Welcome
Fall, 2009
Dear Friends,
We are beginning this new fall semester with good energy and hopeful spirit as we finally turn the corner into the more fully understood landscape of fiscal restraint. Having been a part of the extensive University discussions on reducing the budget for the biennium, 2009-2011, the English Department weathered the fiscal storm in generally good shape. Except for the loss of one unfilled tenure track faculty line in Pullman, which we may have the opportunity to regain, and the reduction and reassignment of some instructors in our Distance Degree offerings, our permanent and temporary faculty positions remain intact. And in fact, we have actually had the privilege of hiring a new tenure track faculty member in Tri-Cities. Andrea Davis joins us as Assistant Professor of English with emphasis in rhetoric and composition and will fill the Writing Program Administration position we have needed in Tri-Cities since the advent of their four-year undergraduate program. We are lucky to have Andrea with us and welcome her warmly.
Despite the difficulties of last year, we continue to offer, with some adjustments, our usual broad and full range of courses, both in the English and Digital Technology and Culture majors and in GERs in English, humanities, and writing. Our classes are all being taught at full capacity; our new graduate cohort of 17 students is finding its way with exciting energy; and our faculty colleagues are rejuvenated in both new and continuing research and scholarly projects.
The only area undergoing uncomfortable change, as a result of budget cuts, is that of our wonderful support personnel. The consolidation of support personnel into central CLA service centers will mean a reassignment of duties for those who have worked so well and faithfully with us for years. These folks will continue to work with us but in different capacities, not yet fully understood. This will be a difficult time of adjustment for all, but especially for them, and we all are trying to pitch in to make the transition as smooth as possible.
In January, in the face of budget cuts, I asked for help and support from everybody. And now as we know the surer realities of those reductions, I am again calling for your present and future support. It’s with your help that our students and faculty alike can continue to encourage some of the best thinking in the humanities and liberal arts universities like ours have to offer. So, please offer your support and keep in touch. Our best to all of you.
George E. Kennedy
Chair
From the Editor
Dear Readers,
It is with great pleasure that we release our third edition of Impact! While Impact covers newsworthy items of interest to WSU English Department students, alumni, and faculty, it is meant to be more than that. We hope to develop partnerships with people around the country and around the world who, like us, are striving to positively impact their environments and communities.
For helping me with this edition, a special thanks to: Erin Jepsen, Peter Chilson, Patty Ericsson, Sarah White, Anne Stiles, T.V. Reed, Annette Bednar, Lainey Guddat, Kristen Arola, Alex Hammond, Jana Argersinger, Diane Kelly-Riley and Chris Arigo. Send corrections and contribution ideas for the next edition of Impact to: deblee@wsu.edu
Debbie Lee
Coordinator for Research and Development