July 13, 2004 issue

I came to EMU in 197l after teaching at Leeds University in England. The attraction for me was the University's emphasis on undergraduate education.

In the late '70s, EMU spearheaded a drive to attract older students to campus. That recruitment distinguished EMU from other schools and made a big difference in the humanities and literature departments. The student body became more diverse. There were different races, ages and abilities.

The diverse nature of my classes caused me to teach the nontraditional student differently. For the older students, the hooks to discovering literature are different. I appeal to their life experiences.

Over the years, the discussions in some classes were so remarkable and engaging I was brought to tears. In other classes, of course, such chemistry was missing. You can't win them all.

I also love to teach the young people and see them waking up to literature. Some of them catch on fire and say, "Wow, I didn't know that!"

I like EMU. It has been good to me. The University has been open to faculty trying different things, which is a big selling point for job prospects. I can teach what I want, write books and now write children's plays.

I want to acquaint children with theatre and help them understand drama and literature. Kids are a tough audience. They respond immediately and let you know if they like the play. You can't fake them out. This year, the Wild Swan Theatre in Ann Arbor is performing five of my plays.  

I'll be here for several years. I still enjoy teaching and I'm very lucky that I get paid to do what I love - to teach and write.

 

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