Raina Leon  |  Interests  |  Scholarship  |  Service  

Education:

• PhD in Culture, Curriculum and Change Culture, Curriculum and Change, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, May 10, 2010
  Dissertation Title: Engagement through Poetry: A Qualitative Study of the High School Literacy Project Dissertation Chair: Dr. James Trier
• MA in Teaching of English English Education, Teachers College Columbia University, May 2004
• BA in Journalism College of Communications, Pennsylvania State University - University Park, May 2003
  Minors in Spanish, English, African American Studies and International Studies Magna Cum Laude Schreyer Honors College Bunton-Waller Fellow

Fellowships:

• Writers Residency - Ragdale Foundation (October 2010)
• Writers residency - Tyrone Guthrie Centre (July 2010)
• Writers residency - Vermont Studio Center (July 2008)
• Writers residency - Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts (June 2007)
• Writers residency - The Macdowell Colony (May 2007)
• Writers residency - Montana Artists Refuge (October 2006)
• Cave Canem Fellow - Cave Canem (June 2006)
  Fellowships in 2003, 2005, 2006

Grant:

• Faculty Technology Fund - St. Mary's College of California (September 2011)
  Grant for iPad 2 use in the classroom and in professional development

Honors:

• Finalist in Poetry Book Competition, Boogeyman Dawn - Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Prize (2010)
• Finalist for Poetry Book Prize, Canticle of Idols - Andres Montoya Prize for Poetry (April 2006)
• Finalist for Poetry Book Prize, Canticle of Idols - Cave Canem First Book Prize (August 2005)
• Finalist for Play Competition - New Works of Merit Playwriting Competition (August 2005)

Professional Licenses & Certifications:

• Teaching of English (7-12) - California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (March 2013)

Presentations:

Selected Presentations

• River of Words. Leon, Raina (primary presenter)
  Curriculum Study Commission
  (September 2011)

Publications:

• Leon, Raina. Boogeyman Dawn. Ireland: Salmon Poetry, 2013.
• Leon, Raina & Thomas, Norma. (2012). Breaking Barriers: Using Poetry as a Tool to Enhance Diversity Understanding with Youth and Adults. Journal of Poetry Therapy, Vol. 25, -.
• Leon, Raina. "Life in Germany." The Crisis November 2011: -
• Leon, Raina. "Dragon Spine Girl and Interview." The Packinghouse Review 3.5 (2011): -
• Leon, Raina. Canticle of Idols. Cincinnati: Wordtech Communications, 2008.

Performances:

Poetry reading

• Poetry from Canticle of Idols, Boogeyman Dawn and new work. Palabra Pura Reading Series. (July 21, 2011)
• Reading from Canticle of Idols and new work. Jazz Verse Jukebox in London, England. (September 2010)
• Reading from Canticle of Idols, Boogeyman Dawn and New Work. Cave Canem/ NYU Emerging Writers Reading Series. (April 2010)