School of Humanities

The School of Humanities maintains the longstanding tradition of cultivating and reflecting on essential human knowledge (art, communication, English literature, English writing and rhetoric, Spanish, French, Catholic studies, liberal studies, philosophy, graphic design, photocommunications, religious and theological studies, and theater arts), which thrives at St. Edward’s University.

Each program provides sound preparation for a variety of careers and/or graduate school. While each discipline has its own faculty, space and resources, all create an environment for excellence and share a common approach that draws upon these advantages:

Small classes and teacher-scholars who take an active role in preparing graduates for the challenges and opportunities of a global workplace.
Approachable faculty members whose top priority is ensuring you benefit from a personalized learning experience.
Student-faculty collaborations, such as gallery exhibits, theater productions and published works, allow exploration of diverse perspectives while students gain an appreciation for the vast creative inheritance of humanity.
Vital “cross training” for students to discern relevant information, research facts and articulate precise arguments (orally and in writing), which are essential for the lively debate of history, religion, the arts or philosophy — and are lifelong skills transportable to virtually any field, career or graduate school.

Dean's Message
Faculty
Facilities

Dean's Message

Dear Future Humanities Students:

Hop on a plane in Texas, and be in Spain in seven hours. Skype your friends in Brazil. Share ideas with students in South Korea and South Africa via video-conferencing classrooms. Champion a global human rights movement on Facebook. With every heartbeat, and tap of a keyboard, our world becomes more interconnected and accessible.

At St. Edward’s, we prepare our students to keep pace with this prolific change and to embrace the opportunities and challenges it brings. In the School of Humanities, it begins by empowering them with knowledge built on proficiencies in writing, literature, language, philosophy, religious studies and the arts. These explorations fuel imaginations and cultivate students’ abilities to think critically, research topics from diverse perspectives and articulate their findings and insights through writing, speaking and creative endeavors.

All the while, they refine their ideas and their voice. Students present and display their work at exhibits and symposia. They publish two award-winning campus journals, Arete and Sorin Oak Review. They produce and perform classics and original scripts on stage. They examine arguments and ethics in our Passion and Civility debates and interact with renowned novelists, poets and playwrights in our Visiting Writers Series. Whatever their artistic or scholarly pursuits, they hone and share them through their projects and research.

The knowledge and skills acquired in the School of Humanities extend across academic disciplines and far beyond our Austin, Texas, campus. Our students, for example, immerse themselves in international languages, cultures and business through studies at our partner universities in France, Argentina, Japan and other countries. They explore photography in China and event management in Scotland. They participate in service projects in India, Uganda and Canada.

Amid opportunities like these — grounded in local and global realities — our students see the world and its people in new ways, with understanding and respect. Throughout their educational journey, they cultivate qualities such as self-awareness, intentionality, flexibility, empathy and intellectual curiosity.

Above all, they discover their passions, strengths and purpose, preparing them to thrive and make a difference in our rapidly changing world.

Sincerely,

Sharon Diane Nell, PhD: Dean, School of Humanities

Faculty

Sharon Diane Nell, PhD Dean, School of Humanities; Professor of French Phone: 512-448-8620

Richard Bautch, PhD Associate Dean, School of Humanities; Professor of Humanities Phone: 512-448-8570

Lynn Rudloff, PhD Associate Dean, School of Humanities; Associate Professor of English Writing and Rhetoric Phone: 512-428-1317

Alan J. Altimont, PhD Associate Professor of English Phone: 512-448-8564

Susan Branch Towne Assistant Professor of Costume Design, Theater Arts Phone: 512-663-2804

Mary K. Brantl, PhD Associate Professor of Art History Phone: 512-492-3109

Father Louis T. Brusatti, DMin Associate Professor of Religious and Theological Studies Phone: 512-448-8643

Shannan H. Butler, PhD Associate Professor of Communication Phone: 512-492-3113

Mark Cherry, PhD Endowed Professor in Applied Ethics and Professor of Philosophy Phone: 512-448-8536

Scott Christopherson Assistant Professor of Communication Phone: 512-492-3133

Amy Clements, PhD Assistant Professor of English Writing and Rhetoric Phone: 512-485-4622

Kelley Coblentz-Bautch, PhD Associate Professor of Religious Studies Phone: 512-428-1395

Joseph Colarusso Instructor of Music Phone: 512-492-3126

Natalie Davis Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Phone: 512-428-1339

Stephen C. Dilley, PhD Associate Professor of Philosophy Phone: 512-637-1950

Kathryn Eader Assistant Professor of Scenic and Lighting Design, Theater Arts Phone: 512-485-4626

Elizabeth Anne Eakman Instructor of English Writing and Rhetoric Phone: 512-637-5643

William Earnest, PhD Assistant Professor of Communication Phone: 512-637-1987

Regina Faunes, PhD Associate Professor of Spanish Phone: 512-416-5833

Barbara Filippidis, PhD Director, Honors Program; Professor of English Phone: 512-448-8558

Christopher Flynn, PhD Associate Professor of English Literature Phone: 512-416-5842

Carrie Fountain Assistant Professor of English Writing and Rhetoric, Creative Writing Phone: 512-448-8690

Kimberly Garza Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Phone: 512-448-8681

Teresita Garza, PhD Associate Professor of Communication Phone: 512-464-8815

Sheila Gordon Associate Professor of Theater Arts Phone: 512-492-3158

Donald Haughey Assistant Professor of Art Phone: 512-637-1980

Jena Heath Assistant Professor of Journalism Phone: 512-637-1989

Laura Hollis-Hammonds Associate Professor of Art Phone: 512-492-3159

Ryan S. Hoover, PhD Assistant Professor of English Writing and Rhetoric Phone: 512-492-3145

Stanley C. Irvin Professor of Art Phone: 512-448-8685

Kendall Kelly, PhD Assistant Professor of English Writing and Rhetoric Phone: 512-448-8556

William J. Kennedy Associate Professor of Photocommunications Phone: 512-448-8680

Drew M. Loewe, PhD Assistant Professor of English Writing and Rhetoric Phone: 512-428-1352

David Long Artistic Director, Mary Moody Northen Theatre; Associate Professor of Theater Phone: 512-448-8486

Everett Lunning Jr. Assistant Professor of Theater Arts Phone: 512-637-1986

Cory Lyle, PhD Assistant Professor of Spanish Phone: 512-233-1455

Michael C. Massey Assistant Professor of Humanities Phone: 512-448-8488

I. Moriah McCracken, PhD Assistant Professor of English Writing and Rhetoric Phone: 512-233-1455

Kelly Willis Mendiola, PhD Associate Professor of English Writing and Rhetoric Phone: 512-492-3110

Sybil Miller Professor of Photocommunications Phone: 512-448-8571

Innes Mitchell, PhD Associate Professor of Communication Phone: 512-416-5832

Brother Gerald Muller, CSC Assistant Professor of Music Phone: 512-493-0124

Jack Green Musselman, PhD Director, Center for Ethics and Leadership; Associate Professor of Philosophy Phone: 512-428-1026

Miguel A. Nino, PhD Associate Professor of Spanish Phone: 512-448-8656

Brother John A. Perron, CSC Associate Professor of English Phone: 512-448-8560

Lori West Peterson, PhD Associate Professor of Communication Phone: 512-448-8668

Tuan Phan Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Phone: 512-492-3115

Stephanie Poole Martinez, PhD Associate Professor of Communication Phone: 512-428-1293

Catherine Rainwater, PhD Professor of English Phone: 512-448-8544

Janice W. Randle, PhD Associate Professor of Spanish Phone: 512-448-8613

Mary Rist, PhD Professor of English Writing and Rhetoric Phone: 512-416-5843

Richard Robichaux Assistant Professor of Acting, Theater Arts; Director of Community Outreach Phone: 512-485-4625

Alexandra Robinson Assistant Professor of Art Phone: 512-428-1360

Steven M. Rodenborn, PhD Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Phone: 512-637-5618

Philippe Seminet, PhD Visiting Associate Professor of French Phone: 512-485-4623

Georgia Seminet, PhD Assistant Professor of Spanish Phone: 512-448-8565

Brian Sheerin, PhD Assistant Professor of English Phone: 512-464-8850

Michele L. Moragnee Silva, PhD Assistant Professor of English Phone: 512-448-8653

Kerstin E. Somerholter, PhD Associate Professor of European Languages Phone: 512-637-1985

Mary Helen Specht Assistant Professor of Writing and Rhetoric, Creative Writing Phone: 512-637-1960

H. Morris Stevens Jr., PhD Director, Division of Music; Assistant Professor of Music Phone: 512-699-7014

Teri Lynn Varner, PhD Assistant Professor of Communication Phone: 512-428-1365

Jennifer E. Veninga, PhD Assistant Professor of Religious and Theological Studies Phone: 512-485-4621

Joseph Vitone Professor of Photocommunications Phone: 512-448-8583

Peter Wake, PhD Associate Professor of Philosophy Phone: 512-428-1281

Corinne Weisgerber, PhD Associate Professor of Communication Phone: 512-492-3112

Susan Whiteside Instructor of Advertising and Communication Phone: 512-428-1210

William J. Zanardi, PhD Professor of Philosophy Phone: 512-448-8610

Fine Arts Center
Mary Moody Northen Theatre

Fine Arts Center

Renovated: 2001

Overview

The Fine Arts Center provides a rich, dynamic environment where students draw inspiration across many creative programs, including art, graphic design, photocommunications and theater. The energy of ideas reciprocates throughout classrooms, workshops, studios and labs. At the heart of the Fine Arts Center is a spacious art gallery that showcases student artwork and exhibits from noted local, regional and national artists and faculty.

Key Features

Studios for clay sculpture, painting and drawing, design, and printmaking
Modern and updated traditional film-based and wet laboratory facilities, plus advanced imaging lab for exhibition and portfolio works
Graphic design lab with Macintosh computers, plus hardware and software for editing graphics, film and video
Student lockers to securely store materials and artwork
Patio with comfortable seating for students to share ideas and collaborate on projects
Professional exhibition space
Costume shop, theatrical lighting studio and dance studio

The Mary Moody Northen Theatre brings students and professionals together.

Mary Moody Northen Theatre

Built: 1972

Overview

Master your craft, on or off the stage, in a theater that demands the very best of your talents. The Mary Moody Northen Theatre is an intimate theater-in-the-round, challenging cast and crew to play to an audience that surrounds the performance.

Fashioned after the Tony Award–winning Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., designed by Edward Magnum, this venue brings the world of professional theater arts to life. Magnum helped create the Theater Arts program at St. Edward's. Performers such as William Shatner, Sonny Bono, Stephanie Powers, Ed Begley Jr. and Pat O’Brien have shared their craft with students at St. Edward’s. The Mary Moody Northen Theatre operates professionally, producing four plays a year and giving students hands-on experience in every aspect of theater.

Key Features

Theater-in-the-round encourages students to stretch their boundaries and test their skills
Seats an audience of fewer than 200 members for close interaction between audience and actors

Schools

Academics

Photo Students Capture Life in Beppu, Japan

Teaching English in Amasya, Turkey

School of Humanities

Dean's Message

Faculty

Facilities

Fine Arts Center

Overview

Key Features

Mary Moody Northen Theatre

Overview

Key Features

School of Behavioral & Social Sciences

School of Humanities

School of Education

School of Natural Sciences

School of Management & Business

Graduate Programs

New College