PhD Candidate · Scholar · Educator · Writer

Cailey
Cassity-Ness

Texts & Technology doctoral student at the University of Central Florida, dedicated to the intersections of rhetoric, digital humanities, writing pedagogy, and community engagement.

Scroll
01

About & Education

I'm a PhD student in Texts & Technology at the University of Central Florida, where I explore the intersections of language, digital tools, and critical making — and what they mean for how we teach, communicate, and build community.

My path has been deliberately wide. A BA in Greek & Roman Studies with a chemistry minor and biochemistry honors thesis taught me to move between disciplines without apology. An MA in English/Technical Communication (4.0 GPA, Summa Cum Laude) sharpened my instincts for writing, rhetoric, and teaching. Years of instruction at four institutions across Texas and Florida reinforced that every classroom is a community, and every modality demands its own care.

Outside the classroom, I lead community engagement and career development work at Rollins College — planning large-scale service events, advising student organizations, administering CRM systems, and translating institutional impact into narrative. I believe the writing center, the classroom, and the civic square all do the same essential work: they make room for voices to grow.

Education

2025 – Present
Ph.D. in Texts & Technology
University of Central Florida
In Progress
2021
M.A. in English, Technical Communication
University of Central Florida
Summa Cum Laude · 4.00 GPA
2020
B.A. in Greek & Roman Studies
Millsaps College · Minor in Chemistry · Honors Thesis in Biochemistry
Magna Cum Laude · 3.82 GPA
2017
A.A. in General Studies
Northwest Florida State College
Magna Cum Laude · 3.87 GPA
02

Professional Experience

Rollins College · Winter Park, FL
Program Coordinator, Center for Career & Life Planning
Aug. 2025 – Present

Administers Handshake CRM, compiles monthly and annual usage and First Destination Survey data for assessment storytelling, coordinates major recruiting and networking events, and manages office budget while serving as the front-facing coordinator for students, alumni, employers, and faculty.

Rollins College · Winter Park, FL
Program Assistant, Center for Leadership & Community Engagement
July 2024 – Aug. 2025

Led planning for MLK Jr. Day of Service, President's Day of Service, Spring SPARC, SeniorServe, and SummerServe. Co-advised the JUMP program and Democracy Project; co-led Rollins Relief Program and campus-wide civic engagement efforts.

Blinn College · Bryan, TX (Remote)
Faculty, English Department
Aug. 2022 – Present

Teaches Composition I and II across traditional, hybrid, and asynchronous formats; progressed from part-time to full-time and back to strategic part-time alongside doctoral studies. Nominated for Teaching Excellence Award 2024.

Valencia College · Orlando, FL
Part-time Faculty, English Department
July 2024 – Apr. 2025

Taught freshman composition I and II across traditional, hybrid, and asynchronous modalities at the Downtown Campus. Applied metacognitive and active learning frameworks through Valencia's Digital Professor Certificate program.

Texas A&M University · College Station, TX
Program Aide, Office of Admissions
Oct. 2022 – Mar. 2024

Holistically reviewed freshman applications at an average rate of 3.25 min/application across two admission seasons, balancing thoroughness with professional efficiency and objectivity.

Freelance · Orlando, FL
Writer & Editor
Oct. 2024 – Present

Co-led writing and editing of Rollins College's 2026 Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement Reclassification Application. Edited an EdD dissertation in Higher Education Leadership post-defense, including APA citation and formatting review.

03

Teaching Record

I teach writing as a practice of thinking — not a set of rules to follow. My courses meet students where they are and challenge them to go further, whether they're reaching for clarity, argumentation, or their own voice.

4+
Years Teaching
2
Institutions
40+
Sections Taught
3
Modalities
Institution Course Modality Dates
Blinn College ENGL 1301 Composition I Async Online Traditional Fall 2022 – Present
ENGL 1302 Composition II Traditional Spring 2023 – Spring 2024
Valencia College ENC 1101 Freshman Composition I Traditional Hybrid Async Online Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
ENC 1102 Freshman Composition II Traditional Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
04

Selected Projects

01
Network Analysis · GIS
Mapping the Lineages of Stardew Valley's Music

A network analysis and visualization built in ArcGIS StoryMap tracing the cultural, geographical, and historical lineages converging in Stardew Valley's soundtrack — and what happens to those lineages along the way.

March 2026
02
Digital Media · Art History
Haunted Nations: Art, Grief, and the Ghost After World War I

A digital media library of post-WWI visual art depicting ghosts and spectral imagery, drawing thematic threads across national contexts to examine how grief and collective trauma were aestheticized in the aftermath of war.

April 2026
03
Biochemistry · Undergraduate Research
Method Development for Total Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing of Plethodon Species

Honors thesis research developing sequencing methods for Plethodon websteri and Plethodon ventralis, presented at two national conferences — evidence of genuine breadth across scientific and humanistic inquiry.

2019 – 2020
05

Conference Presentations

2026
Cultural and Geographical Influences of Stardew Valley
Amy Zeh High-Impact Practices Showcase
2020
Method Development for Total Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing of Plethodon websteri and Plethodon ventralis
Millsaps College Honors Research Conference
2020
Method Development for Total Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing of Plethodon websteri and Plethodon ventralis
Millsaps College Beta Beta Beta Research Symposium
2020
Weeds or Wildflowers? Examining Writing Center and Academic Success Center Collaborations
Southeastern Writing Center Association · with Liz Egan et al.
2019
Mapping the Blues: Linking the Communities of Mississippi's Writing Centers
National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing / International Writing Center Association Joint Conference
2019
Are You My Neighbor? Building Connections between Mississippi's Writing Centers
Mississippi Writing Center Association Conference
2019
Citizen, Connection, and Collaboration: Understanding Diversity in Jackson's Writing Centers
Mississippi Writing Center Association Conference · with Morgan Moss
2019
Forced into Fatalism
Millsaps Feminist Colloquium · Roundtable Panelist
2018
Psychosocial Predictors of Antidepressant Prescriptions in Pediatric Oncology Patients
69th Annual Convention, Mississippi Psychological Association · Poster Presentation
06

Publications

Poetry · Creative Writing
“Hope”

Mississippi Poetry Journal, 2020 Contest Edition · Summer 2020

07

Awards & Honors

2025
Rollins College Departmental Service Excellence Award — Center for Leadership & Community Engagement
2024
Blinn College Teaching Excellence Award Nominee
2020
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant — Vietnam (Alternate; cycle cancelled due to COVID-19)
08

Get in Touch

Whether you're interested in teaching collaborations, research conversations, writing center work, or community engagement — I'd love to connect.