
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
Education
1995 The George Washington University
Ph.D. American Literature
1986 The Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury College
MA in English
1979 Chestnut Hill College
BA in English