Basgier named director of Office of University Writing

Christopher Basgier has been named the director of University Writing, effective Aug. 1, after serving the unit as acting director.

Basgier, who joined Auburn in 2017, will continue to advance University Writing and lead a staff of faculty and professionals responsible for implementing writing across the curriculum, facilitating faculty development programs and conducting research on writing. Among the unit’s student-facing programs, Basgier will continue to oversee the Miller Writing Center, the ePortfolio project, WoW Workshops and numerous other seminars and consultation services.

“I am excited to lead the next phase of University Writing,” Basgier said. “Our office will focus on supporting students as thinkers and writers and deepening relationships with academic programs and campus partners across Auburn.”

Already, Basgier plans to expand capacity in the Miller Writing Center and offer more in-class presentations and workshops. Additionally, he will implement a new faculty development initiative focused on high-impact, writing-enriched courses and curricula. An announcement describing this initiative will circulate later this semester.

While at Auburn, Basgier has implemented numerous faculty development programs focused on creating meaningful writing assignments with disciplinary relevance. With an emphasis on strategically integrating writing into academic majors, Basgier has worked with faculty to promote student writing as a high-impact practice and expanded the office’s support for faculty by coordinating faculty writing groups and offering workshops on grant writing.

Prior to Auburn, Basgier spent four years at the University of North Dakota, where he served as an academic director of composition and acting coordinator of Writing Across the Curriculum. He holds a doctorate in English from Indiana University, as well as a master’s degree from the University of Alabama and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia. His research has appeared in publications that include Across the Disciplines, The WAC Journal and Composition Forum. He is active in national and international organizations, including the Association for Writing Across the Curriculum, the Conference on College Composition and Communication, HIPs in the States and the WAC Clearinghouse.