Akhahenda, Elijah

Education: B.A., Biblical Studies, Wheaton College
M.A., Communication, Wheaton College
Ph.D., Journalism/Mass Communication, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Office: TR379; 431-2263
Email: eakhahenda@stmarytx.edu

Bertrand, Diane Gonzales

Education: B.A., English/History, University of Texas at San Antonio
M.A., English Communication Arts, Our Lady of the Lake University
Office: CT 401; (210) 431-2003
Email: dbertrand@stmarytx.edu

Prof. Bertrand is Writer-in-Residence for the St. Mary's University English & Communication Studies Department. She is a published author in poetry, non-fiction, and fiction for children and teens. Recent awards include the American Library Association 2005 Schneider Family Book Award for her bilingual picture book, My Pal Victor (Raven Tree Press, 2004); the San Antonio Public Library Arts and Letters Award 2005; and honorable mention 2005 Paterson Prize for Young Adult Literature for her collection of short fiction, Upside Down and Backwards (Arte Publico Press, 2004). She teaches composition, creative writing, and English education courses for the department as well as independent study classes with aspiring novelists.

Cirlin, Alan

Education: B.A., Political Science, U.C.L.A., 1974
M.A., Speech Communication, California State University, Northridge, 1978
Ph.D., Human Communication Theory, University of Iowa, 1981
Office: CT411; 431-2008
Email: acirlin@stmarytx.edu

Dr. Cirlin is the undergraduate coordinator for the Speech Communication (SE) major. His research is focused on practical interpersonal communication skills and rhetorical communication. He teaches courses in business and professional communication, persuasion, interviewing, group dynamics, interviewing, public speaking, and communication theory.

Coley, Francesca Mallory

Education: B.A. English, Incarnate Word, 1984
M.A. Incarnate Word, 1986
Ph. D. Oklahoma State, 1994
Office: TR378; 431-6777
Email: dpcoley@sbcglobal.net

Curet, Peggy

Education: B.A., English, Notre Dame College of St. Louis
M.A., English, University of Southwestern Louisiana
Ph.D., English, University of Southwestern Louisiana
Office: CT403; 431-2004
Email: pcuret@stmarytx.edu

Cutting, Rose Marie

Department Chair
Education: B.A. The College of St. Catherine
M.A., The University of Michigan
Ph.D., The University of Minnesota
Office: CT 413, 431-2011
Email: rcutting@stmarytx.edu

Dr. Cutting chairs the Department of English and Communication Studies. She specializes in short fiction, women authors, American literature and creative writing (fiction). Her research is focused on American cultural studies, film, and gender in literature.

Daas, Karen

Education: B.A. Gustavus Adolphus College, 1997
M.A. Minnesota State, 2001
Office: TR373; 431-2268
Email: kdaas@stmarytx.edu

Dattner-Garza, Bonita

Education: B.A. English, University of Texas at Austin (UT AUSTIN)
M.A. English, University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO)
Ph.D. English, University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL)
Office: Treadaway 376
E-mail: bdattnergarza@stmarytx.edu

Dr. Dattner-Garza enjoys reading and examining postcolonial theories and exploring both the interpersonal and intrapsychic social relations that take place within particular international cultures. Her ongoing research, both in and outside the classroom, examines how the various conceptual systems/orders both limit and engender the dynamics that take.

Diaz, Gwendolyn

Education: B.A. Baylor, 1971
M.A. University of Texas at Austin, 1976
Ph.D. Spanish and Comparative Literature, University of Texas at Austin, 1981
Office: CT 406; 431-2007 Email: gdiaz@stmarytx.edu
More information about Dr. Diaz

Dr. Diaz, originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, teaches World Literature and Literary Theory and serves as director of the Graduate English Literature and Language program. She is fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese, and publishes in both Spanish and English. She has published four books, Paginas de Marta Lynch (1985), La palabra en vilo: La Narrativa de Luisa Valenzuela (1996),  Luisa Valenzuela sin mascara (2002), and Women and Power in Argentine Fiction (1950-2005): Stories, Interviews and Critical Essays" (2007). Dr. Diaz also has published articles on Latin American literature, literary theory, U.S. Latino literature, and works by Sandra Cisneros, Cristina Garcia, and others. She co-founded and, for several years, directed the Latina Letters Conference, now titled Las Americas Letters, an annual conference held at St. Mary's University. Her awards include a Fulbright Award, a Carnegie Mellon Fellowship, the St. Mary’s University Distinguished Professor Award for both undergraduate and graduate teaching, and an Honorary Professorship at the Universidad Catolica de Salta in Argentina. She is frequently invited to speak abroad on the topics of her research. She enjoys traveling, playing the piano, collecting antiques, and eating chocolate. Her interactive teaching style includes discussion, student participation, lecture, and peer work. Her favorite teaching moment happens when she catches the sparkle of understanding in a student’s eye.

Dumitru, Cyra

Gaier, Norma

Office: CLD; 431-3054
Email: ngaier@stmarytx.edu

Haddad, Marian

Education: B.A., Creative Writing, University of Texas, El Paso
Certification in Secondary Teaching, University of Texas, El Paso
M.F.A., San Diego State University Office: CT412; 431-3311
Email: haddadmarian@aol.com

Marian Haddad, MFA, is a poet and essayist whose work has been published in various journals and anthologies. Her first collection, a chapbook titled Saturn Falling Down, was compiled at the request of Texas Public Radio in connection with their Hands-On Poetry Workshops (April 2003) and her full-length collection, Somewhere between Mexico and a River Called Home, was published July 2004 by Pecan Grove Press. She has done graduate work in the prose poem at Emerson College and was a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship to study philosophy at The University of Notre Dame. At St. Mary's University, she currently teaches International Literature and Rhetoric & Composition.

Hall, H. Palmer

Education: B.S. Lamar, 1964
M.A. University of Texas at Austin, 1975
M.S.L.S. University of Texas at Austin, 1976
Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin, 1984
Office: A.L.; 431-1316
Email: phall@stmarytx.edu

Halwe, S.M., Brother Fred

Education: B.A., English, St. Mary’s University
M.A., English, St. Louis University
Office: CT 415; 431-6858
Email: fhalwe@stmarytx.edu

Bro. Fred’s long experience in secondary education, including 13 years as an assistant principal, has led him to specialize in Rhetoric and Composition, in which first-year students make their transition to college. He also teaches a variety of second-year literature courses, Advanced Composition, and Linguistics. Brother Fred lives at the Woodlawn Marianist Community and is a big fan of Rattler athletics.

Jackson, Mary

Education: B.A., English, Marquette University
M.A., English, University of the Incarnate Word
M.A., Education, University of Texas at San Antonio
Office: CT412; 431-3311
Email: engmary@gvtc.com

Kersnowski, Alice

Education: B.A. Northwestern, 1965
M.A. University College (Ireland), 1968
Ph.D. University College (Ireland), 1990
Office: CT404; 431-2010 Email: enalice@stmarytx.edu

Langston, Camille

Education: B.A., English, Baylor University
M.A., English Literature and Language, St. Mary’s University
Ph.D., Rhetoric, Texas Woman’s University
Office: CT 410, 431-8082
Email: clangston@stmarytx.edu

Dr. Langston specializes in Rhetoric and 19th-Century American Women Authors. She is currently editing a collection of Sarah J. Hale’s works on rhetoric and writing an article on silence and rhetoric. She teaches her classes in seminar style and uses active learning and student-centered pedagogies. Along with teaching rhetoric and composition and American literature, she serves as the Department's Internship Coordinator and the University's London Semester Abroad Director.

Lehman-Meyer, Katherine (Kathe)

Education: B.S., Telecommunications, Ohio University
M.A., International Telecommunications, Ohio University
Certification in Gerontology, Ohio University
Certification in Interior Design, St. Mary’s University
Office: Blume Library First Floor; 431-4345
Email: klehmanmeyer@stmarytx.edu

Prof. Lehman-Meyer is the director of the Academic Imaging and Media Center, located in the Blume Library. She enjoys teaching public speaking and working with students to integrate media into their academic work. Prior to joining St. Mary’s, Prof. Lehman-Meyer worked for 20 years in broadcasting, corporate communications, and marketing. She loves working with students to inspire them to use technology to further their careers.

Maloney, Kathleen

Education: B.A., English, University of California, Santa Barbara
M.A., English, California State University, Long Beach
Ph.D., English, Purdue University
Office: CT 409, 431-2005
Email: kmaloney@stmarytx.edu

Dr. Maloney specializes in 19th Century British literature and composition studies. She is currently writing about aspects of teaching and mid-19th-century popular fiction. She hopes that her classroom provides students with an inspiration to read and write for fun and for profit. She serves as the Department's Director of Composition and leads the University's Book Club.

Narvarte, Karen

B.Mus., University of Texas-Austin, 1964
M.A., St. Mary's University, 1971
Ph.D. candidate, University of Texas-Austin
Office: CT408; 431-4251
Email: engkaren@stmarytx.edu

Pressman, Ph.D., Richard

Assistant Chair, Professor of English and Communication Studies
Education: B.S., Carnegie-Mellon U., 1962, Printing Management
Ph.D. Temple University, 1978, English
Office: CT 407, 431-6787
Email: rpressman@stmarytx.edu

Dr. Pressman specializes in the U.S. Novel, which he teaches the history of on the graduate level. His scholarship runs the historical gamut from the 1780s to 1960s. Of special interest to him are the novels of women and minorities. Dr. Pressman suggests that his classroom style is demanding but student-oriented. He enjoys spending as much time as possible with his two children he and his wife adopted from Latin America.

Schomburg, Jeff

Office: CF103; 431-5073
Email: jschomburg@stmarytx.edu

Scully, Melissa

Education: B.A., Mt. Holoke, 1981, English
M.A., St. Mary's University, 1999, English
Office: CT414
Phone: (210) 431-2092
mscully@stmarytx.edu

Semel, S.S.N.D., Ph. D., Sister Ann

Education: B.A. Notre Dame College, 1960
M.A. University of Notre Dame, 1963
Ph.D. University of Notre Dame, 1971
Office: CT 416, 431-2006

Dr. Semel teaches courses in American literature with special attention to American transcendentalism, the literature of peace and war, American minority literatures, Southern literature, and Japanese fiction. She long has been the main resource for students who are preparing to start their careers by teaching the EA career seminar. One goal in her teaching is to get students involved in the class and to make the learning experience fun and exciting. In her spare time, she paints and enjoys throwing parties.