Pat Tyrer
Professor and Director of English Graduate Studies
West Texas A&M University
Canyon, TX USA
“Keep your goal in sight no matter what gets in your way. Put one foot in front of the other and you’ll reach your goal.”
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
I went to a technical college for practical nursing and was a licensed LPN for ten years.
I worked for the Navy as a clerk and later for the Veteran's Administration as a Purchasing Agent in Prosthetics.
I returned to college when I was in my early forties.
And worked as an Assistant to the University Librarian at Cal State, Fullerton.
I finished my BA and then went on to finish my MA.
My family and I moved to Texas so I could complete a doctorate in American Literature at Texas Tech University.
I finally finished my doctorate, defended it, and was granted the Ph.D.
I worked for Tech and then South Plains College as an Assistant Dean before taking a faculty position at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Ankeny High School
Ankeny High School
Career
Professor and Director of English Graduate Studies
Teach, advise, educate.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Writing
Teaching / Mentoring
Day to Day
Right now, I’m teaching completely online, so my day is spent answering email, visiting with students during Zoom office hours, responding to discussion posts, grading papers, commenting on short stories in my creative writing class, and answering questions from students. In the early morning, I work on my own writing. I’m currently working on a memoir but publish short stories and poetry. I have two books of poetry published and many individual poems.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
Never give up. If life gets in the way of your academic career, don’t despair—things you want have a way of working out. Keep your goal in sight no matter what gets in your way. Put one foot in front of the other and you’ll reach your goal. Don’t ever forget that everyone has difficulties that he or she has to overcome and you’re no different.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"When I first went to college, I spent too much time having fun and ignoring my studies. I failed my first semester, dropped out, and it was many years before I was able to return to college and complete my education."
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Q&A
My high school experience was very focused on going to college, how was yours different?
Asked by Anonymous StudentMy leader describes how no one in school pushed her to go to college since most women did not go to college. It was her parents that convinced her to go to university.
What are you looking to achieve with your memoir?
Asked by Anonymous StudentMy leader states that she wants older women such as herself to relate to her writing about her own life. Ms. Tyrer claims that growing with no technology to now where technology is everywhere is very interesting.
What does a college writing class look like?
Asked by Anonymous StudentMy leader describes the class as helping students improve their writing at a higher level since she does not teach any general education classes.
Interviewed By
Anonymous Student
Student at CSUF
