Students, educators, mental health providers, writers and anyone interested in exploring the practice of writing is encouraged to register for an Expressive and Reflective Writing Mini-Symposium that will be held virtually June 10-11. The mini-symposium is hosted by the Nebraska Writing Research Group and the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

“Writing can help to intersect our personal, academic and collective lives, allowing us space to reflect, learn and heal,” said Mary Zeleny, lecturer in educational psychology and symposium co-organizer. “This mini-symposium will help guide those seeking knowledge on implementing the practice of writing in academic and personal spaces.”

Mini-symposium sessions will focus on research-based practice of writing in individual, community and educational avenues. There will also be writing research information for educators, counselors and psychologists. Two keynote speakers who have expertise in the various uses of writing will share their wisdom with attendees.

The June 10 keynote will be delivered by Jamie Pennebaker, Regents Centennial Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. His talk will summarize the many directions that expressive writing research has gone, including what works and what doesn’t, and how this can affect mental and physical health. On June 11, Dannelle Stevens will talk about reflective journal writing, including setting direction for your life, research-based journal-keeping strategies, the positive role journaling can play in your life, and steps to take for your professional-personal journal. Stevens is a professor emerita in the College of Education at Portland State University. She currently works as faculty-in-residence for academic writing for the PSU Center for Teaching and Learning.

The mini-symposium runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on each day. There is no cost to attend.

Registration, available here, is required by June 9. A Zoom link to access the mini-symposium will be emailed to registrants one day prior to the event.

For questions or additional information, contact Mary Zeleny at mgzeleny@unl.edu.