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f e l l o w s about nancy siefer

Dr. Nancy Siefer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. After student teaching in an eighth grade civics class in downtown Detroit and teaching full time in a suburban high school, she and her husband of ten months took off in 1968 for a two-year stint with the Peace Corps in Honduras. Returning to the US two years later with their four-month old son, they settled in Arizona and Nancy began teaching at the Phoenix Country Day School. After the (surprise) birth of twin sons, Nancy temporarily retired from teaching and enrolled at Arizona State University where she earned a Master’s degree in education and history. She completed an interdisciplinary Ph.D. degree at ASU in 1989 combining coursework from linguistics, adult education, and English. Nancy co-wrote, directed, and participated in several nationally-funded (FIPSE) and MCCD grants that focused on literacy and interdisciplinary teaching (learning communities).

Dr. Siefer directed and taught in the bilingual and ESL program in the Phoenix Union High School District and began her career with the Maricopa Community Colleges at Mesa Community College and then continued at Gateway Community College where she directed the college’s Learning Center. She transferred to Glendale Community College in 1991 where she currently teaches composition, linguistics, and Southwest literature courses. She also coordinates the learning community program at GCC. Her involvement in learning communities has enriched her teaching by providing an opportunity to both teach and learn with her colleagues. She has linked her composition and linguistics courses with film studies, biology, history, economics, psychology, and public speaking classes.

Supporting her reflective nature of teaching is a strong foundation in yoga. Nancy is a daily practitioner and a teacher of yoga at GCC. She and her architect husband are building a cabin in Flagstaff with occasional help from their three sons who write, film, and climb in the most exciting locales in the world.

f e l l o w s about nancy siefer