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Name: Elizabeth Powell
Title: Lecturer/Adjunct Faculty
Department: English
Academic Degree(s):

• B.A. English, Fresno State
• M.A. English Literature, Fresno State
• Juris Doctorate, San Joaquin College of Law

How long have you worked at Fresno State?
I started teaching freshman English in 1986 while I was working on my master's degree. Being able to work actually made it possible for me to continue in school, as I wouldn't have been able to afford it otherwise. After I got my master's, I left for a few years, went to law school, and practiced law. I discovered that while I loved studying law, I hated practicing it, so I came back to teaching. Connie Hales said that I had come back from the dark side. Since then, I've been continuously teaching in the English Department, primarily freshman composition.

Are you part of a Bulldog family with generations of Bulldog graduates or current students?
While neither of my parents went to college, once our family got started here, we hit the ground running. In addition to a brother who graduated from here, I have had three sons, one daughter, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, two nephews, and one great-niece who all earned bachelor's degrees as Bulldogs. It's been great fun having family wandering across campus through the years.

Do you have a campus mentor or someone who has helped you in your career?
Chris Henson and Gene Zumwalt were both teaching in the English Department when I started. They were the kind of teachers who learned your name and asked how you were doing. Gene's poetry writing class was an inspiring growth experience, and Chris focused on American literature. The first time I walked up the stairs of the old San Ramon building and into Chris' office, I was five months pregnant. I was finishing up my bachelor's in English and was considering pursuing the master's program, but I wasn't sure if I should or how to go about it. Chris talked me through the GRE and told me to apply for a teaching assistant position.

Later on, several times when I had difficulty with child care and had a class to attend, Chris and Gene looked after my toddler. Growing up, my toddler thought that "Chris and Gene" was one word. Toward the end of the program, Chris was my thesis advisor and Gene was on my committee as I researched William Faulkner. I wouldn't be teaching today without their help and inspiration.

Tell us about your department and what people may not know about it.
Given that Fresno is generally thought of as a somewhat dusty agricultural hub, the average person might not expect to hear that it is also well-known within poetry circles. Out of the 24 Poet Laureates of the United States, two have been from our university. This is an astonishing number given how many universities there are in California, let alone the entire United States. The English department classes in poetry are part of what is sometimes called the Fresno School. Our poetry is known for its concreteness, directness, and vivid descriptions of human life.

What is your most notable accomplishment in your field, and why was it important?
The class that gives me the most joy to teach is Writing From Children's Literature; it's a class intended for future teachers. One of my favorite children's authors is the Swede Astrid Lindgren. She's best known for her books about Pippi Longstocking. Years ago, while researching Lindgren, I came across references to an article written by her. However, I was unable to locate the article itself. It was published in the final edition of a Swedish literary journal that had ceased publication 20 years prior. With the help of our wonderful university librarians, I was able to locate and do a first-ever translation into English. Years after I first found references to the article, I was able to provide English speakers with Lindgren's thoughts on the importance of books for children.