CV

Loyola University Chicago

Dissertation Title: “Modernism’s Mythic Mothers: Queering Motherhood Through Classical Matrilineage” 

Advisor – Dr. Suzanne Bost

University of Minnesota Duluth

Thesis Title: “Rape Poems: A Selection, with Critical Commentary”

Advisor – Dr. Joshua Bernstein

Thesis Title: “Somebody to Love Pecola: Motherhood in Toni Morrison’s Bluest Eye”

Advisor – Dr. Evan Brier

Loyola University Chicago

Advisor – Dr. Marta Werner

• Research Assistant
• Gathered, cataloged, and coordinated over 900 bird sounds for soundscape project

• Completed miscellaneous project tasks as assigned

Loyola University Chicago

Advisor – Dr. Pamela Caughie

• Research Assistant

• Proofread and copyedited website data and copy for project website

• Proofread final book text at time of publication

• Completed other project tasks as assigned

Loyola University Chicago

Advisor – Dr. Melissa Bradshaw

• Research Assistant and Transcriptionist

• Conducted research on Amy Lowell for project website 

• Proofread and copyedited project website 

• Transcribed over 150 letters from Amy Lowell’s archive into a more accessible format

• Transcribed letters from Amy Lowell to multiple poets and prepared for archiving

University of Minnesota Duluth, Department of Philosophy

Title: “Greece Lightning: Classical Myths Retold”

Advisor – Dr. Eve Browning 

• Comprehensively researched Classical Mythology

• Retold stories for young readers 

• Compiled research on different iterations of myths and wrote an in-depth analysis

Loyola University Chicago, Department of English

• Create lesson plans and lead class as Instructor of Record

• Conduct classes on a variety of literary eras and poetic schools from ancient to   contemporary

• Grade weekly assignments in a timely fashion

• Communicate with students via email and weekly office hours

• Evaluate students according to department standards and course requirements

• Lead students in a vigorous writing-intensive course to improve both subject knowledge  and writing skill.

Loyola University Chicago, Department of English

• Create lesson plans and lead class as Instructor of Record

• Conduct classes on three distinct units: Poetry, Drama, and Novel

• Grade weekly assignments and exams in a timely fashion

• Communicate with students via email and weekly office hours

• Assist students in adjusting to in-person classroom learning during a global pandemic 

• Evaluate students according to department standards and course requirements

Graduate Instructor, UCWR 110 Core Freshman Writing         Fall 2019- Spring 2021, Summer 2023, Summer 2024, Fall 2024

Loyola University Chicago, Department of Writing

• Create lesson plans and lead class as Instructor of Record

• Grade weekly assignments

• Communicate with students via online support and weekly office hours

• Assist students with technology support as well as issues with adjusting to online learning during a global pandemic.

Loyola University Chicago, Department of Writing

Supervisor – Laura Goldstein

Loyola University Chicago Writing Center

Supervisor – Amy Kessel

University of Minnesota Duluth, Department of English

Supervisor – Dr. Kathryn Van Wert

• Create lesson plans and lead class periods in conjunction with class syllabus

• Grade weekly assignments

• Communicate with students via online support and weekly office hours

• Meet regularly with supervising professor for course upkeep

University of Minnesota Duluth, Department of Philosophy

Supervisor – Dr. Eve. Browning

• Graded weekly assignments

• Managed exams and quizzes for 200 students

• Graded papers with supervisor’s guidance

University of Minnesota Duluth, Departments of English, Linguistics, and Writing Studies

• Held one-on-one tutorials with students seeking assistance with essays and writing-based assignments

Lepak, S., (2024, November). Surviving the War: The Gift and H.D.’s Divine Maternal Legacy. Midwest Modern Language Association Conference. Chicago, IL.

Lepak, S., (2024, November). Crossing: Transnational Gender and Temporality in H.D. Modernist Studies Association Conference. Chicago, IL.

Lepak, S., (2022, November). Rupture and Rebuild: Modernism in “Times Like These.” Midwest Modern Language Association Conference. Minneapolis, MN. 

Lepak, S., (2022, May). Queer Gestation: Hippolyta, Hedyle, and Life on the Outskirts. American Literature Association Conference. Chicago, IL. 

Lepak, S., (2018, November). Something in Exchange: Ethical Vampirism and Family in Gilda Stories. Queering the Literatures of Slavery Conference. Chicago, IL.

Lepak, S., (2018, March). Toni Morrison and Bible in Beloved. Research Display for Ramseyer-Northern Bible Society Collection. Duluth, MN

Lepak, S., (2016, December). The Right to Choose: Isolation and Havelock Ellis in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Fiction. Graduate Seminar Research Presentation. Duluth, MN

Midwest Modern Language Association (MMLA) Annual Conference (2024, November). Chicago, IL. Attendee and Panelist.

Modernist Studies Association (MSA) Annual Conference (2024, November). Chicago, IL. Attendee and Panelist.

Midwest Modern Language Association (MMLA) Annual Conference (2022, November). Minneapolis, MN. Attendee, Panelist, and Panel Chair. 

American Literature Association (ALA) Annual Conference (2022, May). Chicago, IL. Attendee and Panelist.

Modern Language Association (MLA) Annual Conference (2022, January). Washington, D.C. Attendee. 

Midwest Modern Language Association (MMLA) Annual Conference (2021, November). Milwaukee, WI. Attendee. 

Beyond Binary Conference (2021, October). Hosted by University of Illinois Chicago. Attendee.

Victorian Society Conference (2018, October). Hosted by Loyola University Chicago. Attendee. 

Narratives of Myth and Reality Conference (2021, March). Hosted by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Remote/virtual Attendee. 

Queertopia Conference (2021, April). Hosted by Northwestern University. Remote/virtual Attendee.

Modern Language Association (MLA) Annual Conference (2019, January). Chicago, IL. Attendee. 

The Edward Crown Fellowship                                                                 2023-2024

The Gravett-Tuma Book Scholarship Award                                            Aug 2022

Elected English Graduate Student Association (EGSA) Vice President    2021-2022

Graduate Teaching Assistantship                                                              2018-2023

Graduate Summer Plan B Fellowship Award                                             May 2017

English Department Academic Grant                                                        January 2017

Undergraduate Research Grant     Spring 2014

Richard I. Ianni Merit Scholarship                                  Aug 2011-2013

• Provided writing assistance for undergraduate and graduate students at the Loyola University Chicago Writing Center 

• Assisted faculty members in fine-tuning articles and book projects to prepare for publication

• Created website and advertisement copy for several businesses located around Minnesota and in Chicago, IL

• Proofread creative and administrative manuscripts for companies and for private clients

• Copyedited one collection of short stories for publication by a client in Chicago, IL

• Designed, wrote, and managed website construction for one business in Duluth, MN

Major Lindsey, & Africa, Chicago, IL

• Managed legal job searches for in-house clients

• Proofread assorted documents for distribution to clients and candidates

• Met with attorneys regarding adjustments to documents to ensure clarity and grammatical and legal accuracy