Leslie Gumbrecht

Leslie Gumbrecht

Leslie Gumbrecht

Professor, Developmental English
Affiliated Faculty, Sustainability Studies

970-870-4515 | lgumbrecht@coloradomtn.edu

Location: Steamboat Springs
Office: BR 310

 2023 Collegewide Faculty of the Year
   2023 CMC Steamboat Springs Faculty of the Year

Degrees/Education

  • M.A. in English, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado
    Applied Linguistics Program
    Thesis: “Identity, Emotion, and Ability: Using Literacy Narratives to Understand Student Needs”
  • B.A. in English, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado
    Concentrations in Literature and Writing

Professional Interests/Associations

  • Association for the Contemplative Mind in Higher Education
    Center for Applied Linguistics
  • National Association for Developmental Education
  • National Council of Teachers of English

Clubs and Organizations

  • Faculty Advisor for the CMC Students4Africa Club (Steamboat Springs Campus)

Interests

  • Ecocomposition
  • Contemplative pedagogy
  • Writing across the curriculum
  • Animal rights
  • Central Africa (specifically Uganda and Rwanda)

I truly believe that one of the greatest catalysts of change is the power of the written word. From Henry David Thoreau and John Muir to Peter Singer and Barbara Kingsolver, words on paper have sparked real movements – movements that have significantly changed the way that people interact with their world. I also believe that deep self-reflection and contemplation are the greatest means of shifting our world’s consciousness. Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh writes that “although attempting to bring about world peace through the internal transformation of individuals is difficult, it is the only way.” I see my role as a writing instructor as guiding students down that path of internal transformation through the writing process.

Family

My husband Bob Gumbrecht also teaches at CMC—he's in the Political Science department. We have 2 boys. Owen is 6 and Max is almost 4.