Department Overview
Explore with us the intellectual challenges of literary study. Immersion in American, English, and World literature is a central component of a robust liberal arts education and cultivates skills in critical reading, effective writing, careful research, and information literacy that prepare you to be both a successful student and an engaged citizen of your community and the world.
We provide an educational foundation, with online courses and face-to-face, that prepares you for professional pursuits in a variety of fields including (but not limited to) writing, editing, publishing, public relations, library science, higher education, government, and the non-profit sector.
Our graduates have transferred to such prestigious schools as Columbia University, Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey, and Rider University.
Still not sure if English is the major for you? Watch these videos for inspiration.
Why did you become an English major at RVCC?
Unpacking Your Potential
Are you curious about the “big ideas” that writers explore through the literary traditions of your own culture and other cultures? Do you enjoy working with words and crafting arguments that engage with those ideas? Our courses allow you to pursue your curiosity about the ways in which we construct our narratives about ourselves and the world around us, and to hone your skills at developing narratives of your own.
Degree Programs
English, Associate of Arts - Expore Careers
Online classes are an option for many English degree requirements. Click here to register for online summer college courses today!
Full Time Faculty
Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: Ph.D., M.A., B.A., Rutgers University
Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: Ph.D. University of Massachusetts; M.F.A., Goddard College; B.A., St. Anselm College
2014 Thom Gunn Award for Gay Poetry 2013 Main Street Rag Poetry Book Award 2008/2009 Brickhouse Books Stonewall Book Award
Author (as Charlie Bondhus) of Divining Bones (Sundress Publications, 2018), All the Heat We Could Carry (Main Street Rag, 2013), and How the Boy Might See It (Pecan Grove Press, 2009, 2nd ed. 2015 Jane's Boy Press).
Associate Professor
Ph.D., M.A., Rutgers University; B.A., Yale University
Instructor-English
Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: Ph.D., M.A., University of California; M.A., University of Illinois; B.A., Wheaton College
Associate Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: Ed.M., Rutgers University; Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies, Indiana University
Associate Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., B.A., Kent State University
Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: Ph.D., M.A., University of Delaware; B.A., Wesleyan University
Author of Dismantling the Racism Machine: A Manual and Toolbox (Routledge 2018); manages the blog with resources Divided No Longer (available at https://dividednolonger.com/); for c.v. go to https://dividednolonger.com/about/my-cv/
Assistant Professor
Academic degrees achieved: M.A., English, Western Illinois University; B.A. English, Jackson State University; A.A., Liberal Arts, Pearl River College
Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: Ph.D., Lehigh University; M.A., B.A., Trenton State College
Author of Toxic Masculinity, Casino Capitalism, and America’s Favorite Card Game: The Poker Mindset (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020)
Associate Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A.T., Western Carolina University; B.A., Rutgers University
Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: Ed.M., Rutgers University; M.A., The College of New Jersey; B.A., Brigham Young University
Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., Teachers College, NY; M.A., Rutgers University; B.A., William Smith College
Diversity Certificate, Cornell University Holocaust & Genocide Advisory Board, Raritan Valley Community College Big Brother Big Sister mentor Admissions volunteer, Hobart & William Smith Colleges Minority Student Careers Panel volunteer, Hobart & William Smith Colleges National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) member
Instructor of English
Academic Degrees Achieved: B.A., M.A., Montclair State University
Instructor
Academic degrees achieved:
Ph.D., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
M.A., Seton Hall University
B.A., Seton Hall University
A.A., Brookdale Community College
Book: Fix-It-Fics: Challenging the Status Quo through Fan Fiction, Vernon Press, 2024
Articles: "Milcah Martha Moore and the Editorial Function," Women's Studies, 2021
"Reading Between the Silences in the Correspondence of Esther Edward Burr and Sarah Prince," Studies in Eighteenth-Century Culture, 2023
Awards: Omohundro Institute Mount Vernon Digital Collections Fellowship, 2018
Associate Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., Rutgers University; B.A., City College of New York-CUNY
Assistant Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: Ph.D. University of Miami, M.A. University of Miami, M.A. University of Wroclaw, B.A. University of Wroclaw, B.Sc. Wroclaw University of Technology
20th-century American literature
Composition
Adjunct Faculty
Raritan Valley Community College online courses, as well as face-to-face classes, are taught by accomplished adjunct and full-time faculty.
Lucia Barbieri lbarbier@raritanval.edu
B.S. English Education, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
M.A. English Literature, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Writing Workshop Program, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Executive Management Program, Duke University, Raleigh-Durham, NC
Leadership Management, Aspen Institute, Colorado
Karly Berezowsky karly.berezowsky@raritanval.edu
B.A. English, B.A. Communication (with a specialized concentration in Journalism), minor in Art History from Flagler College
M.A. English Literature. and Graduate Certificate in Women's and Gender Studies, The College of New Jersey
Ellen Brain ebrain@raritanval.edu
Masters of the Humanities and Secondary English Education, Kean University
Jessica Brent jbrent@raritanval.edu
Ph.D. English, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
Rebecca Campbell Rebecca.campbell@raritanval.edu
B.A., English Literature, University of Maryland, College Park
M.A., Secondary English Education, New York University
Nancy Castello Nancy.castello@raritanval.edu
B.A., Rutgers University
M.A., Montclair State University
Denise Cimpko-Beller DCimpko@raritanval.edu
B.A. English, Rutgers University
M.A. English, The College of New Jersey
Scot Ebner Scot.ebner@raritanval.edu
B.A., M.L.I.T., Drew University
Anne Ehrhart Anne.Ehrhart@raritanval.edu
B.A. English, Westminster College, Missouri
M.A.T. Secondary English, University of Louisville
Melanie Frances Melanie.frances@raritanval.edu
B.A., M.A., College of New Jersey
Kendra Hansis Kendra.Hansis@raritanval.edu
B.A., University of Connecticut
M.A., University of Connecticut
Ph.D. (ABD), University of Massachusetts
Alicia Harabin Alicia.harabin@raritanval.edu
Karen Hoffman karen.hoffman@raritanval.edu
B.S., East Stroudsburg University
M.Ed., East Stroudsburg University
Dr. Ann C. Kane akane@raritanval.edu
A.A., Raritan Valley Community College
B.A., Kean University
M.S., Walden University
Ed.D., Walden University
Maria Kayal Maria.kayal@raritanval.edu
B.A., English/Philosophy, University of Scranton
M.S., TESOL, City College of New York
Sabrina Mahfouz Sabrina.Mahfouz@raritanval.edu
B.A., English/Elementary Ed, Kean University
M.A., English/Gifted Education, Columbia University
Julie Mainka julie.mainka@raritanval.edu
B.A. English, University of Texas at San Antonio
M.A. English, Literature and Language, University of Northern Colorado
Thomas A. Makin, Ph.D. tmakin@raritanval.edu
Ph.D., Univ. of Pennsylvania
M.A., Univ. of Pennsylvania
B.A., Manhattan College
Dr. Robin Mako Citarella rmako@raritanval.edu
Ph.D., M.Phil., M.A., Drew University
B.A., University of Dayton
Vanessa Markota Vanessa.markota@raritanval.edu
B.A., M.A., English, Seton Hall University
Raymond Masullo Raymond.masullo@raritanval.edu
B.A., M.A., English, William Paterson University
Kellie McKinney Kellie.mckinney@raritanval.edu
M.A., University of Denver
Nina McPherson Nina.mcpherson@raritanval.edu
B.A., Yale University
Kathalyn Messano kmessano@raritanval.edu
B.A., in English, Fairleigh Dickinson
M.A.T., Fairleigh Dickinson
M.A. Education Leadership, Management and Policy, Seton Hall
Ed.D (ABD) Curriculum Leadership, Northeastern University
Elizabeth Michels Elizabeth.michels@raritanval.edu
Thomas E. Moomjy tmoomjy@raritanval.edu
PhD., Candidate in American Studies (ABD), Rutgers University-Newark
B.A., M.A., English, Rutgers University
Sara Pampinto spampint@raritanval.edu
M.A. English Language and Literature, NYU
B.A. English and Secondary Education, TCNJ
Jamie Parmese Jamie.parmese@raritanval.edu
B.A., M.A., Rutgers University
Melody Pazian Melody.pazian@raritanval.edu
M.S.,, M.S.Ed., Adol. Education English, College of Staten Island
Nina Presuto Nina.presuto@raritanval.edu
A.A., Liberal Arts, Raritan Valley Community College
B.A., Elem. Education/English Writing, Kean University
M.A.Ed., Prof. Development Pgm., Seton Hall University
Patricia Rutledge prutledg@raritanval.edu
B.S., M.Ed., Rutgers University
Mary Saarmann msaarman@raritanval.edu
A.A. Humanities/Social Science, County College of Morris
B.A. English, Montclair State University
Post B.A. Teaching Certification English, Montclair State University
M.A. Speech and Theatre, Montclair State University
Post-Graduate Study in England, Shakespeare and Theatre, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Robert Sager robert.sager@raritanval.edu
B.A., Dickinson College
M.S., St. Josephs University
Amy Sawford Amy.sawford@raritanval.edu
B.A., English, The University of Florida
M.A., English - Comparative Literature, Brooklyn College
Tracey Schuller Tracey.schuller@raritanval.edu
B.A. English, Colgate University
M. Ed. English Education, New York University
Eric Specian Eric.specian@raritanval.edu
Julie Stine Julie.stine@raritanval.edu
B.A., Art History, Rutgers College
M.Ed., English Education, Rutgers University
Cathline Tanis Cathline.tanis@raritanval.edu
M.Ed., English/Language Arts, Rutgers University
Christine Taylor christine.taylor@raritanval.edu
Master of Library and Information Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
M.A. English Literature, National University
B.A. English and Pan African Studies, Drew University
Myra Thomas Myra.thomas@raritanval.edu
B.A., Vassar College
M.F.A., Fairleigh Dickinson University
Alison Ward Alison.ward@raritanval.edu
B.S. Secondary Education in English, University of Rhode Island
M.A. in Teaching and Learning, Nova Southeastern University
Valerie A. Wheatley Valerie.wheatley@raritanval.edu
B.A., William Paterson College/University
M.A., The George Washington University
Education Specialist from The George Washington University
Additional Details
Nota Bene, an annual online journal, provides an opportunity for students to showcase academic achievements.
Career Coach – Learn more about career opportunities.
Contact Information:
Andrew Kopka
andrew.kopka@raritanval.edu
