Dr. Genie Giaimo

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In this interview, Genie and I discuss her work with writing centers and how she incorporates mindfulness and compassion into the way she helps her own staff work with people that come to their writing center for assistance. I also ask Genie how she came to yoga and what makes her happy.

Bio

Genie Giaimo, Ph.D., is the current Director of The Ohio State University Writing Center. Before her recent arrival to OSU, she was Assistant Professor of English and Director of the Writing Centers at Bristol Community College. Her research applies RAD-based methodologies to large-scale and often systemic issues within writing center administration, such as perceptions of the writing center in open access institutions, or the impact of ordinary and extraordinary stress on writing center workers. She has published articles in peer reviewed journals such as Language and Literature, Literature and Medicine, European Journal of Life Writing and Praxis: A Writing Center Journal, as well as chapters in edited collections on pedagogy and literary studies. She is also the special editor of the Praxis issue on Two Year College Writing Centers. In the time that she doesn't manage a staff of 52+ graduate and undergraduate consultants, she practices yoga at Yoga Happiness Studio in Columbus, OH, and volunteers at Colony Cats--an entirely volunteer-run organization dedicated to trap and release, as well as the treatment and adoption of stray and surrendered cats. 

Links from interview

Genie's interview with Praxis

Counting Beans and Making Beans Count by Neal Lerner

Opening Closed Doors by Hillary Degner et al

Mindfulness in the Writing Center by Mack and Hupp

Guided Mindfulness Meditation Practices with Jon Kabat-Zinn

Book Discussed

A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives by Thupten Jinpa, PhD