Amanda Brewer

Amanda Brewer is a professor in the School of Applied Sciences and Arts at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus. Her work centers on developing critical thinking through collaborative learning environments that prepare students for real-world communication and creative practice. Across her courses, Brewer emphasizes applied, career-connected learning that encourages students to engage actively with ideas and share their work publicly.

Brewer teaches First Year Composition, Travel Writing, Writing for the Professions, Short Story, and Film Studies. Her teaching approach focuses on active learning, collaborative discussion, and iterative creative processes that mirror professional writing environments. Students in her courses frequently participate in workshops, peer collaboration, and public presentations of their work, helping them build confidence while developing practical communication skills. By placing student work in visible, authentic contexts, Brewer encourages learners to think critically about audience, purpose, and the impact of storytelling in professional and cultural spaces.

Her teaching and mentorship are informed by ongoing engagement with professional writing communities. Brewer consults with working authors as a beta reader and collaborates with the National Organization for Student Success, bringing current industry perspectives into the classroom. These connections help students see how writing, critical thinking, and storytelling operate beyond academic settings.

Brewer’s research and creative interests include cognitive bias, critical thinking, iterative creative processes, and the use of mythic narrative structures such as the monomyth in emerging digital environments, including storytelling within the metaverse. Through this work, she explores how narrative frameworks shape the way people interpret information, build meaning, and engage with complex digital worlds.

At ASU Polytechnic, Brewer is committed to creating accessible learning environments that empower students to experiment, revise, and develop their voices as writers and thinkers. Her work reflects ASU’s emphasis on applied learning, innovation, and preparing students to contribute thoughtfully and creatively to a rapidly evolving professional landscape.