Trixie Long Smith

smit1254@msu.edu

E300 Bessey Hall
434 Farm Ln
East Lansing, MI 48824

FacultyWriting, Rhetoric, and CulturesWriting CenterRhetoric and WritingProfessional and Public Writing

Associate Professor
Director of the Writing Center and Red Cedar Writing Project
Assistant Director of Graduate Programs (MA in CSLP)

Biography

Trixie Long Smith is Director of The Writing Center and the Red Cedar Writing Project at Michigan State University, as well as faculty in Writing, Rhetoric & American Cultures and the Center for Gender in Global Contexts. Since joining the faculty at MSU in August 2007, she has taught a wide range of courses. Her teaching and research are infused with issues of gender, queerness, and activism even as they revolve around writing center theory and practice, WAC/WID, writing pedagogy, and teacher training. Likewise these areas often intersect with her interests in embodiment, community engagement, and the idea that we’re just humans learning with/from other humans (you know, with bodies, feelings, lives outside the academy). She has served on numerous boards and committees including the CCCC Executive Committee, ECWCA, IWCA, and MiWCA.

Research Areas

Cultural Rhetorics, Embodiment, Community Engagement, Writing Centers, WAC/WID

Education

Ph.D. in English (Comp/Rhet focus), University of South Carolina

MLIS and M.A. in English, University of South Carolina

B.A. in English and Elementary Ed., University of Mobile

Research or Academic Affiliations

MSU: Core Faculty—Center for Gender in Global Context, Alliance for African Partners

Inter/national: CCCC—Executive Committee; IWCA, IWAC, NCTE

Regional: ECWCA—Treasurer, MiWCA

Projects


Writing Program Administration: A Queer Symposium

William P. Banks, Michael J. Faris, Collie Fulford, Timothy Oleksiak, Pat Patterson, and Trixie G. Smith. “Writing Program Administration: A Queer Symposium.” WPA Journal 43.2 (Spring 2020). 

Graduate Writing Across the Disciplines: Identifying, Teaching, and Supporting

Brooks-Gillies, Marilee, Elena G. Garcia, Soo Kim, Katie Manthey, and Trixie Smith. Eds. Graduate Writing Across the Disciplines: Identifying, Teaching, and Supporting. Boulder: WAC Clearinghouse Publishers/U Colorado P, 2020. 

Reflections on/of Embodiment: Bringing our Whole Selves to Class

Smith, Trixie G, Katie Manthey, Philip Bratta, Ezekiel Choffel, Wonderful Faison, John Gagnon, Scotty Secrist. “Reflections on/of Embodiment: Bringing our Whole Selves to Class.” Feminist Pedagogies 28 (Spring 2019).

Writing Is/As Communal

Smith, Trixie. “Writing Is/As Communal.” Explanation Points: Publishing in Rhetoric and Composition, John R. Gallagher and Danielle Nicole DeVoss, eds. Logan: Utah State UP, 2019.

Coming Out as Other in the Graduate Writing Classroom: Feminist Pedagogical Moves for Mentoring Community Activists

Manthey, Katie, Trixie G. Smith, and Jessica Tess. “Coming Out as Other in the Graduate Writing Classroom: Feminist Pedagogical Moves for Mentoring Community Activists.” Composing Feminist Interventions: Activism, Engagement, Praxis. Eds. Lee Nickoson and Kris Blair. Perspectives on Writing Series. Fort Collins, CO: WAC Clearinghouse and Parlor Press, 2018.

(Re)Focusing Qualitative Methods for Writing Center Research

Hallman, Rebecca, Ezekiel Choffel, with Trixie G. Smith. “(Re)Focusing Qualitative Methods for Writing Center Research.” The Peer Review. Issue 0 (Fall 2015).

“Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends”: Short Term Writing Center and Community Collaborations

Smith, Trixie G. ““Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends”: Short Term Writing Center and Community Collaborations.” WAC Partnerships Among Secondary and Post Secondary Institutions: An Introduction to WAC and Partnerships That Cross Academic Levels and Disciplines. Eds. Pamela Childers and Jacob Blumner. Perspectives on Writing Series. Fort Collins, CO: WAC Clearinghouse and Parlor Press, 2016.

My Butch Wears a Hot Pink Bra: When Reality Interrupts Theory

Smith, Trixie G. “My Butch Wears a Hot Pink Bra: When Reality Interrupts Theory.” The Writing Instructor. 2015-03.

Building Bridges through Writing

Smith, Trixie G, Allison D. Smith, with Holly T. Hamby. Building Bridges through Writing. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press, 2014.

The Pop Culture Zone: Writing Critically About Pop Culture, 2nd ed.

Smith, Allison D., and Trixie G. Smith. The Pop Culture Zone: Writing Critically About Pop Culture, 2nd ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2014.

Developing a Heuristic for Multidisciplinary Faculty Writing Groups: A Case Study

Smith, Trixie G., Janice C. Molloy, Eva Kassens-Noor, Wen Li, and Manuel Colunga-Garcia. “Developing a Heuristic for Multidisciplinary Faculty Writing Groups: A Case Study.” Working with Faculty Writers. Eds. Anne Ellen Geller and Michele Eodice. Utah State UP, 2013.

Movies, Music, and More: Advancing Popular Culture in the Classroom

Smith, Trixie G., and Darowski, Joseph J., eds. Movies, Music, and More: Advancing Popular Culture in the Classroom. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press, 2011.

Incorporating the MBTI into Tutor Training Increases Client Satisfaction with The Writing Center

Koenig, Deanna, and Trixie G. Smith. “Incorporating the MBTI into Tutor Training Increases Client Satisfaction with The Writing Center.” ReCUR 1.2 (Dec 2010): 14-20.

The Pop Culture Zone: Writing Critically About Pop Culture

Smith, Allison D., Trixie G. Smith, and Stacia Watkins. The Pop Culture Zone: Writing Critically About Pop Culture. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2009.

Teaching in the Pop Culture Zone: Using Popular Culture in the Writing Classroom

Bobbitt, Rebecca, Allison D. Smith, and Trixie G. Smith. Teaching in the Pop Culture Zone: Using Popular Culture in the Writing Classroom. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2009.

Collusion and Collaboration: Concealing Authority in the Writing Center

Rollins, Brooke, Trixie G. Smith, and Evelyn Westbrook. “Collusion and Collaboration: Concealing Authority in the Writing Center.” (E)Merging Identities: Working with Graduate Students in the Writing Center. Ed. Melissa Nicholas. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press, 2008.119-39.

Back to the Center: Becoming the ‘University’ Writing Center at MTSU

Smith, Trixie G. “Back to the Center: Becoming the ‘University’ Writing Center at MTSU.” Southern Discourse 10.3 (Summer 2007). 8-9.

COMPbiblio: Leaders and Influences in Composition Theory and Practice

Smith, Allison D., Trixie G. Smith, and Karen Wright, editors. COMPbiblio: Leaders and Influences in Composition Theory and Practice. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press, 2007.

“Southeastern Writing Center Association 2007 Conference" & “Static and (dis)Harmony: Tuning into Writing Centers in the Music City”

Smith, Trixie G. “Southeastern Writing Center Association 2007 Conference” & “Static and (dis)Harmony: Tuning into Writing Centers in the Music City.” Southern Discourse 9.3 (Summer 2006) 12.

A Conversation about Writing Centers: TWCC Connects Tennessee Centers

Smith, Trixie G., and Alan Coulter. “A Conversation about Writing Centers: TWCC Connects Tennessee Centers.” Southern Discourse 9.1 (Fall 2005): 1.

Finding Our Center in Charleston: Reflections from the 2005 SWCA Conference

Hale, Gwendolyn, and Trixie G. Smith. “Finding Our Center in Charleston: Reflections from the 2005 SWCA Conference.” Southern Discourse 8.3 (Summer 2005): 12-13.

Surviving Freshman Composition, 3rd ed.

Smith, Allison D., and Trixie G. Smith, eds. Surviving Freshman Composition. 3rd ed. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2006. (Co-writer for chapters: “Editing,” “Doing Research,” and “Using MLA”) (2nd ed. 2004; 1st ed. 2003)

Keeping Track: Librarians, Composition Instructors, and Student Writers Use the Research Journal

Smith, Trixie G. “Keeping Track: Librarians, Composition Instructors, and Student Writers Use the Research Journal.” Research Strategies 18.1 (2002): 21-8.

Courses

WRA 891: Queer Rhetorics; Embodied Rhetorics

WRA 848: Cultural Rhetorics

WRA 889: Writing Center Theory and Administration

University News

College Celebrates Accomplishments of 2023 Promoted Faculty
Published September 20, 2023 in College of Arts & Letters
Outdoor clock tower.
This year, 20 faculty members within the College of Arts & Letters have received promotions. The success of these individuals was celebrated during the 2023 Faculty and Staff…Read now »
2022 Faculty Award Winners Recognized for Outstanding Achievement
Published October 20, 2022 in College of Arts & Letters
A series of close-up headshots, arrange in a grid of 2x2.
The College of Arts & Letters recognizes its 2022 Faculty Award winners for the work they do to enhance curriculum and student experiences. These four impactful leaders have shown outstanding…Read now »
Working to Reconnect Lansing to the Arts and Humanities
Published May 19, 2022 in College of Arts & Letters
A new collaboration between MSU’s Red Cedar Writing Project and the Capital Area District Libraries (CADL) will reconnect communities to the arts and humanities through a new set of library…Read now »
The College of Arts & Letters Funds Community Projects in Flint
Published February 11, 2015 in College of Arts & Letters
three students in a classroom
The College of Arts & Letters has funded four collaborative community projects that were proposed by CAL faculty and in which they will collaborate with Flint citizens who served on the Arts and…Read now »