Faculty Promotions
Congratulations to the following faculty members on their recent promotions:
Matthew McBride, Ph.D. promoted to Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Practice with tenure.
Bonnie Rock-McCutcheon, Ph.D. promoted to Associate Professor of History with tenure.
Wendell Smith, Ph.D. promoted to Professor of Spanish. (Read about Smith’s recent mission trip to Guatemala)
A Full Circle Moment in History
Things came full circle for Max Wagenhoffer, Ph.D., director of the Hankey Center for the History of Women’s Education and assistant professor of history, when her senior thesis advisor from Rutgers University visited Wilson in March. Rachel Devlin, Ph.D., professor of history at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, was on campus to discuss her research with the College community and Wagenhoffer’s students.
Devlin played a critical role in Wagenhoffer’s career as a women’s historian, providing an example of historically driven research and accessible writing. Devlin received her Bachelor of Arts from Barnard College and her doctorate in history from Yale University. She specializes in modern U.S. history and women’s and gender history, and has taught at Rutgers University-New Brunswick since 2011. She is the author of “Relative Intimacy: Fathers, Adolescent Daughters, and Postwar American Culture” and “A Girl Stands at the Door: The Generation of Young Women Who Desegregated America’s Schools.” The latter received several book awards, including the
Southern Regional Council Lillian Smith Book Award and an honorable mention for the Darlene Clark Hine Award from the Organization of American Historians, both in 2019.
Professor Emerita
Lisa Woolley, Ph.D., professor of English, received the honor of Professor Emerita at this year’s Commencement Exercises on May 4.
Woolley arrived at Wilson in 1993, hired to teach American literature. Enjoying specializations in both the Chicago Renaissance as well as environmental literature, she has taught courses in American literature, women’s literature, composition, and Environmental Studies. She always ensured that she brought every voice from the vast history of American literary culture into her classroom.
Woolley, who received her B.A. from Augustana College and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, will retire at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.
A Cultural Exchange from Patagonia to Pennsylvania
From southern Argentina to the small town of Chambersburg, Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Melina Bromsoe bridged two cultures when Wilson became her home during the 2024-2025 academic year. Arriving in the fall, she eagerly immersed herself in the Wilson community and promoted her Spanish heritage and language.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program’s FLTA initiative offers teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) the opportunity to refine their skills and deepen their understanding of American culture while strengthening foreign language instruction at U.S. colleges and universities. The selection process is competitive, especially in Argentina where candidates must already have a bachelor’s degree and experience teaching English. Out of 60 applicants interviewed by U.S. and Argentine government and Fulbright representatives, only 15 are chosen. These candidates must then pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam before being placed by an FLTA supervisor. Bromsoe’s journey to acceptance took over a year. Wilson’s FLTA supervisor Wendell Smith, professor of Spanish, told Bromsoe he selected her partly because of her small-town background. “He wanted someone who could adapt and feel comfortable here,” she explained.
Her hometown of Caleta Olivia is located on the Atlantic Ocean in the Patagonia region of Argentina. Living so close to the South Pole, she said she often saw penguins, sea lions, and whales while engaging in seaside activities. news briefs Although Chambersburg is far from the sea, she loved the College’s size and location. She actively volunteered whenever possible and said her aim was to be part of the community despite her short time here. As an officer in the Muhibbah club, she handled marketing and helped organize events, including a quiz game and the club’s annual dinner. She also co-founded the Alliance of Latin American Students aimed at fostering connections among Latin American students and those interested in their culture.
Bromsoe taught a Spanish composition class, assisted with others, and held office hours to support students. She challenged herself by taking her own classes for credit rather than auditing, pushing herself to succeed while using the credits for graduate school applications.
Prior to her Fulbright scholarship, Bromsoe earned a bachelor’s degree in teaching English as a Second Language from the Instituto Provincial de Educación Superior Caleta Olivia and a licenciatura in English and Applied Linguistics from the Universidad del Aconcagua.
ART IS … SHARED STORIES
The third annual ArtsFest transformed the campus into an artistic space during the week of April 7. Celebrating the theme “Art is…Shared Stories,” this event showcased the talents and experiences of Wilson College community members, who shared their expertise and creativity in the visual arts, dance, song, and writing. The festival was elevated by visiting artists, including Grammy-nominated singer Melanie DeMore, who captivated audiences with her insightful discussion on sound and led the community in a powerful sing-along.
