Jonathan Ritz
Academic Specialist
Office: 231 Bessey Hall
Email: ritz@msu.edu
Research Areas
Creative Nonfiction, Video Essay, Peace and Justice Studies
Profile
Jon’s primary focus as a writer is creative nonfiction and the personal essay. His work has appeared in Cimarron Review, American Literary Review, the Chicago Tribune, and elsewhere, and he has received two Pushcart Prize nominations for nonfiction. He has taught “Social Justice as Rhetorical Practice,” a professional writing course cross-listed in the Peace and Justice Studies program, and is interested in the intersections of writing, rhetoric, and spirituality.
Education
Ph.D. in English, University of Nebraska
Representative Work
The Third Step (digital film). Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction, 2015 http://fourthgenre.msu.edu/category/video-essays/
“Remixing Creative Nonfiction,” Associated Writing Programs (AWP) Conference, 2015
DeVoss, D. N., Julier, L., & Ritz, J. (2013). “A Professional Writing capstone course: The Portfolio Seminar at Michigan State University.” Programmatic Perspectives, 5 (1), 123–152. http://www.cptsc.org/pp/vol5-1/devossetal.pdf
“The BA in Professional Writing: The ‘Other’ Undergraduate Writing Degree.” Associated Writing Programs (AWP) Conference, 2012
“Careening Car-Free in the Capital City” (article). Capital Gains. 29 October 2008. http://www.capitalgainsmedia.com/features/free0242.aspx
“The Art of Regret” (personal essay). Higher Learning: Reading and Writing About College. Eds. Patty See and Bruce Taylor. Prentice Hall 2005.
“Verse Chorus Bridge” (personal essay). Cimarron Review. Spring 2003. Pushcart Prize nomination