Terese B. Hartman, Ph.D.
Professor
English Department
Coordinator of M.Ed. in English Education
Lynchburg College
Courses and Announcements
Experience/Background
I began teaching at Lynchburg College in 1987. During my tenure at the College, I have taught both undergraduate and graduate students.
I have made several academic trips abroad which have influenced the choice of course materials that I use in my classes. Particularly my trips to Egypt and China have allowed me to incorporate works from non-Western traditions in my courses.
Degrees and Certifications
B.A. in English
University of Wisconsin, Madison
M.A. in English
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Ph.D. in English
State University of New York at Buffalo
Universita di Milano, Certification of Italian Language Competency
Professional/Research Interests
I continue to be fascinated by Henry James, his works, and his influence on past and contemporary authors.
Another of my research interests has been in the realm of pedagogy. I believe the Confucian quote that “What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand." I’ve been delving into the types of methodologies that I could incorporate into my teaching to help my students to understand the material and take ownership of their learning.
I am currently working on a paper dealing with Henry James' The Aspern Papers. Also, I am exploring the relationship between Existentialism and Hinduism. Finally, I am doing research on Naghib Mafouz and some of the short stories.
I am constantly trying to make my literature and culture classes more inclusive of other cultures, so that they really reflect more than Western tradition.
Honors and Awards
2004: Geraldine Lyon Owen Professor of English
2003: Shirley E. Rosser Award for Excellence in Teaching
2003: Academic Advisor of the Year Award
1998: Mary Frances Turner Leadership Award
1992: Phi Eta Sigma membership
1987: Oral Comprehensive Exam Passed with Distinction
Information on Courses Taught
I teach the American Literature sequence, Purtians-1950. These courses are taught as two-semester, upper level courses. The thrust of these courses is heavily historical; the students are asked to think about what makes American literature so unique to our country, what does it tell us about the milieu in which each work was written, and what does it show us about ourselves?
I also teach Literature and Culture I, II, which begin with the earliest literature up to the present. I try to teach the literature within these courses comparatively, using the texts from different cultures and time frames as a way of informing ideas and themes common to the human condition. Finally, I recently taught a course in Mark Twain which traced Twain's writing historically from the beginning of his writing career to those works which were published posthumously.
I teach Composition I and II. These courses are designed to help students with their writing process and to use research in order to write with academic professionalism throughout their years at Lynchburg College and beyond. Both of these courses are taught as linked classes with "World Civilizations," thereby forming a learning community. The name of our learning community is "Past to Present: Linking Ideas that Changed the World." Another one of the primary goals of these courses is to help students make connections with what they learn in one of the disciplines with the other, thus enhancing their learning of both courses.
Professional Associations
Modern Language Association
The Henry James Society
Southern Atlantic Modern Language Association
MESA International Society
Personal Information
Beyond the classroom, I enjoy reading, particularly historical novels, traveling, and watching films. I am married to Michael Hartman, an ER physician; we have five children and three grandchildren.
Some say that life is a journey. If that be the case then, “Missing me one place search another/I stop somewhere waiting for you” (Walt Whitman). Best regards!
e-mail address: Hartman@lynchburg.edu