Rate My Professor Jason Courtmanche

Jason Courtmanche was an associate professor of English in residence in the Literature faculty at the University of Connecticut, where he dedicated nearly three decades to advancing writing pedagogy and teacher education. He earned his B.A. in English magna cum laude from UConn in 1991, completed the Teacher Certification Program for College Graduates in English education in 1992 at UConn, obtained an M.A. in English from Humboldt State University in 1995, and received his Ph.D. in English from UConn in 2006 with a dissertation titled 'Sin and Salvation: Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Typology of Evil.' Before focusing on higher education, he taught high school English at RHAM High School in Hebron, Connecticut, from 1995 to 2007, where he achieved tenure. Courtmanche's career at UConn spanned multiple roles, beginning as an adjunct professor and lecturer from 2006 onward, progressing to lecturer in English from 2007 to 2019, assistant professor in residence from 2019, director of the Connecticut Writing Project since 2007, assistant coordinator of the Early College Experience English program since 2017, and affiliate faculty in the Neag School of Education's Department of Curriculum and Instruction from 2018 to 2023.

His research specializations included writing instruction, K-16 educational partnerships, and Nathaniel Hawthorne studies, evidenced by his book 'How Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Narratives Are Shaped By Sin: His Use of Biblical Typology in His Four Major Works' (2008, Edwin Mellen Press). Key publications also feature book chapters such as 'Why Read? A Defense of Reading and the Humanities in a STEM-Centric Era' in 'Deep Reading: Teaching Reading in the Writing Classroom' (NCTE, 2017), which contributed to the 2019 CCCC Outstanding Book Award in the Edited Collection category; 'High School-College Partnerships and the Teaching of Nathaniel Hawthorne' in 'Nathaniel Hawthorne in the College Classroom' (AMS Press, 2016); and articles like 'How Developing a Network of Secondary School Writing Centers Can Enrich University Writing Programs' in WPA: Writing Program Administration (2019). Courtmanche received major awards including the Alumni Faculty Excellence Award in Undergraduate Teaching (2022), Outstanding First Year Experience Teaching Award (2016), Teaching Scholar Award from the Institute for Teaching and Learning (2013), and Outstanding Achievement in Literacy Award from the New England Reading Association (2012). As director of the Connecticut Writing Project, he led the Summer Institute for teacher professional development, coordinated the Library of Congress Letters About Literature contest—increasing participation by 53%—advised English majors pursuing secondary certification, and authored The Write Space blog, reaching hundreds of educators. His influence bridged secondary and higher education, promoting student-centered writing and humanities advocacy.