Phil Zwerling

Bio

  Phil Zwerling, Associate Professor of Creative Writing and Director of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, earned his M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of New Orleans, and his Ph.D. in Theatre from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

  He is the author of three books (Nicaragua: A New Kind of Revolution, 1985, After School Theatre Programs for At Risk Teenagers, 2007, and The Theatre of Lee Blessing: A Critical Study of 44 Plays, 2016). His edited book, The CIA on Campus: Academic Freedom and the National Security State was published in 2012.

  His newest book, coauthored with Verne Lyon, is Eyes On Havana: The Memoir of an American Spy betrayed by the CIA available in 2018.

  Scenes from his plays are anthologized in One on One: The Best Women’s Monologues for the Twentieth First Century, One on One: The Best Men’s Monologues for the Twenty-First Century, and Duo: The Best Scenes for the Twenty First Century, all by Applause Books.

  He specializes in teaching playwriting, screenwriting, and dramatic literature at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

  In 2018 he will retire to Fort Bragg, California.

Amazon Author page

Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Philip Zwerling
Associate Professor of Creative Writing
Director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

EDUCATION

 

Ph.D.

University of California, Santa Barbara

2003

 

Department of Dramatic Art, emphasis in Theatre History, Theory, and Dramatic Literature

 

M. F. A.

University of New Orleans

1998

 

Creative Writing with emphasis in Playwriting and Creative Nonfiction

 

M. Div.

Harvard University (Theology) with Honors

1974

B. A.

St. Lawrence University (Philosophy and Religion) magna cum laude

1970

PUBLICATIONS

Book Under Contract:

“Eyes on Havana: The Memoir of an American Betrayed by the CIA” with Verne Lyon to be published 2017, McFarland and Company Publishers

BOOKS AUTHORED

The Theater of Lee Blessing: A Critical Study of 44 Plays. North Carolina: McFarland and Company Publishers, 2016.

After-School Theater Programs and At Risk. Teens. North Carolina: McFarland and Company Publishers, 2008.

Nicaragua: A New Kind of Revolution. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 1985.

BOOK EDITED

The CIA on Campus: Essays on Academic Freedom and the National Security State. North Carolina: McFarland and Company Publishers, 2011.

BOOK CHAPTERS:

"Template for Terror" and "Guide to a Spy Free Campus" in

The CIA on Campus: Essays on Academic Freedom and the National

Security State. North Carolina: McFarland and Company Publishers 2011.

ENTRIES IN BOOK ANTHOLOGIES

“Crafting Effective Dialogue” and “Seven Overlooked Elements of Scriptwriting” in 2010 Screenwriter’s and Playwright’s Market. ed. Chuck Sambuchino. New York: F+W Media, Inc, 2009.

“The Last Freak Show” Act 1, Scene One in Duo: The Best Scenes for Two for the Twenty-First Century, eds. Henry, Jaroff, and Shuman. New York: Applause Books, 2009.

“The Last Freak Show” monologue in One on One: The Best Men’s Monologues for the Twenty-First Century, eds. Henry, Jaroff, and Shuman. New York: Applause Books, 2008.

"The Face in the Mirror" monologue in One on One: Best Women's Monologues of the Millennium, eds. Henry, Jaroff, and Shuman. New York: Applause Books, 2007.

“A Gay Wedding: Some Thoughts” in The Marriage and Family Experience (second edition) ed. by Strong, DeVault, Suid, and Reynolds. St. Paul: West Publishing Company, 1983

ARTICLES IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS

Right Along the Border: Mexican-American Students Write Themselves Into The(ir) World” in The Community Literacy Journal, Spring 2010, Volume 2, Issue 2.

The CIA On My Campus...and Yoursin Nebula. Volume 6.4 December 2009 http:// www.nobleworld.biz .

"The Political Agenda for Theatricalizing Religion in 'Shango de Ima' and 'Sortilege II'," in The Journal of Religion and Theatre Fall 2004, Volume 3, Number 2. http://www.rtjournal.org/vol 3/no 2/zwerling.html

“Union Organizing at the University of California” in Workplace: A Journal for Academic Labor, #7, June 2001.

ARTICLES IN LITERARY JOURNALS

“An Interview with the Playwright Lee Blessing,” in riverSedge, Fall 2016.

“Playwriting (and texting quicker), interviews Lee Blessing: Two Playwrights Talk Shop” in 34th Parallel (on-line and paper journal) October 2011

ORIGINAL PLAYS IN REFEREED LITERARY JOURNALS

“For Love or Money” in Writer’s Bloc, Fall issue 2013, Texas A & M University-Kingsville, TX.

“Trick or Treat” in 34th Parallel (on-line and paper journal) Issue 21, 2013

“The History of Mexico: A Dream Play” in The Langdon Review of the Arts in Texas Volume 7, 2010-2011, published September 2010.

ARTICLES IN NATIONAL CURRENT EVENTS MAGAZINES

““They’re Back: The CIA Returns to Campus and Resistance Begins” Z Magazine, November 2011.

ARTICLES IN ONLINE JOURNALS

“Teaching Tomorrow’s Professor Today” in Tomorrow’s Professor email Newsletter, #1149, editor: Rick Reis, Publisher: Stanford University, February 2, 2012

ARTICLES ON CD ROMs

"Extreme Playwriting" and Understanding Subtext and Given Circumstances" in Mid America Theatre Conference Pedagogy Papers, March 2006.

ORIGINAL PLAY PRODUCTIONS

Locked

UTPA Studio Theatre

October 23- 26, 2014

For Love Or Money

UTPA Studio Theatre

March 29, 2012

The History of Mexico: A Dream Play

International Museum of Art and Science two performances

November 5, 2011

The History of Mexico: A Dream Play

UTPA/Gear Up/Festiba two performances

March 2011

The History of Mexico: A Dream Play

South Texas College/ Regional Annual Meeting of National Association of Chicano/Chicana Studies

February 2011

The History of Mexico: A Dream Play

University of Texas Pan American/25th International Conference on Spanish

March 2010

Personal Injury

South Texas College Theatre

February 2008

Lost and Found

The Kaleidoscope Theatre, Ursinus College

2006

The Face In the Mirror

Ritter Theatre, Ursinus College

2005

The Playwright's Nightmare

Bomberger Auditorium, Ursinus College

2003

Soul Play

Seaside Theatre, Carpinteria, CA

2002

Soul Play

Studio Theatre, University of California,Santa Barbara

2000

Lost and Found

Studio Theatre, University of California, Santa Barbara

2000

Dr. Sex

American College Theatre Festival/Region VI

1998

Dr. Sex

East Theatre, University of New Orleans

1997

Trick or Treat

Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans

1997

Lost and Found

Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans

1996

I of Newt

Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans

1995

ORIGINAL PLAY READINGS

Locked Readers Theatre in UTPA Black Box Theatre, October 6-8, 2014

We Shall Be Changed

read in UTPA Student Union Theater

October 30, 2013

We Shall Be Changed

read in UTPA Black Box Theater

May 13, 2013

For Love or Money

read at the University of New Orleans Ten Minute Play

Marathon

New Orleans, LA

11/5, 10, and 12/2011

For Love or Money

read at Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers Annual Meeting Austin, Texas

September 23, 2011

STAGE DIRECTING

Lost and Found

The Kaleidoscope Theatre, Ursinus College

2006

The Playwright's Nightmare

Bomberger Auditorium, Ursinus College

2003

JOURNALS EDITED

Editor-in-Chief, RiverSedge Literary Journal

2014-to present

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS WITH STUDENTS

FESTIBA Ten Minute Play Festival

March 4, 2015 (undergraduate

students)

 

FESTIBA Ten Minute Play Festival

March 19, 2014 (undergraduate

students)

 

FESTIBA Ten Minute Play Festival

March 19, 2013 (with graduate class

ENG 6358)

 

FESTIBA Ten Minute Play Festival

March 27 and 29, 2012 (undergraduate

students and March 28, 2012 (graduate students)

FESTIBA Ten Minute Play Festival

March 29 and 31, 2011 (undergraduate

students)

 

FESTIBA Ten Minute Play Festival March 23 and 25, 2010 (undergraduate students) and March 24, 2010 (graduate students)

FESTIBA Ten Minute Play Festival March 24, 2009 (undergraduate students) and March 26, 2009 (graduate students)

FESTIBA Ten Minute Play Festival March 27, 2008

ENCYCLOPEDIA ARTICLES

"Zora Neale Hurston,” “David Belasco," and “The Girl of the Golden West” in The Columbia Encyclopedia of Modern Drama, Edited by Gabrielle Cody and Evert Springchorn. New York, Columbia University Press, 2007.

"Israel Horovitz" in The Facts on File Companion to American Drama, eds. Jackson Bryer and Mary C. Hartig, New York: Facts on File, 2004.

"Lazaro Cardenas," "James Buchanan," Sam Houston," "The Alamo," "The Battle of San Jacinto," "Bisbee, Arizona," The Encyclopedia of The United States and Mexico, 2002.

Book Reviews

Hell No, We Won’t Go:” a review of: A User’s Guide to Hell, Featuring Bernard Madoff by Lee Blessing, Dramatists Play Service, Inc., Acting Edition, 2013, in riverSedge, Volume 28, Number 1, Fall 2015

ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS

“Plausible Deniability” at annual conference of Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers, San Antonio, September 2016.

“Travel Writing: Sharing Your Journey Stories with Others” March 24, 2015, UTPA Library (in conjunction with Smithsonian Exhibition)

“The Care and Feeding of Literary Journals” at the annual conference of the Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers, Fort Worth, TX. September 26, 2013.

“The CIA and NSA at Hispanic Serving Institutions” at the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS) Tejas Foco Conference

at the University of Texas-Pan American February 22,

2013 .

“Teaching Student Writers to Be Professionals” at the annual conference of the Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers, Edinburg, TX. September 27, 2012.

“Research and Writing” at the annual conference of the Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers, Austin, TX. September 22-24, 2011.

Presentation (Direction) and discussion of original play “The History of Mexico: A Dream Play” at South Texas College/ Regional Annual Meeting of National Association of Chicano/Chicana Studies, February 2011.

“Generating New Material” and “Directing Creative Writing Programs” at the annual conference of the Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers, Fort Worth, TX. September 23-25, 2010.

“The CIA on Campus and Its Threat to Academic Freedom” at the First International Conference on Marti, Juarez, and Lincoln in the Soul of Our America. Monterrey, Mexico. October 17-19, 2009.

“Why and How to Make your Creative Writing Course a Service Learning Course” (Pedagogy Panel at the annual meeting of the Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers, Texas Tech University, September 2009.

“Making After School Theatre Programs Work for At Risk Teenagers” Paper at the Annual convention of the Texas Educational Theatre Association, Houston, TX January 24, 2009.

Experiential Learning In the Writing Workshop” (Pedagogy Panel at the annual meeting of the Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers, Angelo State University, September 2008.

“Community Writing Empowers Students and Changes Communities,” National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies Tejas Regional Conference, South Texas College, February 2008.

“Creating Characters and Conflicts for Scenes That Sizzle,” The Montgomery County Community College Annual Writers Conference, November 2007.

“Racial Stereotypes and Prototypes in Tracy Scott Wilson’s The Story.” The Horton Foote National Playwrights’ Festival, Baylor University, October 2007.

“Intergenerational Writing” Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association, Tucson, AZ October 2006.

"Playwriting" (leader of three day teaching workshop) The Philadelphia Writers' Conference, June 9-11, 2006.

"The Teaching of Writing: Developing a Public Voice,” Northeast Modern Language Association, Philadelphia, March 2006.

"The Story Behind 'The Story," Modern Language Association, Washington, D. C. December 30, 2005.

"The Politics, Pageantry, and Poetry of the Paterson Silk Strike," Modern Language Association, Philadelphia, PA. December 28 , 2004.

"A Toolkit for Inspiring Community-based Theatre On and Off Campuses," Association for Theatre in Higher Education, Chair and Panelist, Theater and Social Change Division, Toronto, Canada July 29, 2004.

"Yoruba Religion and Revolution," Association for Theatre in Higher

Education, Panelist, Religion and Theatre Division, Toronto, Canada July 29, 2004.

UCSB Summer Orientation Program Faculty Panel, Panelist, August 2002.

"If the Inmates Ran the Asylum: Reimagining a Graduate Drama School Education," Panel Chair and Presenter, Association for Theatre in Higher Education, San Diego, CA, July 2002.

"Performing Interdisciplinarity," Association for Theatre in Higher Education, San Diego, CA, July 2002.

"Youth Theatre of the Oppressed in a Globalized World," University of Southern California, April 2002.

"Is Efficacy a Dirty Word?" Research in Dramatic Art Conference, University of California, Santa Barbara, March 2002.

"Whose Line Is It Anyway: Issues of Power in Grassroots Theatre,"

 

American Society for Theatre Research, San Diego, CA, November

2001.

"Art is the Anti-Drug," California Educational Theatre Association, North Hollywood, CA, October 2001.

"Gangbanging and the Art of Mimesis," Graduate Research Symposium, Interdisciplinary Humanities Center, University of California, Santa Barbara, May 2001.

"Making Theatre/Saving Lives," University of Southern California, English Graduate Student Conference: "Room For Play: Drama, Theatre, and Performativity," Los Angeles, February 2001.

"Aristotle, Boal, and Moreno; Defining a Catharsis for a Free People," Sixth Annual Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Conference, Minneapolis, June 2000.

"The Moral Limits of the Dramatic Uses of History and Biography," American Literature Association Annual Conference, American Theatre and Drama Society, Long Beach, CA,

May 2000.

"Augusto Boal and the Theatre of the Oppressed Rehearse the Revolution," Graduate Research Symposium, Interdisciplinary Humanities Center, University of California, Santa Barbara, Jan. 1999.

COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS

"Stopping America's War on Children," Live Oak Unitarian Church, Goleta, CA, August 2001.

"Religion, Race, and Revolution: The Roots of Theatre in Latin America," Getty Museum, Los Angeles, November 1999.

SELECTED JOURNAL, MAGAZINE, AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLES “Endless U.S. Wars” in The McAllen Monitor, January, 2016.

“Not Easy Riding” in The McAllen Monitor, December 10, 2015

“Saints and Sinners” in The McAllen Monitor, September 13, 2015

“Racism in the RGV” in The McAllen Monitor, June, 2015

“Three Moral Marvels of Our Age” in The McAllen Monitor February 1, 2015

“Outbound in Florence” in The McAllen Monitor, November 20, 2012.

“Just out of High School? Play Hooky for a Year,” in The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 13, 2006.

"Bridging Generations," in Ursinus Magazine, June 2005. pg.. 11-12.

Book Review: Strategies for Teaching First-Year Composition for Issues In Writing, Fall/Winter 2004, Volume 14, Issue 1.

"Personal Journey: Vietnam," in The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 21, 2003.

"Preparing Students to Write an Annotated Bibliography" in The Hands-On Handbook: A Guide to Teaching in the UCSB Writing Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2003.

"Staging a City at Peace," Santa Barbara Magazine, Spring 2002.

Book Review: "George Jean Nathan and the Making of Modern American Drama Criticism," Theatre Survey, 43,1, May 2002.

"Steeling Beauty," Santa Barbara Magazine, February/March 2002. Performance review: "The Secret," Theatre Journal, December 2001.

Book reviews: "Grassroots Theatre" and "Community In Motion," Theatre Journal, December 2001.

Performance review: "Mankind," Research Opportunities in Renaissance Drama, XL, 2001.

"Unique Center Stage Celebrates 10th Anniversary," The Goleta Valley Voice, July 14, 2000.

"The World Comes to Santa Barbara," American Theatre Magazine, May, 2000.

"The Alhecama Theatre: Historic and Alive," Santa Barbara Magazine, 26/1, (Winter 2000).

"Swimming Into Fatherhood with Spalding Gray," The Goleta Valley Voice, January 19, 2001.

"Curtain Up!," The Driftwood, March 26, 1998.

"The First American Play," The Desert Leaf, July/August 1997.

"An Interview with Playwright Mark Medoff," College Bound Magazine, March/ April 1995.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

 

 

University of Texas Pan American

 

 

Associate Professor of English

 

 

 

Special Topics: Memoir

CRWT 6352

 

Fall 2017

Special Topics: Memoir

ENGL 4359

 

Fall 2017

Intro to Creative Writing

ENGL 3351

 

SII, 2017

Playwriting Workshop

CRWT 6348

 

Spring 2017

Thesis Hours

CRWT 7100

 

Spring 2017

Intro to Creative Writing

ENGL 3351

 

Spring 2017

Advanced Playwriting

ENGL 4351

 

Fall 2016

Creative Nonfiction

ENGL 3352

 

Fall 2016

MFA Thesis Hours

CRWT 7100

 

Fall 2016

Intro to Creative Writing

ENGL 3351

 

Summer II, 2016

Special Topics in Creative Writing (Travel Writing)

CRWT 6352 SII, 2016

Intro to the Profession of Creative Writing CRWT6334

Spring 2016

Intro to Creative Writing

ENGL 3351.05

Spring 2016

MFA Thesis Hours

CRWT 7301

 

Spring 2016

Form and Theory of Playwriting:

CRWT 6340

 

Fall 2015

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336.04

Fall 2015

MFA Thesis Hours

CRWT 7301

Fall 2015

Workshop in Playwriting

English 6358.01

Spring 2015

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336.03

Spring 2015

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7301

 

Spring 2015

Special Topics in Creative Writing: Travel Writing

English 6315.01 Fall 2014

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336.04

Fall 2014

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300

Fall 2014

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7301

Fall 2014

British Literature

English 6360

 

 

 

Summer 2, 2014

Study Abroad in London

 

 

 

 

Special Topics in Creative Writing

English 6315

 

Summer 2, 2014

Study Abroad in London

 

 

 

 

Special Topics in Creative Writing

English 4340

 

Summer 2, 2014

Study Abroad in London

 

 

 

 

Playwriting Workshop English 4335

 

 

Spring 2014

Introduction to the Profession

English 6330

 

Spring 2014

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7301.04

 

Spring 2014

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300.04

 

Spring 2014

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336

 

Fall 2013

Form and Theory of Screenwriting

English 6369.01

 

Fall 2013

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7301.04

 

Fall 2013

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300.04

 

Fall 2013

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336

 

Summer 2, 2013

Special Topics in Creative Writing

English 4340

 

Summer 1 Study

Abroad in Florence, Italy 2013

 

 

 

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7301.07

 

Spring 2013

Workshop in Playwriting English/Comm 6358.01

 

Spring 2013

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336

 

Spring 2013

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7301.07

 

Fall 2012

Form and Theory of Playwriting

English/Comm 6368.01

Fall 2012

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336

 

Fall 2012

Rhetoric and Composition English 1302

 

Fall 2012

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336

 

Summer 2, 2012

Creative NonFiction: the Art of Writing English 3337

 

Summer 1, Study

Abroad 2012 in Florence, Italy

 

 

 

Graduate Workshop in Creative NonFiction English 6368

Summer 1, Study

Abroad 2012 in Florence, Italy

 

 

 

Graduate Workshop in Playwriting

ENG 6358

 

Sp 2012

Advanced Creative Writing (Playwriting) ENG 4335

 

Sp 2012

Introduction to Creative Writing

ENG 3336

 

Sp 2012

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7301.07

 

Sp 2012

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300.07

 

Sp 2012

Composition

English 1301.51

 

Fall 2011

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336

 

Fall 2011

Introduction to the Profession

English 6330

 

Fall 2011

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7301.07

 

Fall 2011

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300.07

 

Fall 2011

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336

Summer 2, 2011

Special Topics in Creative Writing

English 4340

Summer 1, Study

Abroad 2011 in Florence, Italy

 

 

Independent Study

 

English 4399

Summer I Study Abroad

in Florence, Italy

 

 

 

 

 

Special Topics in Creative Writing

English 4340.02

 

Spring 2011

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336.03

 

Spring 2011

Form and Theory of Screenwriting

English 6369.01

Spring 2011

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300

 

 

Spring 2011

Special Topics in Creative Writing

English 4340.01

 

Fall 2010

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336.01

 

Fall 2010

Form and Theory of Playwriting

English/Comm 6368.01

Fall 2010

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300.07

 

Fall 2010

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336.01

Summer 2, 2010

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7301

 

 

Spring 2010

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300

 

 

Spring 2010

Playwriting Workshop English 6358/Comm 6358

 

Spring 2010

Advanced Creative Writing

English 4340

 

Spring 2010

Introduction to Creative Writing

English 3336

 

Spring 2010

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300.08

 

Fall 2009

Form and Theory of Creative Nonfiction English 6387.01

Fall 2009

Intro to Creative Writing

English 3336.04

 

Fall 2009

Rhetoric English 1302.15

 

 

 

Fall 2009

Creative Nonfiction Workshop English 6315

Summer I Abroad 2009

in Salamanca, Spain

 

 

 

 

 

Creative Nonfiction

English 3337

Summer I Abroad 2009

in Salamanca, Spain

 

 

 

 

 

Winter Writers’ Workshop

Memoir and Screenwriting Feb. and March 2009

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7301

 

Spring 2009

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300

 

Spring 2009

Playwriting

English 4340

Spring

2009

Creative Writing

English 3336

Spring

2009

Playwriting Workshop

English 6358/Comm 6358

Spring 2009

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300

Fall 2008

MFA Thesis Hours

English 7300

Fall 2008

Playwriting

English 4336

Fall 2008

Community Writing

English 4340

Fall 2008

Form and Theory of Creative NonFiction English 6387 Fall 2008

Intro to Creative Writing English 3336

Summer 1, 2008

Creative NonFiction Workshop

English 6337

Summer 1 2008

Reading in Dramatic Literature

English 2313

Minimester 2008

Study Abroad in London

 

 

Contemporary British Drama

English 3320 Minimester 2008

Study Abroad in London

 

 

Studies in English Literature English 6360

Minimester 2008

Study Abroad in London

 

Fiction Form and Theory

English 6386

Spring 2008

Playwriting

English 4336

Spring 2008

Intro to Literature English 2300

Spring 2008

Fiction Writing

English 6336

Fall 2007

Playwriting

English 4336

Fall 2007

Intro Creative Writing

English 3336

Fall 2007

Supervising/Mentoring Graduate Teaching Assistants:

Thomas Delacruz

Sp 2012

Cathy Lopez

Sp 2009

Dalel Serda

Sp 2008

Ursinus College

Assistant Professor (Visiting) of English and Creative Writing

Playwriting English 209B

 

Spring 2007

Screenwriting

English 209L

 

Spring 2007

Advanced Expository Writing

English 208

Spring 2007

Native American Drama

English 356

 

Fall 2006

Independent Study in English

English 391B

Fall 2006

Playwriting

English 209B

 

Fall 2006

Screenwriting

English 209L

 

Fall 2006

Theatre of War

Theatre 250/English 212

Spring 2006

Community Writing English 209M

 

Spring 2006

Playwriting

English 209B

 

Spring 2006

Screenwriting

English 209L

 

Fall 2005

Travel Writing

 

English 209D

Fall 2005

First Year Composition

English 100D

Fall 2005

Advanced Playwriting

English 302

Spring 2005

Community-based Creative Nonfiction English 209K

Spring 2005

First Year Composition

English 100C

Spring 2005

Honors Research/Independent Work

English 492A

Spring 2005

Honors Research/Independent Work

English 491B

Fall 2004

Independent Study in English

English 391A

Fall 2004

Latino/a Theatre

English 212

Fall 2004

Playwriting

English 209B

Fall 2004

Advanced Expository Writing

English 208

Fall 2004

Summer Fellow Mentor in Playwriting

 

Summer 2004

Playwriting

English 209B

Spring 2004

Writing and Performance in Community English 209I

Spring 2004

Theatre of the Absurd

English 345

Spring 2004

Playwriting

 

 

English 209B

Fall 2003

Advanced Expository Writing

 

English 208

Fall 2003

First Year Composition

 

English 100

Fall 2003

University of California, Santa Barbara

 

 

Teaching Assistant

The Writing Program "Writing 2: Academic Writing"

2002-2003

 

 

 

 

 

Teaching Associate Dramatic Art 155B

"American Drama 1940 to Present"

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teaching Assistant Chicano Studies 1B

"Chicana Women's Studies"

2002

Reader

GLOBL 101 "Global Literatures"

2001, 2002

Teaching Assistant

Dramatic Art 5

"Beginning Acting"

2001

 

Teaching Assistant

Dramatic Art 60

"Theatre Appreciation"

1999, 2000

Reader

Dramatic Art 162 "Shakespeare on Film and Stage"

1999

University of New Orleans

Teacher Metropolitan College "New Orleans Theatre Experience" 1998 Teacher Drama and Communications 2200 "Introduction To Playwriting" 1997

Teaching Assistant Drama and Communications Theatre Publicity 1996

OTHER EMPLOYMENT

 

 

 

Theatre Critic The Goleta Valley Voice

1998-2001

Columnist

The Desert Leaf

1991-2001

 

Minister

Unitarian Church of Tucson, AZ

1989-93

Minister

The First Unitarian Church of L.A.

1978-89

Minister

The Community Church of Boston

1974-78

Minister

First Parish Church, Ashby, MA

1971-73

AWARDS

 

 

Winner Annual One Act Play Contest at South Texas College

2008

Service to the Profession Award Finalist

Teachers for a Democratic

Culture 2000

 

 

National Critic's Institute Certificate of Achievement Eugene O'Neill Center 1999

Sherrill C. Corwin-Metropolitan Theatres Writing Award for Best Full Length Stage Play University of California, Santa Barbara 1999

Best Arts & Entertainment Review Honorable Mention Southeast Journalism Conference 1999

National Critic's Institute Winner

American College Theatre Festival/

Region VI 1998

 

Excellence in Playwriting Award American College Theatre Festival/Region VI 1998

Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creativity

Lakefront Players,

University of New Orleans 1998

 

Excellence in Playwriting Award American College Theatre Festival, Region VI 1997

National Critic's Institute Winner American College Theatre Festival, Region VI 1997

Clarence Skinner Award

Sermon "Best Exemplifying UU Commitment to

Social Justice"

 

1980 and 1982

Phi Beta Kappa

St. Lawrence University

1970

Mortar Board Leadership Honorary Society St. Lawrence University 1970

FELLOWSHIPS

 

 

Fellowship to Harry Ransom Center for Research

$1200 May 2014

Special Graduate Division Travel Grant University of California, Santa

Barbara 2002

Special Graduate Division Dissertation Fellowship University of California,

Santa Barbara

2002

Humanities/Social Sciences Graduate Research Grant University of California, Santa Barbara 2001-2002

Humanities CTR3 Fellowship University of California, Santa Barbara 2001

Research Marshall Travel Award American Society for Theatre

2001

Predoctoral Fellowship

Interdisciplinary Humanities Center University of

California, Santa Barbara

2001

Graduate USA P3 Fellowship University of California, Santa Barbara 2000-2001

Regents Fellowship

University of California,Santa Barbara

 

2000-2001

 

 

 

University Fellowship

University of California,Santa Barbara

1999-2000

 

 

 

Regents' Fellowship

University of California, Santa Barbara

 

1998-1999

 

 

 

University Fellowship

University of California,Santa Barbara

 

1998-1999

 

 

 

Playwriting Symposium Fellowship

Kennedy Center American College

Theatre Festival

1998

 

 

Founders' Fellowship

University of New Orleans

1994-1998

EXTERNAL FUNDING

2013-2014, Harry Ransom Center Research Fellowship in the Humanities. Travel stipend. Supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Research Fellowship Endowment. $1,200

2004, Woodrow Wilson National Foundation Pericles Project Grant to design

and implement a Civic Engagement Course in Creative Nonfiction. $2,500

GRANTS

Faculty Development Grant to attend the Tennessee Williams Literary

Festival UTPA 2013

$2,000.

Faculty Development Grant to attend Playwriting Master Class UTPA 2010 $2,000

Faculty Development Grant for Student Research Assistantship in the Humanities from Ursinus College Fall 2006. $500

University of California Institute for Research in the Arts awarded to begin City @ Peace, Isla Vista, CA, 2000. $2,500

CAMPUS SERVICE (UTRGV)

Director, MFA Program in Creative Writing

2015 to present

Chair, Creative Writing Committee

2015 to present

Member, Creative Writing Committee

2015- to present

Chair, MFA Admissions Committee

2015- to present

CAMPUS SERVICE (UTPA)

Chair, Pan American United Faculty (PAUF) Recruitment Committee Chair

 

November 2012 to 2016

Chair, Creative Writing Committee

January 2013 - 2015

Member, Creative Writing Committee

2007— 2015

Chair, MFA Admissions Committee

2008— 2015

Moderator, Festiba Panel: ‘Getting Published'

March 2016

Grievance Representative, Pan American United Faculty (PAUF)

May 2012 to January 2016

President, Pan American United Faculty (PAUF) April 2015 to October 2015

Vice President, Pan American United Faculty (PAUF)

January 2014 to April 2015

Wrote fundraising letter for International Women’s Board

March 2015

Member, English Department Tenure and Promotion Committee

2014-15

Search Committee Member for Administrative Assistant II for Theatre,

Dance, and Creative Writing

March 2015

Faculty Senate - Senator from COAH

May 2011 to May 2014

Member, English Department Assessment Committee,

 

2012 -2015

Attendee, New Graduate Student Mixer

January 14, 2015

Speaker, Graduate School presentation on ‘Perfecting Your Proposal Defense” November 11, 2014

Speaker, Graduate School information session October 9, 2014

Speaker, Festiba Panel: “A Journey to the RiverSedge” March 20, 2014

Major’s Fair Representative

September 23, 2014

Graduate Fair Representative

March 6, 2014

Speaker, “Perfecting Your Thesis Defense” at Graduate Office Forum, February 6, 2014

Speaker, MFA/PhD in Creative Writing Information Session

Nov. 19, 2013

Speaker, Graduate Information Session for College of Arts & Humanities, UTPA, October 17, 2013

Member, English Department Annual Review Committee

AY 2013-2014

(Re) framing the Conversation: An Exploration of How UTPA’s MFA Program has Impacted the Growing Community of Writers in the Rio Grande Valley”

Festiba Panel

March 18, 2013

Grad Fair Representative

March 7, 2013

“Prepping for Proposal”

Graduate Office Panel, Ballroom

 

February 7, 2013

“Study Abroad Will Change Your Life” at International Days, UTPA Ballroom, November 15, 2012.

Member, English Department Committee on Teaching Effectiveness 2011-2012

Grad Fair Representative

March 1, 2012

Grad Fair representative

March 27, 2012

Graduate Student Advisor, MFA Program

Spring Semester 2012

Organizer and Speaker at “The CIA/UTPA: The Perils of Academic/ Counterterrorism Collaboration” at Social Justice and Peace Conference at UTPA April 29, 2011

Organizer and Moderator of panel “The CIA/UTPA and Counterterrorism” at Pan American Days at UTPA 4/13/11

Organizer and Moderator of panel “The CIA, IGkNU, ad Global Peace” at International Days at UTPA 11/17/10

Presenter at UTPA Library Seminar for National Day on Writing 10/20/10

Moderator and organizer of panel “The Intelligence Community, IGkNU, and UTPA” at Social Justice and Peace Conference at UTPA May 8, 2010

Presenter and organizer of panel “The Intelligence Community, IGkNU, and UTPA” at Pan American Days April 7, 2010

Member, English Department Teaching Effectiveness Committee 2011 to present

Member English Education Committee 2009 to 2011

Presenter at UTPA Library Seminar for National Day on Writing 10/20/09

Member, International Advisory Committee

2009 to 2011

Member, Student Affairs Advisory Committee

2008- 2011

Member, Grants and Guest Lecturers Committee

2008- 2009

Member, Task Force on Joint MFA UTPA/Universidad Autonoma de Nueva

Leon

2007-2008

 

Chair, Creative Writing Committee

2007- 2009

Member, Service Learning Committee

2007-2009

Head, Training for Teaching Assistants

2007-2008

(Ursinus College)

Mentor to Playwright presenters at Celebration of Student Achievement

2006

 

 

 

Advising English Department major students

2005- 2007

Chair, Ad hoc Faculty Committee on the Greek system

 

2005

Working Group on Undergraduate Research Committee Member

2004-2005

Organized and led a graduate school orientation program for 25 English

majors

2004

 

 

Advising First Year Students

2004- 2007

Interviewer for Ursinus Merit Scholarships

2004 and 2005

Capstone presentation to prospective students

 

April 2004

Search Committee for British Literature Professor Committee Member

2004

 

 

 

Mentor for Summer Fellowship Student

 

2004

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

 

 

President

Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers

2011-2013

Secretary/Board Member Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers

2009 - 2011

 

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE

 

 

The Monitor’s Board of Editorial Contributors for

2015-to present

Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia Barrymore Awards Nominator

2004-2005

 

 

City at Peace, Isla Vista, CA. Project Director

2000-2001

Family Student Housing Tenants' Association, University of California, Santa

Barbara

Board Member 2000-2002

 

Santa Barbara Independent Theatre Awards

Committee Member

1999-2001

 

 

Big Easy Theatre Awards Committee Member

1996-1998

Clergy for Choice

Founder and Treasurer 1992-1993

Sunset Hall Retirement Home Board Trustee 1980-1989

MEDIA WORK

Host of bimonthly KXCI radio show Talk About, Tucson, AZ 1992-1993

Host of weekly KPFK radio show Cambridge Forum, Los Angeles, CA 1983-1989

Host of weekly cable access T.V. show Talk Back, Los Angeles, CA 1987-1988

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers

Texas Educational Theatre Association

FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Proficient in Spanish

Contact Information

Phil can be reached at: pzwerling@icloud.com