Graduate
Graduate Alumni Interview: Adam Phillips
Adam Phillips,
PhD in English, rhetoric and composition concentration
Spring 2022
Bio
Hailing from Niles, OH, I attended Youngstown State University for my BA in English and Florida Atlantic University for his MA. I completed his PhD studies at the University of South Florida in 2022 with a focus on research methodology, composition pedagogy, curricular assessment, writing analytics, and digital/multimodal composition. My research interests are positioned at the intersections of first-year writing, digital composition, writing analytics, and writing assessment.
What is your position now?
I have accepted a position at USF as an Assistant Professor of Instruction.
Why did you come to the USF graduate program?
I came to USF because of my interest in first-year writing and writing research. While here, however, I was introduced to digital writing assessment through the use of technological tools. This program allowed me to blend my interests in a variety of ways, leading to my dissertation topic and subsequent research interests, and allowed me to work with some top scholars in the field, such as Lisa Meloncon (PTC) and Norbert Elliot (Writing Analytics).
How did USF prepare you for your current position?
USF and the English department prepared for writing program administration, writing research, research methodology, and pedagogical application of research data. This program allowed me to more fully understand the administrative, teaching, service, and research aspects of jobs in higher education, preparing me for my current occupational trajectory. Without the knowledge gained within the program, I would be ill prepared for job market.
What advice would you give to new graduate students in the program?
I would advise all graduate students to create relationships with both scholars and colleagues within their field(s), whether that be at USF or outside. By participating in conferences and collaborating with other scholars, you can build connections that last a lifetime.