Sometimes the Shining Moments. Embracing Integrity, Success, Academic Excellence, Student-First Instruction, and the Joy of the Bard

I was thrilled to learn that Dr. Shannon Kelley found success with her application for promotion and I can think of few who deserve it more. Shannon has been an irreplaceable mentor to me in my arrival at Fairfield University and I've loved our collaborations, conversations, and work with English students. In my book, she's been an A++++ scholar since the day I met her (I couldn't help but wear my Louisville hoodie in her honor, although her doctorate in Shakespearean studies occurred at Duke. We won't hold that against her. Interesting trivia...she attended Louisville Male while I was teaching peers her age at the J. Graham Brown School. 

For a few summers, Dr. Kelley and I did collaborative "To Write or Not to Write" workshops with middle-grade students, where she shared her William Shakespeare brilliance. It died out as a result of Covid, but it was some of the greatest work I've been able to oversee as a National Writing Project director. 

During the academic year, Shannon is one of the few pro-student, pro-high standards, and pro-integrity colleagues I've had on campus. We share many of the same students and they love her (readily admitting they are petrified of the course and their ability to handle the academic plays of the canonical genius). Shannon, however, brings playfulness, humor, incredible instruction, and stellar knowledge to all who take her classes.

It was wonderful to be invited to the celebration last night to tip glasses, and share bread, in celebration of her achievements. It was a lonnnnnnggggg Friday, but it paid off after the Faculty meeting when we could gather to cheer her on. So wonderful to be in the company of so many Fairfield greats. 

Wow. It's already February. Let's bring it on.