Biography
Laurie Rozakis, PhD, is a writer, editor, and full professor at Farmingdale State College, where she won SUNY’s prestigious Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. A New York Times profile described her as "an incredible researcher, an amazing writer," and an Amazon.com reviewer praised her "uplifting and empowering attitude." Dr. Rozakis has published more than 100 books, which have been translated into many languages, including Portuguese, Romanian, Arabic, and Chinese.
Dr. Rozakis frequently appears on national television, including Live with Regis and Kelly; The CBS Morning Show; the Maury Povich Show; Fox Good Day, New York; Metro Relationships; and Fox Personal F/X. She has been quoted in scores of newspapers and magazines, including Newsday, Time, the New York Post, the Daily News, Sacramento Bee, Glamour, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and the Chicago Tribune.
Dr. Rozakis is a volunteer at the Walt Whitman Birthplace and Interpretative Center in Huntington, Long Island. She conducts tours and teaches lessons on poetry and Whitman.
Dr. Rozakis is serving her seventh five-year term on the Farmingdale Library Board of Trustees.
Media
Documents:
Photos:
Videos:
Audio/Podcasts:
Areas of Expertise (5)
Writing
Grammar and Style
Teaching
Publishing
Libraries
Industry Expertise (4)
Writing and Editing
Research
Publishing
Education/Learning
Accomplishments (5)
Golden Key Honor Society (professional)
2014-01-01
Honorary membership
17th Assembly District “Woman of Distinction” (professional)
2013-01-01
Assemblyman Tom McKevitt selected me for this honor, based largely on my work with the Farmingdale Public Library over the past 30+ years.
Town of Oyster Bay “Woman of Distinction” in the Arts (professional)
2008-01-01
I was delighted to win this prestigious, highly-competitive award.
“Authors will Answer Children’s Letters" (professional)
2005-01-01
New York State PTA 2005 Invited me to be part of their database for “Authors will Answer Children’s Letters.”
Contemporary Authors (professional)
2000-01-01
I am included in this influential guide to writers.
Education (4)
Stony Brook University: PhD, American and British Literature
Hofstra University: MA, American and British Literature
Hofstra University: BA, English/ Secondary Education
NY Institute of Technology : Certificate in Technical Writing, Technical Writing 2000
Affiliations (8)
- LICWI (Long Island Children’s Writers and Illustrators)
- Women in Literature and Life Assembly
- International Society of Humor Studies
- United University Professors
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society
- American Association of University Women
- National Education Association
- Phi Beta Kappa
Links (3)
Languages (1)
- English
Testimonials (2)
Kent Billingsley, President | The Revenue Growth Company
“Laurie is a master at helping people organize their thoughts, craft powerful messages, and assemble them in way that delivers the right thought and voice at the same time. She is wonderful and very smart.”
Kathy Coley, Senior Director of Communications | Farmingdale State College
"Laurie is my go-to person when I need a great quote and memorable interview. She's well versed on an amazing assortment of topics and always makes me chuckle. Reporters and students alike benefit from working with her."
Event Appearances (13)
“Bro(chure)-mance: Using Multimedia to Teach Writing Skills”
“Beacons of Light” TYCA-SE’s 49th Annual Conference Tampa, Florida
2014-02-26
“All Aboard: Tweet Across America”
Extra! Extra! Write/Blog/Tweet All About It!” Atlanta, Georgia
2014-10-09
“There IS a Word for It!”
A Way with Words: Transformational Ideas San Antonio, New Mexico
2013-11-21
“And Don’t Forget to Assess!”
Don’t Forget to Write! Asheville, North Carolina
2012-11-15
“Bro(chure)-mance: Using Multimedia to Teach Writing Skills”
SUNY Council on Writing Annual Conference: Sustainability and Writing Fashion Institute of Technology, New York
2012-03-30
“Bro(chure)-mance: Using Multimedia to Teach Writing Skills.”
Creating New Landscapes: Fresh Perspectives for English Composition Educators Tamaya, New Mexico
2012-02-16
“All Aboard: Tweet Across America”
Extra! Extra! Write/Blog/Tweet All About It!” Atlanta, Georgia
2014-10-09
The Zombie Lit Guide
ZomBCon Seattle, WA
2010-10-30
St. Louis Jewish Book Festival
St. Louis Jewish Book Festival St. Louis< MO
2007-11-11
"Hey: I Can Use What I Learned in English Class!"
National Conference of Teachers of English CCCC 2019 Conference Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
“Active Learning Through Grant Writing.”
2018 National Symposium Faculty Resource Network Orlando, FL
“Empowering Student Writing Through Young Adult Literature”
State University of New York Council on Writing Conference Farmingdale State College
"Literature as Mirror and Window: Creating Connections for the 21st Century Student"
New York University, Faculty Resource Network Annual Conference New Orleans, LA
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
- Author Appearance
- Corporate Training
Media Appearances (6)
“Ensuring Smooth Relationships with In-laws."
The Nigerian Times print
2015-02-08
Dealing with difficult in-laws is common to many relationships. Rita Okonoboh presents the views of Susan Forward, psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author; Elizabeth Stone, relationship expert, and Laurie E. Rozakis, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Dealing with In-Laws, on ways of relating positively with in-laws.
“Interfaith families in Utah navigate ‘December dilemma’”
Salt Lake Tribune print
2011-12-16
“Each year, many Utah families face the question — long known as the “December dilemma” — of whether or how to observe Christmas when one spouse is Christian and the other is not. Some celebrate with all the usual rituals and trimmings, while others scale back. Some Jewish-Christian couples partake in Christmas and Hanukkah, and some choose only one. Other interfaith couples, of a variety of religious backgrounds, celebrate Christmas but integrate their own cultural traditions into the holiday. Laurie Rozakis, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Interfaith Relationships and an English professor at Farmingdale State College in New York, said it’s an increasingly common dilemma with the rise in interfaith marriages. ‘It’s more common,” Rozakis said, “because it’s more accepted.’”
“Making the Grade: 10 Smart Study Tips for Students”
Family Circle.com online
2011-08-01
I was interviewed at length for this article. Below is an excerpt: “Test taking is like any other skill, so having your child run through sample exam questions—with a focus on what he struggles with—could result in better grades. "Practice tests familiarize students with the material and how it may be presented on the actual exam," says Laurie E. Rozakis, author of Test Taking Strategies & Skills for the Utterly Confused. Encourage your teen to make his own quizzes by changing the numbers in challenging math problems or reworking topic sentences from his textbooks into questions and then answering them.”
“The A+ Study Guide”
Parenting.com online
2010-09-01
I was quoted at length in this carefully-prepared article.
“More Older Folks Flocking to MySpace and Facebook”
Newsday print
2008-04-26
More Older Folks Flocking to MySpace and Facebook
“Houston's Grammar Goddess reveals 8 grammar rules to live by"
Click2Houston.com online
“For an entertaining brush-up on your grammar, read Laurie Rozakis’ book Comma Sutra: Position Yourself for Success with Good Grammar."
Courses (3)
EGL 101 - Composition I: College Writing
This is the first part of a required sequence in college essay writing. Students learn to view writing as a process that involves generating ideas, formulating and developing a thesis, structuring paragraphs and essays, as well as revising and editing drafts. The focus is on the development of critical and analytical thinking. Students also learn the correct and ethical use of print and electronic sources. At least one research paper is required. With a grade of C or higher is a graduation requirement. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of EGL 097, or an SAT/ACT essay score of 7 or higher, or on-campus placement testing. Credits: 3
EGL 250 - Young Adult Literature
Students will trace the historical and psychological development of the concept of “adolescence” by studying the canonical literature for young adults that shaped cultural ideas of adolescence. Students will read a wide representation of classic 20th century Young Adult authors, including Judy Blume, Robert Cormier, Chris Crutcher, Paula Danziger, S.E. Hinton, Harper Lee, Lois Lowry, Patricia MacLachlan, Walter Dean Meyers, Gary Paulsen, Cynthia Voigt, and Paul Zindel. The class focuses on the literary analysis of different Young Adult genres: dystopia, fantasy, historical fiction, realism, nonfiction, photojournalism, and graphic novels. Class is conducted through the innovative method of reading circles, and so requires active student participation. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102 with a grade of C or higher Credits: 3
EGL 310 - Technical Writing
A detailed study of the fundamentals of writing technical reports and other technical communications. Topics emphasized include the elements of a technical report, the interpretation of statistics and data, and the composition of letters, memos, and informal reports containing technical information. Assignments and student exercises are drawn from the student's technical area. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102 with a grade of C or higher Credits: 3
Social