April Heaney

April Heaney directs the LeaRN (Learning Resource Network) Program and teaches courses for Fall Bridge, English, and Creative Writing programs. In her role within LeaRN, April works on building high quality courses and experiences for first-year and lower division students. Her research focuses on exploring the characteristics and life experiences that influence students as they transition to college, as well as the programs and networks that mean the most to their success.

Education

Ph.D., Literacy Education, University of Wyoming

M.A., English, University of Wyoming

B.A. English and Education, University of Wyoming

Recent and Upcoming Courses

First-Year Seminar

Non-fiction Workshop: The Experimental Essay

College Composition & Rhetoric

Composition and Rhetoric II: College & Career

Introduction to Non-Fiction

Writing for Public Forums

Selected Publications

Stevens, Anne, Hartung, Cynthia, Shelton, Patrick, & Heaney, April. “The Effects of a Brief Organization, Time Management, and Planning Intervention for College Freshmen.” Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 9(1). 2018.

Kleinsasser, Audrey, Beth Wiley, Rick Fisher, April Heaney, and Leslie Rush. “The Missing Middle: A School-University Partnership Model Convening Secondary and Postsecondary Faculty to Examine Student Writing.” Education in a Democracy. 2014.

Heaney, April, and Joyce Stewart. “Admissions rhetoric and academic self-efficacy: The importance of first-communications for conditionally-admitted students.” Journal of College Admission. 2012.

Heaney, April and Rick Fisher. “Supporting Conditionally-Admitted Students: A Case Study of Assessing Persistence in a Learning Community.” Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 11(1). 2011.

Belanger, Kelly and April Heaney. “Critical Pedagogy as Socially Progressive Research: Challenging Programmatic and Institutional Traditions.” Socially Progressive Research Methodologies. Eds. Katy Powell and Pamela Takayoshi. Hampton Press. 2010.

Heaney, April. “The Synergy Program: Reframing Critical Reading and Writing for At-Risk Students.” Journal of Basic Writing. 2006.

Selected Awards

National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate. 2014.

Extraordinary Merit in Teaching, University of Wyoming. 2012.

Beatrice Gallatin Beuf Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Freshman Teaching. University of Wyoming. 2009.

Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and Learning, Synergy Program. 2007.

Conference on Basic Writing Award For Innovation, Synergy Program. Conference on College Composition and Communication. 2004.