DANBURY, CONN. — Western Connecticut State University will host this year’s Northeast Writing Center Association (NEWCA) conference on Saturday and Sunday, March 30 and 31, 2019, in White Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. Saturday’s events will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday’s events from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The regional conference will center around the theme, “Voices of Engagement: The Roles Writing Centers Play in Making Writing Meaningful.” Host of the event, WCSU Writing Center Coordinator and Associate Professor of Writing, Linguistics and Creative Process Dr. Kelli Custer, expects about 275 attendees from universities across the Northeast.
Visitors will travel from Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Their presentations will cover issues such as working across cultures, multilingual writers and theory-driven methods to engage writers.
“Successful conferences are ones that generate conversation, and smaller, regional conferences like this are the ideal place for that to happen,” Custer said. “With panels, workshops and roundtable discussions from administrators, faculty and student tutors, this exchange of ideas is an integral part of writing center philosophy.”
Custer has directed WCSU’s Writing Center since 2014 in the Ruth Haas Library, which operates Sunday through Thursday. She employs 11 students from various disciplines as writing consultants. All WCSU students are encouraged to come for free writing consultations on any writing project for any class, as well as cover letters and applications.
NEWCA is a regional affiliate of the International Writing Centers Association (IWCA), which was founded in 1983. IWCA has affiliates throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.
For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.