Matthew Varvel

Location 1120D Ross Hall
Office Hours Tues 11am-12pm; W 4-5pm
Photo of Matthew Varvel

Education

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

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

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

Professional Experience & Affiliations

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

Adjunct Professot, 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.

Research Expertise & Interests

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

Publications

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.

Honors & Awards

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.