Melvianne Andersen

Melvianne Andersen has over four years of experience teaching college-level writing and over four years as a college-level supplemental instructor in writing. Along with a genuine passion for helping students find their voice she encourages them to use it well. She approaches the classroom as a space where students can engage critically with the world around them. She believes writing becomes more meaningful (and a bit more fun) when students can connect to real, complex issues. Her teaching emphasizes core skills like thesis development, revision, and audience awareness, always with the goal of helping students grow as clear and ethical communicators.

Committed to inclusive, student-centered learning, she creates a classroom culture that values every student’s perspective regardless of where they are on their writing journey. Her assignments often invite students to connect personal experiences to broader societal conversations, reminding them that writing can be a tool for both self-expression and social change. With a background in writing center work, she offers thoughtful, process-based feedback that builds both skills and confidence.

Her current research focuses on the rhetoric of protest, especially the rhetoric of student activists in the 60s and 70s. She considers how their rhetoric aligned with global protest rhetoric and how it differed. Her main focus is to determine where and when student activism overtakes global activism.

Outside the classroom Melvianne enjoys a variety of activities that keep her inspired and balanced. She’s an avid supporter of summer Shakespeare performances with a goal to view all Shakespearean plays live. There is always a book (or three) on her nightstand. A dedicated foodie, she loves exploring new restaurants and experimenting with new recipes in her own kitchen, especially those that challenge her to level up her culinary skills. On any given weekend, you might find her visiting an open house or two. Long walks are her go-to for clearing her mind and sparking innovative ideas, often serving as the quiet counterpoint to the lively energy of teaching.