Harding University Alumni ENGLISH NEWS Summer 2012 Searcy, Arkansas 72149-2248 Volume 27 from the Chair John Williams

hARDING uNIVERSITY aLUMNI ENGLISH NEWS summer 2012 sEARCY, aRKANSAS 72149-2248 vOLUME 27 From the Chair John Williams

Pardon the potpourri, but this year’s col- in a new course for English and communi- The Bobbie Coleman Teaching umn features two updates and one retro- cations majors. Tentatively titled “Introduc- Forum and Student Teaching spective, each with its own title: tion to Publishing,” the class will be submit- Award ted for approval this fall and, if approved, John and Pam Go to New York, could start the following summer. It would Bobbie Coleman, who died in 2009, was or, be offered on campus as an English and a Harding English major and alumnus who How the English Department communications elective in intersession or become a legendary teacher at Searcy High Changes Course summer I of alternate years. We have an School. She possessed the combination of agreement in principle with a New York lit- knowledge, pedagogical skill, and loving erary agent to teach the course, with topics I went to New York City last March dur- concern that every parent wants for his or ranging from the history of publishing to the ing spring break in pursuit of a new class her child. Not surprisingly, Searcy High new digital world of the profession. It will for the English department and someone to has honored Bobbie with a scholarship include contributions, via video technology, teach it. My wife Pam went with me be- bearing her name. with other professionals in New York and cause the opportunity for us to visit the Big Now our English department has found Los Angeles, giving our students a practi- City is so rare — as in never, at least as a way to remember her. Last fall we initi- cal introduction from experts to a vital and a couple. The trip was quick — 48 hours ated the Bobbie Coleman Teaching Forum, rapidly changing career opportunity. — and filled with a satisfying number of an annual event bringing area secondary As I mentioned in last year’s column, if requisite Big Apple experiences: a walk teachers to campus for an informal dis- this course happens, it will be because our in Central Park, a glorious half-day in cussion of teaching and fellowship with former students have asked for it. Who MOMA, a play, late supper at Sardi’s, ce- our licensure majors. The inaugural ses- knows where it might lead? But while we’re lebrity sightings (okay, minor celebrities), sion in Cone Chapel featured four teach- dreaming, why not imagine an English or 30 Rock, a subway ride, and an argument ers from Searcy, among them Jaime Brown communications major with a publishing with a cabbie of indeterminate ethnicity and Trisha White — both HU and English licensure? (Sasha Baron Cohen in new role?). Department alums. The topic was “The Amid all that fun I managed to squeeze in First Day of Class,” and Jaime and Trish, a meeting that will, if all goes well, result along with their colleagues Sherry Farhatt and department chair Dr. Miles Watson, shared ideas, stories, and handouts on that important moment in the school year with a group of our majors. The second forum will be in October this year. We hope that for many years to come the event will help our future teachers catch something of Bobbie Coleman’s legacy, which is alive and well in alumni like Jaime and Trisha. To underscore our commitment to the importance of teaching at the secondary level, we have also insti- tuted a “Bobbie Coleman Student Teaching Award,” presented to the senior English licensure major who, by virtue of his or her classroom and student teaching perfor- mance, shows outstanding promise in the Naomi Shihab Nye reads to an audience in Cone Chapel profession. The first winner of the award SUMMER 2012 English Alumni News TWO

Faculty News Magicol: A Journal of the Magic History the Arkansas Philological Association and Collecting. The 2011-12 Petit Jean conference. In March, he sponsored a group was dedicated to him, and also presented of 10 creative writing students to attend the early commencement address for May the Southern Literature Festival hosted by graduation. His popular column, “Just the Lipscomb University, where the students Nick Boone reviewed The H. D. Clax,” appears regularly in The Bison. attended workshops and readings with Book, by Robert Duncan for Southern Kathy Dillion traveled with students successful authors. Humanities Review. He also had an article, to India, Morocco, and England for a class Nathan Henton and wife Alice’s “Ontological Blending and the Absence of based on the history and study of tea in world daughter, Katherine Garner was born April Autonomy in Mark Strand’s Reasons for cultures. She taught at Pepperdine in July 18, joining big sister Miley. Moving,” published in Wascana Review. and presented papers at four conferences Greg Laing attended the 47th He presented the paper “Communication including MLA and Humanities and Human International Congress on Medieval Breakdown: A Levinasian Meditation on Rights in Beirut in May 2012. At the MLA Studies where he participated in sessions Pynchon’s ‘Entropy’” at the Arkansas conference, her panel was chosen for the on “Medieval Icelandic Bishops’ Sagas,” Philological Association conference. Nick Presidential theme. It was entitled Beyond “New Voices in Anglo-Saxon Studies,” and Lauren’s (Moze) daughter, Nora Grace, the Arabian Nights: Middle Eastern Fiction “Old Norse Literature and Culture,” and was born on March 4, weighing 7 pounds in the World Literature Course. Her paper “Scandinavian Studies.” He and Kim at the time. was “The Egyptian Voice in the World welcomed daughter, Jordan Eighme, born Heath Carpenter and Hannah’s son, Literature Classroom: Teaching Si Sayed in March 2012. Thomas Alexander Jones Carpenter, was and Zaki Bey as Cultural Icons.” Jonathan Singleton published the article born May 8, 2012, joining siblings Tristan, Terry Engel presented the paper “This “The Dissonant Bible Quotation: Political Silas, and Enid. Is Our Permanent Order: Leah, Ruth May, and Narrative Dissension in Gaskell’s Mary Michael Claxton published an article Rachel, Adah”: Adah’s Search for Order Barton” in ELH. His son, Michael, was born titled “Douglas Beaufort: Would-be Through Empirical Analysis in Barbara August 13, 2011, joining big sister Lydia Diplomat” in the Nov. 2011 issue of Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible” at and big brother James. The department employed three adjunct From the Chair (Cont. from One) teacheres: Lisa Burley, Holly Goslin, and Anne Harrington. was Whitney Dixon, of Searcy, who was ary texts) by inviting students from five erature. Not the most famous faces, consid- good enough in her practice teaching to get area high schools to a poetry workshop led ering our fiscally challenged department. a job offer from the same school. by Ms. Nye. In all, more than 50 students Nevertheless, a real person who creates Whitney will join other 2012 English li- came, some of whom had never visited a stands before us, who explains the origins censure graduates in the work force next college campus before, much less talked to of a story or poem, who gives voice to the fall. With their established colleagues, they a poet. The event was at least a moderate words. To see these writers perform is to will be putting their English skills and in- success and for our department, I hope, the have literature come alive. In the case of dividual gifts to the important use of minis- start of a more frequent outreach to our lo- Naomi — and her radiantly down-to-earth tering to our children — and creating their cal schools. personality almost demands the first person own legacies. At Nye’s April 12th evening reading, we here — we are in the presence of a good had our largest audience since her last vis- woman, someone whose art is also a social The Best Visiting Writer Ever? it, and once again the reception was over- act. Someone who has made poetry into whelmingly positive. Many came only for a unifying conversation between herself Naomi Shihab Nye came to Harding this extra credit, of course, but their reactions and anyone who wants to read, listen, or past spring, returning five years after her — some given in writing for their teachers respond. first visit in 2007. She joins a short list of — were gratifying. Had they not witnessed The student who thinks he hates artsy writers who have received second invita- this poetry reading, they said, they could stuff listens to her in the company of hun- tions. She also happens to be the “biggest never have believed such a thing to be so dreds of others and feels better about po- name” we’ve hosted since I’ve been a part entertaining. You must understand that the etry. The lover of poetry in her convivial of the process, whether you measure status program included meditative pieces on orbit for even that fleeting hour feels better by artistic reputation or by size of the fee. death and war and a modicum of provoca- about his belief in its power to change us. Her 2002 volume of poetry, 19 Varieties tive wisdom about those subjects, but I’ll of Gazelle, was nominated for a National settle for “entertaining” and assume the To the record number of alumni who got Book Award, and she has earned four pleasantly surprised students also intuited in touch with the English News this time, Pushcart Prizes in poetry, one of the more the wisdom. thank you very much, and God bless you prestigious awards around. You can visit In fact, the word “entertaining” and its with a community of those who cherish her page at the Steven Barclay Agency to synonyms, used by many to describe the language and literature as gifts not only see the complete list of honors. evening, point to an important truth about from people like Bobbie Coleman and We capitalized on her reputation (she is readings in general and Ms. Nye’s in par- Naomi Shihab Nye, but also and ultimately often anthologized, especially in second- ticular: they put a face on the body of lit- from God Himself. SUMMER 2012 English Alumni News THREE

Rod Brewer Retires

After a teaching career that spanned over off a long series of classics from Sounder What does life look like after Harding? 40 years at the high school and university and The Outsiders to Holes and The Hun- “The future is open,” Brewer said. He plans levels, Dr. Rod Brewer retired following ger Games. Adolescent literature doesn’t to travel and spend time with family and the spring 2012 semester. Following grad- hold back from the harsher realities of life. friends. Each year he and his two brothers uation from Harding in 1970, two years Citing Bridge to Terabithia as an example, participate in the Brewer Brothers’ Bash, teaching at Searcy High School, and a year Brewer noted that by exploring the death where they travel to a big league city for in grad school, Brewer joined the English of a lead child character, the book provides a weekend of baseball. “We’ve done that faculty in 1973. With the exception of get- an excellent bridge from fantasy to reality since my father died,” he said. Beyond ting a Ph.D. from the University of Mis- that all children experience as they grow that, he’s not certain. “I tend to think of life souri, he’s been here ever since. older. as a circle,” he said, referring to Prospero’s “I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was Most of all, Dr. Brewer will miss stu- line in The Tempest. “The circle can be di- in the eighth grade,” Dr. Brewer said. dents. “I have aged,” he said, “but they vided into thirds, like a pie chart. One part There was a time when he contemplated have stayed the same, which helps keep is God and the Church, one part is teach- pumping gas for a living, and he struggled me feeling young.” He’s not sure how his ing, and the third part is my wife Grace with grammar early on. “Then one day my students might describe him, but his “ob- and my children.” He goes on to explain teacher called me to her desk and we kept jective was to always be humane. General that teaching is gone, now, and that since going over intransitive verbs, lie and lay, education students aren’t English majors Grace died five years ago, that part of his until I finally got it,” he remembered. After and they sometimes struggle with writing life is gone too. “I’m not sure what I’m go- that, a series of English teachers touched and reading,” he says, “but some of the stu- ing to do, now,” Brewer said, “because I his life, and his course was set. dents I remember best are those who strug- don’t want the other third of my life to be “I’ll miss teaching English Methods,” gled and needed help.” His colleagues de- baseball and recreation.” Brewer said. The course is intensive since scribe Rod Brewer as quiet but with a sharp “I don’t have any advice to offer,” he said it meets for more than two hours a day, wit, and when he does speak up, everyone in parting. “All the slogans of my child- every day, for five weeks, and then the listens. But he is also humble. “The butter- hood don’t seem to apply anymore. I guess students go into the field to student teach. flies never go away,” he said. “Every night one piece would be to ‘keep it simple,’ and Brewer’s job called for periodic student before the start of a new semester I don’t the other would be to ‘wear blue jeans.’” teacher observations, where he “liked go- sleep well and I never feel prepared.” ing back into the schools, seeing what is new.” As an example, he described seeing several high school students using e-book readers rather than textbooks, and another occasion where a student teacher received student responses to a discussion question via text messages, and then projected the answers on the screen to initiate oral discussion. “But other than the technology, students haven’t changed that much over the years,” he said. “Our students are still ambitious; they want to be good teachers and influence their students for good. They have good hearts.” Adolescent Literature is another course he will miss teaching. Generations of students have been introduced to the “core” group of books that Dr. Brewer believes are essential to introduce to young readers — The Giver, Hatchet, Out of the Dust, Stephanie Eddlemann, Kathy Dillion, and Rod Brewer, 2011 Jo Cleveland Awards A Day No Pigs Would Die, and Homeless Bird — along with a steady inflow of new “The future is open. I tend to think of life as a circle. The circle texts from the hundreds of books Brewer can be divided into thirds, like a pie chart. One part is God and screened and ordered for the library collec- tion each year. And Brewer does see ado- the Church, one part is teaching, and the third part is my wife lescent literature as true literature. “I think and my children. I’m not sure what I’m going to do now, be- it is a testimony to the quality of young cause I don’t want the other third of my life to be baseball and adult writing that we’re seeing so many recreation.” movies made from YA lit,” he said, listing Rod Brewer SUMMER 2012 English Alumni News FOUR

on a set syllable counts rather than stressed Jeremy Paden: Teacher, Scholar, Poet feet.” Along with autobiographical and histori- cal poems (both categories shaped by his Jeremy Paden (B.A. ‘96) is an associate the voice of Peter the morning after the de- Latin American childhood), Jeremy bases professor of Spanish and Latin American nial. But I didn’t really work at the craft of poems on biblical subject matter. Some of literature at Transylvania University in writing until college. Even then . . . I was that verse “rewrites” Bible stories. But if Lexington, Kentucky where he lives with lazy and wrote only when I felt moved. The you prefer poetry, you can find some of Jer- his wife Tracy nee Evans (B.A. ‘95) and good thing, however, is that college was a emy’s on the internet, including a Youtube two children, daughter Evan (7) and son time when everything seemed new—and video of him reading his “Ars Poetica.” In Garrett (4. inspiration for really awful poems could be the meantime, he gave us permission to re- Recently, Jeremy was a guest editor for found most anywhere.” print one of his short poems. a special edition on Latin American depic- “More importantly, though, the end of tions of colonialism in The South Atlantic high school and the beginning of college Avocado Review, where he has served on the edito- was when I began to read poetry in ear- rial board since 2011. nest. One cannot write without also read- Out of the compost heap, out of the heat He has also carved out a niche as a poet, a ing much and well. Though I don’t think I of decay, a tree not used to these mild regions. vocation that blossomed post-Harding. He am anything like them, Merwin, Stevens, It has not seen those nineteenth century started sending his work out while at Emory Levertov, Forche, Whitman, Dickinson, pictures of the world where cow and lamb lie (Ph.D. 2004) and has now published more Justice, Strand, R.S. Thomas, Vassar Mil- under an apple tree, while jaguar and constrictor than three dozen poems in several journals, lar are among the English language poets I contend for a place in the jungle shade. including Christianity and Literature, Be- continually reread.” liot Poetry Journal, Borderlands, and Cor- Out of that group, Whitman was the first It does not know Kentucky is no place tland Review. compelling model, and Jeremy “blames” to set down roots, unfurl leaves, let its fruit His love of writing goes back further than Whitman for the fact that he is “not much fill-out, fall to ground, and ripen in the dirt. grad school. Jeremy says, “I realized that I of a formal poet.” His more recent work, This bin of earth and rotting food, of worm liked to write . . . in the 9th grade when, as though, shows some “strictures,” mainly a and mushroom, centipede and the flurry a response to a vocabulary exercise, I wrote syllabic count. The influence comes from of flies is not the apocalypse, but the false a melodramatic and bathetic monologue in Spanish poetry, where teh meter is based promise welcoming all wayward children to the world’s undoing that follows the first frost. Awards and Honors

Dr. Tiffany Yecke (‘01) Brooks was named Out- standing Alumnus for 2011- Ken Hammes was awarded 12 from the College of Arts the 2011-12 Outstanding Michael Claxton was hon- and Humanities. Teacher Award for the Col- ored with the 2011-12 Petit lege of Arts and Humanities Jean Dedication SUMMER 2012 English Alumni News FIVE

ing high school for 8 years, Amy will be Alumni News an adjunct professor at the University of Washington while completing her doctor- ate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Justin has begun his 4th year as an elementary school principal. The Baeders 1978 currently reside in Seattle, WA. Teresa Burns Murphy earned an M.Ed. 1996 Laura Bontrager published her first nov- in 1982. Her novel, The Secret to Flying, Laura Shannon recently relocated to el as an Ebook in May. Fences is published was published last summer. For more in- Houston, Texas. Since graduation she has by Pressbooks and is available through formation visit her website at www.teresa- taught high school English for seven years Amazon.com. burnsmurphy.com. She lives in Fairfax, VA then was an intermediate school counselor David and Dawn (McCann) Drake an- with her husband and daughter. for 8 years. She has also received an M.Ed. nounce the birth of their son, December and became a CTS (Certified Trauma Spe- Frost, on Oct. 2, 2010. David is an SDET 1984 cialist). She is currently a counselor for consultant for Dynacron Corp. and Dawn Mary Ciccone-Cook earned an M.Ed. in Pasadena Memorial High School. teaches online English classes for the Ed- 1991. She has been selected as a Teacher monds School District. Dawn received her Liaison for the Space Foundation. In this 1997 M.Ed. (with an emphasis in Curriculum and capacity she attends the annual National Andrea Bishop currently teaches part Instruction) from Seattle University in June Space Symposium, receives cutting-edge time in the Languages and Literature de- 2011. Dawn teaches online English classes space education materials and training with partment for Southwest Tennessee Com- for the Edmonds School District in Wash- NASA, and meets with space leaders, astro- munity College in Memphis. She and her ington State. nauts and scientists across the country. Her husband live in Bartlett, TN, with two sons, Quiara Hazlewood is studying to be- duties include advocating and promoting Zach (11) and Alec (7). Andrea’s first novel, come an ordained minister in the Disciples space and science education. As an English Cloud Shadow, is available through Tate of Christ. She spends her time traveling teacher, a rarity amongst her colleagues, Publishing. with Project 50/50, a domestic mission she teaches at Aviation High School and group dedicated to raising awareness about her curriculum includes integrating avia- 1998 homelessness and building communities of tion and aerospace topics. Carol Birth teaches at Phillips Commu- nity College/University of Arkansas as In- resources for homeless men and women across the U.S. 1989 structor of Reading. Bekah (Cody) Vickers received her Hope (Thomas) Sharp and husband Ken- MLIS from University of North Texas in dall (‘88) and their daughter Eleanor, age 2000 2008. She welcomed a son, Luke, on June 12, have a new family member, Juniper Av- Emily (Haas) Brown was promoted from 8, 2009, and a daughter, Sarah, on May 18, erett Opal, born in April 2011. Kendall is a Assistant Principal of the Freshman Acad- 2011. She and her husband Philip live in professor of Classical Studies at University emy to Associate Principal of Warren Cen- Fort Worth, TX, where Philip is an attorney of Western Ontario. Hope is Special Educa- tral High School in Indianapolis, IN. with Cantey Hanger LLP. tion Learning Coordinator for Thames Val- ley District School Board. They reside in 2001 2003 London, Ontario, Canada. Nick and Lauren (Moze) Boone announce the birth of Nora Grace, born March Alexia (Kinsley) Benshoof has been married for 5 years to Jason. She is a stay- 1990 4, 2012. Nora joins older siblings Rita and at-home mom to their two children, Maria Carol Coffee was recently promoted to Josiah. (3) and Evan (20 months). Head of the Main Library at the Central Ar- Heath and Hannah (Alexander) Carpen- Brad Holden (‘03) received an M.Div. kansas Library System in Little Rock, AR. ter announce the birth of Thomas Alexan- der Jones on May 8, 2012. Thomas joins from Yale University, where he is currently studying for a Ph.D. in English. 1991 older siblings Tristan, Silas, and Enid. Yahna (Moss) Tucker and husband Pey- Sara Barton published A Woman Called: Ted and Lisa (Paden) Dahlman (’03) ton (‘03) announce the birth of a daughter, Piecing Together the Ministry Puzzle. The have two children: Teia, born in January, Lucy Renée, on February 24, 2012. Proud book is available through Amazon.com. 2010, and Thor, born in December 2011. big sister is Mattie Grace. The Tuckers live Sara is assistant professor of religion and After they spent some time doing mission in St. Louis. English at Rochester College in Rochester work, getting master’s degrees from Texas Hills, MI. Tech, and teaching in high schools, Ted joined the military. He is currently in intel- 2004 Carrie Lynne Springer married Graham 1992 ligence training. They live in Georgia. Cook in the spring of this year. They live in Darah (Tate) Watson graduated from Montgomery, AL. University of Central Arkansas in 2008 Lauren (Smelser) White completed her with a master’s degree in Library Media 2002 first year in the Ph.D. program in Theologi- and Information Technologies. She and Amy (Goff) Baeder and her husband Jus- cal Studies at Vanderbilt (minoring in Reli- husband David welcomed the birth of Lilah tin announce the birth of Vivienne Claire gion and Literature). She is a fellow in the Elizabeth, in December 2009. Baeder, born Oct. 30, 2010. After teach- SUMMER 2012 English Alumni News SIX

ing University. Alumni News (cont.) Brooklynne (Travis) Peters writes for Launch Agency in Carrollton, TX. Ike and Alexis (Gentry) Peters live in Little Rock, AR, where Ike is a copywriter at Eric Rob & Isaac ad agency and Alexis is Theology and Practice program. Husband Meghan (Perry) Clanton received an a web copywriter for Dillard’s department Jason (‘03) practices dentistry. M.Ed. in Teaching, Learning and Leading store. Joe Voigts received an M.A. from Portland from Lipscomb University in 2011. She Nathan Shank completed an M.A. in State University with specialties in Rheto- teaches Latin fulltime at Marshall County English at University of Oklahoma in ric/Composition, Medieval Literature, and High School in Lewisburg, Tenn. Spring 2011 and began a Ph.D. program in 19th Century Russian Novel, in June 2011. Julie Dow graduated with an M.A. in lit- English at University of Kentucky in Fall He taught composition, conversation, and erature from Florida State University. 2011. His article, “Understated Metaphor the Romantic poets in the Department of Holly (Threm) Goslin graduated with an in Frank O’Hara,” was published in The English Language and Literature at Kyung- M.A. in English from University of Cen- Explicator, in November 2011. He married sung University in Busan, South Korea. tral Arkansas in 2011. Since then she has Manda Overturf on Dec. 30, 2011. Ashlee Wolfe traveled to Beijing and worked as an adjunct English instructor at Grant White has been a graduate assistant Shanghai, China to evaluate two study Harding University and as a ninth grade in the Mathematical Sciences department at abroad programs for the University of English teacher at Bald Knob High School. the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Michigan’s Asian Language and Cultures She married Thomas Goslin on Sept 26, where he earned a Master’s degree. In Fall Department. 2009. Karyn Kiser and husband David Dahl- of 2011 he was named a Distinguished Doc- toral Fellow in the department. He married 2005 Hannson moved to Japan, where Karyn is Natalie Stark in 2009. Taylor Carr and wife Lydia announce teaching through the JET Program. Michael Wright completed an M.A. in the birth of Alban Athanasius Carr in No- Elizabeth Lanius was inducted into Delta Theology and Art from Fuller Seminary. vember. They also have a daughter Lucia. Kappa Gamma, a sorority of accomplished He is living in an intentional community in Taylor has been accepted into the Ph.D. women educators. Her poem, “The Spoils of Arcadia, CA. program in Theology at Boston College. War,” won first place in the sorority’s 2011 Matt and Caitlin (Hammitt) Hainley poetry competition. The poem and a news 2009 returned to the United States after teaching release were published in The Leader, a Joanna Benskin completed her first year English and literature in China for five years. Jacksonville, AR newspaper. She graduated as a Ph.D. student at Purdue University. In They have two children, Juliet and Ozella. from the Arkansas Leadership Academy’s addition to teaching as a graduate assistant, Matt received his master’s in Education Teacher Leadership Institute in June 2012. she served as the graduate student coordina- from University of Oklahoma in 2010. This She teaches regular and Pre-AP English at tor for the Renaissance Comparative Prose spring Matt placed first and Caitlin placed Jacksonville High School and continues to Conference and co-authored “An Intro- second in their college’s creative writing write in her free time. duction: The Prose of the Western World” contest, awarding them $1,000 and $500 Jessica (Reed) Love earned an M. Ed. in for a special conference issue of the jour- respectively, as well as the opportunity to Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia nal Prose Studies. For her dissertation she participate in a literary festival and work University Texas in April 2012. She teaches plans to study gender and spiritual quests in one-on-one with a professional author. high school English and Bible and serves Malory, Spenser, and Shakespeare. Everett and Melody (Bryan) Reed (‘04) as the language arts vertical team chair at Kurt Cavender completed an M.A. and announce the birth of Elijah Bryan Reed on Brentwood Christian School in Austin, TX. entered the Ph.D. program at Brandeis Uni- Oct. 13, 2011. They live in Harvest, Ala., Erin (Cooley) Lowery and husband Ca- versity in 2011. This summer he presented where Everett teaches part time at North- leb (‘07) are living in Austin, TX, where the paper “Digital Revolutions: Social Me- east Alabama Community College. she works as a daycare/preschool teacher. dia and Political Consciousness” at the In- Scott Walters was named Assistant Prin- ternational Symposium on Language and cipal at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet, 2008 Communication in Izmir, Turkey. Tenn. in August 2011. Nichole (Dicken) Boehrig and husband Sean (‘08) have paid off over $100,000 of Karie Cross published the paper “Free- dom for All, or Freedom for Some? Gen- 2006 students loans, quit their jobs in Newark, der Quotas in Africa, Asia, and the Middle Mary Cunningham received an M.A. in New Jersey, and are interning at an organ- East,” in Papers, Essays and Reviews: Yon- English from National University in 2011. ic farm in Ohio for the summer. They are planning to move to Swaziland, Africa and sei GSIS Journal of International Studies 3.2 (2011). She is transferring from Ameri- 2007 work as missionaries. Nichole was featured can University to a Ph.D. program in Peace Rui Cao received a master’s degree in in Spring 2012 Harding Magazine. Studies and Political Science at University TESOL at the University of Central Florida Ryan (Rocky) Hall received his MBA of Notre Dame. in 2011. During that period she worked as from Harding. Chris McKeever graduated from Kansas an instructor of Mandarin and English at Jennifer (Harris) Hannigan and hus- State University with a master’s degree in the Berlitz Language Center in Orlando, band Scott (‘08) welcome son Preston Scott English with a focus on Composition, Rhet- FL. Currently she is Manager of Instruction May 2. Jennifer began graduate studies in oric, and Literature, and a Technical Writ- for Berlitz China, Guangzhou Branch. Education with a focus on English at Hard- ing Certificate. He has taught composition SUMMER 2012 English Alumni News SEVEN

Alumni News (cont.) 2011 Shannon Brazas married Chris Cochran Feb. 21, 2012. Rebekah Craig studied at the University of Denver Denver Publishing Institute sum- as an adjunct the past two years. Marisa (Smith) Lytle is a full-time staff mer 2012. Jonathan David McRay married Ra- writer for The Daily Citizen in Searcy. She Alex Freeman lived in Seoul, South Ko- chelle Martindale in July 2011. While was recently honored at the Associated rea, teaching ESL. studying towards an M.A. in Conflict Press Media Editors conference in Heber Adria Giles married Garrett English in Transformation and Restorative Justice at Springs, AR, where she was awarded first May. Adria will continue in her second year the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding place in the Non-traditional News Item of a master’s program in literature at Uni- in Eastern Mennonite University, Jonathan category for her story “When I grow up, I versity of Central Arkansas. works in construction/carpentry and urban want to be . . . .” She also received second Caleb Hall is working on a master’s de- permaculture. place finishes in beat reporting, political re- gree with a certification in education. William Hawk Medders lives in Anti- porting, and business reporting, and a third Lucas Nossaman married Heather Wat- och, TN and works days at the Renaissance place finish in the community service/spe- kins Dec. 19, 2011. He has completed the Nashville Hotel. In the evenings he writes, cial section category. first year of graduate studies in literature at rehearses, and records music with various Nick Michael received an M.A. in Jour- North Carolina State University. artists. nalism and Photojournalism from Univer- Jocelyn McClung completed the Univer- Paige Parkey completed the first year sity of Missouri. While a student he taught sity of Denver’s Denver Publishing Insti- studying law at University of Alabama. a course in Photojournalism & Micro- tute course. Alexandra (Loan) Paxton pursued Documentary Videography. He also created

graduate study at University of Memphis. and led a short-form documentary produc- 2012 In August 2011 she married Dale Paxton tion class for undergraduate and master’s Alexandra Ford presented the paper and moved to the University of California, students. Currently he lives in Washington “The Ambivalent Role of Language in Merced, to pursue her Ph.D. in Cognitive D.C. and is completing a video intern- Gunslinger” at the Arkansas Philological Science. She has since presented her con- ship with National Public Radio. His wife, Associationn Conference. flict-focused research at multiple confer- Kelsie nee Sherrod (‘11) is working as ences and has been featured in the APA’s an intern with the Smithsonian Center for gradPSYCH Magazine. Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Please send updates to: Johnna Percell has spent the last year in English Department Iowa working as an AmeriCorps Vista for Jessica (Roper) Reeves works as an edi- Box 12248 the Community Corrections Improvement tor for the Belden Center for Private Enter- Harding University Association (CCIA). CCIA is a non-profit prise at Harding University. Searcy, AR 72149 foundation started by the Department of Rebekah (Green) Rush works fulltime Correctional Services. She is the Education with the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas as a or email Coordinator for probation/parole clients Program Specialist. [email protected]. and their families. She also helped CCIA Nelson Shake completed his first year of Website: www.harding.edu/english start an Adult High School Completion pro- an English M.A. at Georgia Southern Uni- gram for youthful offenders. versity. He has been rewarded a teaching Facebook: The English Department Rachel (Melchers) Scholl works in mar- assistantship for the fall. ~ Harding University keting and purchasing for a catalog/home delivery company. Vincent Wagner (‘09) completed the Elizabeth (Harrell) Owen first year of law school at UT Austin. He received a Blackstone Fellowship from the lives in North Little Rock with Alliance Defense Fund and will be a legal her husband Matt (‘04), daugh- intern at the Texas Alliance for Life in Aus- ter Jane, and her Schnauzer, tin. Mabel. She writer a popular 2010 blog, Mable’s House (www. Sadie (Jones) Bullard began a master’s mableshouse.blogspot.com), program in Education with an emphasis in English at Harding. She has been accepted and recently published the non- to study law at Belmont University in Nash- fiction book, My Not So Sto- ville, TN and will begin fall 2012. rybook Life. Elizabeth recently Emily Hauptli married Jonathan Sanders on March 3, 2012. They live in Colorado visited campus for an informal Springs, CO. Emily works as a copywriter discussion on blogging and for PaperDirect. writing. SUMMER 2012 English Alumni News EIGHT

2012 Our Newest Alumni Jo Cleveland Creative Writing Awards July 2011 Sarah Eason Poetry: Robert Goodrum * Alexandra Ford Barrett Smith Rebekah Mays *Timothy Gentry Maddi Nelson Shaunda Dannatt Amanda Herren Frank Franks Michal Horton December 2011 Bethany Howell Non-Fiction: Kathryn Arbuckle Logan Mahan Logan Mahan * Shannon Brazas David Niswonger Laura Smith * Irene David * Kristen Ragland Abigail Anklam Grant Ford * Allison Scoggin Amanda Partridge * Justin Scoggin Fiction: Hannah Stewart Nekia Shelton Laura Smith *Dustin Smith Sarah Eason May 2012 Candace Spikes Natalie White Stephanie Allen * Amber Brock * Teaching licensure In Memoriam: Linda Lowe * Whitney Dixon

Friend of the Department and long- time member of the White County 2011-122 Bobbie Coleman Student Creative Writers club, Linda Lowe Teaching Award: Whitney Dixon (l.) died June 13, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. Linda was a regu- Outstanding Senior English Major: lar guest reader at the Fall Literary Festival over the past several years, Alexandra Ford (r.) most recently in 2011. She loved writing and storytelling, and each year she was a crowd favorite.