Catherine Johnson

Biography

Catherine Johnson is an Assistant Lecturer and joined the LeaRN program in 2019. She teaches first-year composition, first-year seminar, and technical writing. Her research and teaching interests include Universal Design for Learning, critical thinking, and creative nonfiction writing, especially the personal essay and memoir. Beyond UW, Catherine enjoys yoga, cooking, hiking, and traveling. 

Education

M.F.A., Portland State University

M.A., American University

B.A., Whittier College

Recent and Upcoming Courses

Human Culture: Creativity and Culture

Human Culture: Cultures of Work

First Year Experience Study Abroad to Costa Rica: Geography of Bliss

First Year Seminar: What Are You Working For?

First Year Seminar: Exploring the Functions of Storytelling

English 1010: Composition & Rhetoric

English 2015: Composition & Rhetoric II

English 4010: Technical Writing

Selected Publications

"Let's Experiment with Depersonalizing Politics, for Democracy's Sake." WyoFile. 26 December 2024. Web.
Blindsights, Substack. Web. 2024-present.
"A Wholly Different Thing." Evergreen: Fairy Tales, Essays & Fables from the Dark Northwest. Scablands Books. Fall 2021. Print.

“No Impeccable Self to Reach.” Propeller. Summer 2019. Web. https://www.propellerbooks.com/posts/2019/7/17/collected-schizophrenias-review

“People Not Pundits.” Oregon Humanities. Summer 2018. Print and Web. https://www.oregonhumanities.org/rll/magazine/turn/people-not-pundits/. 

“Santosha and White Privilege: Why We Shouldn’t be Silent about Unintentional Racism.” Elephant Journal. September 2018. Web.

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/09/santosha-white-privilege-why-we-shouldnt-be-silent-bout-unintentional-racism/

“Spinstering.” Gulf Stream. Winter 2019. Web. https://gulfstreamlitmag.com/spinstering/

Selected Awards

Promoting Intellectual Engagement in the First Year (PIE) Award (2021 and 2022)

Faculty Slater Award in ENGL 1010 and LeaRN (2023)

Tom Bates Fellowship in Memoir, Portland State University (2016)

Excellence Award in Nonfiction, Portland State University (2016)