Debra Courtright-Nash, PhD

Debra Courtright-Nash, PhD

Professor of English and DCCL Dissertation Director
Crossroads Writing Project Co-Director
English, Literature, and World Languages
Phone: (231) 591-2532
Email: [email protected]

Education

• PhD, Michigan State University, Critical Studies in English Education, Rhetoric, Literary Theory
• MA, Ohio University, Teaching of Composition, Literary History
• BA, Georgetown College, English, minors in psychology, philosophy

Biography

As the Dissertation Director for the Doctorate in Community College Leadership program and a Professor in the Department of English, Literature, and World Languages, Debbie Courtright-Nash is excited to be part of DCCL's efforts to prepare leaders for the future of community colleges and of ELWL's efforts to prepare English and English Education majors and minors for their careers and to equip non-majors for writing in their careers.

She is also a faculty member in the Cross-Curricular Career Community (C4) program aimed at supporting and retaining first year students Before joining ELWL at Ferris State University, she taught writing, literature, and English as a Second Language in higher education, including locations such as the University of Cincinnati's Clermont College, Bethel University in Indiana, and Feng Chia University 逢甲大學 in Taiwan.

Publications and Intellectual Contributions

• Journal Article
  Cavner Williams, L., Conley, K., Courtright-Nash, D., Pavletic, H., Weller, K., Zimmer, M. E. (2024). "Transformation of Instruction to Enhance Student Success," Journal of College Literacy and Learning. Volume 49
• Journal Article
  Singleterry, L., Kalkman, B., Courtright-Nash, D., Chrenka, L. (2016). "Nursing Faculty Development: Building a Common Grading Rubric to Evaluate Writing," Nurse Educator. 41 (5). pp. 222-224.

Presentations

• Oral Presentation
  Pavletic, H., Courtright-Nash, D., Lilly Conference on Teaching for Active & Engaged Learning in the Age of AI 2026, "Grading Conferences In an Age of Attention Economy and AI," Lilly Conferences, San Diego, (January 2026).
• Oral Presentation
  Fagan, D. (Author & Presenter), Courtright-Nash, D. (Author & Presenter), Michigan College English Association Conference, "A Poetic Dialogue on Grief, Survival, and Hope,” Michigan College English Association, Virtual, (September 14, 2023).
• Oral Presentation
  Cavner Williams, L., Conley, K., Courtright-Nash, D., LaGrand, J., Pavletic, H., Weller, K., Zimmer, M. E., Teaching Academic Survival Skills Conference, "Expanding student and program success through faculty discourse analysis," Fort Lauderdale, FL, (March 21, 2023).
• Oral Presentation
  Conley, K. (Author & Presenter), Courtright-Nash, D. (Author & Presenter), NASPA-Student Success in Higher Education, "Expanding Student and Program Success through Faculty Discourse Analysis," NASPA, Baltimore, Maryland, (June 2022).
• Paper
  Marquard, D. (Presenter), Courtright-Nash, D. (Presenter), Sammel, R. (Presenter), Webb, T. (Presenter), Michigan College English Association Conference, "Revising and Rethinking the English Major: A Roundtable Presentation," Ypsilanti, MI, (2017).
• Panel
  Courtright-Nash, D., Marquard, D. (Presenter), Sammel, R. (Presenter), Webb, T. (Presenter), Authority and Agency in Divisive Times, “Reframing and Revising the English Major: A Proposed Response to Stagnant and Declining Enrollment Numbers in English Programs.” Michigan College English Association, Ypsilanti, MI, (October 27, 2017).
• Oral Presentation
  Sammel, R. (Presenter), Courtright-Nash, D. (Presenter), Webb, T. (Presenter), Marquard, D. (Presenter), Panel, “Revising the Program Core,” Eastern Michigan University, (October 27, 2017).
• lecture and workshop
  Courtright-Nash, D., Zimmer, M. E., New Faculty Transition Program at FSU, "Using writing as a teaching tool," Ferris State University, (November 17, 2016).
• Panel
  Singleterry, L. (Presenter), Courtright-Nash, D. (Presenter), Chrenka, L. (Presenter), International Writing Across the Curriculum Conference, "Collaborative Model to Improve Writing in Nursing (and Other Disciplines)," International Writing Across the Curriculum Conference, Ann Arbor, MI, (June 23, 2016).
• Presentation
  Courtright-Nash, D., The 4th Annual Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Academy: Collaborative Engagement Grand Valley State University, "Collaboration Within and Between Colleges in the University to Motivate Student Learning," (2012).