Updated 8/2026

College of Liberal & Applied Arts

Stephen F. Austin State University

EDUCATION

M.A. English, Texas Woman’s University May 2015

Master’s Thesis: Analysis Of The Application Of Contemporary Composition Theory In The TEKS Writing Process

B.S. Sociology, Lamar University August 1997

(Honors Graduate)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Visiting Lecturer, First Year Writing-Full Time-Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX-August 2025-Present

ENGL 1301: Rhetoric and Composition Fall 2026 (two sections, face to face)

ENGL 1301: Rhetoric and Composition Fall 2026 (one section, online)

ENGL 1302: Research and Argumentation Fall 2026 (one section, online)

ENGL 1302: Research and Argumentation Spring 2026 (one section, online)

ENGL 1302: Research and Argumentation Spring 2026 (two sections, face to face)

ENGL 1301: Rhetoric and Composition Spring 2026 (two sections, online)

ENGL 1301: Rhetoric and Composition Fall 2025 (one section, face to face)

ENGL 1301 Rhetoric and Composition Fall 2025 with DIRW 0199: Integrated Reading and Writing components (three sections, face to face)

Adjunct Professor, Part Time-Dallas College-August 2025-Present

ENGL 1301: Composition I (dual credit and general admission)

DIRW 0325: Integrated Reading and Writing

Temporary Professor, Full Time-Dallas College-August 2023-August 2025

ENGL 1301: Composition I Fall 2023 (three sections, face to face and hybrid)

DIRW 0325: Integrated Reading and Writing Fall 2023 (three sections, face to face and hybrid)

ENGL 1301: Composition I Spring 2024 (two sections, face to face and hybrid)

DIRW 0325: Integrated Reading and Writing Spring 2024 (two sections, face to face and hybrid)

ENGL 1302: Composition II Spring 2024 (two sections)

ENGL 1301: Composition I Summer 2024

DIRW 0325: Integrated Reading and Writing Summer 2024

ENGL 1301: Composition I Fall 2024 (three sections, face to face and hybrid)

DIRW 0325: Integrated Reading and Writing Fall 2024 (three sections, face to face and hybrid)

ENGL 1302: Composition II Fall 2024

ENGL 1301: Composition I Spring 2025 (two sections)

ENGL 1302: Composition II Spring 2025 (two sections, face to face and hybrid)

ENGL 1302: Composition II Spring 2025 (two sections, online)

Adjunct Professor, Dallas College–August 2015-December 2021

ENGL 1301: Composition I Fall 2020-Spring 2021

ENGL 1302: Composition II Fall 2021

ENGL 1301: Composition I Fall 2019-Spring 2020

ENGL 1302: Composition II Summer 2020

ENGL 1302: Composition II Summer 2019 (online)

ENGL 1301: Composition I Spring 2019

ENGL 1301: Composition I Fall 2015

DIRW 0305: Integrated Reading and Writing Fall 2015

Adjunct Professor, Paul Quinn College August 2013-November 2013

READ 1300: Introduction to College Reading Fall 2013

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

AI in Business, Lamar University, Fall 2026

AI Essentials, Google, 8/2024

Ungrading Community of Practice, Dallas College, 2/2024-5/2024

ACUE Microcourse in Promoting Active Learning Online, Association of College and University Educators, 5/2024

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS

Whitaker, Tonya. “My Prerogative.” Submitted to the Creative Literature category, On My Own Time Visual and Literary Arts Showcase, Dallas College, 2026. https://ntbca.org/2026-dallas-college-omot-gallery/. 

Whitaker, Tonya. Ethical AI and the Mastery Edge. EDSAFE AI Alliance, 2026. https://www.edsafeai.org/fellowship/gallery-2025. 

Whitaker, Tonya. “Journalism as a Project Powerhouse: A Model for Skills-Based Learning and Portfolio Development.” Submitted to the AI Literature category, On My Own Time Visual and Literary Arts Showcase, Dallas College, 2025. https://ntbca.org/2025-dallas-college-omot-gallery/.

INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE

Created Solution as an Argument multimodal project for 1302 (aligned with Andrea Lunsford’s Everything’s An Argument)

Faculty Integrator, Dallas College Marketable Skills Program (2024-2025 Cohort)

Faculty Inquiry Group (FIG) on Marketable Skills: “Leveraging AI as a Marketable Skill to Employers” Spring 2025

FIG on AI: “How Are Community Colleges in Texas Utilizing/Policing/Teaching AI?” Fall 2024

Panelist, “How to Write an AI Policy For Your Syllabus” Spring 2025

Learning Commons Faculty Library Advisor Group Fall 2024-Spring 2025

Assessor and Contributor, Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives Fall 2024-Spring 2025

SERVICE

Mentee, Conference of English Education Mentorship Project 2015-2016

Copy Editor, Journal of African American Males in Education 2010-2015

AWARDS AND HONORS

Awarded Women in AI Fellowship by EDSAFE AI, a project of Innovate EDU, 1/2025-1/2026

Named to list of “Women in AI + (Higher) Education” by AI for Education, 11/2024

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Academic Director, Mastery Academics, Dallas, TX 2018-present

Scorer, DRC, Minneapolis, MN 4/2023-6/2023

Technical Writer, National Technical Systems, Plano, TX 2017-2018

Staff Writer, North Dallas Gazette, Dallas, TX 2010-2014

Copy Editor, The Port Arthur News, Port Arthur, TX 2007-2009

Desk Editor, The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX 2006

Sports Copy Editor, The Brazosport Facts, Clute, TX 2002-2003

Sports Copy Editor I, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX 2000-2002