Becky Childs, Professor of English, came to JMU in 2022. She earned a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Georgia, an M.A. in English from North Carolina State University, and a B.A. in English with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Florida. Her academic interests are in sociolinguistics, specifically dialects of English and English language variation in contemporary society.

As associate dean, Becky provides oversight and leadership for undergraduate recruitment, student academic affairs, curriculum and pedagogy, and communications and marketing.