Faculty Profile
Janine DeBaise
Instructor
Writing Program
241 Marshall Hall
About
Janine DeBaise is the author of Body Language from Main Street Press and Of a Feather from Finishing Line Press. Her poetry has appeared in numerous journals, including North American Review, Portland Review, and Seattle Review as well as the print anthology Poetics for the More-Than-Human World. Her essays have been published in Orion Magazine, Southwest Review, Prairie Schooner, and other literary journals. Her work on ecofeminism has appeared in anthologies from Indiana University Press, the MIT press, and Colgate University Press. Her creative and scholarly work explores the dominant culture's treatment of the human body, the parallel between misogyny and environmental degradation, and the way that connection to place leads to environmental stewardship.
DeBaise has taught writing and literature classes at SUNY-ESF since 1992. Her pedagogical interests include the intersection of science and literature, digital pedagogy, and the ways that composition can be taught creatively. She received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2024. Her work has appeared in Hybrid Pedagogy and Interdisciplinary Studies of Literature and the Environment. She is the education editor for Terrain.org: Journal of the Built and Natural Environments, an online literary magazine. Her editorial experience includes four years as Editor-in-Chief of Central New York Environment, a bimonthly print publication.
Books
DeBaise, J.M. (2019) Body Language. Main Street Rag Publishing Company: Charlotte, North Carolina.
DeBaise, J.M. (2003) Of a Feather. Finishing Line Press: Georgetown, Kentucky.
Prose publications
DeBaise, J.M. (2024) Out of Time (essay). Permafrost Magazine (169-172). Fairbanks, Alaska. Issue 45.2. October 2024.
DeBaise, J.M. (2024) If the Pants Fit (essay). Adelaide Literary Magazine (179-183). New York and Lisbon. Year IX, Number 66. July 2024.
DeBaise, J.M. (2023). It's the Journey: My Father's Legacy (essay). Still Point Arts Quarterly (66-73). Brunswick, Maine. Issue Number 51. Fall 2023.
DeBaise, J.M. (2023). Cherry Pie. (essay). Prairie Schooner (104-107). Lincoln, Nebraska. Volume 96, Number 4,.
DeBaise, J.M. (2023). About Rivers: My Father's Legacy (essay). About Place Journal. The Black Earth Institute, Black Earth, Wisconsin. Volume VII, Issue III, June 2023.
DeBaise, J.M. (2023). Roadside (essay). Glassworks Magazine. Glassboro, New Jersey. May 2023.
DeBaise, J.M. (2022). What to Pack in a Hospital Bag (essay). The Helix Literary Magazine. New Britain, Connecticut. Fall 2022.
DeBaise, J.M. (2022). The Audition (fiction). The Pen Woman Magazine. Washington, DC. Fall 2022 Issue (19).
DeBaise, J.M. (2022). Snowfort Theory (essay). Canary: The Journal of the Environmental Crisis. Hip Pocket Press, Berkeley, California. Issue Number 58, Fall of 2022.
DeBaise, J.M. (2022). Review of Tales of a Distance by Andrew Gottlieb (book review). Terrain.org. August 2022.
DeBaise, J.M. (2022). Whiskey Island Mango Salad (essay). Streetlight Magazine. Norwood, Virginia. Issue 41, Summer 2022.
DeBaise. J.M. (2022). Knowing the Marsh. In Nix and Newell (eds), Wildlife of the Underworld, a special issue of the Plants & Poetry Journal (11-12). Bella Vista, Arizona.
DeBaise. J.M. (2021). Dust You Are (essay). Peauxdunque Review (37-43). New Orleans, Louisiana. Issue 6. Winter 2021.
DeBaise. J.M. (2021). Wings (essay). South Dakota Review (74-77). Vermillion, South Dakota. Volume 56.1.
DeBaise. J.M. (2021). Breath (ekphrastic writing) In Dafoe (Ed), Art Speaks, the Catalog. Washington, DC: Pen Women Press.
DeBaise. J.M. (2021). Just before Dawn. (ekphrastic writing) In Dafoe (Ed), Art Speaks, the Catalog. Washington, DC: Pen Women Press.
DeBaise. J.M. (2021). Pandemic Companion (essay). Litro Magazine (64-67). London, UK. Summer 2021.
DeBaise. J.M. (2020). Ghost Story (essay). Rougarou: Journal of Arts and Literature. Lafayette, Louisiana. Winter 2020.
DeBaise. J.M. (2020). Best Practices (book chapter). In Stommel, Friend, and Morris (Eds), Critical Digital Pedagogy (83-89). Washington DC: Hybrid Pedagogy, Inc.
DeBaise. J.M. (2020). Prostitute in the Christmas Village (nonfiction). Rappahannock Review. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Volume 8.1.
DeBaise. J.M. (2020). Seventh Generation. In Newell, Quetchenback, and Nolan (Eds), Poetics for the More-Than-Human World (69-71). Brooklyn, NY: Spuyten Duyvil Publishing.
DeBaise. J.M. (2020). Aunt Pat's Suitcase (essay). Under the Gum Tree. Spring 2020, pp 62-65.
DeBaise, J.M. (2019). The Space Between (essay). The Hopper, the Literary Magazine of Green Writers Press. Volume IV, pp 43-47.
DeBaise, J.M. (2018). Cure for Pain (essay). Orion Magazine. Winter 2018, pp 7-9.
DeBaise, J.M. (2018). Nylon and Mesh (essay). The Southwest Review. 103 (1), pp 60-65.
DeBaise, J.M. (2018). Beauty and the Body: Towards an Ecofeminist Aesthetic That Includes Loving Our Naked Selves (scholarly essay). In P. Quigley and S. Slovic (Eds.), Ecocritical Aesthetics: Language, Beauty, and the Environment (pp 115-128). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
DeBaise, J.M. (2017). Dear America: This is What Democracy Looks Like (guest editorial). Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built and Natural Environment.
DeBaise, J.M. (2014). Best Practices: Thoughts on a Flash Mob Mentality (article about pedagogy). Hybrid Pedagogy: A Digital Journal of Learning, Teaching, and Technology.
DeBaise, J.M. (2014). Review of Through the Second Skin by Derek Sheffield (book review). Interdisciplinary Studies of Literature and the Environment, Oxford University Press. 21 (1), 217-218.
DeBaise, J.M. (2013) Learn Like an Arachnid: Why I'm MOOCifying (article about pedagogy). Hybrid Pedagogy: A Digital Journal of Learning, Teaching, and Technology.
DeBaise, J.M. (2013) Telling stories: an interview of Kathryn Miles (essay).Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built and Natural Environments, Issue 13.
DeBaise, J.M. (2012). Survivor Day (essay). In J. Dunlap & S. Kellert (Eds.), Companions in Wonder: Children and Adults Exploring Nature Together (81-96). Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press.
DeBaise, J.M. (2010) Snake Dreams (essay). In B. Cowser (Ed.), Why We're Here: New York Essayists on Living Upstate (pp 182-196). Hamilton, New York: Colgate University Press.
DeBaise, J.M. (2010) Of the Fittest (essay). Hawk & Handsaw: the Journal of Creative Sustainability. 3, 10-18.
DeBaise, J.M. (2010, September) Out of Turn. Terrain.org: A Journal of Built and Natural Environments. Issue 26.
DeBaise, J.M. (2006) Review of The Cincinnati Arch: Learning from Nature in the City by John Tallmadge (book review). Interdisciplinary Studies of Literature and Environment, Oxford University Press, 13 (1), 254-255.
DeBaise, J.M. (2006) After Dark (essay). Silk Creek Review.
DeBaise, J. M. (2005, January) Fences (essay). Wild Thoughts: An Online Journal of Environmental Writing.
DeBaise, J.M. and White, J. R. (2004) Amazing Growth at SUNY ESF (book chapter). In S. Hurd & R. Stein (Eds), Building and Sustaining Learning Communities (pp 139-152). Boston, Massachusetts: Anker Publishing.
DeBaise, J.M. (2004) Review of Gathering moss: a natural and cultural history of mosses by Robin Wall Kimmerer (book review). Interdisciplinary Studies of Literature and Environment, Oxford University Press, 11:2,139.
DeBaise, J.M. (2003) Review of The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan (book review). Interdisciplinary Studies of Literature and Environment, Oxford University Press. 10:2, 274.
DeBaise, J.M. (2002) Skyline: September 12, 2001: Reflections on teaching writing the morning after the terrorist attack (essay). Writing on the Edge 13:1, 91.
Journals that have published her creative work
About Place Journal • Adelaide Literary Magazine • Baltimore Review • Baybury Review • Bitter Oleander • Blue Violin • California Quarterly • Canary: a Literary Journal of the Environmental Crisis • Central New York Environment • The Chariton Review • Comstock Review • Connecticut River Review • Dispatches from the Poetry Wars • The Distillery • Ecologue • Fireweed • Fourth River: A Journal of Nature and Place-based Writing • Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies • Glassworks Magazine • Harvest • Hawaii Pacific Review • Hawk & Handsaw: the Journal of Creative Sustainability • The Helix Literary Magazine • The Hopper • Hybrid Pedagogy • Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment • Kalliope • Litro Magazine • Louisville Review • Mad Poets Review • Madison Review • Main Street Rag Poetry Journal • Manzanita Quarterly Literary Review • Maryland Review • Midwifery Today • Mind Purge • Minnesota Review • North American Review • Owen Wister Review • Orion Magazine • Peauxdunque Review • The Pen Woman Magazine • Peralta Press • Permafrost Magazine • Phoebe: Journal of feminist scholarship theory and aesthetics • Plants & Poetry Journal • Poetry International • Portland Review • Prairie Schooner • Rappahannock Review • Red Owl • River Oak Review • Roanoke Review • Rougarou Journal of Arts and Literature • Seattle Review • Silk Creek Review • Slant: A Journal of Poetry • Soundings East • South Dakota Review • Southern Indiana Review • Southwest Review • Still Point Arts Quarterly • Streetlight Magazine • Talking River Review • Terrain.org • 13th Moon • Under the Gum Tree • Westview • West Wind Review • Wild Thoughts • Women Artists Datebook • Writing on the Edge
Five poems are currently displayed as part of the Syracuse Poster Project
Most recent conference presentations
DeBaise, J.M. (2023, July) When a Thousand Islands Aren't Enough. Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment. Portland, Oregon.
DeBaise, J.M. (2022, April) Ekphrastic Writing: How it works and why it matters. The Biennial for the National League of American Pen Women. Washington, DC.
DeBaise, J.M. (2021, August) Seventh Generation. The panel Poetics for the More-Than-Human World. Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment. Virtual Conference.
DeBaise, J.M. (2019, June) Fools for Nature: the Transformative Power of Environmental Humor. Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment. Davis, California.
DeBaise, J.M. (2018, November)"The Brain–is Wider than the Sky–": A Poetry Reading. Society for Literature Science and the Arts. Toronto, Ontario.
DeBaise, J.M. (2018, November) Fluxus in 6'40": the Body. Society for Literature Science and the Arts. Toronto, Ontario.
DeBaise, J.M. (2018, June) Creative Writing from the Wrack Zone: Awareness, Action, and Activism. Association for Literature, Environment, and Culture in Canada. Victoria, British Columbia.
DeBaise, J.M. (2017, November) When We Ignore the Warnings of Environmental Science. Society for Literature Science and the Arts. Tempe, Arizona.
DeBaise, J.M. (2017, June) Project Naked: Uncovering the Stories Embedded in our Bodies. Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment. Detroit, Michigan.
DeBaise, J.M. (2017, June) The Techne of Audience: Being/Bringing the "Real" into the Classroom. Computers & Writing Conference. Findlay, Ohio.
DeBaise, J.M. (2015, June) Bodily Humors: (Funny) Creative Nonfiction on the Irrepressible Nature of the Flesh. Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment. Moscow, Idaho.
Bali, M., DeBaise, J.M., Dingwall, J., Hendricks, C., Rehn, A., Rorabaugh, P. (2015, April 24) Perforate Your Classroom: How Hacking the Online Game #TvsZ 6.0 Brings Together Faculty, Students & Community Members. Presented at the Emerging Technologies for Online Learning International Symposium. Dallas, Texas.
Rorabaugh, P., Bali, M., DeBaise, J.M., Dingwall, J., Hendricks, C., Rehn, A., Remixing #TvsZ: Hacking Games, Narratives, and Borders. (2015, February) Presented at the EDUCAUSE Conference. Los Angeles, California.
DeBaise, J.M. and Rorabaugh, P. (2014, June) Learning through games: TvsZ. The Humanities and Technology Camp: Digital Pedagogy. Atlantic City, New Jersey.
DeBaise, J.M. (2014, April). Social Media and Pedagogy. The Humanities and Technology Camp. Syracuse, New York.
DeBaise, J.M. (2013, October). Collage: From Blog to Book. Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts. Notre Dame, Indiana.
DeBaise, J.M. (2013, June). If Henry David Thoreau had a reality TV show. Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment. Lawrence, Kansas.
DeBaise, J.M. (2012, September). Can Mosquitos Inspire Creativity? Writing About the Natural World. Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
DeBaise, J.M. (2011, September). Just Enough Science: Writing to Raise Ecological Awareness. Society for Literature Science and the Arts. Kitchener, Ontario.
DeBaise, J.M. (2011, June). River Birches, Poison Ivy, and Snake Dreams. Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment. Bloomington, Indiana.
DeBaise, J.M. (2011, April). Learning From Ecology: Writing as a Way of Listening to Place. Conference on College Composition and Communication. Atlanta, Georgia.
DeBaise, J.M. (2011, February). Environmental Writing in the Age of Global Climate Change. Associated Writers and Writing Programs. Washington, DC.
DeBaise, J.M. (2010, November). Learn the Flowers. Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts. Indianapolis, Indiana.
DeBaise, J.M. (2010, April). From Awareness to Advocacy: New Directions for the Environmental Essay. Associated Writers and Writing Programs. Denver, Colorado.
Most recent invited talks/readings
DeBaise, J.M. (2023, March 10). Ecopoetry. The 25th Anniversary of Terrain.org Celebration. Seattle, Washington.
DeBaise, J.M. (2022, April 30). Poetry from the Award Winners. The Biennial for the National League of American Pen Women. Washington, DC.
DeBaise, J.M. (2021, November 18). Essay: Dust You Are. The Words and Music Literary Festival. New Orleans, Lousiana.
DeBaise, J.M. (2019, November). Women’s Empowerment Brunch. Panel speaker. Sponsored by the Baobab Society, ESF. Syracuse, New York.
DeBaise, J.M. (2017, July 14). Crafting Your Story: Thinking About Audience. ComSciCon-Cornell, the Communicating Science Conference, Ithaca, New York.
DeBaise, J.M. (2015, November 13). Ecofeminism and the Human Body, as part of the panel Pushing the Boundaries of Nature Writing. Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts. Rice University, Houston, Texas.
DeBaise, J.M. (2015, September). Poetry and Activism, talk at the opening reception for the Syracuse Poster Project, Syracuse, New York.
DeBaise, J.M. (2015, May). Panelist for Social Media and Nature, an event sponsored by Social Media Breakfast Syracuse. Syracuse, New York.
DeBaise, J.M. (2014, February). Featured Poet and Essayist for the Writer’s Series, sponsored by the Creative Writing Program, Anne Arundel College, Arnold, Maryland.
DeBaise, J.M. and Kimmerer, R.W. (2013, December). The River Remembers. Presented at the Syracuse Community Choir Winter Solstice Concert as part of the People’s Peace Prize for the Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign initiated by the Onondaga Nation and the Neighbors of Onondaga Nation (NOON).
DeBaise, J.M. (2011, July). Excerpts from Snake Dreams. The Summer Nonfiction Reading Series, sponsored by the Syracuse University Writing Progam, Syracuse, New York.
DeBaise, J.M. (2010, February). New York Essayists on Living Upstate. Sponsored by the Lake Placid Institute. The Northwoods Inn, Lake Placid, New York.
Ekphrastic events
Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn, New York. Pen Women Poets Respond to Art. May 4, 2023.
Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn, New York. Quilts and poetry. October 2021-January 2022
Edgewood Gallery, Syracuse, New York. Art Speaks: 10 Poets respond to 10 Artists. July-August 2021
Holly, Delaware Branch and the CNY Branch of the NLAPW. A Celebration of Art and Poetry. January 2021
Cayuga Museum of History & Art. Ekphrastic poetry. January 2021.
Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn, New York. Made in New York: local poets and artists collaborate. September 2020
Syracuse Poster Project, Syracuse, New York. Poems and art featured in kiosks throughout Syracuse. 2002-present
Editorial Experience
Terrain.org: Journal of the Built and Natural Environments
- Education Editor, 2019–present
Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment (ASLE) Environmental Creative Writing Book Award, an international contest
- Coordinator, 2018–2020
- Judge, 2012–2013
Interdisciplinary Studies of Literature and the Environment (ISLE)
- Reviewer, 2019–present
Liminalities, a Journal of Performance Studies, Tampa, Florida
- Editorial Review Board, 2006–present
Hybrid Pedagogy: A Digital Journal of Learining, Teaching, and Technology
- Peer Review Team, 2013–2014
University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- External Reader, 2013?
The Brock Review, an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal published by the Humanities Research Institute at Brock University
- Reader, 2006–2008
Central New York Environment, Syracuse, NY: A bimonthly environmental newspaper produced by CNYE, Inc, a non-profit group dedicated to educating the public about environmental issues in upstate New York.
- President of the Board, 1993–1995
- Editor-in-Chief, 1989–1993
WORD OUT, the quarterly publication of the Community Writers Project, Syracuse, NY
- Layout editor, 1993–1994
The Green Drummer, Albany, NY
- Member of the editorial board organizing statewide environmental newsletter, 1993–1994
Interviews
A Class of Her Own. Jennifer Wybieracki.THE NEWSHOUSE.
The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. August 31, 2024.
The Intersection of Science and Literature. Campus Conversations.
SUNY-ESF Podcast. Season 4 Episode 1. March 2023.
Contributor Spotlight. The Rappahonnock Review.
Volume 8.1. December 2020.
"Responsive Teaching" A podcast with Chris Friend.
Hybrid Pedagogy, the journal of critical digital pedagogy. April 2016.
“Poetry of the Earth” Featured author.
Women’s Voices with Mary Stanley, WAER FM, October 2003
“Women and the Environment” Speaker for segment.
Women’s Voices with Pat Taub, WAER FM , August 2001
Honors and Awards
SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2023). A system-level honor conferred to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement.
Norman and Marjorie J. Roller Award (2022). A national award for the best article, story or book on wildlife or outdoor life. First Place for essay Wings.
Sandra Seaton Michel Middle Grade Story Award (2022). First place for the manuscript Cattail Summer.
Anna Di Bella Poetry Award (2022) For a poem in free verse. Third place for Her Garden.
Norman and Marjorie J. Roller Award (2020). A national award for the best article, story or book on wildlife or outdoor life. First place for the essay Nylon and Mesh published in The Southwest Review
Grace K. Wofford Award (2020). A national essay competition. First place for the essay Ghost Story.
Marion Doyle Poetry Award (2020). A national competition for poetry. Second place prize for the poem Ancient Rhythm published in 13th Moon.
Marjorie Davies Roller Nonfiction Award (2020). A national competition for nonfiction articles. Second place for the article Cure for Pain published in Orion Magazine.
The Vinnie Ream Medal in Letters (2019). A national competition across three genres: poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. First place medal for the essay The Space Between published in The Hopper.
Nomination for Pushcart Prize (2019) for the essay The Space Between.
Finalist for an Edublog Award: The Best Educational Use of Social Media (2014)
for the Twitter vs. Zombies collaboration.
Nomination for Pushcart Prize for Poetry (2003)
New Millennium Writing competition for poetry, Honorable Mention (2003)
Special Merit, New Women’s Voices Poetry Chapbook Competition (2002)
Finishing Line Press, Cincinnati, Ohio
Professional Affiliations
Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment (ASLE)
- Co-Coordinator and Co-founder, ASLE Creative Caucus, 2013–present
- Diversity Caucus, 1999–present
- Mentor, ASLE Mentoring Program, 2020–present
- Coordinator, ASLE Environmental Creative Writing Book Award, 2018–2020
- Environmental Creative Writing Book Award Judge, 2013
- Executive Council, 2007–2010
National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW)
- Letters Credentials Officer, National, 2020–present
- President, CNY Chapter, 2022-present
- Vice President, Member development, CNY Chapter, 2021-2022
- Letters Committee, CNY Chapter, 2019–2020
- Activities Planning Committee, CNY Chapter, 2019–2022
Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts (SLSA)
Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)
Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC)
Courses (developed and taught)
EWP 190 Writing and the Environment
EWP 290 Research, Writing, and the Humanities
EWP 311 Urban Environmental Literature
EWP 390 Introduction to the Literature of Nature
EWP 405 Professional Writing for the Science Major
EWP 490 Contemporary Nature Literature