Jen Scott Curwood, PhD

I’m Jen, the founder of Tellan Academic Coaching.

I have spent my career teaching writing, studying writing, and engaging in academic writing. I am passionate about writing and teaching, as it’s how we can share our research, advance our careers, and connect with others. In short, our writing is what allows us to make an impact on the world.

At the same time, many students and academics find that writing can be incredibly challenging - it demands time and energy, and it requires skill and practice. If you have found yourself falling short of your academic goals, or struggling with your writing process, I am here to provide support and offer accountability.

I have over 25 years of experience as a writing teacher and a literacy researcher, and I have worked in the United States, Switzerland, and Australia. I have published a co-authored book, Conducting Qualitative Research of Learning in Online Spaces and over 50 book chapters and journal articles, including in the Journal of Literacy Research, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Teaching Education, and Learning, Media, and Technology. I have also served as a Research Integrity Advisor, Chair of the Humanities Ethics Committee, and a member of the Faculty Promotion Committee.

Whether it is in front of the classroom or online, I love teaching my students - and very often, learning alongside them. As a teacher educator, it is imperative that I model best practice for pre-service teachers, and I draw on culturally sustaining pedagogy and critical literacy in my own practice. I received the Teacher Educator of the Year Award from the Australian Teacher Education Association, and I have been awarded the Faculty Teaching Leadership Award and the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Sydney. I have conducted extensive research on literacy and pedagogy, and I have mentored a number of early career scholars, PhD and Masters students, and Honours students.

I completed my PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, USA, where I focused on Literacy Studies, with minors in Composition and Rhetoric as well as Educational Psychology. I also hold a Masters in Literacy Education, a Bachelor of Science in English Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. My CV and Google Scholar profile are available too.

As passionate as I am about my work, I am all about work-life balance. I’m a mum to a 2-year-old and a 24-year-old, and I have balanced the demands (and joys!) of parenthood my entire academic career. At home in the Blue Mountains, I am also an avid climber and trail runner. I often think how running and writing are quite similar - step by step, word by word, we make progress toward our goals. I would love to work with you to reach yours too!