Faculty

The English Department includes some of the most dynamic teachers, distinguished authors, and committed mentors that La Roche has to offer. But don't take our word for it: ask our students.

Four members of our department have won the College's highest teaching award, the Brother Gregory Nugent Award for Teacher Excellence, given annually to a faculty member whom graduating seniors select as "an outstanding teacher and dedicated mentor": Dr. Joshua Bellin (2008), Dr. Michelle Maher (2000), Dr. Linda Jordan Platt (1998), and Sr. Rita Yeasted,, SFCC, Ph.D. (1995). In 2008 as well, our Creative Nonfiction specialist, Professor Ed Stankowski, was awarded the Outstanding Faculty Service Award given annually by the La Roche Student Government. And the previous year, Dr. Janine Bayer -following in the footsteps of Sr. Rita and Dr. Jordan Platt-was chosen by graduating seniors to serve as Class Marshal, an honor bestowed only on the most energetic and committed faculty members. In the English Department, we believe that service to students comes first.

And then, in our spare time, we do what we ask our students to do-we write! Professor Stankowski has authored several works of Creative Nonfiction, his most recent being Memory of Steel (2005), a gritty memoir of his days in the steel mills of Pittsburgh. Currently, he is collaborating with Pirates great Al Oliver on a biography. Dr. Bellin is the author of three books of literary criticism, including Framing Monsters: Fantasy Film and Social Alienation (2005), which examines the cultural work of classic and modern fantasy and sci-fi film. Dr. Christine Abbott 's published work focuses on the teaching of writing. Triple threat Dr. Michael Young has published fiction, poetry, and literary criticism in such journals as Cottonwood, The Storyteller, and Nebraska Magazine. And poet-in-residence Dr. Maher is currently completing a volume of poems.

In the English Department, we think it's safe to say, we practice what we preach! Our majors have the chance to work closely with superior teachers, scholars, and role models.