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Biography
Lesley Owens (she/hers) is a PhD candidate in the Center for Writing Studies and the English Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Lesley's research interests include disability studies, critical university studies, rhetorical genre studies, qualitative methods, and higher education administration. Originally from Kansas, she has a background in creative writing (BA, University of Kansas; MFA, Penn State) and a professional interest in public university administration. In her free time, she rides and works on bikes, bakes, and organizes with UIUC's graduate worker union.
Research Interests
Disability studies, critical university studies, rhetorical genre studies, qualitative methods, and higher education administration
Research Description
Lesley's dissertation research explores the experiences of disabled students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, particularly how writing shapes their experience of being disabled in higher education. Their data comes from a survey (N=62) of disabled students at UIUC and interviews with disabled students (N=24).
Courses Taught
INFO 303: Writing Across Media (Fall 2020, Spring 2021)
RHET 105: Rhetoric & Academic Writing (Fall 2019, Spring 2020)