吃瓜头条 the Faculty
脟i臒dem 脺蝉别办别蝉
Department Chair, Professor
Office: White Hall 325C
Phone: (203) 837-3294
Email: usekesc@wcsu.edu
(M.A., University of Minnesota, Duluth;听Ph.D., University of North Dakota)
I have published essays in the following journals, books, and encyclopedias:听African American Review,听Obsidian: Literature in the African Diaspora, American Drama,听Bloom鈥檚 Modern Critical Views: August Wilson,听New England Theatre Journal, Philological Review,听Dictionary of Literary Biography,听The Literary Encyclopedia听and听Contemporary Literary Criticism. Although I started out my career as an English professor, I have also taught film courses for nearly two decades. While I spent some time as an administrator, teaching has always been my passion. I look forward to engaging students in conversations on contemporary and relevant topics. I regularly teach the following courses:
- HUM 190 Social Issues in Film
- HUM 213 Artificial Intelligence: Minds and Machines
- HUM 290 Science and Technology in Film
- HUM 291 Utopia and Dystopia
- HUM 292 Science and Society
- HUM 390 Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Moving Image
- HUM 451 Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies
I am firmly committed to interdisciplinarity which best helps us understand the interconnected nature of our world and its complex problems.
Heather Levy, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Office: White Hall 325A
Phone:听203-837-3272
Email:听levyh@wcsu.edu
My research interests include LGBTQIA+ fiction, feminist literature and narratives of the sea. Current research projects include a study of abjection and maritime lyricism in the shorter fiction of Langston Hughes and resistance and abjection in Brandon Taylor鈥檚 first three novels. Greyhound welfare and animal rights are so important to me.听 Hobbies include freshwater kayaking, swimming, landscape watercolors and chess with AI.
Kiedra B. Taylor
Instructor
Office: White Hall 325B
Phone:听203-837-3284
Email:听taylork@wcsu.edu
My research interests include Black girlhood, American literature, and narratives of political resistance. Current projects explore how Black female protagonists use rage to confront injustice and reshape conversations about power and identity. I hold an M.A. from San Diego State University. I鈥檓 also the founding editor of
Adjunct Faculty听
Office: White Hall 125
Email:听elkhalfih@wcsu.edu
Dr. Hamid El Khalfi holds a Ph.D.听 in Literature (English and French Drama), Master of Arts (M.A.) in Drama in addition to a Postgraduate Certificate in Literature from the University of Essex, England.听His doctorate has enabled him to teach across disciplines and he has taught English, English Literature, IDS (Interdisciplinary Studies), and various Language courses such as French and Arabic. His credentials in Literature and Linguistics, his multicultural background, and research interests over the past 20 years reflect his passion for communication, world languages, and different cultures.听听Alongside his teaching duties, he continues to develop courses and to give presentations on topics within all his fields of expertise.
John Klyczek
Email: klyczekj@wcsu.edu
John Klyczek holds a master鈥檚 degree in English. For more than 10 years, he has taught a range of university and community college courses, including composition, rhetoric, research methods, interdisciplinary studies, literary studies, creative writing, and business writing. He has also taught an array of adult education courses, including developmental writing, fundamental reading, and GED prep classes. Klyczek also has over a decade of experience as a literacy tutor and writing center consultant.
Mari Lerz
Office: White Hall 125
Email: lerzm@wcsu.edu
Mari Lerz is a 1996 graduate of 吃瓜头条 with a BA in Secondary Education/English, a Master鈥檚 Degree in Education (吃瓜头条) and a 6th Year Degree from Sacred Heart University in Educational Leadership. As former chair of the Bethel High School English Dept, she taught American Literature for 15 years and introduced the AP Language and Composition Course to BHS students. Currently, Mari serves as Assistant Principal of Bethel High and Coordinator for the 吃瓜头条/Bethel PDS Experience, but her primary passion resides in the classroom. As an avid reader, Ms. Lerz is eager to share her love of literature with her students. Words, especially when beautifully crafted, have great power and influence over the individual and society at large
Jeanette Moore
Office: White Hall 125
Email: moorej@wcsu.edu
Jeanette Moore has been an educator for over 20 years, and adjunct professor for over a decade in many departments at 吃瓜头条. She is a published author with Carson Dellosa and Nomad Press; she works as the district-wide Literacy Specialist for public schools in Connecticut and owns Private Educational Services LLC. Dr. Moore consults with districts, schools and teachers in many states, to sharpen literacy and writing practices with students PreK through 12th grade. Her background is in elementary education, special education, and multilingual learners, as well as dyslexia research.
Lynne Paris-Purtle
Office: White Hall 125
Email:听parispurtlel@wcsu.edu
Lynne Paris-Purtle, MFA, MA is the author of Eggsistentialism: What I Learned about Life from Chickens, a memoir; Dragonfly Wings and The Hole in the Sky, poetry chapbooks; and Seizure Lady, Psycho Man and the Jersey Boys, a collection of humorous essays. She has had poetry published in Poor Yorick Literary Journal and essays published on the humorist Dave Fox鈥檚 blog Globejotting. She teaches writing and literature at 吃瓜头条 and Naugatuck Valley Community College.
Danielle Troetti
Office: White Hall 125
Email:听troettid@wcsu.edu
Danielle Troetti, MA, believes deeply in education as activism for social justice. She has been teaching 鈥淪econdary English Methods鈥 and 鈥淭eaching Literature in Schools鈥 through 吃瓜头条鈥檚 English and Education departments since 20212, but the majority of her professional time is spent at Bethel High School where she has worked as an English Teacher, interventionist, literacy specialist, and instructional coach since the last millennium. Her service on district-wide teams as well as adjuncting at 吃瓜头条 has provided her with experience ranging from preschool through graduate school levels; she is grateful for the perspective that has bestowed up her a teacher, mother, and advocate for learners of all ages. She presented on summer reading at the CT Reading Association Conference, but relishes in and discusses reading year-round with all who will indulge her (especially reluctant students).