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Buxton, a Greenlee lecturer, said 9/11 caused her to reassess the importance of her family, whom were all living back in Iowa. Buxton said she decided to return to Iowa.

When she arrived in May, Buxton submitted her resume to teach at Iowa State. Buxton said she wanted to work at the university because of the college atmosphere.

Buxton, who teaches ComSt 214 Professional Communication, said she teaches self-assessment and technical writing skills needed in the workplace. She said students typically learn to write essays and research papers in college, but are rarely taught to write technically.

“People in the job market want kids to know how to write technical papers,” Buxton said.

Buxton said her desire to become a teacher started when she took an intercultural communication class at the University of Iowa and had a teaching assistant who inspired her.

When she’s not commuting from Boone for her weekly class, Buxton works for the Boone Community School District. She works with foreign students, helping them make the transition into American classes and society.

Buxton has a daughter, Janelle, who is an Iowa State junior studying agricultural education, and a son, Levi, who is a trucker.

Buxton received her associate’s degree from Southwestern Community College in Creston, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and her master’s from the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg.

She has taught at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi and South Texas Community College in McAllen.

After 20 years in journalism, Christine Riccelli of Des Moines decided it was time to find a new direction for her life.

Riccelli joined the Greenlee School this year as a lecturer and teaches Jl MC 201 Reporting and Writing for the Mass Media.

Riccelli said she emphasizes clear writing and analytical thinking in her class.

“My overriding goal is for students to become solid writers and clear thinkers,” Riccelli said.

The best part of the class for Riccelli is not so much in the teaching, but in the coaching.
“When the student doesn’t quite understand something and you work through it with them … then when they get it, it’s very rewarding,” Riccelli said. “I have a fantasy of my students getting the Pulitzer Prize.”

Ever since she received her master’s from Drake University in Des Moines, Riccelli has had teaching on her mind. She continued to work as a reporter or freelance writer.

But that changed when she started a family with her husband, Andy Ball. They have a 22-month-old baby daughter, Ellie.

Riccelli said she did not want to work full-time in journalism with a baby so it was the perfect time to turn to teaching.
“I’ve been thinking about it for some time,” Riccelli said. “When both things (the baby and teaching) came together it worked really well.”

A love of writing led Riccelli to journalism. And because Riccelli said she didn’t want to be isolated in an office, journalism was the practical choice for her writing passion.
“I get to meet people and learn things every day,” she said.

Riccelli said she decided to teach at Iowa State because of the location and the environment.
“I’ve always loved the university energy and it’s ideal to where I live,” the Des Moines resident said.

Riccelli said she is mainly a features writer and would like to teach feature writing in the future.

When Riccelli finds the time, she continues to do freelance writing, primarily for the Meredith Corp. in Des Moines.

Riccelli has worked as an assistant features editor for The Des Moines Register, a freelance writer and editor for The Kansas City Star, associate editor at Corporate Report in Kansas City, Mo., and a reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

Riccelli received her bachelor’s from the University of Iowa in 1981.