Rhonna J. Robbins-Sponaas
Rhonna J. Robbins-Sponaas
rhonna.robbins-sponaas@ntnu.no
About
My background is somewhat more eclectic than the average academic, and perhaps even more so when it is considered in a Norwegian context. I am an American who grew up as a military brat and am myself a veteran with ten years of military experience and all the appropriate commendations. I’ve worked in administration and office technology for more than 20 years and been responsible for providing support and organization for considerably larger staffs than we have at the Department of Language and Literature, again with the usual commendations. I’ve been responsible for training and working with people in a variety of environments ranging from military to private sector to state departments to the offices of a United States Senator to a Research-1 level university to other academic organizations.
I’ve served as mentor, tutor, literacy volunteer/advocate, and crisis counselor for a certified crisis line. I’ve served as editor for a print literary journal, and editor-in-chief for an electronic literary journal. I am addicted to my hobbies, and those hobbies spill over into my writing and my other interests. I have been teaching and mentoring in the fiber arts for the better part of two decades, and am responsible for the creation and continued existence of two organizations in this field. I seem to tend to gather people who share my own interests into small and interactive groups—and take great pleasure in seeing their own enjoyment in the growth of their knowledge and skills—but I also work very independently with those activities which engage me.
I am at heart a writer; my Master’s is in creative writing with an emphasis in creative nonfiction, and my doctorate is in American literature. However, I’ve discovered that I approach literature from a slightly different mindset than most academics who focus on literature, and the creative insight contained within a text, and its artistry, is of more interest to me than the usual academic theoretical approaches.
I’ve developed, piloted, and executed a variety of courses in face-to-face, hybrid, and purely online environments, and have mentored others in the online environment. I’ve worked with three universities (FSU, SNHU, and NTNU) and at least two other academic organizations. Teaching experience ranges from the usual first-year writing courses which are required in the North American environment to remedial academic writing in the Norwegian environment, and from creative writing to survey or thematic literature courses across a variety of levels.
My particular areas of interest fall in three different but overlapping areas: creative writing; American literature, especially American women writers and literature of the American South; and fiber arts and textiles. In practical terms, this means that current projects include creative texts (most often within creative nonfiction), and literary analysis work with a Southern writer of special interest to me, Mary Johnston. Woven into both of those is an ongoing attention to textiles, fiber arts, and representation of textiles within the texts with which I work, as well as consideration of the fiber arts in general and in terms of cultural representation, development, history, and study.
Publications
2022
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Båtnes, Kamilla.
(2022)
A Portrait of Grooming and Educator Sexual Abuse in My Dark Vanessa and Boy Toy.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
2021
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Sandberg, Synne Marie.
(2021)
Young Adult Fiction Tackling American Race Relations: Understanding the Black Lives Matter Movemement through The Hate U Give and Dear Martin.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
2020
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Storemyr, Cathrine.
(2020)
"You've Been a Bad Girl Again" - Transgressive Perspectives on the Good Woman in Marge Piercy's Feminist Speculative Fiction Woman on the Edge of Time.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Armsteinsdatter, Vilja.
(2020)
Beauty in the Finite, Hope in the Darkness: A Comparative Study of Disaster Novels.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Haltbakk, Sandra.
(2020)
Searching for Solace through Children's Literature.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Magerøy, Ina Løken.
(2020)
Breaking the Rules: Suicide Literature and the Classroom.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Hegland, Preben.
(2020)
Staying out of Trouble.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Figenschou, Emilie.
(2020)
Child Abuse in Matilda, the Harry Potter Series, and Goodnight Mister Tom.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
2019
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Johnsen, Ole Borgan.
(2019)
Minority Report - Remembering and Recognizing the Vietnamese American Subject in Viet Thanh Nguyen's The Sympathizer.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Nybo, Anna Sundby.
(2019)
Exploring Identity.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
2017
-
Olsbakk, Klara;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2017)
The Power of Imbalance in Children's Literature: Locating the Power of the Child.
NTNU
Masters thesis
2016
-
Konstad, Frida;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2016)
"What good is a book without pictures?": Oliver and Alice in graphic novel form.
NTNU
Masters thesis
-
Ganaah, Miriam Adwoa;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2016)
Themes of Slavery, Christianity & Descriptions of Paradox in the Practice of Christianity in Two Slave Narratives: Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, & OUR NIG: Sketches from the Life of a Free Black.
NTNU
Masters thesis
-
Jensen, Juni Marie;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2016)
Female Masculinity and Gender Performance in Divergent and The Hunger Games.
NTNU
Masters thesis
2015
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Madslangsrud, Espen.
(2015)
Mental Challenge Asperger's in The Curious Incident of the Dog in
the Night-Time and House Rules.
NTNU grafisk senter
Masters thesis
2014
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Mølmen, Silje Jeanette Strand.
(2014)
Storytelling in Jeanette Winterson's Lighthousekeeping.
NTNU
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Nestvold, Anita Aune.
(2014)
Don't Judge the Book by its Cover. A Comparison of Childrens's literature from the Nineteenth and Twentith Century.
NTNU
Masters thesis
2013
-
Nilsen, Nina Elisabeth Valø;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2013)
Handing Down Motherhood in Lee Smith's Family Linen and Oral History: An analysis of the significance of inheritance and primary socialization in the reproduction of maternal behavior and motherhood in a Southern society.
NTNU
Masters thesis
2012
-
Ranum, Susanne Torgersen;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2012)
Eliminating the Relevance of Gender For Develpment In The Bildungsroman - an analysis of David Copperfield and Jane Eyre.
Norges tekniske-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Bargbidi, Mojgan Elena;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2012)
Sarah Orne Jewett's Short Stories and Social Change.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Otterlei, Hanne Sofie;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2012)
"I Never Scream" Silent Approaches to Sanity in The Trick is to Keep Breathing and "The Yellow Wall- Paper".
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Berntsen, Kristoffer;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2012)
Strategies of Patriarchal oppression in The Walking Dead.
NTNU
Masters thesis
2011
-
Røkenes, Fredrik Mørk;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Langseth, Inger Dagrun.
(2011)
Being Critical in a Digital Landscape.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
Report
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Båtnes, Kamilla.
(2022)
A Portrait of Grooming and Educator Sexual Abuse in My Dark Vanessa and Boy Toy.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Sandberg, Synne Marie.
(2021)
Young Adult Fiction Tackling American Race Relations: Understanding the Black Lives Matter Movemement through The Hate U Give and Dear Martin.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Storemyr, Cathrine.
(2020)
"You've Been a Bad Girl Again" - Transgressive Perspectives on the Good Woman in Marge Piercy's Feminist Speculative Fiction Woman on the Edge of Time.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Armsteinsdatter, Vilja.
(2020)
Beauty in the Finite, Hope in the Darkness: A Comparative Study of Disaster Novels.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Haltbakk, Sandra.
(2020)
Searching for Solace through Children's Literature.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Magerøy, Ina Løken.
(2020)
Breaking the Rules: Suicide Literature and the Classroom.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Hegland, Preben.
(2020)
Staying out of Trouble.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Figenschou, Emilie.
(2020)
Child Abuse in Matilda, the Harry Potter Series, and Goodnight Mister Tom.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Johnsen, Ole Borgan.
(2019)
Minority Report - Remembering and Recognizing the Vietnamese American Subject in Viet Thanh Nguyen's The Sympathizer.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Nybo, Anna Sundby.
(2019)
Exploring Identity.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Olsbakk, Klara;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2017)
The Power of Imbalance in Children's Literature: Locating the Power of the Child.
NTNU
Masters thesis
-
Konstad, Frida;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2016)
"What good is a book without pictures?": Oliver and Alice in graphic novel form.
NTNU
Masters thesis
-
Ganaah, Miriam Adwoa;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2016)
Themes of Slavery, Christianity & Descriptions of Paradox in the Practice of Christianity in Two Slave Narratives: Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, & OUR NIG: Sketches from the Life of a Free Black.
NTNU
Masters thesis
-
Jensen, Juni Marie;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2016)
Female Masculinity and Gender Performance in Divergent and The Hunger Games.
NTNU
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Madslangsrud, Espen.
(2015)
Mental Challenge Asperger's in The Curious Incident of the Dog in
the Night-Time and House Rules.
NTNU grafisk senter
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Mølmen, Silje Jeanette Strand.
(2014)
Storytelling in Jeanette Winterson's Lighthousekeeping.
NTNU
Masters thesis
-
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Nestvold, Anita Aune.
(2014)
Don't Judge the Book by its Cover. A Comparison of Childrens's literature from the Nineteenth and Twentith Century.
NTNU
Masters thesis
-
Nilsen, Nina Elisabeth Valø;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2013)
Handing Down Motherhood in Lee Smith's Family Linen and Oral History: An analysis of the significance of inheritance and primary socialization in the reproduction of maternal behavior and motherhood in a Southern society.
NTNU
Masters thesis
-
Ranum, Susanne Torgersen;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2012)
Eliminating the Relevance of Gender For Develpment In The Bildungsroman - an analysis of David Copperfield and Jane Eyre.
Norges tekniske-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Bargbidi, Mojgan Elena;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2012)
Sarah Orne Jewett's Short Stories and Social Change.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Otterlei, Hanne Sofie;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2012)
"I Never Scream" Silent Approaches to Sanity in The Trick is to Keep Breathing and "The Yellow Wall- Paper".
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis
-
Berntsen, Kristoffer;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna.
(2012)
Strategies of Patriarchal oppression in The Walking Dead.
NTNU
Masters thesis
-
Røkenes, Fredrik Mørk;
Robbins-Sponaas, Rhonna;
Langseth, Inger Dagrun.
(2011)
Being Critical in a Digital Landscape.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Masters thesis