About Dr. Andy
Andy Jones has taught for the English Department and the University Writing Program at the University of California, Davis, since 1990. Originally trained as a poet and interpreter of poetry, Andy has taught classes at UC Davis on TS Eliot, the Poetry of the Beat Generation, and Close Reading of Poetry, as well as the Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop. As a Lecturer in the University Writing Program, Andy enjoys teaching pre-professional writing classes, and counts among his favorites “Writing in the Professions: Journalism,” “Writing in Fine Arts,” “Style and the Essay,” and “Writing in Education: Advanced Writing for Future Teachers.” The originator of “TCS 191: Writing Across Media,” Andy has taught that class for the Technocultural Studies Program every winter since 2005. Andy was named “Educator of the Year” by the Associated Students of UC Davis in 2006.
Formerly coordinator of the University Writing Program’s Computer-Aided Instruction Program, Andy loves to teach in computer classrooms, and since 2011 has served UC Davis as the Academic Associate Director of Academic Technology Services. From 2005 to 2010, Andy coordinated the Faculty Mentoring Faculty Program and co-coordinated the Summer Institute on Teaching and Technology, both sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. In 2008 Andy gave the Plenary Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the University of California, Office of the President, President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, and in 2009 and 2010, Andy joined a delegation of faculty that provided faculty development at the Nara Institute on Science and Technology in Nara, Japan.
As Academic Associate Director of Academic Technology Services, Andy founded the UC Davis Instructional Technology Blog, The Wheel; and created the monthly workshop series titled DOLCE: Discussing Online Learning and Collaborative Education, as well as the Faculty Panels Program. Andy also oversees faculty support of instructional technology for Academic Technology Services, with a special focus on SmartSite, the campus learning management system, as well as the new LMS at UC Davis, UC Davis Canvas. He coordinates the Summer Institute on Teaching and Technology for Academic Technology Services and the faculty of UC Davis.
Committed to outreach and encouraging cross-disciplinary thinking, Andy served as faculty advisor to The Voice, the campus Undergraduate Health Journal; works with undergraduate creative writers as the faculty advisor to Nameless Magazine, the undergraduate journal of creative writing at UC Davis; works as a technical and marketing advisor for The Davis Shakespeare Ensemble; served as faculty advisor to Absurd Publications, a press founded by a number of his poetry students; speaks before groups of students assembled by Student Advising, the McNair Scholars Program, Professors for the Future, and the UC Davis Medical School’s Post-Baccalaureate Program.
Since 2000 Dr. Andy has hosted “Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour” on radio station KDVS. In the Davis community, Andy chairs the Cultural Action Committee, and hosts fundraisers for the Davis Rotary Club and other local nonprofit organizations. His publications include an essay on Beat Art and Poetry in Lifescapes Magazine, a book chapter on teaching writing and literature with Twitter, and three books of poetry. Andy co-authored Split Stock with Writing Program colleague Brad Henderson. His book Where’s Jukie? was published in 2014, and, in an expanded version, in 2015. Andy and his wife, Kate Duren, donate all the profits made from the sale of their book of poetry and essays, titled Where’s Jukie?, to the Smith Lemli Opitz Foundation. Andy was awarded a commission to write a poem to celebrate veterans reacclimatizing to life in Yolo County, and his work on that projected resulted in the book In the Almond Orchard: Coming Home from War (2016). Andy’s next poetry book, tentatively titled Tentacle, is scheduled for publication in 2017. Andy enjoys hosting the Poetry Night Reading Series at the John Natsoulas Gallery on the first and third Thursdays of the month.
The founder and CEO of Eager Mondays, LLC, Andy uses his web design, professional development, and social media marketing skills to support authors, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Winners of the Arts Advocacy Award established by Eager Mondays include the Sacramento Poetry Center, the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble, the Davis Poetry Book Project, Nameless Magazine, Absurd Word Press, and the Golden Crown Literary Society.
Andy lives in Davis with his wife, Kate, their three children, Geneva, Jackson, and Truman, and their English bulldog, Daffodil Jones. Andy commutes exclusively by bicycle.
