• About
  • Advertising
  • History
  • Staff
  • Contact

The Andersonian

The Anderson University Student Newspaper

Anderson University’s Student Newspaper

  • Campus News
  • Audio
  • Features
  • Arts & Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Video
  • COVID-19
You are here: Home / Features / AU department highlight: English department

AU department highlight: English department

January 23, 2019 by Cassie Billings

English majors are often seen as the quiet students at AU, and many people don’t know much about what makes the major or the department unique. 

Dr. Kevin Radaker, English professor and former chairman of the English department, believes that English majors are extremely versatile. 

“Yes, we know how to write and read well,” he said, “but there’s just something more there. English majors have gone places in the workforce no one thought they could.” 

The backbone of the English department is its wonderful and diverse faculty. Each professor has their own strengths that they bring to the table. 

Radaker has been teaching at AU for the past 31 years and has specialties in British, American and Christian literature. 

Aside from his job at AU, he also performs as famous authors such as C.S. Lewis and Henry David Thoreau, bringing their works to life. Above it, all his greatest joy is teaching at AU.

“The moments I treasure most are when we are caught up in a really good discussion or when a student is talking to me in my office about their personal life or faith,” said Radaker. “My greatest love is teaching, and the longer I have been here, the more I have come to realize that.” 

Dr. Scott Borders is also passionate about teaching and has made a career out of it at AU for the past 34 years. He is the current chairman of the English department, teaches several classes in and out of the department and is passionate about the subjects he teaches. 

“It doesn’t feel like work,” Borders said. “I get to talk about what I love and talk about what is important.” 

He also sees the impact the English department has on campus. 

“What would this campus be like if the English department did not exist? For one thing, they would not produce graduates who could write as well as they can,” said Borders. “I think a lot of people understand that part of it. Taking your English composition classes helps you become a better writer generally, but what else would be different if our department didn’t exist?

“We’d miss a place you could go to take classes that are finally about the human condition—not to study it as you might in psychology classes, but talk about it in terms of its lived form. That’s what literature does for us,” he said. “It allows us to have these stories about us and recognize very human things and to talk about it, and sort it out. 

“By doing that we learn more about ourselves,” Borders said. “We wouldn’t have that if we didn’t have an English major or classes in the core curriculum about writing and literature.” 

Also passionate about writing, Dr. Elizabeth Imafuji has been teaching at AU for the past 14 years. She has a background in journalism and teaching English as a second language to international students, which has given her linguistic-based skills and knowledge. Imafuji also manages the enrollment of English students, decides which credits may be transferable and is co-director of the honors program.

“I love the faculty,” said Imafuji. “Everybody loves teaching and does their job really well. It’s a privilege to work here.” 

One of those faculty members is Dr. Jason Parks. Parks has been a professor at AU for 11 years and is an associate professor, faculty sponsor for Alpha Cai and honor society, advisor, faculty secretary and a member of the faculty development committee. 

Parks has not only taught students, but has been taught by students. One of his fondest memories teaching at AU took place in one of the first global literature classes he taught. His students turned the classroom into a memorial for those that suffered in wars and social injustices.  

“It showed me that a classroom can be turned into a creative, collaborative environment,” said Parks.

The English department is home to unique individuals who love what they do and invest so much in their students.  

“Always come and talk to your professors. Even if you aren’t an English major but are taking an English composition class or you are unsure about what you want to do, we would love to talk to you about it,” said Imafuji. 

Though the path one takes as an English major isn’t always clear, the professors are always willing to help their students become the best they can be in order to succeed, and that makes the department stand out on campus. 

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Features

Watch

Miles Morey discusses the long-awaited Bronze Ball victory, the baseball team’s double header against Manchester and the Rocket League’s progress.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Jacey Crawford and Jesse Hernández discuss campus restriction lifts, including reinstated events and student attendance for outdoor sports.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Video

Listen

Raven Watch 2020-12-07

On this episode of the Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan is joined by former Big Ten Player of the Year and Indiana Pacer Clark Kellogg as they discuss displaying your faith in sports, Clark’s career as a player and broadcaster and his game of “H.O.R.S.E.” with President Obama.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-12-03

On this episode, Jordan Yaney sits down with senior soccer player Drew Sonnefeldt to discuss his soccer career, trips to Europe, hobbies, and dreams of playing professional soccer

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-24

In the third Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Hannah Hawkins, a senior basketball player, about starting her freshman year 0-25, becoming more of a leader on the team and facing their one-on-one battle on the court freshman year. Thanks to our sponsor, the Folgate Agency. Please contact Steve Folgate for Allstate insurance and […]

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-18

In the second-ever Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Kennedy Parker, a senior baseball player, about finding out last season was canceled while the team was in Florida, why he decided to come back for a fifth year and play and what he expects out of this year’s team.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Audio

Follow

andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
4 Apr

The Black Bird Film Festival will be held on April 28, with the red carpet rolling out at 6:15 p.m. and the screening beginning at 7:00 p.m. Read more about the annual event: https://andersonian.com/2021/04/03/cinema-students-prepare-for-annual-black-bird-film-festival/

Reply on Twitter 1378527146084302849Retweet on Twitter 13785271460843028495Like on Twitter 137852714608430284910Twitter 1378527146084302849
andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
1 Apr

Students in our #1 nursing program in Indiana helped administer nearly 400 COVID-19 vaccines today to AU students, faculty and staff!

4
Reply on Twitter 1377724570229149700Retweet on Twitter 13777245702291497004Like on Twitter 137772457022914970025Twitter 1377724570229149700
Retweet on TwitterAndersonian Retweeted
AURavenWatchRaven Watch@AURavenWatch·
30 Mar

The new Raven Watch is up now!

Ravens football takes back the Bronze Ball after nearly a decade, baseball splits Sunday’s doubleheader against Manchester, and the Rocket League team continues to progress in the Collegiate Star League Playoffs.

https://andersonian.com/2021/03/30/raven-watch-2021-03-30/

Reply on Twitter 1376960731422330880Retweet on Twitter 13769607314223308802Like on Twitter 13769607314223308809Twitter 1376960731422330880
Load More...

The Andersonian, the student newspaper of Anderson University, Anderson, Ind., publishes a print edition and maintains this website. As a matter of institutional policy, the University administration does not review or edit Andersonian content prior to publication. The student editors are responsible for both print and online content. While the administration recognizes the role of the student press on a college campus and in journalism education, the views expressed in the Andersonian are not necessarily those of Anderson University.

© Andersonian 2017, All rights reserved · Site by Mere
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.