“Maybe a cool quote from Jim here.”
Meet Jim
Jim Seitz is an award-winning English professor who has taught thousands of students how to write with honesty, insight, and clarity. He earned his PhD from New York University and has directed writing programs at Long Island University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Virginia.
To complement his distinguished record in scholarship, Jim also writes memoirs of his Albuquerque, NM boyhood and his journey to answer his questions about his father’s tragic death. He takes decades of research into the process of grief and mourning and transforms his insights into a harrowing and ultimately uplifting story of a man coming to terms with a profound loss.
Books & Essays
Jim’s academic work explores the intersections of writing, literature, and teaching, with a focus on how language shapes learning. He is the author of Motives for Metaphor (University of Pittsburgh Press), which reimagines the role of metaphor in bridging the often-divided fields of composition, literature, and creative writing. He also co-edited The Best of the Independent Rhetoric and Composition Journals, 2014, and published widely on writing, pedagogy, and literary studies. Current projects include Fragments of a Father, a memoir about loss and family history, and Teaching College Writing: An Unconventional Perspective.
Teaching
At the University of Virginia, Jim has taught a wide range of courses that showcase deep expertise in writing, literature, and pedagogy. At the graduate level, his offerings have focused on teaching practice, narrative, and the impact of new literacies and technologies. Undergraduate courses span memoir writing, literature and sports, and first-year writing, emphasizing both creative exploration and critical inquiry. From Writing for Life to The Modern Memoir, these classes demonstrate a consistent commitment to helping students develop as writers, thinkers, and storytellers across disciplines.
Workshops & Presentations
Jim has led workshops for more than two decades on writing, teaching, and pedagogy—ranging from creative writing for community audiences to professional development for K–12 teachers and university faculty. His workshops have addressed topics such as helping students write with clarity and purpose, moving beyond formulaic essays, using writing as a tool for inquiry and learning, and exploring the ethical and curricular dimensions of teaching writing. These sessions, offered through universities, school districts, and community organizations, reflect his ongoing commitment to making writing an engaging, transformative practice for learners at every level.
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Contact Us
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