Trina Sotirakopulos

Areas of Research Interest

• Marginalized Community College Students
• Honors Education
• Equity in Education
• Writing and Publishing

Courses Taught

• ENGLI 2250-HON, Honors Intro to Creative Writing (hybrid)
• ENGLI 1102-HON, Honors Composition II (face-to-face)
• ENGLI 2210, Literary Journal: Prairie Light Review (face-to-face)
• ENGLI 2250, Intro to Creative Writing (online, hybrid, and face-to-face)
• ENGLI 2251, Fiction Writing (online)
• ENGLI 2251, Fiction Writing: YA Novels (online)
• ENGLI 2253, Creative Nonfiction Writing (online and hybrid)
• ENGLI 2261, Writing for Publication (online and face-to-face)
• ENGLI 1130, Introduction to Literature (hybrid)
• ENGLI 1101, Composition I (online and face-to-face)
• ENGLI 1102, Composition II (online and face-to-face)

Publications

Scholarly Publications

• “Marginalized First-Time Honors Students Explain the Impact of Tracking Labels.” Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council 25(1): 123–56.  Jan., 2025.
• “Learning from Marginalized Community College Students Taking Honors Courses for the First Time.” Innovation Abstracts. National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development. College of Education. College of Education, University of Texas at Austin.  Dec., 2024.
• Marginalized Community College Students’ Perspectives of their First Time in Honors Courses and Experiences with Tracking. Northern Illinois University ProQuest Dissertations. Dec., 2023.

Other Published Works

• “Creative Nonfiction,” “Key Creative Nonfiction Terms,” “CNF Additional Resources,” and “Process and Craft Resources.” Creative Writing: A Teaching and Learning Resource. OER. May, 2025.
• “Walking with a Mistake.” Minnow Literary Magazine, Issue 7. Feb., 2023.
• “Her Eternal Flames: In honor of Richard Hunt’s Monument in Tribute to Ida B. Wells.” The Poeming Pigeon, Issue 12. Oct., 2022.
• Impact: Personal Portraits of Activism, MuseWrite Press. Oct., 2020. (co-editor)
• “Chicago Newsroom Circa 1999.” The Poeming Pigeon, Issue 7. August, 2018.
• In Her Skin: Growing Up Trans. MuseWrite Press. Ebook, 2012, print, April, 2016. (YA novel represented by the McVeigh Agency)
• Shifts: An Anthology of Women’s Growth Through Change, MuseWrite Press. Nov., 2015. (co-editor)
• “Meat and Oil.” Emerge Literary Journal. Dec., 2014.
• “Pack Rats and Procreation: Using Your Past to Write Teen Fiction.” Wow! Women On Writing: Freelancer’s Corner. March/April, 2010. 

Presentations

• “Inclusion and Community Building in Honors.” Employee Development Center, College of DuPage. Aug., 2025.
• “Honors Course Proposals and Contracts.” Employee Development Center, College of DuPage. April, 2025.
• “Teaching in Honors: Faculty Roundtable.” Employee Development Center, College of DuPage. Jan., 2025.
• “Creative Nonfiction Writing.” High School Summer Camp, College of DuPage. Summer, 2024.
• “Creative Writing.” Continuing Education, College of DuPage. Spring, 2024.
• “Marginalized Community College Students’ Perspectives of their First Time in Honors Courses and Experiences with Tracking.” International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences. San Francisco, CA. April, 2024.
• “Cultivating Collaborative Communities in the Classroom.” Employee Development Center, College of DuPage. Mar., 2024.
• “Issues and Opportunities Facing First-Time Honors Students.” Employee Development Center, College of DuPage. Oct., 2023.
• “Creative Writing.” Continuing Education, College of DuPage. Fall, 2023.
• “Who was Valarie Solanas, the Woman who Shot Andy Warhol?” Warhol Speakers Series. Glen Ellyn, IL. Aug., 2023.
• “Creative Writing.” Continuing Education, College of DuPage. Summer, 2023.
• “Teaching Hope in a Time of Despair.” Employee Development Center, College of DuPage. Nov., 2022.
• “Jobs in Publishing.” Creative Writing: On the Job Speakers Series. College of DuPage. Nov., 2022.
• “Storytelling Workshop.” Indian Prairie Public Library. Oct., 2022.
• “Paths to Publication.” Creative Writing: On the Job Speakers Series, College of DuPage. Mar., 2022.
• “Writing Your Story: A Memoir and Creative Nonfiction Workshop.” Indian Prairie Public Library. Feb., 2022.
• Sociology 1100 with Professor Alford. My YA novel was required reading in the course. 2017-May, 2022.
• Impact: Personal Portraits of Activism. Society for the Study of Social Problems. Aug., 2021.
• Impact: Personal Portraits of Activism. Jane’s Stories Press. April, 2021.
• “The Power and Craft of Creative Nonfiction with Author Michelle Duster.” Writers Read Speakers Series, College of DuPage. Apr., 2021.
• “Women’s Heritage Celebration.” Federal Public Defender’s Office Central District of California. March, 2021.
• “Getting Your Book Published.” Lisle Library. Nov., 2020.
• Writing Workshop Speaker/Instructor. Lisle Public Library. Nov., 2019.
• “Using Hip-Hop Poetry in First-Year Writing.” College of DuPage Hip-Hop Summit. April, 2019.
• White Oak Author Fest: Author Panel Discussion. Crest Hill, Illinois. Oct. 2017.
• “Storybook Workshop,” Lisle Public Library. June, 2017.
• “Narratives for the Workplace.” DuPagePADS. Wheaton, IL. May, 2017.
• “Live from Prairie Lights” Prairie Lights Books, Iowa City. July, 2016.
• Shifts: An Anthology of Women’s Growth Through Change. Next Page Books, Cedar Rapids, IA. July, 2016.
• Shifts: An Anthology of Women’s Growth Through Change. Good Vibes, Lake Geneva, WI. April, 2016.
• “Indie Books Panel.” Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators.  April, 2016.
• Shifts: An Anthology of Women’s Growth Through Change. Women and Children First, Chicago, IL. March, 2016.
• “Crafting Publishing Ready Poetry and Fiction.” Elgin Literary Festival. Elgin, IL. Jan., 2015.
• Interview with Poet Rachel McKibbens. Writers Read Speakers Series. College of DuPage. Mar., 2013.
• “Stories of Black Women Help Empower and Inspire People of all Races and Ethnicities.” Association for the Study of African American Life and History Convention. Pittsburgh, PA. Sept., 2012.
• “Community Writing for Global Literacy.” TYCA Midwest. Columbus State College. Oct., 2011.    
• “Collect. Recollect. Connect! Community Writing Workshops.” Illinois Reading Council, Springfield. March, 2011.
• “Collect. Recollect. Connect!” Half-day writing seminar. Oct., 2010.
• “Writing the Unseen” with Author Beth Finke.  Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators, Chicago chapter. June, 2010.
• “Global Learners = Global Problem Solvers.” Illinois Reading Council, Springfield. April, 2010.  
• “The Necessity of Time in Charles Brockden Brown’s Wieland.” Midwestern Conference on Literature, Language, and Media. Northern Illinois University. April, 2010.
• “Moll Flanders the Working Woman.” EGO Conference on Identity and Class Issues, Western Illinois University. November, 2009.

Education

• Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction: Curriculum Leadership, Northern Illinois University Committee: Drs. Eui-kyung Shin, Cynthia Taines, and Kerry Burch. Awarded Dec., 2023.
• Master Online Teacher Certificate, University of Illinois. Awarded 2015.
• Ph.D. student: American and British Literature, Northern Illinois University, 2011-2013.
• M.A. in English, American and British Literature, Northern Illinois University. Awarded 2010.
• B.A. in Broadcast Journalism, Columbia College Chicago. Awarded 2003.
• Undergraduate General Studies, DePaul University, National Dean’s List, 1996.