Shepherd University’s English department received two of four newly hired professors for the new Lecturer position.
Lecturers are full-time professors who teach a total of five classes, but do not have to research, publish or engage in committee work. However, the new position is not on a tenure-track and the professors are on a one-year contract. The professors can renew their contract indefinitely, and the position comes with health and retirement benefits.
Generally, Shepherd University has five positions open on a yearly basis, but this year there were zero faculty openings. Last fall, the English department had 23 adjuncts, most of whom only taught one or two classes each. The English department has the largest amount of adjuncts out of all the departments on campus. This past summer Dr. Ellzey, chair of the English department, still had 13 courses to fill, 10 of which she filled with the new lecturers.
Out of more than 100 applications received, Dr. Jonathan Elmore and Professor Cara Snider were chosen for the two new positions.
“We received a lot of great applications, but we got the cream of the crop with [Dr. Elmore and Prof. Snider],” Ellzey said. “[The lecturers] were a blessing.”
She also mentioned that some of the deciding factors included that both candidates have a higher level of education than most adjuncts along with great experience teaching, writing and working with writing centers.
Dr. Jonathan Elmore comes from South Carolina, where he taught English at the University of South Carolina. He holds a Ph.D. in British Modernism from the University of South Carolina.
He is excited about teaching English 101 courses this semester: “This is exactly what I want to be teaching right now,” he said.
When he is not teaching, Dr. Elmore enjoys spending his free time gardening (organic) and cooking. He also enjoys fly-fishing and playing video games on the side.
Professor Cara Snider will be taking over five sections of English 102. She previously taught at West Virginia University for six years. Prof. Snider comes to Shepherd with a B.A. in English and creative writing and an M.A. in English, specializing in Literature. She is also working on her dissertation and completing her Ph.D. at WVU.
Originally from Waynesboro, Pa., Prof. Snider is happy to be back in the area. As for teaching English 102, she is excited to be able to work with students on argumentative and persuasive pieces.
To her, the best moments are when she “sees students making real connections…this particular course helped them communicate better with their landlord or write a persuasive paper in a history class.”
Those real-world connections are what she says keeps her going. Being in the process of finishing her dissertation also helps her connect with her students all the more.
On the side, Prof. Snider enjoys running, even though finding the time can sometimes prove to be difficult. More recently, she ran a half-marathon last year and will be running in the Blue-Gray Half in Gettysburg, Pa. next month. She also enjoys cooking and entertaining. She has two Jack Russells that keep her on her toes.
Leave a Reply