Faculty & Staff

	Dr. Kirstin Squint ksquint@highpoint.edu BA, Eureka College, MA, Miami University, PhD, Louisiana State University Department Chair and Assistant Professor of English 214 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9645, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Squint serves as Interim Department Chair. She teaches 20th and 21st century American literature, especially US multiethnic and Southern, and has mentored undergraduate research projects investigating works of African American and American Indian literature. She has published articles in MELUS, Mississippi Quarterly: A Journal of Southern Cultures, Studies in American Humor, Brujula, and others. She is currently completing a monograph on the works of Choctaw author, LeAnne Howe.
	Dr. Jenn Brandt jbrandt@highpoint.edu BA, Drew University, MA, Bowling Green State University, PhD, University of Rhode Island Assistant Professor of English and Director of Women’s and Gender Studies 209/210 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9558, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Brandt’s work focuses on gender and cultural studies in contemporary literature, film, and television. She is particularly interested in the ways in which politics have shaped and are reflected in contemporary literature and culture. Her current research projects explore feminism’s relationship to popular culture and the problematics of postfeminism.
	Dr. Charmaine Cadeau ccadeau@highpoint.edu BA, Trent University, BEd, Queen’s University, MA, University of New Brunswick, PhD, New York State University at Albany Assistant Professor of English 211 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9630, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Cadeau works on the Phoenix Reading Series, especially on-campus student readings. She edits our HPU literary magazine, Apogee, in both the printed and digital versions and works with student interns. She is co-director of the Community Writing Center and teaches service learning courses as well as creative writing and poetry courses. Research interests are interarts, contemporary US women’s poetry, new lyric, and theory.
	Dr. Matthew Carlson mcarlson@highpoint.edu BA, Wheaton College, MA, UNC-Chapel Hill, PhD, UNC-Chapel Hill Assistant Professor of English 208 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9561, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Carlson’s research and teaching interests include 19th- and 20th-century British and Irish literature, theories of adaptation and comparative arts, and crime fiction and film. He also mentors undergraduate researchers and serves as the department’s graduate school liaison.
	Dr. William Carpenter wcarpent@highpoint.edu BA College of New Jersey, MA Kansas State University, PhD University of Kansas Director of First-Year Programs, David R. Hayworth College of Arts and Sciences Professor of English 218 Roberts Phone: (336) 841-9339 Dr. Carpenter serves as the Director of First-Year Programs, which include First-Year Seminars and the Common Experience. He teaches regularly in the FYS and ENG 1103 programs and researches effective curriculum and pedagogy for first-year students.
	Mr. Matthew Fiander mfiander@highpoint.edu BA, Elon University, MFA, UNC-Greensboro Instructor 249-A Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9632, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Professor Fiander is interested in the intersection of literature and gender studies, particularly how romantic relationships in literature codify or question gender expectations, as well as an interest in adaptation theory and the study of film in conjunction with literature. Outside of the classroom, he focuses on fiction writing—both novels and short stories—and does research related to music criticism in addition to writing for several outlets.
	Dr. Matthew Garite mgarite@highpoint.edu BA, Syracuse University, MA, Syracuse University, PhD, University at Buffalo (SUNY) Instructor 120-E Wilson Commerce Phone: (336) 841-1000, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Garite’s courses explore intersections between popular culture and politics, and usually feature an emphasis on film, music, and genre fiction. His most recent research focuses on contemporary countercultures and the history of utopian thought.
	Dr. Joseph Goeke jgoeke0@highpoint.edu BA, Southwest Missouri State University, MA, Southwest Missouri State University, PhD, University of South Carolina Visiting Assistant Professor of English 249-B Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9633, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr Goeke’s research is geared towards American literature, especially humor and history of the book. He teaches first-year writing, second-year literature, and upper-level American literature, and does creative work in songwriting and fiction.
	Dr. Nathan Hedman nhedman@highpoint.edu BA, Seattle Pacific University, MA, St. John's College, MAR, Yale Divinity School, MA, Northwestern University, PhD, Northwestern University Assistant Professor of English and Theater 216 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9076, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Hedman serves a joint appointment in the departments of English and Theatre where he teaches courses at intersection of performance and literature. He serves as head historian and dramaturg for the Theatre department, advising on show selection, production, and college community outreach. His research focuses on changing conceptions of the body in philosophy, religion, and theatre in the eighteenth century.
	Ms. Michele Johnson mjohnso4@highpoint.edu BA, St. Mary's College of Maryland, MFA, George Mason University Instructor 207 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9591, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Professor Johnson received her Master of Fine Arts with a concentration in Poetry, and her work can be found in various publications. She enjoys working with HPU students in their first year, helping them to build their writing and analytical skills, with an emphasis on self-reflection.
	Dr. Cara Kozma ckozma@highpoint.edu BA, Evergreen State College, MA, Portland State University, PhD, Wayne State University Assistant Professor of English 203 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9643, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Kozma serves as assistant director of the HPU Service Learning Program and co-director of the Community Writing Center. Her research and classes focus on literature and issues of globalization and critical pedagogy.
	Dr. Laura Linker llinker@highpoint.edu BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, MA, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, PhD, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Assistant Professor of English 213 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9560, Fax: (336) 841-6394 Dr. Linker’s research and teaching areas include early British literature and culture. Her main focus is helping students develop meaningful research interests that lead them to pursue grants, conference presentations, and publishing opportunities.
	Dr. Cheryl Marsh cmarsh@highpoint.edu BFA, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, MA, Western Carolina University, PhD, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Instructor 207 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9592, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Marsh’s research and teaching interests include 19th and 20th century transatlantic literature, with an emphasis on poetry and poetics; aesthetic theory; and identity studies. She teaches composition courses that explore writing through a social justice pedagogy and literature courses that examine the reciprocal relationship between art and culture.
	Dr. Holly Middleton hmiddlet@highpoint.edu BA, Sam Houston State University, MA, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, PhD, University of Pittsburgh Assistant Professor of English 206 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9456, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Middleton is interested in how social, economic, and cultural contexts shape literary practices and how they are valued. Her research interests are the history and politics of literacy and SoTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) projects on academic writing.
	Dr. Jacob Paul jpaul@highpoint.edu BA, SUNY Buffalo, MFA, Vermont College of Fine Arts, PhD, University of Utah Assistant Professor of English 212 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9559 Dr. Paul’s teaching interests are creative writing, theory, and transnational lit. Research interests are comparative postmodernisms, narrative theory, and Milton. Jacob works on the Phoenix Festival and Reader’s Series and helps bring 8-10 authors and scholars to school each year.
	Dr. Melissa Richard mrichard@highpoint.edu BS, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, MA, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, PhD, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Instructor 318-B Wilson Commerce Phone: (336) 841-9358, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Richard teaches first-year composition and various literature courses. Her research and teaching interests veer toward Victorian literature (19th Century British) and contemporary Victoriana; working-class studies and academic labor issues; women’s and gender studies; global and intersectional identity politics and theory; digital pedagogy and creative non-fiction.
	Dr. Donna Scheidt dscheidt@highpoint.edu BA, University of Chicago, JD, Harvard Law School, PhD, University of Michigan Assistant Professor of English 202 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9139, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Scheidt’s research and teaching involves language and decision making (especially judicial opinions); law and literature; and undergraduate research and library-writing program collaborations. She is a campus pre-law advisor.
	Dr. Matthew Schneider mschneid@highpoint.edu BA, University of California – Berkeley, MA, University of Chicago, PhD, University of California – Los Angeles Associate Dean, David R. Hayworth College of Arts and Sciences Professor of English 121 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9073
	Dr. Leah Schweitzer lschweit@highpoint.edu BFA, UNC-Greensboro, MA, University of Maryland, PhD, University of Louisville Associate Professor of English 215 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9106, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Schweitzer is director of the HPU Writing Center. She trains students to be peer tutors, to conduct workshops to present to small groups across campus. Her areas of research include digital storytelling, technology and writing, and writing center practices. She is currently at work on a book manuscript addressing how technology needs to change our basic assumptions about many things.
	Ms. Georgeanna Sellers gsellers@highpoint.edu BA, UNC-Greensboro, MA, UNC-Greensboro Assistant Professor of English 204 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9657, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Professor Sellers has taught a variety of courses, including composition and sophomore general education literature courses. Her courses often focus on twentieth-century literature and culture. She coordinates the Phoenix Literary Festival, the department awards for scholarly and creative writing, and the Gleaton Scholarship.
	Dr. Karen Summers ksummer0@highpoint.edu BA, Salem College, MA, UNC- Charlotte, PhD, UNC-Greensboro Instructor 201 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9348, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Dr. Summers’ specialty is medieval literature. Research interests include ecoliterature, including literary depictions of the relationship between the human and non-human worlds. In the medieval women’s literature class, students have the opportunity to work with original manuscripts from the 1300s-present.
	Ms. Allison Walker awalker@highpoint.edu BA, Appalachian State University, MFA, University of Alaska Anchorage Instructor 249-E Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9146, Fax: (336) 888-6394 Professor Walker’s research interests include the Medical Humanities, literary Darwinism, STEAM-driven pedagogy, and the impact of the digital Humanities on student writing processes. In her spare time, she writes found and post-confessional poetry. HPU Darwinists HPU Lifelines
	Ms. Dana Yates dyates@highpoint.edu BS, High Point University Office Manager 241 Norcross Phone: (336) 841-9401, Fax: (336) 888-6331