Jonathan Ritz

ritz@msu.edu

231 Bessey Hall
434 Farm Ln
East Lansing, MI 48824

FacultyUndergraduate Studies

Academic Specialist

Biography

Jon’s primary focus as a writer is creative nonfiction and the personal essay. His work has appeared in Cimarron Review, American Literary Review, the Chicago Tribune, and elsewhere, and he has received two Pushcart Prize nominations for nonfiction. He has taught “Social Justice as Rhetorical Practice,” a professional writing course cross-listed in the Peace and Justice Studies program, and is interested in the intersections of writing, rhetoric, and spirituality.

Research Areas

Creative Nonfiction, Video Essay, Peace and Justice Studies

Education

Ph.D. in English, University of Nebraska 

Projects


The Third Step

The Third Step (digital film). Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction, 2015

Remixing Creative Nonfiction

“Remixing Creative Nonfiction,” Associated Writing Programs (AWP) Conference, 2015

A Professional Writing capstone course: The Portfolio Seminar at Michigan State University

DeVoss, D. N., Julier, L., & Ritz, J. (2013). “A Professional Writing capstone course: The Portfolio Seminar at Michigan State University.” Programmatic Perspectives, 5 (1), 123–152.

The BA in Professional Writing: The ‘Other’ Undergraduate Writing Degree

“The BA in Professional Writing: The ‘Other’ Undergraduate Writing Degree.” Associated Writing Programs (AWP) Conference, 2012

Careening Car-Free in the Capital City

“Careening Car-Free in the Capital City” (article). Capital Gains. 29 October 2008.

The Art of Regret

“The Art of Regret” (personal essay). Higher Learning: Reading and Writing About College. Eds. Patty See and Bruce Taylor. Prentice Hall 2005.

Verse Chorus Bridge

“Verse Chorus Bridge” (personal essay). Cimarron Review. Spring 2003. Pushcart Prize nomination

University News

College of Arts & Letters Part of National Blueprint for Advancing College Equity and Excellence
Published January 13, 2023 in College of Arts & Letters
As a member of the Boyer 2030 Commission, Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Director of Digital Humanities and Professor of English at Michigan State University, participated in the development of a national…Read now »
Planning for the Future of Work
Published June 10, 2021 in College of Arts & Letters
green trees with a brown brick tower in the background and a blue sky
Dear College of Arts & Letters Staff and Faculty, With intention and care, we in the College of Arts & Letters (CAL) are beginning to emerge from what has been a somber and…Read now »
Return to Campus Pre-Planning
Published May 21, 2021 in College of Arts & Letters
Brown brick building with blue sky and clouds in the background and trees with changing fall leaves in front
Dear College of Arts & Letters Staff and Faculty, As you have read recently in President Stanley’s e-mail of May 17 “Bringing More Employees Back to Campus,” the state of Michigan as…Read now »
Expectations of Another COVID Summer
Published May 5, 2021 in College of Arts & Letters
brick building with a blue sky surrounded by trees
Dear College of Arts & Letters Staff and Faculty, As we embark upon yet another summer in the shadow of COVID-19, we invite you to pause and reflect on the past year. The work we have done…Read now »
Classes with CAL Spring 2021
Published March 23, 2021 in College of Arts & Letters
graphic of computer with green text
Take time during COVID to check out the innovative thinking in these talks presented by College of Arts & Letters faculty on the topics of wellbeing, learning a foreign language, and social…Read now »
An Open Letter to Our MSU Asian Pacific Islander Desi American and Asian Communities
Published March 19, 2021 in College of Arts & Letters
photo of an orange brick building with a clock tower in front of a cloudy sky and green trees
Dear College of Arts & Letters Students, Staff, and Faculty We stand in solidarity with our Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) and Asian communities in the wake of the racist and…Read now »
Meet Dr. Jonathan Ritz, Director of Student Health and Wellness
Published February 11, 2021 in College of Arts & Letters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhKdbBCLWzo Jonathan Ritz is a licensed counselor and serves as the Director of Student Wellness for the College of Arts & Letters, MSU Counseling and…Read now »
New Director of Student Wellness Position Prioritizes Student Mental Health and Care
Published January 19, 2021 in College of Arts & Letters
man wearing glasses and a navy blue polo shirt with greenery in the background
As students have had to face uncertainty, isolation, and many other daunting experiences, along with corresponding mental health challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a…Read now »
Culture of Care in COVID-19
Published September 14, 2020 in College of Arts & Letters
red brick bell tower in the center of a plaza with flowers blooming and trees surrounding
In uncertain times, what we value most helps to guide us. Our top priority remains the health and safety of all members of the College of Arts & Letters. For two years, faculty and staff…Read now »
A Message of Reassurance
Published May 26, 2020 in College of Arts & Letters
photo of an orange brick building with a clock tower in front of a cloudy sky and green trees as well as a light blue lantern lamppost to the left
Dear Colleagues, As the 2020 Spring semester has come to a close, we want to thank you for the hard work required to shift to remote teaching, and also to acknowledge the myriad of other…Read now »
A P2W Major’s Bittersweet Goodbye to the College That Gave Her So Much
Published May 11, 2020 in College of Arts & Letters
When I came to MSU, I was a Business-preference student with high ambition but little direction. I was in Writing as Inquiry (WRA 101) during my first semester here, when my professor, Margaret…Read now »
Less Commonly Taught and Indigenous Languages the Focus of $2.5 Million Grant
Published July 22, 2019 in College of Arts & Letters
The word "Language" is highlighted in pink
Michigan State University was awarded a four-year, $2.5 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support further development in the research and teaching of less commonly…Read now »
Podcast: Faculty Mentorship at MSU
Published May 1, 2018 in College of Arts & Letters
Microphone with Michigan State University mug sitting on table
On the latest episode of The Liberal Arts Endeavor, a podcast by the Michigan State University’s College of Arts & Letters, host Dean Christopher P. Long discusses the culture of care for…Read now »
Dear MSU, Remember The Survivors
Published February 7, 2018 in College of Arts & Letters
msu rock painted white with teal "thank you" and heart and black signatures
By Sonja Fritzsche on February 7, 2018 MSU Rock painted with the names of the survivors.  Since August 2017, I have been an Associate Dean at Michigan State University. For months, I have…Read now »
Professional Writing Seniors Receive Awards
Published April 25, 2017 in College of Arts & Letters
three girls one wearing an orange shirt and jean skirt, the middle girl wearing a black shirt and pink cardigan, and the third girl is wearing a black long sleeve shirt
The Professional Writing (PW) program announced the winners of this year’s Outstanding PW Senior Award, which recognizes three graduating PW students who demonstrate excellence in the classroom,…Read now »
Interim Chair of LingLang Appointed
Published March 6, 2017 in College of Arts & Letters
Man with short hair and glasses in a green polo against a brown background smiling at the camera
Professor Jason Merrill has been appointed Interim Chair of the Department of Linguistics & Germanic, Slavic, Asian and African Languages. The 12-month appointment is effective August…Read now »
Fritzsche Appointed Associate Dean for Faculty and Administration
Published December 15, 2016 in College of Arts & Letters
woman with short hair wearing a white shirt with a blue scarf
Sonja Fritzsche, Professor of German and Chair of MSU’s Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic, Asian and African Languages, has been appointed Associate Dean for Faculty and…Read now »
$300K Faculty Summer Fellowship Program Launched by College of Arts & Letters
Published February 9, 2016 in College of Arts & Letters
msu red cedar river
The College of Arts & Letters (CAL) at Michigan State University has announced the creation of its Faculty Summer Fellowship Program with a commitment of $300,000 over summer 2016 to pilot the…Read now »

Videos

Student Health and Wellness – Meet Dr. Jonathan Ritz