USC.edu

Shefali Rajamannar

Professor (Teaching) of Writing
Email rajamann@email.usc.edu Office JEF 150 Office Phone (213) 740-1984

Research & Practice Areas

Animal studies, environmental studies, rhetoric, writing pedagogy, colonial and imperial texts, nineteenth century British writing, early twentieth century British writing, modern European drama.

Biography

Shefali Rajamannar is Professor of Writing at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, where she served as Associate Director of the Writing Program for three years and as Lecturer at the English Department. She has received the USC GE Teaching Award (2018), the USC Mentoring Award (2017), and the Professors of Color Award (from the Undergraduate Student Government & Asian Pacific American, International, and Queer and Ally Student Assemblies, 2017). Dr. Rajamannar has also been nominated and honored by the USC Parents’ Association at the Steven B. Sample Teaching & Mentoring Awards Banquet and appointed as Master Teacher at the USC Writing Program. 

Professor Rajamannar’s book Reading the Animal in the Literature of the British Raj (Palgrave Macmillan 2012; paperback edition 2016) is a recommended reading for animal studies in The Routledge Companion to Human-Animal History (2019), Animals in Victorian Literature and Culture: Contexts in Criticism (Palgrave, 2017), and Literary Theory: The Basics, ed. Hans Bertens (Routledge, 2013), to name just a few. She is currently working on an article on teaching Science Communication Writing.  Her areas of interest include animal studies, environmental studies, pedagogy, colonial and imperial texts, nineteenth century British writing, early twentieth century British writing, and modern European drama.

Prior to coming to the United States Dr. Rajamannar held a tenured position at the Department of English of Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, widely acknowledged as India’s top women’s college and one of its top four liberal arts colleges. While in India, she was awarded the Principal B.B. Gupta Gold Medal from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi and a British Council Scholarship from the University of Cambridge.

Education

  • Ph.D. English, University of Southern California
  • M.A. English, University of Southern California
  • M.Phil. English, University of Delhi
  • M.A. English, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
  • B.A. (Honours) English, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi

  • Tenure Track Appointments

    • Tenured Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in English, Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, 1990 – 2001

    Research, Teaching, Practice, and Clinical Appointments

    • Associate Professor of Writing, University of Southern California, 2016-2022
    • Lecturer, The Writing Program, University of Southern California, 2010-08-2013-08
    • Associate Director (Upper Division), The Writing Program, University of Southern California, 2007-09-2010-06
    • Post-graduate Lecturer in English (teaching MA English graduate students), NCWEB, University of Delhi, 1994-1997
    • Lecturer in English, Department of English, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, 1987-1989

    Other Employment

    • Assistant Professor of Writing , University of Southern California, 2013 – 2016
    • Lecturer in English, Department of English, University of Southern California, 2012-2013
    • Assistant Lecturer and Program Coordinator, The Writing Program, University of Southern California, 1998 – 2006
    • Lecturer in English, University of Delhi, 1989 – 1990

  • Summary Statement of Research Interests

    Classes taught: USC WRITING PROGRAM: Advanced Writing in the Arts and Humanities, Advanced Writing in the Social Sciences, Advanced Writing in the Natural Sciences, Advanced Writing in the Health Sciences, Advanced Writing for USC Ostrow Dental Hygiene Students, Advanced Writing in International Relations and Global Economics; Writing and Critical Reasoning; Lower Division Writing “Writing and Critical Reasoning” (Multiple Thematics); USC ENGLISH DEPARTMENT: British Literature from the 1800’s. UNIVERSITY OF DELHI: B.A. Honours Level Courses(Lectures and Writing Tutorials):
    The Novel in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, Poetry from Chaucer to Milton, Romantic and Victorian Poetry,
    Modern Literature I: Fiction and Criticism,
    Modern Literature II: Poetry and Drama.
    POSTGRADUATE COURSES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DELHI: (Lectures and Writing Tutorials): Nineteenth Century Novel and Poetry and Modern European Drama

    Research Specialties

    Animal studies, environmental studies, rhetoric, writing pedagogy, colonial and imperial texts, nineteenth century British writing, early twentieth century British writing, modern European drama.

  • Conference Presentations

    • “Engaging Technically Oriented Students in Writing Classes: Some Strategies” , PAMLATalk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Chaminade University of Honolulu, 2017-2018
    • “Writing Empire, Writing The Beast: The Ethics of Transforming the Non-Human Other in Colonial Literature” , PAMLA (Panel on Ecocriticism)Talk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Pasadena, Californai, 2016-2017
    • Hunting in Colonial Writing: Land and Animal Use as Imperial Lens , PAMLA (Panel on Postcolonial Literature)Talk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Portland, Oregon, 2015-2016
    • Travel Writing in Colonial India , PAMLATalk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Riverside, California, 2014-2015
    • Visualizing the Nonhuman Other , Conference on “Stages of Life: Age, Identity, and Culture”Talk/Oral Presentation, PAMLA (Pacific Ancient & Modern Languages Assoc.), Invited, San Diego, California, 2013-2014
    • Making Kingdoms Out of Beasts: Writing the animal in the nineteenth century , PAMLA (Panel on Ecocriticism)Lecture/Seminar, Invited, 2012-2013
    • The Aesthetics of Cruelty , Interdisciplinary Conference. Theme: “Cruelty”Talk/Oral Presentation, Department of English, USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 2012-2013
    • Can the Subaltern Roar? Writing the Beast in Nineteenth-Century Hunting Narratives , “Speaking Nature,” 2011 Interdisciplinary Nineteenth Century Studies ConferenceTalk/Oral Presentation, Interdisciplinary Nineteenth Century Studies, Invited, Pitzer College, Los Angeles, 2010-2011
    • Hunting as Land Use in India: The Animal as Imperial Lens , 2011 MLA ConventionTalk/Oral Presentation, Modern Languages Association, Los Angeles, CA, Spring 2011
    • Isabel Savoury’s ‘A Sportswoman in India’ , 18th- and 19th-C. British Women Writers’ ConferenceTalk/Oral Presentation, 18th- and 19th-C. British Women Writers’ , Texas A&M University, Spring 2010

    Other Presentations

    • “Write On! Writing the University Level Essay”, Micro-Seminar, University of Southern California, 2017-2018
    • Alternative Winter Break in India, USC Alternative Winter Break Orientation Session, , 2015-2016
    • Engaging Students in the Classroom , Panelist at Professional Development Session for Faculty, , 2015-2016
    • Writing the College Level Essay, Orientation for incoming USC students, University of Southern California, 2008-2009

  • Book

    • Rajamannar, S. (2012). Reading the Animal in the Literature of the British Raj. Foreword by James R. Kincaid. New York, New York.: Palgrave Macmillan. Paperback Edition 2016.

    Book Chapters

    • Rajamannar, S.Handbook of Animals and Literature. New York, New York: Palgrave Macmillan: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Essay

    • Rajamannar, S. (2017). “‘And we shall sit at endless feast’: Tennyson’s ‘In Memoriam’ Revisited,” Poetry for Peace. (Michael Lidgley, Ed.). Amnesty International Press.
    • “Master Teacher,” Writing Program, USC, 2016-2017
    • Professors of Color Award, Asian Pacific American Student Assembly, International Student Assembly, and Queer and Ally Student Assembly, 2016-2017
    • USC Mentoring Award, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Office of the Vice Provost, 2016-2017
    • Dornsife Faculty Grant, Fall 2016
    • “Master Teacher,” Writing Program, USC, 2015-2016
    • ‘Larger Dornsife Faculty Grant’, 2015-2016
    • Nominee, USC Mentoring Award, 2015-2016
    • Faculty Development Grant, 2014-2015
    • USC Dornsife Faculty Development Grant, 2013-2014
    • Faculty Development Grant, 2012-2013
    • USC Dornsife Faculty Development Grant towards book publication, 2011-2012
    • Nominated and Recognized at President Steven B. Sample Teaching and Mentoring Awards Banquet by USC Parents’ Association , Fall 2011
    • Sara and John Lindsey Chair of Liberal Arts Travel Award, 18th Annual British Women Writers’ Conference, Texas A&M University, 2010-2011
    • USC Professional Development Grant, 2010-2011
    • Five-year Dean’s Fellowship, 08/15/1998 – 07/15/2003
    • British Council Scholarship, University of Cambridge Summer School in Literature and Cultural Studies, 1996-1997

  • Administrative Appointments

    • Mentor, Writing Program Junior Faculty Mentoring Program, 2015 –
    • Table Leader, Writing Program Portfolio Sessions, 2010 –
    • Mentor, Writing Program Junior Faculty Mentoring Program, 2014-2015
    • Mentor, Writing Program Junior Faculty Mentoring Program, 2013-2014
    • Associate Director-Upper Division, USC Writing Program, 09/2007 – 06/2010
    • Orientation Group Leader, Office of International Students, USC., 2006-2007

    Committees

    • Chair, Conducting Orientation and Mentoring Sessions for incoming Upper-Division faculty, USC Writing Program, 2017 –
    • Co-Chair, Co-Chair, Merit Review Committee. Elected faculty representative., 2017-2018
    • Co-Chair, Conducted Orientation and Mentoring Sessions for incoming Upper-Division faculty, USC Writing Program, 2016-2017
    • Member, Merit Review Committee (elected faculty representative)), 2016-2017
    • Member, Mentoring Committee, 2015-2016
    • Member, Personnel Committee (elected faculty representative), 2015-2016
    • Member, Assisted Hiring Committee as member of Personnel Committee, 2015-2016
    • Member, Merit Review Committee (elected faculty representative), 2014-2015
    • Member, Personnel Committee (elected faculty representative), 2013-2014
    • Member, Assisted Hiring Committee as member of Personnel Committee, 2013-2014
    • Co-Chair, Conducted Orientation and Mentoring Sessions for incoming Upper-Division faculty, USC Writing Program, 2011 – 2012
    • Member, Professional Development Committee, USC Writing Program, 2010 – 2012
    • Member, Reading Group, USC Writing Program, 2010 – 2011

    Review Panels

    • USC Writing Program, Teaching materials included for Writing Program Accreditation package, 2017-2018
    • Writing Program, Faculty Evaluation Committee, 2017-2018
    • USC Writing Program, Staff representative, Writing Program Promotional Committee, 2007 – 2010
    • University of Southern California, USC Trustee and Presidential Scholarships, 2009-2010
    • University of Southern California, Graduate representative, The English Department, USC Provost’s Committee, 2008-2009

    Media, Alumni, and Community Relations

    • Neighborhood Academic Initiative: Faculty volunteer with Freshman Seminar FSEM-100 and JEP community outreach program to help rising high school students with their college applications, 2015 –
    • Faculty Invitee, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society Induction Ceremony, 2014-2015
    • Neighborhood Academic Initiative: Faculty volunteer with Freshman Seminar FSEM-100 and JEP community outreach program to help rising high school students with their college applications, 2014-2015
    • Faculty Invitee at student-faculty events, 2013-2014
    • Faculty invitee at Student-Faculty Norman Topping Luncheon, 2012-2013
    • Faculty invitee at Alpha Chi Omega Academic Achievement Scholarship Dinner, 2012-2013
    • Alumni representative at meeting with USC Trustee, 2008-2009

    Other Service to the University

    • Faculty Advisor to USC student organization “Pre-Medical Literary Circle”, 2014 –
    • Moderator, Undergraduate Writers’ Conference, 2010 –
    • Referee for several Writing Program faculty members’ promotions and professional/job applications, 2010 –
    • Referee for multiple students’ applications for jobs, internships, scholarships, graduate school etc. , 2010 –
    • Table leader for end of semester portfolio session for upper division writing, USC Writing Program, 2010 – 2015
    • Participated in sessions on development/teaching of new WRIT 150 courses, 2012 – 2014
    • Moderator for Creative Writing Group, USC Undergraduate Writers’ Conference, 2012-2013
    • Moderator for Professional Writing Group, USC Undergraduate Writers’ Conference, 2011-2012
    • Moderator for Analytical Writing Group, USC Undergraduate Writers’ Conference, 2008 – 2011
    • Judge, USC Undergraduate Writers’ Conference, 2008 – 2010
    • Staff Representative, Writing Program Personnel Committee, 2007 – 2010
    • Staff representative, Committees for new courses, USC Writing Program, 2007 – 2010
    • Writing Program Representative, CCCC Conference, New Orleans, 2008-2009
    • Conducted socialization workshop during “Critical Reasoning Study” sponsored by the Spencer and Teagle Foundations and Duke University, 2008-2009
    • Orientation Group Leader, Office of International Students, 2006-2007

  • Conferences Organized

    • Presiding Officer, Creator, Presiding Officer, and Chair of Special Session “Teaching Writing Across the Disciplines,” PAMLA Annual International Conference , 2013 –

    Professional Memberships

    • Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association, 2012 –
    • Interdisciplinary Nineteenth-Century Studies Association, 2011-2012
    • Modern Languages Association, 2011-2012
    • British Women Writers’ Association, 2010-2011
    • National Council of Teachers of English, 2009-2010

    Reviewer for Publications

    • Animal Studies Journal, University of Wollongong, Australia, Peer reviewer, 2017-2018
    • Broadview Press, Broadview Press, Peer reviewer, 2017-2018
    • European Romantic Review (Routledge), Routledge, Peer Reviewer, 2015-2016
    • Anthology: Writing in the Health Sciences, Broadview, Consultant for prospective anthology on Writing in the Health Sciences, 2014-2015
    • Palgrave Macmillan monographs, Palgrave Macmillan, Peer Reviewer, 2014-2015
    • Society and Animals: Journal of Human-Animal Studies, Brill Publishers, Boston, Peer Reviewer, 2013-2014
    • Anthem Press monographs, Anthem, Peer Reviewer of books on Nineteenth Century British Literature and Cultural Studies., 2011-2012
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