Doug Baker attended Radford University before graduating from James Madison University in December 2005 with a major in English. He has recently worked as a middle school and high school teacher of English, reading, art, and science in Florida. He is chiefly interested in the novel, particularly the relationship between romance and social justice.

          Elysia Balavage graduated from King’s College Honors Program in Pennsylvania with an English major and philosophy minor where she also served as a Writing Center Tutor. Her interests are in Modernism, particularly the works of Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot. She is a tutor in the JMU Writing Center.

          Julianne Bankemper earned her B.A. in English from James Madison University in May of 2011 after coming in as a transfer student from Lord Fairfax Community College in the Fall of 2008. She was homeschooled from 3rd grade through high school and has traveled throughout the continental United States. Julianne’s primary interest is in American Romanticism, with special attention to Hawthorne, Emerson, and Poe, and other interests lie in philosophy and theory.

          Brooke Bernard earned her B.A. in English from Virginia Commonwealth University, with a minor in creative writing. She has attended the Sweetbriar Writers Conference and participated in an Honors Summer Research Institute, photographing and cataloguing early illustrations of the work of Edgar Allen Poe. Besides Poe, her interests are in 19th century literature and Romanticism. She serves as a T.A. in English and Writing.

          Benjamin Boatwright graduated summa cum laude from Averett College (VA) in December 2010 with majors in English and history. He has a broad literary background but is particularly interested in the works of Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce.

          Joseph Carson graduated from James Madison University in Spring 2010 with double majors in Communication Studies and Theatre & Dance, as well as a minor in Writing and Rhetoric, though he also managed to find time for many English courses. He hopes to gain a more solid grounding in literature to apply to his interests in theatre, and is particularly interested in critical theory and drama (postmodern and Restoration eras).  He is also a theatre master carpenter and electrician; read, he can use power tools!

          Michael Critzer graduated from the University of Virginia in 2008 with a BIS in Humanities before beginning a graduate program in English at Villanova University, where he also worked as a tutor in the Writing Center. He has, however, moved back to Virginia is completing his graduate studies with us. His interests are in 19th and 20th century American fiction and poetry and in graphic novels and comic books. Michael is a tutor in the JMU Writing Center.

          Brooke Elliott graduated from Bridgewater College in May 2011 with a B.A. in English and a minor in French. During her undergraduate career she tutored and completed an interterm session in the French Caribbean. Brooke has presented a paper at the VMI Undergraduate Shakespeare Conference in Lexington, VA, and she is an accomplished poet with a number of publications and a collection of poetry  forthcoming.  Brooke will serve as a tutor in the JMU Writing Center.

          James Michael Harper graduated from James Madison University in 2008 with a major in English. He has spent the last three years, with his girlfriend, running Coffee on the Corner, a local coffee shop in Staunton, VA. He is a fan of film noir, music, and all literature.

          Leah Kirkpatrick attends part-time. She has taught high school English and completed a thesis on children’s literature. 

          Daniel Levine graduated from Gettysburg College with a B.A. in English in May 2011. While there he hosted a radio show entitled The Doubled D Show. He has studied film and Israeli literature, and is also interested in sports writing. Dan holds dual American and Israeli citizenship.

          James Marafino graduated from James Madison University in the spring of 2009 and has taken graduate seminars as a non-degree student during the past year. His interests are chiefly in American literature, particularly American Realism and Naturalism, and in gender studies.  James is also a dance instructor for a local ballet studio and for the Harrisonburg Parks & Recreation Department.

          Andrew Marsh, Captain, U.S. Army, was admitted in fall 2010 and took a year deferment to complete his third tour in Iraq. Andrew graduated from Virginia Military Academy in 2003 with majors in English and Writing. His literary interests are broad, but he has studied classical and Renaissance literature in some depth. He is currently completing Ranger training. After earning his M.A. in English, Andrew will teach at West Point.

          Holly Martin graduated in May 2005 from Marshall University with an RBA in Journalism and minors in Spanish and Philosophy. She had previously studied English at Cedarville University. Currently a Media Specialist in Corporate Communications at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, she is also an award-winning writer, photographer, and editor in public relations and journalism. Holly is fluent in Spanish, has served as an ESL Instructor in Quito, Ecuador, and is a runner.

          Chris Morris obtained his B.A. in Classics and Economics from the University of Virginia in 1997, as well as his J.D. in 2000. He is returning to the academic world after practicing law for ten years. His interests include medieval and Renaissance literature, mythology, and Poe.

          Ashley Reynolds graduated from the University of Delaware in 2010 with a major in English and a minor in history. While at Delaware she studied British theatre in London for a semester and published poetry in Caesura, Delaware’s literary magazine. Her interests are chiefly in 20th century American literature. She is currently serving as a substitute teacher for grades pre-K through 12th.

          Diana Ruskin earned her B.A. in Psychology from Kenyon College in 2009. She is particularly interested in the intersections of literature and psychology and the use of theater as a pedagogical tool. A committed musician, she has studied voice for over ten years and has an extensive acting background. She is a passionate foodie and teaches cooking classes focused on seasonal, local ingredients. She will serve as a G.A. in the English Department.

          Joe Shankweiler earned his B.A. in English from the University of Virginia in 2004, and has worked as a residential counselor for the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center. Joe is chiefly interested in American modernism and in critical theory as well as the History of the Book; he serves as a Carrier Library Special Collections intern.

          Valerie Stevens attended King College in Bristol, TN, where she received a B.A. in English Literature and Performing and Visual Arts (music focus). She graduated as a Sniders Honors Fellow and did her honors research on Oscar Wilde. Her primary academic interests are 19th and 20th century British Literature and gender studies. She especially likes the works of Barbara Pym. Notably, she is a founding member and President of the Less than Finer Things Club, a book club that unites Emory and Henry College alumni and others dedicated to less than fine literary culture.

          Courtney R. C. Swartzentruber graduated from James Madison University with honors with a B.A. in English and a minor in Communication Studies in December 2006. She worked as a paralegal at Clint Sellers PLLC before returning to James Madison University for her M.A. in English. She is interested in British literature, particularly of the Victorian period, in feminist theory, and in linguistics. Courtney lives in Harrisonburg with her husband.

          Janie Thames teaches high school English locally and attends part-time. Most recently she was involved in a study trip to India.

          Ethan Thomson earned his B.A. in English from James Madison University. While earning his degree he worked in the Language Resource Center and as a line manager of electronic music for JMU’s WXJM Radio Station. His current interests are in American literature, particularly works by the so-called Hysterical Realists, and in creative writing.

          Nicholas Webb graduated from James Madison University in May 2011 with a B.A. in English and a minor in Classical Studies. His interests currently focus on American Literature and include, but are not limited to, early modernism and post-modernism. When not in school Nick dabbles in painting, collage, and music and is helplessly mediocre at all three.

JMU Web Privacy Statement