I grew up in Southern California, but now reside in West Texas with my husband and adult son.
I currently work as the Dean for the School of Languages & Literature at Wayland Baptist University, where I TEACH English & Writing. I am an AUTHOR, mostly specializing in Young Adult fiction and on Gen Z. I have also published non-fiction, poetry, short stories, Christian thrillers, and the occasional inspirational romance. I am also PLAYWRIGHT of more than sixteen published plays. I have been SPEAKING for the last few decades at many different venues (youth groups, addiction recovery, women's, conferences, church services, and more). I even dabbled in stand up COMEDY for a while. You wanna laugh, yeah me too!
Since 2014, I have been researching GENERATION Z (those born between 1995-2010). I have had the honor of sharing my research at various conferences, schools, churches, and businesses around the United States (including Hawaii, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Texas, California, Ohio, Oklahoma, and more). I have recently published that research in a book entitled, Teaching Squirrels. Want to know how to engage your young people? I just might be able to help.
A few more tidbits about me: I've spent 25 years leading young adult fine arts and DRAMA teams. I have a MFA in Writing, MA in Humanities: Literature/Playwriting, and a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies & Higher Education. I am a U.S. Army Veteran, a former YA editor, and a cover artist for the Wild Rose Press. And I really love coffee, dark chocolate, and white gravy! (Not together, mind you.)
AWARDS
2016 Best Presenter in Interdisciplinary Category (CSI Conference)
2012 Faculty Scholar (University of Phoenix)
2006 Sherwood Eliot Wirt Writer of the Year Award (SD Christian Writer’s Guild)
1993 Won Editor’s Choice for poem, “Silent Amour” (Creative Arts/Sciences)
BOOK REVIEWS
http://berleescontestsandreviews.blogspot.com/
INTERVIEWS
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/interviews/tamazon-interviews-kimberlee-r-mendoza-on-dec-21-2007
http://enchantingya.blogspot.com/2007/11/enchanting-interviewkimberlee-mendoza.html
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Journal: Engaging Generation Z: A Case Study on Motivating the Post-Millennial Traditional College Student in the Classroom
US-China Foreign Language and Sino-US English Teaching Journal No. UCFL20190309-1 (2019)
Dissertation on Gen Z: Proquest
Poems:
“Enjoy Each Day” Motherhood Memories. Lotus Books. (2004). Pg. 107.
“Lil’ Hands” Acorn Review Literary Magazine. Grossmont College. (2000-2001). Pg. 33
“Silent Amour” Creative Arts and Sciences (1993).
“Natural Love Ends” Language of the Soul Anthology. Creative Arts & Sciences Enterprises. (1991). Pg. 155
“The Computer Ate My Heart” Forgotten Moments Anthology.International Library of Poetry. (1991). P. 171
Flash Fiction:
“The Peanut” (March 2, 2020) Everyday Fiction https://everydayfiction.com/the-peanut-by-dr-kimberlee-r-mendoza/
“The Attic Collection” Embers 2020 Literary and Art Magazine, Wayland Baptist University. (2020). P. 8
Copyright © 2020 Kimberlee Mendoza - All Rights Reserved.