'Raided' English Dept. begins initiative to replace lost profs

"[English] is an outstanding department and one that plays a critical role in undergraduate education," Preston said yesterday. "We have to be sure that it maintains its stature and capabilities." In early April, Preston unveiled the school's new strategic plan, which calls for increased funding and hiring in six key departments, including English. With 32 standing faculty members, many of whom are on sabbatical, the teaching staff is "shorthanded," according to Interim English Department Chairperson John Richetti. He said they would need around eight more professors to be at full strength, for an optimal number of a little over 40. The department will search for an expert in 19th century African-American literature to replace Professor Houston Baker, the longtime head of the African-American Studies Program who recently left to accept a senior position at Duke University. Following the retirement of Professor David DeLaura -- winner of the Ira Abrams Award for Distinguished Teaching and a one-time English Department chairperson -- last spring, the department has been permitted to hire a new senior Victorian English professor. And the third job opening is for a tenured position in antebellum American literature. The English Department will also pursue a junior appointment in the new field of Post-colonial Studies/Modern British literature or British Renaissance, an area weakened after senior Professor Maureen Quilligan accepted a job as undergraduate chairperson of Duke's English Department last spring. "It's a tribute to be raided," Richetti said of the recent exits. And he said he expects to have many of the positions filled by early next year. "By February, we will have news," said Richetti, stressing that hiring senior faculty members is more difficult than recruiting junior professors. The department acquired two new assistant professors last spring. Emily Steiner, 28, will teach Medieval literature this fall, after receiving her doctorate from Yale University in May and her undergraduate degree from Brown University. And Max Cavitch, 36, starts teaching American literature this semester, after recently earning his doctorate from Rutgers University and undergraduate degree from Yale University. In addition to Baker, Quilligan and DeLaura, the English Department lost an assistant professor who did not receive tenure, as well as former English Department Undergraduate Chairperson Elisa New, who accepted a position at Harvard University. With the task of hiring two, possibly three, senior faculty members, the department will have to search hard. "You look all over the world," said SAS Associate Dean of Arts and Letters Rebecca Bushnell, an English professor herself, adding that filling four positions will "keep [the department] very busy."

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