Heather M. Falconer
As a Writing Studies scholar, I am deeply committed to work and inquiry that serves a larger purpose. Primarily, this larger purpose has been educational and disciplinary reform as it relates to inequity. My research focuses on the intersections of culture, discipline, and pedagogy, with a special emphasis on discursive identity development and disciplinary enculturation.
My current research projects involve participatory action research on self-efficacy related to college-level reading and writing skills. I am also currently involved in a project aligning core concepts from first-year composition to other courses in the undergraduate curriculum. This Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) research considers self-efficacy and performance with writing as it relates to knowledge transfer. I earned my doctorate at Northeastern University, where I taught First-Year Writing and advanced courses in disciplinary writing (e.g., science). I also hold a Master of Letters
(MLitt) from the University of Glasgow and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Emerson College. In addition to teaching, I am an Associate Publisher with The WAC Clearinghouse, Incoming Chair for the Association for Writing Across the Curriculum, am Conference Host/Chair for the 2027 International Writing Across the Curriculum Conference, and serve on multiple editorial boards. At UMaine, I teach undergraduate and graduate courses related to writing in the disciplines (e.g., engineering), writing studies theory and practice, and Technical and Professional Communication. I am also a faculty affiliate with the Maine Center for Research in STEM Education and occasionally teach research methods courses for the Master in Science Teaching program.
Areas of Expertise
Qualitative Research Methods
Writing Across the Curriculum
Writing Assessment
Education
MLitt in Literature – Modernism and Postmodernism, University of Glasgow, 2007
MFA in Creative Writing, Emerson College, 2006
BS in Environmental Science – Ecology, Unity College, 1996
