The English Aggie

Dr. Killingsworth came to Texas A&M in 1990, served as the English Department Head for four years, and has contributed to both the literature and rhetoric sides of the English Department during his time here. While he has engaged in academic writing and research during his time here at Texas A&M, Killingsworth says he was happiest to write things he could use in his classes. He has authored two textbooks which are frequently used in rhetoric classes: Performing Prose and Appeals in Modern Rhetoric . He also wrote four books on Whitman which have benefited the literary community immensely. Dr. Killingsworth has also been one of the main forces behind founding the subfield of Environmental Rhetoric. In 1992, he co-authored Ecospeak: Rhetoric and Environmental Politics in America with his wife, Jacqueline S. Palmer. He also helped begin a course called Environmental Literature (ENGL 302), joined by fellow scholars in the English Department such as Susan Egenolf, Larry Olive...

As the founder of Women’s Studies and an inspired teacher, Dr. Andreadis has been an integral part of the English Department for the almost 40 year duration of her time here. She has taught classes and been affiliated with Women's Studies and Film Studies as well as the Department of English.  When she retires, Andreadis plans to “think [her] own thoughts” and catch up on her reading. She also hopes to travel, practice her photography, and keep up a few projects on the side. Dr. Janet McCann writes: Harriette has never had the credit she deserves for founding Women’s Studies. Her first office was just a regular office with an extra desk for part-time help; from there she formed links all over campus. It took courage to start up Women’s Studies at that time and time and in this place. No one upstairs was calling out for interdisciplinary studies or waving around grants, and some members of the campus community were actively hostile to the project. But she persisted, and ...

Dr. Dennis Berthold has made innumerable contributions to the world of Nineteenth-century American literature, specifically relating to Herman Melville. He has been at Texas A&M for 42 years, and has taught courses on literature of the sea, Gothicism, and others. Berthold has also published essays in nationally recognized journals such as American Literary History, American Literature , and Nineteenth-Century Literature , and has published five book, the most recent being American Risorgimento: Herman Melville and the Cultural Politics of Italy (Ohio State University Press, 2009). While Dr. Berthold has contributed to the academic world in many ways, his leadership has been greatly appreciated, both as the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of English and as the president of the Melville Society. Dr. Larry Reynolds writes: Dennis’s record as a teacher puts those of most of us to shame. He’s one of the most accomplished and influential teachers not only at Texas...

Dr. Paul Christensen is a  renowned poet, essayist, literature critic, and for a while, was the coordinator of creative writing at Texas A&M. According to Dr. Janet McCann, “[Christensen’s] projects, such as the radio program Poetry Southwest...brought creative energy to the department. His reading series, festivals, and creative teaching techniques gained us recognition and attracted many fine students.” Christensen currently lives in central Vermont, and plans to keep writing. Dr. Janet McCann writes: Creative Writing when Paul headed it was an active university/community center of activity. We used to have visiting readers at his home in downtown Bryan—the speakers would have to pause now and then while the train came through his back yard. His projects, such as the radio program Poetry Southwest, which featured everyone from Creeley and Ginsberg down to local poets, brought creative energy to the department. His reading series, festivals, and creative teaching techniqu...

After 25 years at Texas A&M, Dr. Harner is retiring. Although he has instructed various classes, his major contributions to A&M and the English community are the World Shakespeare Bibliography, which received the Besterman medal in ’96, and the Literary Research Guide, which was named one of the TLS Books of the Year in 2008. After retiring, Harner plans to move to Richmond, VA and become “a fulltime grandfather.” Dr. Maura Ives writes: Dr. Harner is one of the reasons why I came to Texas A&M in 1990, and it's hard for me to imagine this department without him. Over the years, he has set an example of distinguished scholarship, and rigorous teaching. Those who know him best also appreciate his sense of humor, his love of good food (he is our go-to person for restaurant recommendations!), and his mysterious past: when, at the department reception, I let slip that Dr. Harner had once worked as a shopping mall Santa, a number of people in the room seemed to be surpri...