Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Janet Black

Meet Dr. Janet Black

Degrees and Experience
  • Ph.D., English (University of Denver)
  • M.A., English (Bucknell University)
  • B.A., Religion (Eastern College)
Biography and Professional Achievements

Dr. Janet Black has found a special delight, as well as a challenge, in teaching English in the context of her faith in Christ and with reference to the traditions of Christianity, both contemporary and ancient. This challenge keeps her fresh and, she hopes, keeps her authentic as she lives out her commitment to the Lord.

Presentations and Publications
  • "Slaveholding Families as a 'cage of obscene birds': Harriet Jacobs on the Corruption of the White Family," Conference on Christianity and Literature, Riverside, California, March 2010
  • Participant in The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History/ Council of Independent Colleges seminar "Slave Narratives" with David Blight, Yale University, June 2009
  • "Research Orienteering," College Library Directors' Mentor Program, January 2009
  • "Individuality and Influence: Charlotte Bronte's Enigmatic St. John Rivers and the British Missionary Endeavor," Conference on Christianity and Literature, Western Region, Santa Barbara, California, January 2005
  • With Corinne Lengsfeld, et al., "Engineering Concepts and Communication" in the Journal of Engineering Education, pages 79-85, January 2004
  • "Flannery O'Connor and a Case of Matricide," Conference on Christianity and Literature, Western Region, Seattle, Washington, April 2003
  • "Metamora and American Identity," Modern Language Association Conference, Midwest Region, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 2002
  • Edited with Margaret Whitt and Bryan Walpert, Opening Doors: Guide to First-Year English, 13th edition, Boston: Pearson, 2001; also edited Breaking Ground: Guide to First-Year English, 12th edition, 2000
  • "Students as Writing Tutors Improving Their Writing," Conference of College Composition and Communication (CCCC), Denver, Colorado, March 2001
  • "Women's Entrance into English Humanist Historiography: Foxe's Acts and Monuments," Aphra Behn Conference, Denver, Colorado, November 2000
Honors and Awards
  • Founding faculty member of the Alpha Omicron Zeta chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honors Society, 2007
  • Faculty Community Service Award, 2006
  • Frankel Fellow, Evan Frankel Foundation, East Hampton, New York