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The Faculty
The faculty of the Lasallian Honors Program at Saint Mary’s University regards teaching and learning as their primary responsibility. They also engage in significant research and writing, which enhances their effectiveness as teachers.
Dr. Jenny Olin-Shanahan Director of the Lasallian Honors Program Dr. Olin-Shanahan received her B.A. in English from St. Mary's College of California, where she studied the Great Books in a seminar series much like our Lasallian Honors Program. She went on to earn an M.A. in English at San Francisco State University and a Ph.D. in English from Marquette University. Throughout her graduate studies, Dr. Olin-Shanahan focused her attention on multi-ethnic literature of the United States. She has presented several papers at national conferences on issues of immigration, ethnic identity, race, and bilingualism in American literary studies. She is working on revising her dissertation on Chicana/o literature for publication. Dr. Olin-Shanahan's background in ethnic studies has contributed to the addition of Native American and African American texts to the first-year honors course, Encounters in Thought and Culture.
Dr. Jane Kelley Rodeheffer Dr. Rodeheffer earned her B.A. in Literature and Philosophy from Boston College, and she holds a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Harvard University, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University. She holds the Brothers J. Robert Lane Chair in Humanities. Dr. Rodeheffer is the author of numerous articles in Philosophy and has co-edited a book of essays on Core Texts. Dr. Rodeheffer has significant background in working with homeless people and with women in prison, and as the Director she is committed to maintaining service learning as a vital component of the honors program.
Dr. Christian Michener Dr. Michener received his undergraduate education at the University of Notre Dame, where he completed a major in Great Books in the Program in Liberal Studies. He holds a Ph.D. in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Missouri. He has published a scholarly book on the novels of the American writer William Kennedy, and his short stories have appeared in numerous literary magazines. He is the faculty advisor to Mosaic, the St. Mary’s University literary magazine, and is very interested in incorporating the study of music and the fine arts into his courses in the honors program.
Mr. Brian Knetl Brian Knetl is an Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts. He holds an M.A. in Theatre History and Criticism from Southwest Texas University and is completing his doctorate in Theatre at the University of Pittsburgh. His interests include the History of Theatre, and Classical Studies. He is active as a director of theatre department productions and carried out a memorable production of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex for the 2002-2003 season. Professor Knetl teaches Origins of Human Thought and Culture and Great Books of the Classical World.
Dr. John Kerr Dr. John Kerr an Assistant Professor of English. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and his research interests are in Dante Studies with a general interest in Medieval and Renaissance Literature. |
