Taking an Inside Look at Longwood's Largest Major
Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: Features
By Maria Soliven
Rotunda Reporter
It is no secret that some of Longwood's quirkiest professors are located within Grainger's walls. They are busy analyzing literary masterpieces, encouraging students to creatively produce their own, and transforming ordinary classrooms into slices of France, Germany or Spain.
Chaired by Dr. Rhonda Brock-Servais, English and Modern Languages is Longwood's largest department. It consists of 40 full-time faculty members, 224 majors, and 53 minors.
Because Modern Languages is part of the English department, the faculty is notably diverse. "We have lots of different people who do lots of different things," said Brock-Servais. "Instead of clashing, we are all very supportive of one another, and that's what makes us upbeat."
English Professor Dr. Craig Challender also commented on the harmony in the department. "It's a nice place to play," Challender said. "We all get along with each other pretty well, and work well together professionally."
Challender noted that Longwood's size and close-knit environment helps unite both the faculty and students in a way that would be harder at one of the bigger institutions.
"Those of us who are here for the long haul are here because we like to teach," said Challender. "We won't have enough time to do as much of our own work as we would like, [but] most of us get charged up when going into a classroom. And when the majority of the people feel the same way, it's something that bonds us."
Aside from the positive energy that seems to radiate from faculty offices, students enrolled in the department also enjoy their area of study.
Senior Ben Byrnes, who is a proud English major, takes pleasure in the accessibility and mindset of his professors. "I like the willingness and strong desires that they have for the students in the class to succeed," said Byrnes. "You have to write, you have to read, you have to be part of the discussion… They expect the most out of you."
Rotunda Reporter
It is no secret that some of Longwood's quirkiest professors are located within Grainger's walls. They are busy analyzing literary masterpieces, encouraging students to creatively produce their own, and transforming ordinary classrooms into slices of France, Germany or Spain.
Chaired by Dr. Rhonda Brock-Servais, English and Modern Languages is Longwood's largest department. It consists of 40 full-time faculty members, 224 majors, and 53 minors.
Because Modern Languages is part of the English department, the faculty is notably diverse. "We have lots of different people who do lots of different things," said Brock-Servais. "Instead of clashing, we are all very supportive of one another, and that's what makes us upbeat."
English Professor Dr. Craig Challender also commented on the harmony in the department. "It's a nice place to play," Challender said. "We all get along with each other pretty well, and work well together professionally."
Challender noted that Longwood's size and close-knit environment helps unite both the faculty and students in a way that would be harder at one of the bigger institutions.
"Those of us who are here for the long haul are here because we like to teach," said Challender. "We won't have enough time to do as much of our own work as we would like, [but] most of us get charged up when going into a classroom. And when the majority of the people feel the same way, it's something that bonds us."
Aside from the positive energy that seems to radiate from faculty offices, students enrolled in the department also enjoy their area of study.
Senior Ben Byrnes, who is a proud English major, takes pleasure in the accessibility and mindset of his professors. "I like the willingness and strong desires that they have for the students in the class to succeed," said Byrnes. "You have to write, you have to read, you have to be part of the discussion… They expect the most out of you."
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