Laura Cottam Sajbel teaches Rhetoric & Composition, First-Year Studies, and American Experience. With almost thirty years of experience in writing and editing, she has worked in many aspects of publishing and remains active in the Austin writing community. Ms. Cottam Sajbel taught college-level courses previously--including rhetoric & composition, American literature, poetry, and creative writing--at Loyola Marymount University and at El Camino College in California. Her particular interest in preserving personal histories led her to develop a course that she teaches in community spaces, called Life Stories as Heirlooms, and she has published two nonfiction books, most recently Pow Wows and Potlucks: Finding an American Indian Community in Los Angeles (Ethnographics Press, 2015).
Working with students to develop their writing skills is rewarding: I have a front row seat as they rediscover the world from a broader perspective and gain confidence in their ability to formulate and share their own informed opinions.
Bachelor of Arts, Plan II Honors Liberal Arts (1986), The University of Texas, Austin
Master of Professional Writing (1992), University of Southern California