Dr. O’Rourke’s scholarship investigates literacy in historical, political, and technological contexts.  She teaches undergraduate courses in introductory composition, advanced writing, rhetoric, and composition theory, as well as a graduate seminar in literacy. She has served as Chair of the Elmhurst College Faculty Council (2007-08) and chaired the Council's inaugural subcommittee on Assessment of the VPAA/Dean of Faculty. In addition, she serves as faculty adviser to the Elmhurst College Writing Center and the Chi Lambda chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society. 

Recent Scholarship

"Bottom Dogs and Might-Have-Beens: The Industrial Folklore of the Federal Writers' Project," March 2011, The Folklore Historian. 

“Hilda Satt Polacheck (1882-1967): Worker, Writer, ‘Hull-House Girl,’” presented to the Newberry Library Seminar on Women and Gender.

“‘To Learn from Life Itself’: Experience and Education at Hull-House.” In Jane Addams and the Call to Education.  Ed. David Schaafsma.  New York: Teachers College Press.  Forthcoming.

Review of Composition & Copyright: Perspectives on Teaching, Text-Making and Fair Use. Ed. Steve Westbrook.  Journal of the Midwest Modern Language Association.