Faculty

Professor of English
Lead Faculty Around-the-World Semester

Biography

Dr. Norton teaches courses in Shakespearean drama, 18^th-century British literature, and American literature. He also teaches in the English core curriculum. Although primarily a Shakespearean, Norton’s academic interests are wide, and he enjoys uncovering and analyzing the life in Shakespeare and other literature in his classes and in his writing. Norton’s articles have appeared in Shakespeare, Early Modern Literary Studies, and Continuum Renaissance Drama. His most recent book (2018), Killing Physicians: Shakespeare's Blind Heroes and Reformation Saints (New Reformation Press), explores the influence of Reformation theology on Shakespeare's tragedies and late plays.

Norton is one of the leaders and developers of the Around-the-World Semester. He and his family- wife Erica, sons Jack and Sheffield, and daughter Naomi- launched and helped lead ATW teams in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Through his work with the ATW semester, Norton has helped to design the Global Cultural Studies Minor and the International Studies Major.

Some of Dr. Norton’s fondest memories at Concordia are from his years as head coach of the men's and women's tennis teams, 2005-2010.

Education

• Ph.D. - English, Sheffield Hallam University
• M.A. - California State University, Fullerton
• B.A. - Point Loma Nazarene University

Teaching

• Shakespeare
• American Literature
• Seminar in English
• Core English
• Writing and Research
• Literary Theory
• Modern and Contemporary Drama
• Modern and Contemporary Novel
• Creative Nonfiction

Read Dr. Norton's Blog

Professor of English, Department Chair

Biography

Camelia Raghinaru holds a PhD in English from the University of Florida (2012). Her research interests focus on utopian studies, modernism, and popular culture. Her articles on Conrad, Lawrence, Joyce, Woolf, and Bréton have been published in various academic journals (Studies in the Novel, [sic], Forum, etc.) and edited collections (Great War Modernism and Critical Approaches to Joseph Conrad). Currently she works on two essays dealing with the shift from Victorianism to modernism in Joseph Conrad and popular modernisms.

Education

• Ph.D., English, University of Florida (2012)
• M.A., English, University of Central Arkansas (2005)
• MSE, English Education, Harding University (2002)
• B.A., English Language and Literature/Romanian Language and Literature, University of Transylvania, Romania (1999)

Courses Taught

• ENG 385: Modern Novel
• LIT 271: Literary Criticism
• WRT 333: Contemporary Short Story
• CENG 201: World Literature from Antiquity
• CENG 202: World Literature from the Renaissance
• WRT 102: Writing and Research
• ENG 451: Senior Seminar
• ENG 471: Literary Theory
• ENG 380: Women's Literature

Curriculum Vitæ

Associate Professor of English

Biography

Dr. Santin teaches courses in American literature, world literature, and composition and rhetoric. His research interests focus primarily on twentieth and twenty-first century American literature and politics. His scholarly writing has been published or is forthcoming in the academic journals American Quarterly and Religion & Literature, and the edited book collection William T. Vollmann: A Critical Companion (University of Delaware Press, 2014).

Education

• Ph.D., English, University of Notre Dame
• M.A., English, Miami University (OH)
• B.A., Political Science & English (double major), Ohio Dominican University

Courses Taught

• ENG 341: American Literature I: Origins to 1865
• ENG 342: American Literature II: 1865 to 1945
• ENG 441: Major American Authors
• WRT 102: Writing and Research
• CENG 201: World Literature from Antiquity to the Renaissance
• CENG 202: World Literature from the Enlightenment to the Present

Professor of English

Biography

Professor Schmidt has over 20 years experience teaching college writing, Romantic and Victorian Literature, and Modern Drama. In addition to teaching, Professor Schmidt serves as lead faculty for Freshman Writing and advisor for the literary magazine, The Aerie. She is also the Director for Concordia's Writing Studio. Professional memberships include the National Council of Teachers of English, the Conference on College Composition and Communication, and The Association of Writers and Writing Programs.

Degrees Earned

• M.F.A. Creative Writing. Chapman University, Orange, CA (2007)
• M.A. English Literature. University of California, Irvine (1991)
• B.A. English. Concordia College. River Forest, IL. (1980)

Courses

• ENG 362 English Literature II
• ENG 387 Modern and Contemporary Drama
• WRT 102 Writing and Research
• WRT 327 Creative Writing: Fiction
• WRT 328 Creative Writing: Poetry
• WRT 427 Advanced Creative Writing

Professor of English
Director of General Education

Biography

Kerri (Thomsen) Tom holds a PhD in English from the University of Massachusetts (1994). Her primary interest is the English Renaissance, and she has published articles on Shakespeare, Spenser, and Milton. More recently, she contributed a chapter to The Idea and Practice of a Christian University: A Lutheran Approach, entitled, “Mirror, Imagination, and Creation: A Lutheran Approach to Literature” (CPH, 2015).

Education

• Ph.D. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, English literature, May 1994.
• M.A. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, English literature, February 1993.
• B.A. University of California, Santa Cruz, Honors in Literature / Creative Writing and College Honors, June 1986.

Courses Taught

• CENG 201: World Literature to the Renaissance
• ENG 341: American Literature I
• ENG 361: English Literature I
• ENG 391: Children’s Literature
• ENG 451: Senior Seminar in English
• ENG 461: Major English Writers
• ENG 466: Shakespeare
• WRT 333: Topics in Literature and Writing