English Alum in the Spotlight: Casey Lynn Roland
by Joseph G. Bova
Casey Lynn Roland, BA ’08, MA ‘12, is a poet, author, artist, and professional writing tutor. During her career, she has kept in touch with her SSU professors, and establishes similar ties with her students. That her favorite part of the job is working with students may be due to her own interest in learning. This year, Casey added a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in poetry to her credentials, from the University of New Hampshire. Her graduate thesis is a collection of poems titled, If the House is Inclined to Collapse, from which “Barnacle” was recently published in Plainsongs Magazine.
What were your favorite classes at SSU?
By far, my creative writing classes and my lit classes (which I was lucky enough to take with Richard Elia). I also loved all the required classes for my art minor. Getting a break from the traditional classroom setting to make a mess with paint, ink, charcoal, and photo chemicals was a highlight of my days at SSU.
How have you applied your experiences at SSU to your career?
As the first graduate of SSU with a concentration in creative writing, I have used all aspects of what I learned with my own students. As a graduate student at UNH, I continued to expand on what I learned at SSU, as well. I have also applied them to my work with Mass Poetry and my experiences in theater where, even in more administrative roles, I am challenged to find creative solutions to produce successful shows. As a designer and artist, I get to bring playwrights' words to life on stage. It helps that I spent most of my educational background reading deeply, and writing in safe creative spaces.
What does your job as a tutor involve?
[It’s mainly] working one-on-one with both undergraduate and graduate students, at varying stages of the writing process. We're constantly having trainings at the Writing Center on pedagogical strategies. I also take in a lot from my own teachers at UNH and apply it to my work as an educator. And then I see a lot of productions! I try to learn something from every show I help produce or witness as an audience member, and then combine that with my own vision for future productions.
Have you had other jobs you'd like to tell us about?
For a while I worked in public education, first as a high school English teacher, and then as an English Language Arts specialist for 6th-8th graders. I love both positions but working with middle school kids was probably my favorite. I continue to work with high school students in after school and summer theater programs, which is a lot of fun because they're so interested in every part of producing a great show!
What qualities are important to being successful in your career?
Listening and patience! I work with so many types of students from so many different backgrounds that it's important for me to listen to their needs so I can best assist and empower them. In theater I also apply the same tools as I am always encountering new people and new ideas, sometimes within a single show--there is a lot of thinking on my feet in everything I do!
If you wish to get in contact with Casey Lynn Roland, you can reach her via email: casey.lynn.roland@gmail.com