Carol Reynolds-Srot: editor, writer, adjunct professor

Carol Reynolds-Srot retired from working full time in December 2023. However, she continues to teach as an adjunct professor. She is an online instructor for the University of California—San Diego Extended Studies’ Copyediting Certificate Program, and she teaches composition at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in South Florida.

In addition, Reynolds-Srot volunteers for her church—editing the weekly bulletins, newsletters, and various other written material. Unrelated to her career as a journalist yet feeding her passion for live arts performances, she also volunteers as an usher for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.

Before retiring, Reynolds-Srot was the university editor for the University of Miami (UM). In her full-time role, she edited a myriad of copy for the university’s Office of University Communications—including stories for a daily enewsletter, NEWS@TheU.

In addition, Reynolds-Srot edited human resources’ articles, administrators’ letters, programs, posters, website content, and video captions. As a chief editor for the university’s Miami magazine, she helped to shape the direction and image of the biannual periodical. She also was the project manager for the university’s commencement programs. She created the University of Miami Editorial Style Guide.

A self-proclaimed wordsmith, Reynolds-Srot is a seasoned professional journalist who spent most of her career in the newspaper industry. She honed her proven ability as an eagle-eyed editor, proficient writer, accomplished page designer, and organized and productive manager at the Detroit Free Press, Long Island Newsday, the South Florida Sun Sentinel, and the Miami Herald.

In transitioning from newspapers to academia, Reynolds-Srot spent four years as a freelancer before working full time in academia for more than a decade—first as the associate editor at NSU and then as the university editor at UM.

A longtime member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the Asian American Journalists Association, Reynolds-Srot has held several leadership positions in both groups. She received her B.A. in Journalism from Long Island University and her M.A. in Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media from NSU.

Former Associate Editor: NSU—Florida

Here are some examples of Carol Reynolds-Srot’s work at Nova Southeastern University (NSU).

You can view Horizons Magazine at http://nsunews.nova.edu/horizons/ or First Look (written and edited by Carol) by visiting https://www.nova.edu/publications/first_look/.

Other NSU magazines that Carol worked on included:
College of Osteopathic Medicine = http://osteopathic.nova.edu/publications/outlook.html
College of Health Care Sciences = http://healthsciences.nova.edu/studentaffairs/messenger.html
College of Pharmacy = http://pharmacy.nova.edu/magazine/index.html
College of Optometry = http://optometry.nova.edu/aboutus/visionary.html
College of Nursing = https://nursing.nova.edu/forms/innovations-magazine.pdf
NSU University School’s Viewpoint Magazine = http://www.nova.edu/publications/uschool-viewpoint/

Using Twitter as a Pedagogical Resource to Teach First-Year Composition

This study examines the incorporation of Twitter in a first-year composition classroom, and it addresses the following question: “How can using Twitter as a pedagogical resource to teach writing benefit both students and professors?” The study employs mixed-methods, including surveys, textual analysis of student tweets, and an interview with the professor to assess the application and outcomes of using Twitter. The research finds that although students use social media for a significant amount of time daily, bringing it into the classroom does not automatically lead to better engagement or improved writing. However, students in this study did demonstrate a differentiated use of rhetorical conventions, based on their audience. And, Twitter was instrumental in furnishing real-world writing topics that students chose for themselves, appealing to their interests. This thesis concludes with suggestions for incorporating social media, in general, and Twitter, in particular, into the writing classroom.

M.A. in Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media Thesis (May 2018)
“Using Twitter as a Pedagogical Resource to Teach First-Year Composition”
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/writing_etd/36/ (NSU Works) or https://search.proquest.com/openview/31ade4dd235fd609e211818668e143f6/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y  (ProQuest)

Multimodality–in 60 seconds

My understanding of multimodality frames it as communication that draws on a variety of modes to deliver a message. While it can be visual, written, or spoken, the communication often takes on a multidimensional form involving use of technology. My video reflects this interpretation because it takes a look at three forms of communication that have changed over the years. It presents these forms in the past, and then shows them in the present with technology added. The video depicts letters, which have gone from something handwritten on paper and delivered through the post office, to instantaneous messages sent via email or notes and messages shared on a blog. Poetry—once relegated mostly to the page—now often takes center stage in the form of stand-up performance that includes improvisation. And, dance is shown as evolving from just an expression of physical movement to a composition that tells a powerful story.

Faith, friends help family fight the damage of fire

By Carol Reynolds-Srot

On Saturday, November 15, 2014, Neville Morrison, his wife, Dorothy, and their daughter Emily, 16, were home at 192 SW 52nd Avenue in Plantation, along with their four pets. Neville and Dorothy were relaxing in the bedroom because Dorothy was not feeling well. He got up to get a glass of water and heard one of the cats scratching from inside the bedroom that belonged to his older daughter, Lauren, 24. She was at the FSU vs. University of Miami football game at Sunlife Stadium in Miami, and the Morrison’s son, Steven, 17, was also in Miami, at a car show.

When Neville opened his daughter’s room door to let the cat out, he saw that the room was ablaze. He ran past his bedroom door screaming at Dorothy to get out of the house

The Morrisons–(from left) Emily, Lauren, Dorothy, Steven (in back), and Neville–got support from family and friends when a fire destroyed their home.

because it was on fire, as he headed to the other side of the house to get Emily, who was doing laundry. After Neville alerted Emily, he ran out the front door and about four houses down the street, where there is a fire station. He was told he had to call 911 to get help.

Meantime, what Neville did not know, was that Dorothy had not heard him call out to alert her because she had decided to take a shower. When Dorothy got out of the shower she saw the smoke and realized what was going on and had to quickly throw something on and run out. “You know, I walked through that smoke,’’ said Dorothy. “I probably should have crawled out like I see them do on TV. It probably would have been safer.’’
It took 18 minutes for the first fire truck to show up. The fire destroyed the Morrison’s home. The two dogs made it out of the house safely; the two cats did not survive. None of the family members was injured.

HELP FROM ALL OVER

That night, after the fire, a neighbor offered the Morrison’s shelter in their home. On Sunday morning, Neville and Emily drove over to their church, Our Savior Lutheran Church in Plantation, to let the staff and other members know why they had not shown up, as usual, at 8 a.m. Neville often serves communion at that service. Both Neville and Dorothy are very involved with the youth group at the church, and Steven plays the bass for the church’s Praise Team.

After sharing their story, Neville and Emily were literally surrounded by other church members and (led by retired Pastor Edwin Nicklas) everyone prayed. “All Neville could do was cry and tell us that all he could think about after the fire was that he didn’t have anything to wear to church,’’ said Jan Withers, the church’s administrative assistant and worship greeter.

“By midafternoon we had several people stop by and drop stuff off. Notebooks and pens for the kids, clothes, food, and money,’’ said Dorothy, “it was just unbelievable.’’
And the help continued. The American Red Cross put the family up in a hotel for a few nights. Then, Neville and Dorothy’s sister-in-law, Robin Morrison, a real estate agent, came from Fort Myers to help. She immediately and miraculously found the family a fully-furnished house to rent in the same neighborhood. The landlord had just listed the home and had not expected to rent it right away. But, when he heard what had happened, he moved out immediately and handed over the premises to the Morrisons.

CONTRIBUTIONS ADD UP
Donations from Our Savior members continued pouring in. The Morrisons received more than $13,000 from their church family. Nancy Volz, church treasurer, contacted Thrivent Financial and told them about the Morrisons’ plight. Jan Withers created a Thrivent action team to help the Morrisons.

On January 11, 2015, Robert DePasquale, a representative from Thrivent Financial, presented the family with a check for $2,500. As part of the action team project, the church hosted a luncheon in honor of the Morrisons on Sunday, February 8, 2015.
The entire family got up in front of the almost 100 attendees at the luncheon and gave their heartfelt gratitude for all the help they received. “You have truly proven that we are one body in Christ,’’ said Neville. “It is a blessing to have you all as part of our family. We are so happy to be here and so thankful to Thrivent Financial,’’ he added.

“God has been listening and acting upon your prayers,” Dorothy said. “How can we ever thank you [Our Savior Lutheran Church] for the prayers, support, and financial assistance,” she said with tears pouring down her face. Dorothy also had a big announcement for the group. During the aftermath of the fire, Dorothy found out she had uterine cancer. She underwent a hysterectomy, and since the cancer had not spread, she was declared cancer free.

Inspectors still have not listed an official cause of the fire, although an electrical problem is suspect. The family’s home is currently being rebuilt. The Morrisons are still in the process of putting their lives back together, and the donations are still coming in.

“I just found out our dog Holly has cancer,’’ said Dorothy recently. “But like everything else, we are going to fight it and pray.’’