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Dr. Matthew M. Heard

Associate Professor

University of North Texas

Department of English

(940) 565-2050

Email: Matthew.Heard@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, University of California, Riverside, 2007
    Major: English
    Specialization: Rhetoric and Composition
    Dissertation: Modern Writers, Modernist Problems: A Rhetorical Hermeneutic Approach to Anglo-American Modernism
  • MA, University of California, Riverside, 2003
    Major: English
  • BA, Abilene Christian University, 2001
    Major: English
    Specialization: Minor in Digital Media (with Graphic Design emphasis)

Professional Positions

  • Instructor, University of California, Riverside. University of California, Riverside. (2002 - 2005).

    • Academic - Post-Secondary

  • Director of First-Year Writing, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2018 - Present).
  • Associate Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2013 - Present).
  • Director of Freshman English, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2008 - 2014).
  • Assistant Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2007 - 2013).
  • Instructor, Russian-American Christian University (Moscow, Russia). Russian-American Christian University (Moscow, Russia). (2006 - 2006).
  • Instructor, University of Redlands (Redlands, California). University of Redlands (Redlands, California). (2005 - 2005).
  • Assistant Director of Composition, University of California, Riverside. University of California, Riverside. (2004 - 2005).

Professional Memberships

  • Conference on College Composition and Communication. (2005 - Present).
  • Modern Language Association. (2005 - Present).
  • National Council of Teachers of English. (2005 - Present).
  • Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association. (2005 - 2005).

Development Activities

  • Faculty Development Leave, Fostering Rhetorics, UNT. United States of America. (January 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • ENGL 1310 - College Writing I, 2 courses.
  • ENGL 1321 - Honors Composition II, 1 course.
  • ENGL 3200 - Rhetorical History and Historiography, 10 courses.
  • ENGL 3210 - Studies in Writing, 2 courses.
  • ENGL 3996 - Honors College Mentored Research Experience, 1 course.
  • ENGL 4160 - Advanced Expository Writing, 6 courses.
  • ENGL 4170 - Principles and Practices of Rhetoric, 4 courses.
  • ENGL 4200 - Studies in Modern Rhetoric, 5 courses.
  • ENGL 4210 - Advanced Studies in Writing, 4 courses.
  • ENGL 4230 - Special Topics in Rhetoric and Writing Studies, 3 courses.
  • ENGL 4951 - Honors College Capstone Thesis, 2 courses.
  • ENGL 5310 - Studies in Rhetorical Theory, 1 course.
  • ENGL 5550 - Studies in the Teaching of Composition, 10 courses.
  • ENGL 5800 - Studies in Literary Genres, 1 course.
  • ENGL 5900 - Special Problems, 2 courses.

Teaching at Other Institutions

  • Russian American Christian University, Sociolinguistics, Fall 2006.
  • University of Redlands, Individualized Composition Instruction, Fall 2005.

Directed Student Learning

  • Undergraduate Honors Thesis, English. (September 2018).
  • Other (Honors Contract), "Relocate: Game Justification and Analysis," English. (August 31, 2022 - December 18, 2022).
  • Supervised Research, "Rhetorics of Foster Care According to Former Foster Care Youth," English. (September 2017 - May 2018).

Awards and Honors

  • University Distinguished Teaching Professorship Award, Faculty Success. (January 31, 2024).
  • CLASS Advisory Board Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, UNT College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. (November 2022).
  • Nominated for UNT President’s Council Teaching Award, UNT President’s Council. (November 2022).
  • Nominated for DSI-CLEAR Online Course Awards, DSI-CLEAR (University of North Texas). (September 2021).
  • Preston Award for Outstanding Upper-Division Undergraduate Teaching, UNT Department of English. (May 2018).
  • Nominated for 'Fessor Graham Award, UNT Student Government Association. (April 2017).
  • Making a Difference Award, ServeDenton. (April 2017).
  • Departmental Service Award, University of North Texas, Department of English. (2014).
  • Gordon and Anna Watkins Award, University of California, Riverside Awarded for outstanding community service. (2007).
  • Dissertation Fellowship Award, University of California, Riverside English Department. (2006).
  • Independent Research Award, University of California, Riverside English Department. (2006).
  • Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, University of California, Riverside English Department. (2004).
  • Teaching Fellowship, University of California, Riverside English Department. (2004).
  • Graduate Writing Award, University of California, Riverside English Department. (2004).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book Chapter

  • Heard, M.M. (2019). Rhetoric in Dim Spaces. Reinventing (with) Theory in Rhetoric and Writing Studies: Essays in Honor of Sharon Crowley. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvqc6hxw
  • Heard, M.M., Jensen, K., Dobrin, S. (2016). "Intoning Writing". Abducting Writing Studies. Carbondale, Illinois, Southern Illinois University Press.

    • Book Review

  • Heard, M.M. (2016). “Close to Home: Hospitality Inside the English Classroom”. Composition Forum. (33) http://compositionforum.com/issue/33/heard-haswell-haswell-review.php

    • Journal Article

  • Heard, M.M. (2020). Rhetoric and the Rise of Foster Care. Rhetoric Review. 39 (1)
  • Heard, M.M. (2014). "Repositioning Curriculum Design: Broadening the Who and How of Curricular Invention". College English. 76 (4) http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/Journals/CE/0764-mar2014/CE0764Repositioning.pdf
  • Heard, M.M. (2014). "The Costs of Sharing: Exploring the Ethical and Affective Dimensions of Social Action". Composition Forum. 29 http://compositionforum.com/issue/29/costs-of-sharing.php
  • Heard, M.M. (2013). "Tonality and Ethos". Philosophy and Rhetoric. 46 (1)
  • Heard, M.M. (2012). "Cultivating Sensibility in Writing Program Administration". WPA: Writing Program Administration. 35 (2)
  • Heard, M.M. (2010). "Hospitality and Generosity" (Invited Response Essay). JAC: A Journal of Advanced Composition. 30 (1-2) 315-335.
  • Heard, M.M. (2008). What Should We Do With Post-Process Theory?. Pedagogy. 8 (2) 283-304.
  • Heard, M.M. (2007). 'Dancing is Dancing No Matter Who is Doing It': Zora Neale Hurston, Literacy, and Contemporary Writing Pedagogy. College Literature. 34 (1) 129-155.

Presentations Given

  • Establishing Credibility in the Classroom, (2012 - 2012).
  • Redesigning Introductory Writing Courses: A Narrative", (2012 - 2012).
  • "Tonality and Intersubjectivity", (2011 - 2011).
  • Easy-Bake Technology, (2008 - 2008).
  • Heard, M.M. (Other), "Applying for Rhet/Comp. Jobs", (2007 - 2007).
  • Post-Process Theory and the Self-Directed Classroom, (2005 - 2005).
  • What is Post-Process Theory?, (2005 - 2005).
  • Modernist Style, (2004 - 2004).
  • The Rhetorics of Modernism: Twenty-First Century Post-Process Theory with a Twentieth-Century Twist, (2004 - 2004).

    • Invited Talk

  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Class Session - LING 4100.001, Poetics, Fall 2018, Poetics and/as Rhetoric, United States of America. (2018).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Big Brothers / Big Sisters Presentation to United Way of Denton County, "Point of Light" Presentation: What I've Learned by Mentoring my Little Brother, United States of America. (2018).

    • Oral Presentation

  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), UNT Board of Regents meeting, Empowered Students, Powerful Writing, Denton, Texas, United States of America. (2013).

    • Panel Presentation

  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Rhetoric Society of America Conference, Coalition Building in the Context of Family Policing, Rhetoric Society of America, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2023).
  • Heard, M.M. (Presenter), Conference on College Composition and Communication, Ethical Shifts in Writing: Revisiting Ethos through Yarbrough and Anzaldúa, Spokane, IL, United States of America. (2023).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Conference on College Composition and Communication, Writing Hope in Child Welfare, National Council of Teachers of English, Chicago, IL, United States of America. (2023 - 2023).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Rhetoric Society of America (RSA) Conference, Fostering Counterpublics, Rhetoric Society of America, Portland, USA, United States of America. (2020).
  • Vickery, J.R. (Author & Presenter), Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Sweeten, B.L. (Author & Presenter), National Conference for Engaged Scholarship on Foster Alumni, Coalition-Building in Foster Care Focus Groups, Washington DC, United States of America. (2020).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Rhetoric Society of America Conference, “Booker T Washington and the Rise of Foster Care.”, Rhetoric Society of America, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America. (2018).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Conference on College Composition and Communication, ““The Paragraph That Rescued a Hundred Children: Writing and the Rise of Foster Care”, Kansas City, MO, United States of America. (2018).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Conference on College Composition and Communication, "Writing in the Foster Care System", Conference on College Composition and Communication, Houston, Texas, United States of America. (2016).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Conference on College Composition and Communication, " 'Design' Reconsidered: What Curriculum Designers Can Learn From Visual Design", Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America. (2014).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Simmons, J.M. (Author & Presenter), 13th Annual Texas A&M Assessment Conference, Large Volume Writing Assessment and the Challenges of Freshman Composition: Connecting Course Level Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes with Program and Institutional Goals to Improve Instruction, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America. (2013).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Conference on College Composition and Communication, Habits of a Post-Process WPA, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America. (2012).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Conference on College Composition and Communication, "Tonality and Intersubjectivity", United States of America. (2011).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Conference on College Composition and Communication, "Resampling the Rhythms of Self", Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America. (2010).
  • Heard, M.M. (Author & Presenter), Modern Language Association, Going Nowhere?, San Francisco, California, United States of America. (2008).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Heard, M. (Principal), Vickery, J. (Supporting), Sweeten, B. (Supporting), Murrell, A. (Supporting), "UNT Faculty Mentoring Grant," sponsored by UNT Faculty Success Office, Local, $5000 Funded. (2019 - 2020).
  • Heard, M.M., "OER Summer Grants Program," sponsored by UNT Libraries, the Center for Learning Experimentation, Application, and Research (CLEAR), and the Office of the Provost, University of North Texas, $2500 Funded. ( - 2019).
  • Heard, M. (Principal), Vickery, J. (Supporting), Frith, J. (Supporting), Sweeten, B. (Supporting), Murrell, A. (Supporting), "UNT Faculty Mentoring Grant," sponsored by UNT Faculty Success Office, University of North Texas, $5000 Funded. (2018 - 2019).

Service

University Service

  • Member, Executive Committee. (August 2023 - Present).
  • Committee Chair, First-Year Writing Advisory Committee. (August 2023 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Personnel Affairs Committee. (August 2023 - Present).
  • Co-Director, First-Year Writing Program in English. (August 31, 2021 - December 18, 2022).
  • Committee Member, Hiring Committee, Adjunct Instructors in English. (August 2021 - August 2021).
  • Committee Member, Curriculum Committee. (September 2018 - May 2021).
  • Director, First-Year Writing Program. (September 2018 - May 2021).
  • Committee Member, Executive Committee, Department of English. (September 2016 - May 2021).
  • Committee Member, Search Committee, Lecturer in English, 2 positions. (September 2019 - March 2020).
  • Committee Chair, Search Committee, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Studies in English. (August 2019 - March 2020).
  • Co-Chair, Search Committee, Lecturer in English, 2 positions. (June 2019 - March 2020).
  • Co-Chair, Hiring Committee, Adjunct Instructors in English. (June 2019 - July 2019).
  • Co-Chair, Committee on Writing Courses. (September 2018 - May 2019).
  • Other (Faculty Liaison to Career Connect for Humanities Division), UNT Career Connect. (August 2016 - May 2018).
  • Committee Member, Search Committee - Non-Tenure Track Lecturer in Rhetoric and Composition Studies in English. (September 2017 - April 2018).
  • Committee Chair, Search Committee - Tenure-track Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Composition Studies in English. (September 2017 - April 2018).
  • Committee Member, Search Committee, Director of the Writing Center (Lecturer). (January 2017 - May 2017).
  • Task Force Chair, Career and Community Experiences in English Working Group. (November 2016 - May 2017).
  • Committee Member, Curriculum Committee. (2008 - 2014).
  • Committee Member, Search Committee: Rhetoric/Composition (Department of English). (2010 - 2011).
  • Committee Chair, Writing Committee (subcommittee of English Curriculum Committee). (2009 - 2010).
  • Committee Member, Search Committee: Rhetoric/Composition (Department of English). (2008 - 2009).
  • Other, Teaching Fellow Selection Committee. (2008 - 2009).
  • Other, Website Committee. (2008 - 2008).
  • Other (Participated in committee decisions regarding the design and configuration of placement exams and basic and advanced composition courses; also made recommendations for additional TA training and support), Committee on Writing Courses. (2003 - 2005).

Public Service

  • Other, Licensed Foster Parent, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Denton, Texas. (2014 - Present).
  • Other (Big Brother Mentor), Big Brother/Big Sisters. Denton, TX. (2011 - 2020).
  • Other (Organizer/Facilitator), Family Resource Center; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; ARC of Denton; City House of Plano; Denton County Friends of the Family. (2008 - 2008).