Tom Lochhaas is a teacher, a writer, an editor and a consultant. He received his MFA in writing from the University of Arizona and is ABD in English at Washington University. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Tom has taught at the University of Arizona, Otterbein College, Washington University and at UCLA. His teaching focus has been on freshman course with an emphasis on reading, writing, and study and communication skills. Tom’s special interests are in working with unprepared students and recent immigrants.
As a college instructor, Tom has always focused on what students actually need—not necessarily what professors might think they need—to succeed in their studies, regardless of the particular topic. In an academic world where many students do not read their textbooks at all, or have difficulty understanding them when they do, it is critical to be realistic about how today’s students learn and how best to reach them. “A weighty traditional tome might look like the best classic student success textbook to some instructors”, Tom says, “but such a text fails if students can’t or won’t read it. Students quickly become frustrated by reading materials not useful to them as students or appropriate for their needs.” His expertise in how to shape an effective textbook is part of what he brings to this authorship team
As a professional college textbook editor and writer, Tom specializes in making textbooks accessible for students in many curriculum areas including communications, software and technical manuals, and public health information. In his work with public organizations such as the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council, he has brought an expertise in language and reading level to ensure a wide range of publications are appropriate for their intended audiences. He has written or ghost-written several dozen textbooks and other books.