Faculty

Our full-time professors and supporting contract teachers are dedicated to challenging, inspiring, and mentoring students both in and out of the classroom. In addition to teaching, they model their commitment to academic excellence through their scholarship and their leadership in the university governance system.  

We’d love to talk with you about your future in the Department of English and Modern Languages! Feel free to contact any of our faculty using the information below. 

 



Cynthia Westerbeck

Professor of English, Chair
(509) 527-2370 | cynthia.westerbeck@wallawalla.edu
Administration Building 209 


Education: Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis; M.A., Washington University in St. Louis 

Research interests: The intersection between literature and the arts; environmental literature; general studies and curriculum development; Renaissance literature and 18thCentury British literature 


Kellie Bond

Associate Professor of English
College Writing Coordinator
(509) 527-2825 | kellie.bond@wallawalla.edu
Administration Building 222


Education: Ph.D., University of Oregon; M.A., University of Oregon 

Research interests: Modern literature; modern poetry; poetics 


Sara Kakazu

Professor of English
Honors Co-Director
(509) 527-2782 | sara.kakazu@wallawalla.edu
Administration Building 221  


Education: Ph.D., University of Buffalo, SUNY; M.A., Western Washington University 

Research interests: Poetry and American narratives, particularly 19th century travel narratives and their role in identity formation; slave/liberation narratives; captivity narratives 


Lauren Peterson 

Assistant Professor of English
(509)-527-2861 | lauren.peterson@wallawalla.edu
Administration Building 208 


Education: Ph.D., University of California, Davis; M.A., Western Washington University 

Research interests: Nineteenth century transatlantic literature, empire studies, environmental humanities, medical humanities, science fiction, folklore, Middle and Old English