Faculty

The English faculty here at Mount St. Mary’s College represents a wide range of expertise and interests. Together with our diversity, what we have in common is a dedication to developing excellent writers and thinkers, as well as women with a breadth and depth of knowledge of the world’s literary heritage. Because the department is fairly small and very informal, we make sure that every student has the opportunity for personal attention in and out of class. Much of our writing instruction is on a one-on-one basis in writing conferences. Students receive individual academic advisement by an English faculty member. We frequently become mentors to students with whom we have worked. We know our majors, and we take pride in them.

Members of the department have taken leadership in the college in the development of the Women’s Studies program, new multicultural courses, and in designing new approaches to learning through technology in the classroom.

Dr. Millie Kidd, Program Director, Humanities (Masters)
Ph.D., University of Illinois
M.A., University of Illinois
B.A., University of Illinois

Dr. Matthew Brosamer, Assoc. Professor, English
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
B.A., Georgetown University

Dr. Katherine Brueck, Department Chair, English
Ph.D., University of Illinois
M.A., Purdue University
B.A., John Carroll University

Dr. Scott Bryson, Professor, English
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
M.A., Baylor University
B.A., Baylor University

Loretta Contreras, Instructor, English
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
M.A., Loyola Marymount University

Shadi Ganjavi, Instructor, English
Ph.D., USC
M.A.(Theoretical Linguistics) & M.A.(Psychology of Linguistics), USC & California State University-Northridge
B.A., California State University-Northridge

Dara Halperin, Instructor, English
M.A., English, Loyola Marymount University
B.A., English, Mount St. Mary's College

Joan Johnson, Instructor, English
M.A., San Jose State University
B.A., San Jose Sate University

Dr. David Leese, Professor, Business Administration
J.D., Northwestern University
Ph.D., English and American Literature, Brandeis University
M.B.A., California State University, Northridge
M.A., English and American Literature, Brandeis University
A.B., Philosophy, Amherst College

Frankie Lennon, Lecturer, English
M.A., Indiana University, Bloomington
B.A., Indiana University, Bloomington

Marcos McPeek-Villatoro, Director, Journalism & New Media
M.F.A., University of Iowa
M.A., University of Iowa
B.A., St. Ambrose University

Fr. George O'Brien, Associate Professor, English
Ed.D., University of Southern California
M.A., Loyola Marymount University
B.A., St. John's College

David Perez, Writing Coordinator, Learning Assistance
M.A. English and American Literature, Mills College
B.A. Political Science, University of Arizona

Jane Sandor, Instructor, English
M.F.A. Creative Writing, University of Alabama
B.A. English, Smith College

Dr. Elizabeth Sturgeon, Associate Professor, English
Ph.D., English, Northwestern University
M.A., English, Northwestern University
B.A., English, UC Irvine
B.A., History, UC Irvine

Katy Tysszkiewicz, Instructor, English
M.A., English, Loyola Marymount University

Tom Walla, Instructor, English
M.A. Communications, Northwestern University
B.A. English, Xavier University