Matthew Varvel

Ph.D., The University of Texas at El Paso, Department of English

M.A., Angelo State University,  English

B.A., Angelo State University, Department of English

Assistant Professor of Writing Studies, Department of English, University of Northern Colorado, 2025.

Adjunct Professor, The University of Texas at El Paso, Department of English, 2025.

Assistant Director of Writing Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, Department of English, 2024.

Assistant Instructor, The University of Texas at El Paso, Department of English, 2020-2-24.

Teaching Assistant, New Mexico State University, Department of English, 2018-2020.

AP and Dual Credit Teacher, Whitehouse High School, Department of English, 2012-2018.

Department Chair, Whitehouse High School, Department of English, 2016-2017.

AP Teacher and Department Chair, Trinity School of Texas, Department of English, 2007-2012.

Writing Assessment; Composition theory and pedagogy; Intersections of Writing Assessment, Social Justice, and Disability Studies; History of rhetoric and composition; Scientific and Technical Communication; Constitutive rhetorics; Rhetorics of place; Authoritarian rhetorics; English education. 

Journal Article 

Published 

Varvel, M. “Framing the Border: Crisis Rhetoric at the U.S.-Mexico Border.” C.E.A. Mid-Atlantic Review, Vol. 30, College English Association Mid-Atlantic Group, Fall 2022. 28-43. 

Book Chapter 

Published 

Varvel, M. “Labor-Based Contract Grading: An Approach to Foster Diversity Within and Beyond the Composition Classroom.” Teaching and Advocating to Prepare Leaders for a Diverse Workplace. Eds. Mary Alice Trent and Peggy Ratliff. New Castle, England: Cambridge Scholars. 2024. 

Nominee – Outstanding Dissertation of 2024-2025, College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 2025. 

Graduate School Travel Grant, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 2023. 

Hunter Strauss Fellowship, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 2023. 

Natalicio Graduate Fellowship, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 2020-2024. 

Sutherland – McManus Award for Best Graduate Nonfiction Prose, NMSU, Las Cruces, NM, 2019.