After thirty-one years of teaching in SPU’s English and
Cultural Studies Department, Dr. Doug Thorpe is retiring.
Dr. Thorpe’s academic and teaching interests have included Romanticism,
world literature, American ethnic literature, and environmental spirituality.
His combined love of William Blake, Christian contemplative
traditions, and the Pacific Northwest’s mountains led to Thorpe’s award-winning
book, Rapture of the Deep: Reflections on
the Wild in Art, Wilderness and the Sacred (Red Hen Press, 2007). In Wisdom Sings the World: Poetry, Creation,
and the Way of Dwelling (Codhill Press, 2010), Thorpe reflects on the
connections between spirituality and the arts.
An active member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, his
favorite memories of Seattle Pacific include teaching students abroad in
England, collaborating with colleagues at home, and many rich conversations
with students in his office or at local coffee shops.
For those lamenting Dr. Thorpe’s retirement, there’s some comfort in
knowing he’ll continue to teach at SPU on a part-time basis into the
foreseeable future
Dr. Kimberly Segall, Professor of English and Cultural Studies, has received the 2019 Undergraduate Professor of the Year Award from SPU’s student government. Dr. Segall was recognized for her outstanding teaching in classes such as Middle Eastern Literature, International (Postcolonial) Literature, African Literature, and Intro to Justice: Cultural Studies. Her dedication to teaching racial reconciliation and cultural understanding is evident through her co-creation of the new Social Justice and Cultural Studies Major, as well as her study abroad programs to South Africa and Spain/Morocco.
It’s time for the English Department’s annual Arksey Essay Contest, which features an enormous $100 prize for the best undergraduate essay in each of two categories: Critical and Creative. It would also be a nice award to list on your resume.
For submission guidelines, visit the Best Student Essays page on the English Department web site. The deadline is Friday, May 10. In most cases, students submit essays previously written for courses.
