Ellen Sprague joined the Principia College faculty in 2007 as a full-time writing instructor after teaching Principia’s pre-fall freshman Writing Seminar since 2001. She continues to teach the Writing Seminar as well as conducting workshops and tutorials in academic writing. She also teaches the Advanced Writing Seminar for students interested in being writing and research tutors.
Ellen was a writer, editor, and photographer in Principia’s Publications and Marketing departments prior to joining the faculty. She wrote and edited journalism and promotional copy for both Web and print audiences. Business and other professional correspondence crossed her desk for editing as well. Her photographs were featured on PrinCam, on several covers of the Principia Purpose Alumni Magazine, and in countless promotional pieces. Prior to working at Principia, she was a staff writer for the Florida Times-Union newspaper where work included news briefs, book reviews, columns, and travel writing.
After completing her B.A. in English and French, Ellen spent a year in Middlebury, Vermont, and Paris for her master’s degree in French. Her thesis focused on “The Popularization of Science in the Voyages Extraordinaires of Jules Verne.” Coursework in Paris ranged from business and economics to literature, art history, and translation.
She loves every possible opportunity to learn more about writing and teaching writing. In December 2007 she traveled to New York for the Bard College Institute for Writing and Thinking workshop on “Teaching the Academic Paper.” In summer 2007 she enrolled in the Washington University Summer Writer’s Institute to explore the craft of creative nonfiction writing with other professional and student writers. In January 2007 she spent a week teaching journaling for Principia Upper School’s Creative Expressions in Nature program at the Teton Science School in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
