The TorchWayland Baptist University’sSchool of Languages and LiteratureNewsletterFall 2018

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

- Nelson Mandela

Area Spanish Students Compete on Campus

The Spanish Club held its First Annual Spanish Competition in December at the Laney Center. The event drew more than 100 students from 10 area high schools, with Wayland Spanish students volunteering to serve as judges. The Spanish Club students were also assisted by students in Wayland’s foreign language honor society, Alpha Mu Gamma. The area high school students competed in events such as art, poetry recitation, singing, and acting.

Dr. Joshua Mora, Associate Dean of Languages and Literature, described the event as “truly amazing” and said he was impressed “to see how well the students prepared for the event in every area.” The judges witnessed incredible talent in all the competitions, which made choosing the finalists and winners very difficult. According to Mora, who offered a special thanks to Senior Spanish major and Spanish Club

President Dania Martinez-Diaz for organizing the event, “It was a very successful event and something we are already planning for this coming fall and annually after that.”

The School of Languages and Literature plans to host the “Language and Culture Festival,” an expansion of the Spanish Competition, on October 12, 2018.

Scholarship RecipientsRoberta Wright Reeves:s Ricardo Carrillos Raquel Chavezs Samuel Dailys Tanner Edwards s Mallorie Elliss Marissa Feltons Mikaylee Gwins Kaelene Hansens Darryn Hlabanganas Johanna Machas Dania Martinez-Diazs Jaci Monroes Fernando Serje Ortizs Christopher Mark Santoss Rebekah Thompson

Peyton & Ola Barrington:s Aaron White

Mang Pew Lee:s Marissa Felton

Rev. & Mrs. B.H. Warren Memorial:s Rebekah Thompson

Dorothy Watters Jamar:s Christopher Mark Santos

Christa Kunkel Smith:s Fernando Serje Ortiz

Zaphryn Memorial:s Marissa Felton

Dr. Sherman Brown Neff:s Jachin Byrd

Dr. Don & Mrs. Lannie Cook:s Raquel Chavez

Frances W. Bass Redinger:s Mallorie Ellis

William J. and Patricia H. O’Connell:s Rebekah Browns Marissa Feltons Johanna Machas Kristen Middletons Anita Salazars Jonah Silva

A BIG thanks to our donors and congratulations to our recipients!

Piñatas on display

Dania Martines-Diaz and Dr. Joshua Mora

The School of Languages and Literature is excited to welcome Dr. Jesús Romero as our new Associate Professor of Spanish. Romero comes to us with 25 years of experience in higher education. He taught Spanish at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, for 16 years. He has spent the last 9 years as the Chair of the Department of Modern Languages at Baptist Universities of Americás in San Antonio, Texas, where he developed a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language and Literature.

Romero earned his bachelor’s degree from the Instituto Technólogico y de Estudios Superiores in Monterrey, Mexico. His master’s degree in Spanish is from New Mexico State University (1988) and his PhD, also in Spanish, is from The University of Arizona (1993).

In addition to his work as department chair at BUA, Romero has served as the Director of the Immigration Service and Aid Center (ISAAC) since 2010. The ISAAC project is a non-profit organization

sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas and recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice since April 2013. As director, Romero has been able to provide legal services in the South side of San Antonio and to offer yearly seminars on basic immigration law for other non-profits.

At Wayland, Romero will work with the School of Languages and Literature’s Associate Dean, Dr. Joshua Mora, to teach upper-level and lower-level Spanish courses and to develop new upper-level courses for our W B U O n l i n e programs.

R o m e r o has been married to his wife, Elsa, for 29 years. They have three children, David (27), Ana Laura (26), and Daniel Alejandro (20).

Student Honors and Accomplishments

Spring Award Winners

The following students were recognized for outstanding accomplishment in their respective fields of study during Wayland’s Spring Awards Chapel on April 11, 2018:

Jessica Stohlmann - American Sign Language

Jennifer Hollars- EnglishSean Bohnet - French

Dania Martinez-Diaz - Spanish

School Welcomes New Spanish Professor

Mayfield Scholarship

The School of Languages and Literature continues efforts to raise the funds necessary to endow a scholarship in honor of long-time English professor, Dr. Arch Mayfield. Though Dr. Mayfield no longer teaches at the Plainview campus, he continues to teach for Wayland online in a part-time capacity. While we miss his presence greatly, we are delighted that online students are still able to learn from Dr. Mayfield and experience his wonderful spirit.

Once we reach the $25,000 endowment mark, the interest accrued by the fund will be used as scholarships for English and Language students. Working together, we believe we can not only honor Dr. Mayfield, but also offer worthy students the opportunity of a faith-based education at Wayland.

If you would like to donate to the Dr. Arch Mayfield Scholarship, please contact our Advancement Office at 806-291-3427.

Current and Former Student Recognition

• Sierra Bailey, BA ’17: Acceptance to master’s program in St. Andrews, Scotland (begins fall 2018).

• Haley Bonner, BA ’16: Completion of master’s program at University of College Cork in Ireland (spring 2018).

• Bridgit O’Connell, BA ‘16: “Don’t Get Too Personal” Into the Void, April 2017.

• Sage Gregory: “Where the Faeries

Play” in Texas Emerging Writers, September 2018.

• Dania Martinez-Diaz: “The Lack of Successful ESL Education in the United States: Whom Do We Blame?” Accepted for presentation at Alpha Mu Gamma Conference in Riverdale, NY, 2018.

• Dania Martinez-Diaz and Raquel Chavez passed Spanish LOTE exam for Spanish certification.

Faculty Promotions

Dr. Erin Heath

Dr. Maria O’Connell

Dr. Jesús Romero

The Board of Trustees approved promotions for two of our English faculty members this year. Dr. Erin Heath and Dr. Maria O’Connell were promoted from assistant professor to associate professor.

Congrats to you both!Dr. Maria O’Connell

Faculty Scholarship and Involvement

• Dr. Kuhlmann, Dr. McClenagan, Dr. O’Connell, Dr. Heath, Dr. Mayfield, and Dr. Lynn: Sue Monk Kidd: A Collection of Critical Essays. (Under review at TCU Press)

• Dr. Karen Beth Strovas: “‘You can sleep yourself into good looks’: Beauty Sleep and Power in The Woman in White and Dracula.” Presented at College English Association Conference, St. Petersburg,

FL, April, 2018.• Dr. Troy Gregory: “Mr. Facey Romford’s

Hounds, or Breeding New Blood into Old Kennels and Conclusion.” Accepted for reprint in Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Lawrence Trudeau.

• Dr. Maria O’Connell: “Nature in the Gaps: Ecodelic Ecology in Charles Bowden’s Desert Trilogy.” Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment, Vol. 24,

Issue 4 (2017): 639-652.• Dr. Laura Brandenburg: Finalist in the

American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis Contest for her fiction book (winners announced September 2018).

• Dr. Erin Heath: “She May Bee like Jesus: African American Female Christ Figure in The Secret Life of Bees.” Presented at Conference of College Teachers of English March 2018.

Gregory Named Research Champion

We held our first annual Languages and Literature Symposium on February 20 in conjunction with our annual recruitment event for new majors and minors. The symposium, led and organized by Dr. Erin Heath, included paper presentations from nine students in English and Spanish.

Students submitted an application to present for the symposium and were entered into the contest for the annual Languages and Literature Research Champion, which included a $100 cash prize.

A panel of three faculty judges chose the top-three submissions and then with a second round of judging, determined Sage Gregory’s piece merited first place.

As research champion, Gregory read her creative piece, titled “Where the Faeries Play,” in chapel on April 11. Gregory’s name will also be recognized among the other Languages and Literature Champions on a plaque outside the main office.

Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Gregory is a double major in English and History. She will graduate in May 2019 and plans to pursue a career in screenwriting. She is the daughter of English faculty member, Dr. Troy Gregory.

Costa RicaThe spring of 2018 marked the ninth

year of the Costa Rica Study Tour. Dr. Mora led five students to Playa Guiones, Costa Rica once more. The staff and local commuity made the students feel at home and welcomed them into their culture, and student expresssd the benefits of their experience:

“Going on the Costa Rica study tour was an enriching experience. Not only was I able to fulfill my foreign language requirements and grow in my Spanish speaking skills, but our group made friends with many locals, went on a fantastic excision, explored Nosara, and relaxed in a beautiful beach house.” -Aimee Brooks, senior three-dimmensional art major

“I really enjoyed learning in an unconventional setting. Being immersed in a culture that fostered an opportunity to actively utilize the vocabulary and grammar we were learning was wonderful!” -Anita Salazar, senior pastoral ministry major.

United KingdomDr. Maria O’Connell and Dr. Troy

Gregory ventured forth into the United Kingdom accompannied by a lively group of nine students. Their main destinations included Chester, York, and Moreton-in-Marsh. The students came home raving about how much they loved the tour:

“The UK Study Tour was an incredible experience, connecting lessons from class with what surrounded us in the landscape. Being in a place that you read and learn about brings education to a whole new level!” -Marissa Felton, senior English and art major

“Having the opportunity to experience another country and delve into England’s literary history was a dream come true that wouldn’t have been possible without Wayland. I was blessed not only to explore a beautiful new world but also to make amazing new friends.” -Johanna Macha, junior English Professional Writing major

Faculty Scholarship and Awards

2018 May Micro Study Tours

Dr. Maria O’Connell, Marissa Felton, Johanna Macha, Kristen Middleton, Sally Giesbrecht, Rebekah Brown, Dr. Troy Gregory, Christian Givens, and Bridgit O’Connell

Kala Long, Aimee Brooks, Marta, Jonah Silva, Dr. Joshua Mora, Brant Walker, Anita Salazar, Andrew Cosper

Sage Gregory

Help us keep in touch!

You don’t want to miss seeing our goofy group pictures every year, do you?

Don’t forget to keep us updated on your current contact information. We would

love to stay in touch!

To make sure our records are up to date, please take a moment to send us the following information:

Name (include maiden name if applicable):

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Graduation Year: ____________________

Mailing Address: _____________________

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City: _______________________________

State: ____________ Zip Code: __________

Email: ______________________________

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Phone Number: _______________________

Current Occupation: ___________________

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Please return to Dr. Laura Brandenburg:

LBrandenburg@wbu.edu

-or-

1900 W. 7th Street, CMB 1300 Plainview, TX 79072

We had eight master’s graduates this year. Five graduate students completed their Master of Arts in English degree during the 2017-2018 academic year: Carolyn Bowers, Julie Allen, John Jemar, Taylor Guesnier, and Megan Kischer (August 2018). Three graduates completed their Master of Arts in Humanities degree, specializing in English: Deborah Hare, Melody Bills, and Heather Gerszewski.

Julie Allen, Taylor Guesnier, and Megan Kischer also completed Master’s theses. Allen’s thesis, titled “Anne Bradstreet: A Woman Working Out Her Faith,” was under the direction of her committee, Dr. Maria O’Connell (chair), Dr. Laura Brandenburg, and Dr. Brent Lynn. Guesnier’s thesis,

titled “Challenging Gender Norms through Kate Chopin’s The Awakening in Victorian America,” was under the direction of her committee, Dr. Karen Beth Strovas (chair), Dr. Laura Brandenburg, and Dr. Erin Heath. Kischer’s thesis, titled “Misperceptions and Marriage: the Impact of Personality in Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion,” was under the direction of her committee, Dr. Karen Beth Strovas (chair), Dr. Laura Brandenburg, and Dr. Erin Heath.

Hare, Bill, and Gerszewski are the first graduates of the Master of Arts in Humanities program, which began accepting students in 2015.

New Master’s Graduates for the MAE and MAHM Programs

This past spring, seven Wayland students and recent alums and two faculty members attended the Sigma Tau Delta International Convention, held in Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 21-24, 2018. All seven either presented critical essays or creative writing, conducted a roundtable discussion, or both. Dr. Brandenburg and Dr. Strovas, the faculty sponsors traveling with Wayland’s Eta Theta chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, have also taken groups of students to Albuquerque, NM, Minneapolis, MN, and Louisville, KY, in recent years.

The group represented diverse academic and artistic interests. Graduating seniors Jenn Hollars and Nina Wyre presented original poetry and fiction, respectively, while Levi Brown (Dec. 2017 graduate), Sierra Carter (Dec. 2017 graduate), Tristen Carter, and Kaelene Hansen each presented critical essays. Levi Brown, Tristen Carter, Marissa

Felton, and Kaelene Hansen presented a roundtable on the topic of historical America and misperceptions of early Americans and immigrants related to Viking culture and lore.

Sigma Tau Delta Members Travel to Cincinnati

Dr. Strovas, Julie Allen, Dr. O’Connell, andDr. Brandenburg

Dr. Brandenburg, Carolyn Bowers, and Dr. Strovas

Sierra Carter, Tristen Carter, Jennifer Hollars, Levi Brown, Marissa Felton, Dr. Brandenburg, Nina Wyre, Dr. Strovas, and Kaelene Hansen

Check out the latest edition of Embers, our literary and arts maga-zine, online!

www.wbu.edu/ academics/schools/school-of-languages -and-literature