canyon,
Texas. Spring 2009.
―Whippin’ and Spurrin’ Cowpokes: Unmasking the Sadomasochistic Subtext in Annie Proulx’s
That Old Ace in the Hole.‖ Western Literature Association. Boulder, Colorado. Fall 2008.
*Honorable mention for Willa Pilla Award.
―The Birds and the Trees: Exploring the Flora and Fauna in Sarah Orne Jewett’s ―A White
Heron.‖ April Society’s Fall Colloquium. West Texas A&M. Canyon, Texas. Fall 2008.
―Tough Enough to Wear Pink: A Study of Gender-bending in Annie Proulx’s Close Range.”
West Texas A & M Paper Conference. Spring 2008.
Karen L. Taylor, Curriculum Vitae 3
Publications
―Polysyllabicus.‖ Legacy. Canyon, Texas. West Texas A & M English Department’s annual
Creative Arts Journal. 2009-2010.
*Editor’s Choice for Excellence in Prose.
―The Grass Guard.‖ (Revision) Legacy. Canyon, Texas. West Texas A & M English
Department’s annual Creative Arts Journal. 2009 – 2010.
―The Grass Guard.‖ Freelancer. Amarillo College English Department’s annual journal.
Amarillo, Texas. Spring 2005
*Writer’s Roundup contest - 1st Place Sophomore Winner.
―Justice for Sale: Visa and Mastercard Accepted.‖ Freelancer. Amarillo College English
Department’s journal. Amarillo, Texas. Spring 2005. .
*Freshman Composition persuasion essay submitted by class instructor.
―Eyes and Expenses.‖ Freelancer. ‖ Amarillo College English Department’s annual journal.
Amarillo, Texas. Spring 2005.
Academic Work Experience
For all courses listed below, I develop assignments with the purpose of meeting the desired
outcomes of the curriculum. I use various media to deliver the course materials, and teach the
students to use all aspects of Angel. I also teach them to write professional letter-format emails,
with attachments, and require all blogs, live chats, posts, and discussion forum responses be
written in formal discourse in preparation for the students entering a paperless professional
setting that mainly utilizes technology for communication.
Fall 2012
Frank Phillips College, Borger, Texas
Assistant Professor
 English 1301 – Freshman Composition I – Academic Writing and Argumentation
(one hybrid course, ten Dual Credit sections)
 English 1302 – Freshman Composition II – Literature and Researched Based Writing
Course
Spring 2012
Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas
 English 1301 – Freshman Composition I – Academic Writing and Argumentation
(three sections)
Karen L. Taylor, Curriculum Vitae 4
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas
 English 1301- Freshman Composition I – Academic Writing and Argumentation
 English 1302- Freshman Composition II – Research and Argumentation
 English 2311 – Technical and Professional Writing
Fall 2011
Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas
 English 1301 – Freshman Composition I – Academic Writing and Argumentation
( two sections)
 English 0302 – Basic Grammar and Writing II
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas
 English 1302 – Freshman Composition – Research and Argumentation (two sections)
 English 2311 – Technical and Professional Writing
Summer 2011
Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas
 English 0301 – Basic Grammar and Writing I
 English 0302 – Basic Grammar and Writing II
Spring 2011
Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas.
 English 0302 – Basic Grammar and Writing II
 English 1301 – Freshman Composition I (two sections).
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas.
 English 1302 – Academic Writing and Research (two sections)
Fall 2010
Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas.
 English 0302 – Basic Grammar and Writing II
 English 1301 – Freshman Composition 1301 I (three sections).
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas.
 English 0302 – Basic English (two sections).
 Assigned a Teaching Assistant for each section.
 The Teaching Assistants were new to the program, and I was responsible for
training them for my courses and their other duties.
 English 1301 – Academic Writing and Argumentation.
Karen L. Taylor, Curriculum Vitae 5
Summer 2010
Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas.
 English 0301 – Basic Grammar and Writing I.
 English 0302 – Basic Grammar and Writing II.
Spring 2010
Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas.
 English 0301 – Basic Grammar and Writing I.
 English 0302 – Basic Grammar and Writing II.
 English 1301 – Freshman Composition 1301 I (two sections).
Academic Years 2008 – 2009. Teaching Assistantship. West Texas A&M University,
Canyon, Texas. Recruited for the Teaching Assistantship Program as an undergraduate by
Interim Department Head Douglas Werden, Ph.D. and allowed to take the Composition
Pedagogy graduate course as an undergraduate Fall 2007.
Fall 2009
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas
 English 1301 – Academic Writing and Grammar. Instructor: Nicole Walls, Ph.D.
 Attended every class with Dr. Walls and taught some classes myself.
 Collaborated on assignments.
 Assisted in grading.
 Worked with individual students outside of class.

Assistant to the Director of the Office of Writing Program: Stephen Severn, Ph.D.
 CORE Writing Assessment Coordinator: Scored, complied data, and
entered data into Access Program from 1200 student assessments who were
registered in Basic English 0302, Academic Writing and Argumentation
English 1301, Academic Writing and Research English 1302, and Technical
Writing English 2311.
 Editor of the Office of Writing Program’s webpage. Designed Office of
Writing Program’s webpage and authored its mission statement and
descriptions for the English courses offered.
 Performed other departmental administrative tasks as needed.
Summer I 2009
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas
 Basic English 302. Instructor: Raylene Dysart, M.A.
 Attended every class
 Collaborated on assignments
 Instructed some of the classes
Karen L. Taylor, Curriculum Vitae 6
 Worked with individual students outside of class
Spring 2009
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas
 Academic Writing and Argumentation, English 1301. Instructor: Karen Taylor.
 Instructor of record for this class and taught this class autonomously.
 Developed assignments, course schedule, etc.
 Recent policy changes deemed teaching assistants ineligible to teach as
instructors of record; however, Dr. Stephen Severn argued on my behalf, and I
was granted an exception.

American Regionalism, English 4360. Instructor: Douglas Werden, Ph.D.
 Online course
 Directed Discussion Forums over course readings
 Responded to student emails
 Graded all assignments for the course
 Utilized all features of ANGEL
Fall 2008
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas
 Academic Writing and Argumentation, English 1301. Instructor: Stephen Severn,
Ph.D. This course was taught as a ―paperless‖ course which meant all assignments
were turned in electronically via the Angel program.
 Attended every class
 Assisted with grading and maintained online gradebook
 Utilized all features of ANGEL
 Delivered some of the lectures
 Collaborated on development of assignments
 Worked with students individually outside of class.


Academic Writing and Argumentation, English 1301. Instructor: David Horsley,
M.A.
 Attended every class
 Assisted with grading
 Delivered some of the lectures
 Collaborated on development of assignments
 Worked with students individually outside of class.
Assistant to the Director of the Office of Writing Programs, Stephen Severn, Ph.D.
 Co-organizer of Martha Kolln’s Campus Tour. Kolln is the author of
Rhetorical Grammar, which involved arranging for venue, catering, send of
invitations, and designing event program for attendees.
Karen L. Taylor, Curriculum Vitae 7
 Designed and authored documents for the Office of Writing Program’s
Announcement and Information Bulletin Board.
 Attended to other departmental administrative tasks as needed.
Academic Service
Departmental






















No Excuses: Mentor Program. Mentor. Amarillo College, Amarillo College. Fall 2012.
“Writer’s Roundup” Contest. Judge. Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas. Spring 2012.
No Excuses Launch. Participant. Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas. October 2011.
Promising Practices: Active Learning Discussion. Participant. Amarillo College,
Amarillo, Texas. September 2011.
ACTS Retreat. Participant. Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas. Summer 2011.
“Writer’s Roundup” Contest. Judge. Amarillo College. Amarillo, Texas. Spring 2011.Title V
Grant V – NCAT. Team Member. Amarillo College. Amarillo, Texas.
Spring – Spring 2012.
QEP Assessment Rater. Amarillo College. Amarillo, Texas. 2010 Academic Year.
Dr. Mark Taylor’s “Generation NeXt” Seminars. Participant. Amarillo College. Amarillo,
Texas. Spring 2011.
“Writers’ Roundup” Contest. Judge. Amarillo College. Amarillo, Texas. Spring 2010.
EPML’s (Depart of English, Philosophy, and Modern Languages) and P.O.E.M.’s Open House.
Hostess, which entailed all aspects of planning the launch party. West Texas A&M University.
Canyon, Texas. September 2009
Guest Speaker at Highland Middle School. Attended by all English classes and teachers. Topics –
―The Importance of Writing‖ and ―How to Improve One’s Writing.‖
Highland Middle School. Amarillo, Texas. May 2009.
Sigma Tau Delta Middle School Paper Conference Award Ceremony. Mistress of Ceremonies.
West Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas. April 2009.
Sigma Tau Delta Middle School Paper Conference. Conference Organizer and Judge. West
Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas. April, 2009.
April Society’s “Merriment in March”. Organizer and Mistress of Ceremonies. West Texas
A&M University. Canyon, Texas March 2009.
UIL High School Paper Conference. Judge. West Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas.
Spring 2009.
UIL Middle School Conference. Judge. West Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas
Fall 2008.
Martha Kolln, author of Rhetorical Grammar, Campus Visit. Assistant Organizer. Assisted with
all aspects of organizing presentations and luncheon for Martha Kolln’s visit. West Texas A&M
University. Canyon, Texas . Fall 2008.
Sigma Tau Delta Middle School Paper Conference. Judge. West Texas A&M University.
Canyon, Texas. March 30, 2007.
Karen L. Taylor, Curriculum Vitae 8
Student Organizations









Sigma Alph Pi, The National Society of Leadership and Success—Founding member,
West Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas. Fall 2009 to present.
P.O.E.M (Professional Organization of English Majors) – Founding member and President.
West Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas. Fall 2009
University Student Organizations Web Page Editor for P.O.E.M/April Society, the
Legacy, and Sigma Tau Delta. West Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas. 2009
April Society – Society for English major graduate students. President West Texas A&M
University. Canyon, Texas. 2008-2009
Tracks – EPML’s online journal for scholarly papers across the disciplines. Co-editor. West
Texas A&M University. Canyon, Texas .2009.
Legacy—WTAMU’s creative journal, staff member. West Texas A&M University.
Canyon, Texas. 2009
Sigma Tau Delta – International English Honors Society, President West Texas A&M
University. Canyon, Texas. 2008-2009
Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honors Society. Member. West Texas A&M
University. Canyon, Texas. 2006-2009
Sigma Kappa Delta, International English Honors Society. Member. Amarillo College.
Amarillo, Texas. 2004-2005
Professional Service

Southwest/Texas Pop-Culture Conference. ―Women Writers and Women’s Writings.‖


Panel Chair. Albuquerque, New Mexico. February 2010
Western Literature Association. Member 2008
Homicide Investigators of Texas. Founding member. Amarillo, Texas. 1989 – 1990.
Community Service





Greeting Committee for Lea Regional Hospital. Coordinator. 1991 – 2000.
Sanger Elementary School, Hobbs, New Mexico,
o Relieved 2nd Grade teacher once a week and conducted a reading hour.
Academic school year 1997 – 1998.
o Assisted with good behavior rewards program for entire school.
Academic school years 1997 – 2001
Miss New Mexico Pageant. Chaperone. Pageant year 1996
Southwest Symphony. Board Member. Hobbs, New Mexico. 1991 – 1993.
Junior Service League. Member. Hobbs, New Mexico. 1991 – 1993.
Karen L. Taylor, Curriculum Vitae 9