PATRICIA

DWYER

Writer and Educator

About Me

I grew up outside of Philadelphia and have spent most of my adult life in education, from teaching third graders and middle school students to master's and Ph.D. candidates. Quite a spread. I was also a higher ed administrator for almost 25 years.

In the last five years, I have started exploring creative writing, specifically creative non-fiction. Most of my writing is rooted in autobiographical experience: growing up in a large Irish Catholic family, entering the convent at 18, leaving the sisters at 39, and coming out as a lesbian shortly after. Lots to mine there.

I live with my wife Connie and our two dogs in Baltimore, MD. I hope you enjoy the essays and editorials I have included here. Please. Give me feedback. I thrive on it.

Work Experience

2015 - Today

I teach at a university here in Baltimore in the school of education. My primary responsibilities are teaching online to students pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education leadership and teaching a dissertation seminar, helping students shape their research proposals. I love my students. Smart, committed, compassionate.

And now, I can say officially that I am a writer! I have publications in Hippocampus, Narratively, The Baltimore Sun, and an upcoming essay in LitHub.

2009-2015

Provost, Wesley College, Dover DE

2006-2009

Associate Vice President, Notre Dame of Maryland University

1993-2005

Shepherd University, Dean and English Professor