James Duffy teaches a variety of undergraduate writing courses, focusing on content development and composition through the combination of critical thought processes in the face of current socio-political issues and commonly instituted business practices. Currently, he is working to develop methods for integrating the most current technologies into the composition processes. His writing background includes a stint as a feature writer and editor for St. Louis Magazine and The Riverfront Times, as well as technical writing as a consultant for Fortune 500 companies in the United States and around the world.

Mary Harrison taught secondary English but dreamed of writing for publication. Acting on her dreams in 1991, she wrote first for local newspapers and then for national magazines. She reported stories for People magazine from 1992 to 2001, and she has written feature stories for Teaching Tolerance magazine since 1997. Mary has conducted writing workshops in the UMSL Continuing Education program since 2002. She enjoys working with others to improve their writing for business, publication, or personal satisfaction. Mary holds a BA in English from Saint Louis University and an MEd from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Dr. Jacqueline Kelsey, a student of life and literature, is a life-story writing coach who writes, travels, and works throughout the United States. She inspires faith in the power of words and thoughts to enhance creativity in her unique interactive workshops and seminars. With deep roots firmly planted in rural Southern Illinois, she has successfully woven her formal research with the traditional art of storytelling. Dr. Kelsey holds a PhD in English Education from the University of Illinois and has taught at a number of colleges and universities across the country.  

Judi Linville is a former weekly newspaper feature writer who taught writing classes at the University of Missouri-St. Louis for 20 years and advised the student newspaper. She earned an MA in English from the University of Arkansas. For several years her Opinion Shaper columns appeared in the Journal Newspapers. She served as features editor of the North County Journal from 1976 through 1980.  She was senior information specialist, manager of the Office of News Services, coordinator of the Writing Certificate Program, and faculty advisor of the student newspaper, The Current--all at UMSL.  

Linda C. Senn is an author, publisher, instructor, and consultant, and an adjunct instructor at University of Missouri-St. Louis. She has developed and teaches numerous writing workshops. She has written and published six nonfiction books and offers coaching in the areas of nonfiction book writing and self-publishing. A St. Louis native, Linda is past president of the St. Louis Publishers’ Association and belongs to that group as well as the St. Louis Writers Guild and ESPW. To learn more about Linda, visit her Web site at www.pencentralonline.com.    

Bobbi Smith worked retail in a department store and briefly in a bookstore before she gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book to Zebra in 1982. Since then, she has written more than 35 books and several short stories. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists, and to date, more than five million copies of her novels are in print. Bobbi has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller of the Year Award and two Career Achievement Awards. When she's not working on her novels, she is frequently a guest speaker for writer's groups. For more information about Bobbi and her books, visit www.bobbismithbooks.com.