Lara Smith-Sitton

Director of the BA/Undergraduate English Studies Program and Associate Professor of English at Kennesaw State University

Lara Smith-Sitton, PhD is the Director of the BA/Undergraduate English Studies Program and Associate Professor of English at Kennesaw State University where she has also served as the Director of Community Engagement. Dr. Smith-Sitton has also taught at Georgia State University and the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University. Her teaching and research interests include professional writing and editing; community writing; service learning and public scholarship; nonprofit writing and communications; and 18th- and 19th-century rhetoric.

Much of her academic work focuses on the pedagogy and integration of high impact practices (“HIPs”) in teaching and learning. Recent publications include Green Card Voices: Immigration Stories from an Atlanta High School (GCV 2018, 2019) and an array of articles and book chapters in outlets including Reflections; Community Literacy Journal; The Journal for Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, and Perspective; and Double Helix.

Lara currently serves on the University System of Georgia HIPs Leadership Implementation Team; as a “Passport to Success Fellow” for the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities & Social Sciences; and on the Kennesaw State University Quality Enhancement Steering Committee. Outside of her faculty position, she serves nationally as a board member for the nonprofit Green Card Voices in Minneapolis, Minnesota; on the Advisory Board for the Coalition of Community Writing; and an editor for Writing Spaces and The Headlight Review.

Prior to her work as a professor, Lara had a lengthy career in industry, where she focused much of her work on employee relations and employment practices. In addition, she is an experienced nonprofit administrator and board member, working with organizations concerned with literacy, languages, and education. Lara lives in Peachtree Hills with her husband, Clint Sitton.

Companies

• Associate Professor of English and Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies/English BA Kennesaw State University (2021)
• Assistant Professor of English & Director of Community Engagement Kennesaw State University (2015 — 2021)
• Advanced Teaching Fellow (Department of English) Georgia State University (2011 — 2015)
• Adjunct Lecturer, Management Communications; Writing Consultant; Co-Manager Business Writing Center Goizueta Business School, Emory University (2010 — 2015)
• Managing Editor South Atlantic Review (SAMLA) (2006 — 2013)
• Associate Director, South Atlantic Modern Language Association Georgia State University (2006 — 2012)

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Georgia State University
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Georgia State University
• Oglethorpe University