Yvette D. Benavides, MFA

Professor
Main Building, Room 227D
210-431-6955
ybenavides@ollusa.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Areas of Expertise

My areas of expertise include teaching courses about language and literature, including workshops in fiction and creative nonfiction. I also teach courses in literary editing and publication. I am a teacher, but I am also a writer and editor. Teaching is my first priority. I also write every single day. My own work also takes me into newsrooms where I work as a book reviewer, an editor or behind the mic where I am also a podcast host and commentator. I am also an editor with several literary journals and an editor at large with a university press. All these roles are important for me as a teacher of writing who lives the practice and endeavors to model this full and rich life for my students.

Teaching Philosophy

I aspire to create a student-centered learning environment in my classes, no matter the format, whether online, hybrid, or face-to-face. My classes are focused on making sure each student carves a path toward mastery of our objectives with student-centeredness as the hallmark of every lecture, discussion, and type of assignment. It is no exaggeration to say that in my online classes, I connect with my students daily, not just two or three times a week. I send notes of encouragement that might also lend another example or insight that connects to the work we do. I do this with the full knowledge that there could be one day when that email lands with a student who needs to read my words. Every day there is an articulation about how the work they are doing responds to our objectives, but also, to their lives as readers and writers beyond the classroom.

Outside Interests

My areas of interest outside the university are what they are in my roles in the university. I’m a teacher, a writer, and an editor—at OLLU and outside of OLLU. I work as a mentor as often as I can. I serve on the advisory council of a book festival that promotes literacy. I host two podcasts about books and stories. I research and write—just like my students do. In my case my projects are audio documentaries about such issues as urban heat islands and the lack of health equity in underserved communities, as well as human rights issues at the Texas-Mexico border. I love to read. I especially enjoy reading short stories and writing about them. In my spare time, I also write short stories.