Dr. Chris Nonhof

Associate Professor of Education and English
English Department Chair

Dr. Chris Nonhof

Education:
Ph.D., Cardinal Stritch University
M.Ed., Cardinal Stritch University
B.A., Dordt University

712-707-7368
christopher.nonhof@nwciowa.edu

Before arriving at Northwestern College, Dr. Nonhof spent 16 years teaching English and theatre at private and public high schools in Florida and Wisconsin. He also taught argumentative writing at Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He has a bachelor's degree in English literature, theatre arts, and secondary education from Dordt University, a master's degree in instructional technology from Cardinal Stritch University, and a doctorate in language and literacy from the College of Education at Cardinal Stritch University. His areas of interest are the relationship between language and identity, qualitative research methodology (narrative, ethnography, and case study in particular), diversity in education, and culturally responsive pedagogy. He received the Northwestern Teaching Excellence Award in 2022.

+Publications and presentationsNonhof, C. (2023, October 5). 'Reimagining English education in the era of AI.' Roundtable discussion facilitator at Iowa Council of Teachers of English annual convention, Johnston, IA.Nonhof, C. (2022, October 13). "This is my best: Linking identity and meaningful research in the high school English classroom." Presentation at Iowa Council of Teachers of English annual convention, Johnston, IA.Brower, D. & Nonhof, C. (2022, October 7). "Teacher as servant…without being a doormat." Presentation at International Network for Christian Higher Education annual conference, Kuyers Institute, Grand Rapids, MI.Nonhof, C. and Smart, R. (2021, October 14). 'Your story matters: Sacrificing the canon for the sake of the student.' Presentation at Iowa Council of Teachers of English annual convention, Johnston, IA.Heitritter, L. and Nonhof, C. (2019, November 12). 'Redeeming 'teacher face': Bridging divides when words may fail.' Presentation at UNI Education Summit, Cedar Falls, IA.Nonhof, C. and Burns, C. (2019, October 10). 'Discourse and AAVE: Code-switching in the academic setting.' Presentation at Iowa Council of Teachers of English annual convention, Johnston, IA.Nonhof, C. (2019). Dichotomy of discourse: An ethnography framing the relationships between teacher and student at an orphanage school in Monrovia, Liberia (Doctoral dissertation, Cardinal Stritch University).Nonhof, C. and Boyle, F. (2018, May 24). 'Bifurcating discourse: A framework for leveraging perspective and worldview for non-native teachers.' Presentation at International Community of Christian Teacher Educators biennial convention, Abilene, TX.

+Professional experienceAdjunct instructor, Lakeland College, 2014-15English teacher, Cedar Grove/Belgium Area School District, 2002-15Theater director and tennis coach, Sheboygan County Christian High School, 2007-08English teacher, Lake Worth Christian School, 1999-2002

+MembershipsNational Council of Teachers of EnglishIowa Council of Teachers of English (board member 2019-2024)Modern Language Association

+HonorsNorthwestern Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award (2022)Blekkink Endowed Chair of Education (2019-2024)State of Iowa Master Educator: 1201 Secondary Language Arts (All), 149 Secondary ReadingIntel 'Teach to the Future' Master Teacher