Introducing the FUS Faculty: Andra Yount

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES

Ph.D. The University of Texas at Dallas, USA
M.A. Texas Woman’s University, USA
M.A. Southern Methodist University, USA
B.A. University of North Texas, USA

Office: Kaletsch Campus, Office 8
Email: ayount@fus.edu

Andra Yount is an Adjunct Professor of Languages and Literatures within the Division of Arts and Cultures. She received her PhD in Visual and Performing Arts from The University of Texas at Dallas with a dissertation on incorporating performance studies and movement into EAL pedagogy. She also earned an MA in Dance from Texas Woman’s University, an MA in English (creative writing emphasis) from Southern Methodist University, and a BA in English Composition from the University of North Texas.

A writer and former dancer, Yount has taught courses in arts and humanities subjects at universities in the United States, South Korea, China, Italy, and Switzerland, from literature to ballet technique to English as an Additional Language. Her current interests include creative writing for the stage and screen and embarking on a medical humanities project.

2023-2024 Courses

WTG 150	Academic Writing: Crossing Borders	FALL 2023
Designed as a discussion/workshop seminar, this writing course develops students’ awareness of scholarly discourse and their participation in it: what makes academic discourse different from other kinds of writing, how different disciplines approach analysis and evidence, and what counts as effective communication within scholarly communities. Through the study of borders -- what they are, how they shape culture, politics and society, and why they change -- the course helps students develop academic communication strategies that are applicable across the curriculum at Franklin. The main focus of the course is to help students develop strategies for joining the academic conversation, covering skills such as close reading and responding to texts; generating, supporting and sharing ideas in both oral and written form; and scholarly researching. Drawing from a wide selection of texts and media about cross-border and cross cultural practices, which has recently garnered much attention among scholars and speaks to the Franklin mission, students will explore various academic responses to the phenomenon of border crossing, concluding with a research-based final project and defense. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing core requirement.)
CLCS 246W	Exploring Dance and Movement	SPRING 2024
Bodily movement, whether it pertains to professional dance and theatre, political speeches, TikTok videos, or everyday interactions, has been brought to the forefront of an academic field known as Performance Studies. This course explores movement broadly defined, including various events such as concert dance, theatre, film, sports, leisure, online content, and work. A number of theoretical frameworks will be used to understand dance and movement. Lecture and workshop topics may include questions regarding how movement in multiple contexts defines, creates, and perpetuates narrative and culture. As a writing intensive course, students can expect to research and reflect on observed and experienced movement-based phenomena. This course will be taught in the context of the art and architecture initiative with the Lugano Dance Project. Students will have the opportunity to participate in events taking place at LAC. No previous knowledge of movement, dance, or theatre is necessary. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing requirements.)
WTG 150	Academic Writing: Crossing Borders	SPRING 2024
Designed as a discussion/workshop seminar, this writing course develops students’ awareness of scholarly discourse and their participation in it: what makes academic discourse different from other kinds of writing, how different disciplines approach analysis and evidence, and what counts as effective communication within scholarly communities. Through the study of borders -- what they are, how they shape culture, politics and society, and why they change -- the course helps students develop academic communication strategies that are applicable across the curriculum at Franklin. The main focus of the course is to help students develop strategies for joining the academic conversation, covering skills such as close reading and responding to texts; generating, supporting and sharing ideas in both oral and written form; and scholarly researching. Drawing from a wide selection of texts and media about cross-border and cross cultural practices, which has recently garnered much attention among scholars and speaks to the Franklin mission, students will explore various academic responses to the phenomenon of border crossing, concluding with a research-based final project and defense. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing core requirement.)

Publications:

Yount, Andra. “Developing a Collaborative Pedagogy: Integrating Movement into the Creative Writing Workshop.” International Journal of the Arts in Society. 5.5 (2011): 151-168.

Yount, Andra. Pas de trois. Thesis/Novella. Southern Methodist University, 2004.

Conferences:

Yount, Andra. “Moving Toward Language Acquisition: A Case Study Adapting Laban Movement Analysis in the International EAL Classroom.” Zurich, Switzerland. ICDST 2019: 21st International Conference on Dance Studies and Techniques. 14-15 Jan 2019.

Yount, Andra. “The Digital Archive and App as Alternative Dance Spaces.” University of Limerick. Limerick, Ireland. Light Moves Symposium, Festival of Screen dance: Peeling Away the Layers. 19-22 Nov 2015.

Yount, Andra. “Writing Without a Page: Documenting Dance in the Digital Age.” Stanford University. Stanford, CA. 19th Performance Studies International Conference. 26-30 Jun 2013.

Yount, Andra. All Cats are Gray…Translation of Spanish play Todos los pardos son gatos by Mexican writer Martha Cerda. 2011. Collaboration with the author.

Yount, Andra. “Toward a Collaborative Pedagogy: Integrating Movement into the Creative Writing Workshop.” University of Sydney. Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Fifth International Conference on the Arts in Society. 22-25 Jul 2010. Session Chair.

Yount, Andra. “Invisible Disabilities: Making the Unseen Seen for the Purpose of Healing.” University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, CA. Dance Under Construction: The 10th Annual Dance Studies Conference. 25-26 Apr 2008.

Yount, Andra. “Movement and Narrative in Zola’s L’Assommoir and Nana.” Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, Honolulu, HI. Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, 12-15 Jan 2007. Session Chair, Conference Presentation.