English
Department Chair
Contact
On their literary journey across time periods, within genres, between styles, and among authors, from Beowulf to the Boston Globe, Ms Cowan’s students engage in reading, writing, speaking and listening opportunities at every turn. Whether asking her students to translate Shakespearean passages into modern-day scenarios, create multi-genre research papers, or prepare dynamic, techno-savvy presentations, Ms. Cowan strives to make connections between her students’ lives and the literary canon.
Prior to arriving on Vineyard shores in 1999, Ms. Cowan taught English in rural central New York while completing her education. Cynthia received her B.A., M.A. and CAGs from Syracuse University in English, English Education and Education Administration, respectively. She is two chapters shy of a Ph.D. Time is ripe for finishing that dissertation — a qualitative study on the role of reflection in learning to teach. Graduate studies at the Culinary Institute of America and work in the restaurant and hospitality industry add another dimension to her education and experience. Always keeping one foot in the kitchen door, Cynthia has enjoyed writing the column On Island Tables for the Vineyard Gazette, dishing up lighthearted food for thought for the past 10 years.
Outside of school, Cynthia is a mother to 9-year-old Nicholas and a foster mother for the past 8 years to children from the Cape and Islands.