Contact Information
Department of Language Arts
Hale Pālanakila, Room 152
Windward Community College
45-720 Kea‘ahala Rd.
Kaneohe, HI 96744
Phone: (808) 236-9152
Email: dahlman@hawaii.edu
Courses Taught
Education
- BA in Writing from University of Hawaii at Hilo, minor in Geology
- MA in Composition and Rhetoric from UH-Manoa
- working on the Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric at UH-Manoa.
Research Interests
My specific studies are in Composition pedagogy, Service Learning pedagogy, and the Rhetoric of Popular Culture (specifically comic books, Star Trek, and protest music); however, I also have a strong interest in the Rhetoric of Politics, especially the Holocaust (I am still trying to figure out why people followed Hitler...) and the Rhetoric of the American Dream (visual rhetoric/media studies). My MA concentrated on the use of an online writing laboratory (OWL) to help specific groups of students.
Professional Activities and Affiliations
- Active member of MLA (Modern Language Association)
- Chair of Literature and War panel for Rocky Mountain MLA
- President (national) of SIG on Visual Rhetoric, CCCC (Conference on College Composition and Communication)
- Chair of Fantasy and SciFi for OPCA (Oceanic Popular Culture Association)
- member of TYCA (Two Year College Association)
- member of Service Learning special interest group for CCCC
- member of Writing Center Association
Some Publications
Favorite Food
I used to be a food critic, so you have to like, or be willing to try, everything.... If I were pressed against the wall, I'd have to go with buttered pasta and ice cream. Make that just ice cream... :)
Favorite Movies
- Anything Star Trek, of course!
- Best movies to get me out of "writer's block" would include Twister, True Lies, The Mummy, Volcano, The Core
Favorite Books
I haven't had much time to read "fun stuff" (like novels) since I'm studying for my area exams for my Ph.D.; however, if given the chance to actually read something for fun, I aim first for SF (science fiction) before all else. I really want to see a happy, utopian society before I die, but I know that's unrealistic!
Most Interesting Job
Working for a fishing charter company where part of my pay was in fish... The job I had the most fun at was writing for Kauai Magazine as a food critic. The job I love the most though, more than anything else, is teaching. You can't beat the students! They teach me more every day than I could possibly learn from any book.
Favorite Place
I love to drive around the island with my best friend, Susan. (It's a gift we give each other every Christmas but try for more often). I've lived on Big Island and Kauai. Kauai is where I go for three day weekends to study. It's seriously peaceful. My favorite place in the world, where I still dream about and want to go back to time and again is the Grand Canyon. I whitewatered it twice and long to go back and do it again. |
