English

Department Head: Holly Pickett; picketth@wlu.edu; 540-458-8078

Academic Division: The College

Working closely with dedicated faculty members, students in this department hone their ability to think and read critically, reason persuasively, and write eloquently. Through exploring a constantly evolving range of course offerings, English majors learn the methodologies and vocabularies appropriate to literary study; contemplate the forms and purposes of literary art in a variety of periods and cultures; and investigate the intersections between English and many other disciplines.

The English Department also fosters a culture of curiosity and intellectual endeavor, as well as respect for a variety of cultures and intellectual approaches, through advising, internships and service learning, study abroad, and extracurricular programming. Students who pursue optional creative writing courses balance critical study with creative endeavor, learning the history and forms of literary art as apprentice practitioners.

HONORS: An Honors Program in English is offered for qualified students; see the English Department website (www.wlu.edu/english-department/about-the-departments-offerings/honors-program) for details.

Offerings

Creative Writing, B.A. 

English, B.A.  

Creative Writing minor  

English minor  

Faculty

First date is the year in which the faculty member began service as regular faculty at the University. Second date is the year of appointment to the present rank.

Edward Adams, Ph.D.—(1993)-2012
John Lucian Smith, Jr. Memorial Term Professor of English
Ph.D., Yale University

Lubabah Chowdhury, Ph.D.—(2022)-2022
Assistant Professor of English
Ph.D., Brown University

Christopher Gavaler, M.F.A.—(2014)-2024
Professor of English
M.F.A., University of Virginia

Genelle C. Gertz, Ph.D.—(2003)-2016
Thomas H. Broadus, Jr. Professor of English and Associate Dean of the College for Strategic Initiatives
Ph.D., Princeton University

K. Avvirin Gray, Ph.D.—(2022)-2022
Assistant Professor of English
Ph.D., University of Southern California

Lena Hill, Ph.D.—(2018)-2018
Professor of English and Provost
Ph.D., Yale University

Wan-Chuan Kao, Ph.D.—(2013)-2019
Associate Professor of English
Ph.D., City University of New York

Diego A. Millan, Ph.D.—(2017)-2024
Associate Professor of English
Ph.D., Tufts University

Holly C. Pickett, Ph.D.—(2005)-2023
Professor of English
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

Kary D. Smout, Ph.D.—(1991)-1998
Associate Professor of English
Ph.D., Duke University

Beth A. Staples, M.F.A.—(2018)-2020
Assistant Professor of English and Editor of Shenandoah
M.F.A., Arizona State University

Lesley M. Wheeler, Ph.D.—(1994)-2006
Henry S. Fox Professor of English
Ph.D., Princeton University