Liana Silva

Graduate Writing Specialist
Counseling & Educational Support Services

I received a BA in English and Modern Languages from the University of Puerto Rico, and graduated summa cum laude. I later received an MA and a PhD in English from the State University of New York at Binghamton. My dissertation is titled "Acts of Home-Making: Home and Urban Space in Twentieth Century African American and Puerto Rican Cultural Productions." Prior to working as a graduate writing specialist, I taught writing at the undergraduate level, but when I found out about this position I felt it was the right job for me; as someone who completed her PhD off site, I understand the importance of writing support to help students complete the requirements of their degrees, and I also believe strongly in the importance of writing to the professional and scholastic development of graduate students. I worked at the KU Writing Center in Lawrence for a year, and as of July 2012 I have a joint appointment at both KU and KUMC, providing writing support and programming for graduate students in the University of Kansas system.

At the moment I am putting together the KUMC Writers' Roost and I am researching writing support at medical schools.  I also put together writing programming for graduate students, such as Graduate Student Research Write-Ins, writing groups, workshops, among others. When I'm not working hard at KU, I am Managing Editor for the academic blog Sounding Out!, of which I am a co-founder, contributor, and member of the Editorial Committee. As of Spring 2012 I am a member of the Modern Language Association (MLA) Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession.

In my spare time I like watching film noirs, going to early afternoon baseball games, snapping pictures on my iPhone, beading jewelry, and discovering Kansas City with my fiancé and our daughter.

Curriculum Vitae