Mike Pulley
Education
M.A. in Creative Writing, California State University, Sacramento, 2006
Certificate in Teaching Composition, California State University, Sacramento, 2006
B.A. in Communication Studies, California State University, Sacramento, 1985
Courses Taught
Basic News Writing, Science Writing, Technical Writing, Business Writing, Twentieth/Twenty-First Century Literature, Freshman Composition, Basic Writing, Developmental Writing
Teaching Positions
Senior Lecturer, Clemson University, English, 2013 to present
Lecturer, Clemson University, English, 2008 to 2013
Lecturer, California State University, Sacramento, English, 2006 to 2008
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Cosumnes River College, English, 2006 to 2008
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Sacramento City College, English, Spring 2007
Teaching Associate, California State University, Sacramento, English, 2004 to 2006
K-12 Substitute, Sacramento City Unified School District, 2001 to 2004
Lecturer, California State University, Sacramento, Communication Studies, Fall 2002
Professional Writing Positions
Correspondent, Sacramento Business Journal, 2004 to 2006
Editor, California Workers’ Comp Advisor, 2000 to 2001
News Editor and Staff Writer, Sacramento News & Review, 1996 to 2000
Staff Writer, The Reporter (Vacaville, CA.), 1995 to 1996
Part-time Staff Writer, Sacramento News & Review, 1994 to 1995
Staff Writer, Integrated Healthcare Report (Lake Arrowhead, CA.), 1993 to 1994
Staff Writer, Sacramento Business Journal, 1987 to 1993
Staff Writer, Press-Tribune (Roseville, CA.), Fall 1987
Staff Writer, Mountain Democrat (Placerville, CA.), 1986 to 1987
Freelance Writer, San Francisco Examiner, Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Business
Journal, Sacramento News & Review, Northern California Medicine, Suttertown News, 1984 to 2006
Awards & Achievements
Named Facilitator, Clemson University Writing Group, Office of Teaching Effectiveness & Innovation, Fall Semester 2016
Faculty Overseer & Editor, Clemson University Environmental Audit, President’s Commission on Sustainability, Dec. 2013
Finalist, 2013 Poetry Contest. New Ohio Review
Service Alliance Faculty Fellow Award, 2012-2013. Clemson University, for outstanding teaching using a service-learning curriculum
Best Client-Based Project Award 2010-2011. Clemson University, given to students taught in fall 2010 semester for technical communication video project (You’re Invisible to Me); video also featured in Clemson World Magazine and in news segment on Fox Carolina (WHNS-TV) in Feb. 2011
Video Contract. Clemson University, for 18-minute instructional video, Researching Primary Sources: How to Conduct Problem-Solving Interviews, May 2011
Honoree, one of Sacramento’s 52 Pioneer Poets. By Sacramento Poet Laureate Julia Connor and Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission for inclusion in Poets on Deck project, Oct. 2008
Bazzanella Literary Award, First Place, Expository Prose Category, Graduate Division. California State University, Sacramento, Spring 2005
Kathryn Hohlwein Poetry Scholarship. California State University, Sacramento, Spring 2004
Television Interview & Poetry Performance. Capital Talent Showcase, Access Sacramento community television, Mar. 18, 2003
Radio Interview. KVMR-FM (Sacramento/Nevada City, CA.) news program: Interviewed regarding “Search Unwarranted,” a Sacramento News & Review investigation that alleged perjury on search warrants signed by Placer County Sheriff’s Department detectives, Jan. 2000
Business Reporting Award. California Newspaper Publishers Association, for Sacramento News & Review feature on corporate downsizing trend, 1997
First Place Award, News Coverage. Society of Professional Journalists for Sacramento News & Review article, 1997.
Television Interview. KOVR-13 (Sacramento) local news broadcast regarding breaking news story about Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, in Sacramento News & Review, 1997
Private Sector Award. Sacramento Housing Alliance, for compassionate and fair reporting on local housing and homeless issues in Sacramento News & Review, Feb. 26, 1997
Business Reporting Award, 2nd Place. California Newspaper Publishers Association, for “Bull Market,” Sacramento News & Review investigative story on income tax investment scam, 1995
Media Award. Sacramento-El Dorado Medical Society—first-ever award presented to Sacramento Business Journal for Pulley’s “Comprehensive Reporting on the Business of Healthcare,” Jan. 19, 1993
Guest Editor. Rivers: “Eden 1992”: Poets from the Time Tested Books Reading Series, Winter 1992—1993
Sacramento Business Journal broadcast journalist—wrote copy and delivered taped reports for KXJZ-FM (Sacramento) and KXPR-FM (Sacramento) during local segments of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition, 1991 to 1993.
First Place Award, Breaking News. Society of Professional Journalists, for Sacramento Business Journal article on toxic chemical pollution by California dry-cleaning establishments, 1992
First Place Award, News Coverage. Society of Professional Journalists, for scoop on Pacific, Gas & Electric’s plans to lay off as many as 3,000 workers, 1992
Special Mention Award. Paisley Moon, Contest Winners Edition, for poem “Scribbled on a Napkin in San Francisco,” 1991
Second Place Award, Feature Writing. Society of Professional Journalists, Central Valley Chapter, for Sacramento Business Journal article chronicling how Folsom Prison uses inmates as labor to run profitable ventures, 1991.
Finalist, poetry category. Dewar's Young Artists Recognition Awards, July 18, 1989
United Press International Award, Best News Story (California-Nevada region), for Press-Tribune (Roseville, CA) article—“Crime of Mental Illness,” 1988
Associated Press Award, 2nd Place (California/Nevada region), for Press-Tribune (Roseville, CA) investigative series on mentally-ill murderer, 1987
Radio Interview & Poetry Reading. Dimensions, KYDS-FM (Sacramento), Fall 1984
Radio Interview. Suttertown News Show, KYDS-FM (Sacramento). Interviewed regarding news feature in Suttertown News on Teamsters for a Democratic Union, Fall 1984
Selected Journalism
“Teachers’ Treasure Trove of Trash: Educators and Businesses Are Excited About a Discount Warehouse Store That Turns Industrial Junk into Teaching Kits That They Hope Someday May Lead to Renewed Vigor in Math and Science,” Sacramento Business Journal, Feb. 17, 2006
“Taguba’s Revenge? Sacramento Sgt. Marc Guzman Accuses the Iraq-Prison-Scandal Hero of Threatening Soldiers,” Sacramento News & Review, Nov. 24, 2004; AlterNet, 2004
“The Last Days of Victor Wong” (Interview with Hollywood’s most famous Chinese-American character actor), Sacramento News & Review, Oct. 2001
“Law Enforcement: When the Drug War Snares the Suburbs” (Expose documenting perjury allegations by narcotics officers), Sacramento Bee, Aug. 19, 2001
“Nader Tells Local Greens His Presidential Bid Is ‘Serious’” (Interview with Green Party Presidential Candidate) Sacramento News & Review, Mar. 23, 2000
“High on Hemp: Products Made from the Cousin of Smokeable Marijuana Are Sparking an Industry Boom,” San Francisco Examiner, Aug. 24, 1997
“Go Tell It to the Mountain: Poet Gary Snyder Completes a 40-Year Project” (Interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning author), Sacramento News & Review, Fall 1996
“Carolina Burning: Did Klan Rhetoric Cause the Burning of Two Southern Churches? Attorney Morris Dees Is Betting On It,” Sacramento News & Review, Sept. 12, 1996
“Dissing Dees: Notorious Nazi Hunter Appears Locally Amid Controversy” (Interview with white supremacist expert Morris Dess),” Sacramento News & Review, Sept. 12, 1996
“Shopping with the Klan: Everything You Ever Wanted to Buy from the KKK,” Sacramento News & Review, Sept. 12, 1996
“Outer Limits: Author William Vollmann Is Sacramento’s Best-kept Literary Secret” (Interview with the legendary novelist), Sacramento News & Review, June 20, 1996
“Environmental Firm Fights Lawsuits” (Expose of a Wall Street darling’s corruption), Sacramento Business Journal, Mar. 29, 1993
“Pacific Standard Tied to Lincoln Savings: Davis Insurer’s Shady Investments Cause State Officials to Fear Thrift ‘Virus’ Infected Life Insurers,” Sacramento Business Journal, Jan. 29, 1990
“Crime of Mental Illness: Piecing Together the Life of a Drive-by Shooting Suspect” (award-winning story package on paranoid schizophrenic who murdered black preacher), Press-Tribune (Roseville, CA), Nov. 15, 1987
“Agri-Gate” (Expose alleging contract rigging by California Department of Food and Agriculture officials), Suttertown News, Oct. 11, 1984. This article led to a California State Auditor's investigation of the state agency's contracting procedures
Anthologies
“The Father Poet.” The Great American Wise Ass Poetry Anthology. Eds. Bradley and Kirchdorfer. Lamar University Literary Press, 2016.
“Using Service-Learning to Serve Campus Veterans.” Clemson Collaborations in Service Learning 2012-2013: Creating Transformational Experiences for Students, Faculty, and Community. Clemson University Service Alliance, Aug. 2013.
“Revelation.” Dominic J. Bazzanella Literary Awards Anthology. California State University, Sacramento, 2005.
“The Decision and the Toolbox: An Effective Method for More Focused, Efficient Tutoring Sessions.” The Tutoring Book. California State University, Sacramento, Spring 2004 Ed.
“Eye Diving”; Revolution”; “Poem.” The New Janitor’s Nose and Other Poems: Poems from the Poets-In-The-Schools Program. Ed. Dale Alan Bailes. South Carolina Arts Commission, 1973.
Poems
“Reading John Ashbery in a Museum Lavatory.” South Carolina Review. Fall 2015.
“Uncle Jack.” Café Review. Spring 2015.
“The Missing Yardstick.” Talking River. Fall & Winter 2014.
“Looking Back from an Undisclosed Location.” Canary. Summer 2014.
“The One” and “One More Morning.” ICON. Spring 2014.
“Backyard Prayers” Cold Mountain Review. 2014.
“January” and “Power Song.” Clackamas Literary Review. 2014.
“Rain Song” and “The Moths Are Prayerful Tonight.” California Quarterly. 2014.
“Snippets of Cinematic Memory”; “Mountain Dream”; “A Song of Words”; “Spin Outs.” www.munyori.com. Nov. 2007.
“Dr. Noon.” Cosumnes River Journal. 2007.
“The Love Nest.” Poems-for-All/ No. 346. Feb. 2004.
“The Blue Bikini” and “Dream Speech.” Tule Review. Spring 2002.
“The Blue Bikini.” www.eskimopie.net. July 8, 2001.
“Breakfast of Champions.” Blue Fur. Winter 2000.
“And Alarm Clocks Rang All Through the Night of Dark Spirits.” Sex in Public. July 1999.
“The Spoon.” Sex in Public. May 1999.
“Cow Prayer”; “Neruda’s Magic”; “After Linda Gregg.” Poetry Now. Aug. 1998.
“A Short Spin Out”; “O Ghosts”; “14 Ways.” Poetry Now. May 1998.
“Unconscious Priest” and “Fortified Wine.” Poetry Now. Mar. 1997.
“Existential Image” and “Waiting to Have Your Picture Taken.” Poetry Now. Sept. 1995.
“Waiting for the Bus.” Fix, a Magazine of the Arts. Fall 1993.
“The Coffee Shop Blues by the Apocalypse Grease Band.” Steelhead Special. July 1993.
“No More Drunk.” FREETHOUGHT. Summer 1993.
“14 Ways.” FREETHOUGHT. Spring 1993.
“Dead Blackbird.” Rivers: “Eden 1992”: Poets from the Time Tested Books Reading Series. Winter 1992-93.
“The Lost Father.” Astarte: Naropa Summer Magazine. Summer 1992.
“Scribbled on a Napkin in San Francisco.” Paisley Moon (Contest Winners Ed.). 1991.
“And Alarm Clocks Rang All Through the Night of Dark Spirits.” Poet News. Feb. 1991.
“The Trees of Education.” Poet News. July 1990.
“The Song of the Crying Body” and “46.” Poet News. Sept. 1989.
“First Day of Spring.” Poet News. Oct. 1987.
“Daddy”; “A Short Spin Out”; “Timothy Room.” Hangtown Fry. Sept./Oct. 1987.
“Timothy Room Grew Up from the Seed.” Divergent Lines. 1984.
Selected Readings + Talks
Lead Presenter. “Clemson’s Client-Based Writing Program: Using Service Learning and Multimedia Technology to Help Student Veterans Navigate College Life.” Clemson University—Collaborations Radio Webcast. Mar. 5, 2013.
Guest Presenter. Presentation and discussion leader on Bruce Catton’s Two Roads to Sumter. Let’s Talk About It at Seneca Library. Seneca, SC. Feb. 4, 2013.
Featured Reader. Sacramento Poetry Center, HQ for the Arts. Jan.29, 2007.
Conference Paper. “Deleuze and Cultural Studies.” Deleuzions: A 9-hour Reading from the Works of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. California State University, Sacramento. Dec. 5. 2003.
Media Representative. “You’ve Got the Right Show” (MetroCable 14), Sacramento City and County Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission. July 24, 1997.
Featured Poet. Barnes & Noble, Stockton, CA. Mar. 14, 1997.
Guest Speaker. “RX for Heath Care Reporting: From Reform to Report Cards.” West County Times & Hospital Council of Northern and Central California. Richmond, CA. Apr. 20. 1995.
Featured Reader. Grass Roots Poets, Maxwell’s Bookmark. Stockton, CA. Aug. 1994.
Featured Reader. Sacramento Poetry Center, Barnes & Noble Bookstore. Apr. 1994.
Guest Speaker. National Association of Health Underwriters Annual Conference, Sacramento Chapter. Nov. 19, 1992.
Featured Reader. Grass Roots Poets. Stockton, CA. Sept. 20, 1992.
Featured Reader. Aion Bookshop. Boulder, CO. July 19, 1992.
Featured Reader. “Beautiful Scars: Men’s Pictures, Poems & Songs.” Witt Gallery, California State University, Sacramento. July 13, 1991.
Featured Reader. “Jack Kerouac Tribute: October in the Railroad Earth.” Sacramento. Oct. 21, 1990.
Featured Reader. Sacramento Poetry Center, Hannibal’s Café. Oct. 29, 1987.
Featured Reader. Sacramento Poetry Center, Sierra 2 Center. Sept. 27, 1984.
Guest Lecturer. Modern Poetry course. California State University, Sacramento. 1982.
Other Academic and Teaching-Related Experience
Organizer, Emcee. Writers’ Harvest charity reading, Clemson University. 2009 to 2016.
Freshman Summer Reading Program Volunteer. Clemson University. 2009 to 2016.
Grader. California State University Writing Proficiency Exam. 2004 to 2008.
Volunteer Grader. English 51 (Developmental Writing)/ ESL 320 final exam, Cosumnes River College. 2007 to 2008
Editorial Staff. Cosumnes River Journal, Cosumnes River College. Spring 2008.
Faculty Advisor. No Youth Left Behind, Cosumnes River College. Spring 2008.
Tutor. California State University, Sacramento Writing Center. Fall 2003 to Spring 2004.
Board Member. Sacramento Poetry Center. 1995 to 1996.
Co-Editor. Poetry Now, Sacramento Poetry Center. 1995 to 1996.
Emcee. “SpokenWord Caberet” at Fringearts: A Premillenium Arts Festival, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. May 18,1996.
Organizer/Emcee. Time Tested Books reading series, Sacramento. 1991 to 1993.
Organizer/Emcee. Webber’s Book Shop reading series, Sacramento. 1991.
Organizer/Emcee. Zoe's Cafe reading series, Placerville, CA. 1987 to 1989.
Intern. California State Legislative Assemblyman Lloyd Connelly, Sacramento District Office. Spring 1985.