English Department Archive

Related Information

Legacy Roll Call

Grossmont College treasures the institutional memory of its many dedicated past faculty, who are more than a legacy to us. Here in the English Department, language arts educators have always been innovators at the front lines of shifting paradigms and transformative learning technologies, and many of us owe our choice of profession to past English professors whose values for rigor, compassion, and innovation have become the foundation for our own ethos as educators. This archive, then, was developed in part as a testament to the enduring influence of our past English faculty.

 

Past Faculty

The term "past faculty" is used throughout these pages to identify any full-time instructor who accepted an offer of salaried employment in the English Department but who is no longer working full-time. Below is a roster of these educators. The vast majority of them were tenured faculty who retired after many years of devoted service. (Some even return to the department as part-time emeritus instructors.) Included, however, are faculty who ended their Department tenure for one of the following reasons:

T: Transfers

From 1961 to 1968, Grossmont Junior College contracted faculty with multiple teaching skill sets so that they could instruct in two (or more) related disciplines. Consequently, some of our earliest faculty members began their tenure teaching for the English Department but retired while in service to another department or program. As our department developed into an umbrella of specialized language arts programs, one of them, the ESL Program, broke away in 2006 to become a stand-alone department. Consequently, ESL instructors hired in or before 2006 are given due consideration in this archive as contributing members of the English Department. Faculty who retired in other departments are labeled along with their chosen disciplines. Dates shown memorialize their service to the English Department only and do not reflect the actual date of their retirement from the District.

A: Administrative Transitions

Some of our English faculty began their career in a full-time teaching position, then transitioned into an administrative or governance position, effectively ending their tenure in the English Department. These individuals are labeled in the roster accordingly.

D: Departures

Marked below with the letter "D," a very small number of instructors chose to leave their tenured positions or never completed their tenure track in the first place, either because they elected to pursue other careers or because they accepted positions elsewhere. In the rarest of cases, some instructors were forced to resign. Regardless of their circumstances, all have contributed in their own way to the growth and legacy of the Grossmont College English Department.

 

Department Chairs

Faculty who served as Chairs/Co-Chairs to the English Department are highlighted on the chart below. All dates shown reflect Department tenure and not years served as Chair. For a more comprehensive look at the English Department's history of leadership, visit "Past Chairs" in the Archive menu.

 

 

English Department Faculty, 1961 to present

a black and white photo of a smiling woman, Joan Ahrens, with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a dark blouse and long beaded earrings

Joan Ahrens

2005-2018

A

a black and white photo of a laughing woman, Dorothy Alexander, with shoulder-length hair tied back, wearing a sweater and hoop earringsDorothy Alexander

1964 - 1981

 a black and white photo of a smiling woman, Ruth Anderson, with short, closely cropped salt-and-pepper hair tied back, wearing glasses and large decorative earrings Ruth Anderson

1970 - 1999

Chair

a black and white photo of a smiling woman, Carol Duffy Baker, with short blonde hair, wearing a dark top and a hoop necklaceCarol Duffy Baker

1968 - 1991

  
 

a black and white photo of a smiling woman, Judy Barkley, with short wavy hair a patterned blouseJudith Barkley

1965 - 1999

 a black and white photo of a man, John Barnier, with wavy dark wavy hair, a painter’s brush mustache, and wearing a plaid shirt and t-shirt. John Barnier

1970 - 2003

Assistant Chair

a black and white photo of a man, Jack Barranger, with dark curly hair and sideburns, wearing a vertically striped dress shirtJack Barranger

1970 - 1979

D

a black and white photo of a smiling, clean-cut man, James K. Bell, with dark, a suit jacket, a shirt, and a necktie

James K. Bell

1961 - 1963

D

a black and white photo of a smiling woman, Patricia Bennett, with short wavy hair tied back, wearing teardrop earringsPatricia Bennet

1987 - 2006

T: ESL		 a black and white photo of a smiling woman, Virginia Berger, with shoulder length hairVirginia Berger

1991 - 2006

T: ESL

a black and white photo of a middle-aged man, Peter Bradley, with greying sideburns and beard, wearing a dark sweater, a collared shirt, and a necktiePeter Bradley

1971 - 1999

a black and white photo of a young man, Stanford T. Carlson, with light hair, wearing pantos eyeglasses, a suit coat, a white collared shirt, and a necktieStanford T. Carlson

1967-1992

  
 

a black and white photo of a middle-aged man, Bob Danielson, with greying hair, square eyeglasses, a suit coat, a collared shirt, and a necktieBob Danielson

1961-1986

Chair

a black and white photo of a smiling woman, Fidelia Dickinson, with short wavy hair and a large double-strand pearl necklaceFidelia Dickinson

1966-1966

D

a black and white photo of an older man, Tony Ding, with grey thinning hair, wearing a blazer and a open collared shirtTony Ding

2000-2017

a black and white photo of a smiling woman, Mary Donnelly, with short dark hair a dark tailored suit jackeet with a white-trim collarMary Donnelly

1983 - 2003

Chair

a black and white photo of a young man, Michael Evans, with a gap-toothed smile, sideburns, a forelock of hair, and wearing a suit and tieMike Evans

1969 - 2003

a black and white photo of a smiling woman, Barbara Faber, with a bob haircut, dark cat-eye glasses, and large earringBarbara Faber

1963 - 1965

D

A black and white photo of a smiling woman, Leone Finalle, with short curly hair, a knitted top, and light-colored sweater. Her hand is drawn to her cheek.Leone Finalle

1963 - 1972

a black and white photo of a middle-aged man, Martin Gerrish, with thinning hair, dark framed wayfarer eyeglasses, and wearing a suit and tieMartin Gerrish

1961 - 1964

T: Theater		  
 

A black and white photo of a middle-aged woman, Vesta Gibbs, with short curly hair and square-framed clear eyeglasses, wearing a suit jacket, and a necklace with several strands of pearlsVesta Gibbs

1964 - 1993

A black and white photo of a woman, Ryane Harris, with long dark hair and a broad smile

Ryane Harris

2005-2006

D

a smiling woman, Cindi Harris, with shoulder-length grey hair, wearing a white lace top, a pearl earring, and a small chain necklace

Cindi Harris

2008-2023

Co-Chair		  
A black and white photo of a smiling woman, Cathy Harvey, with light-colored shoulder-length hair Cathy Harvey

1992-2018

 A black and white photo of a woman, Nancy Herzfeld Pipkin, with dark shoulder-length hair and a light-colored blouseNancy Herzfeld-Pipkin

2000 - 2006

T: ESL

A black and white photo of a middle-aged woman, Oralee Holder, with short dark hair, a broad smile, wearing a beaded necklace and a patterned blouseOralee Holder

1990 - 2019

Chair 		a black and white photo of a smiling man, Tate Hurvitz, with greying temples and light, greying facial hair, wearing a gingham pattern, open-collared dress shirtTate Hurvitz

2006 - 2021

Co-Chair, A

  
  A black and white photo of a middle-aged woman, Marilyn Ivanovici, with dark shoulder-length hair. Her hand is drawn beneath her chin.Marilyn Ivanovici

1999 - 2011

a.k.a. Marylin Estep

A black and white photo of a smiling middle-aged woman, Sue Jensen, with short hair, a, wearing a dark blouse and a suit jacket in a lighter shadeSue Jensen

1995 to 2010

A black and white photo of a young woman, Elizabeth Juul, with short hair in a flip style wearing a dark blouse with a white Peter Pan collarElizabeth Juul

1964 - 1967

D

 A black and white photo of an older woman, Kamla Kapur, with long, wavy white hair, wearing a patterned blouse. She rests her chin in the palm of her hand.  Kamal Kapur

1992 - 2006

a black and white photo of a smiling young man, George Kirazian, with thick dark hair, semi-transparent butterfly eyeglass frames, and a dark suit and tieGeorge Kirazian

1962 - 1986

Chair

A black and white photo of an older woman, Charline Lamons, with short, white hair, wearing glasses and a patterned blouse. Charline Lamons

1961 - 1983

Chair

a black and white photo of a somber middle-aged man, Glenn Lane, with curly hair, dark wayfarer eyeglasses, and a dark suit and tieGlenn Lane

1967 - 1991

A black and white photo of an smiling older woman, Dorothy Ledbetter, with short, dark hair, draped with a striped silk scarf and wearing hoop earrings.Dorothy Ledbetter

1970 -1994

  
 

a black and white photo of a smiling young man, Harold Loumeau, with dark hair, and wearing a dark suit and tieHarold Loumeau

1966 - 1967

D

 a black and white photo of a middle-aged man, Homer Lusk, with thick hair, greying beard and pyramid mustache, and wearing an open collared shirt with decorative piping down the front of it Homer Lusk

1969 - 2004

Chair

a black and white photo of a smiling middle-aged man, Jack Lynch, with thinning hair, a pencil mustache, clear eyeglass frames, and a suit and tieJack Lynch

1964 - 1983

A black and white photo of a smiling middle-aged woman, Elaine McLevie, with short, dark hairElaine McLevie

1975 - 1979

A
a black and white photo of a man, Joe Medina, with thick, dark hair and a parted pencil mustache, wearing a casual, open-collared denim shirt Joe Medina

1990 - 2012

 A black and white photo of a smiling middle-aged woman, Linda Mitchell, with long grey hair and a teardrop earring Linda Mitchell

1996 - 2013

 A black and white photo of a smiling older woman, Stephanie Mood, with shoulder-length grey hair and a scoop-neck blouseStephanie Mood

1991 - 2012

a black and white photo of an older man, Robert Moore, with thinning hair, a full greying beard and mustache, and wearing eyeglasses with dark lenses, and a plaid suit jacket, collared shirt, and patterned necktieRobert Moore

1966 - 1981

Chair		  
 

A black and white photo of an older woman, Syslvia Musik, with short white hair and wearing glasses, a patterned blouse, and a wide necklaceSylvia Musik

1964 - 1979

a black and white photo of a fair-haired man, Lloyd Norwood, wearing a dress shirt and necktie, and holding the receiver of a telephone to his earLloyd Norwood

1968 - 1976

D

a black and white photo of a smiling man, Nelson Paler, with a bushy walrus mustache, wearing a knitted sweater over a casual, open-collar shirtNelson Paler

1990 - 2004

a black and white photo of a young man, Chester H. Palmer, with a crew cut, horn-rimmed eyeglass, and a suit and tieChester H. Palmer

1961 - 1965

D
a black and white photo of a smiling older man, Z. Dean Parks, with white hair, wearing a dark suit and tie Z. Dean Parks

1964-1991

A

a black and white photo of a broadly smiling middle-aged man, Chuck Passentino, with a mustache white hair, wearing a t-shirtChuck Passentino

1995 - 2006

T: ESL

a black and white photo of an older, clean-shaven man, Scott Pearce, wearing a hat and eyeglasses, a suit jacket, colored dress shirt, and patterned necktie, standing in front of a brick wall Scott Pearce

1977-1999

a black and white photo of a middle-aged man, Len Pellettiri, with a shaggy haircut, wearing an open-collared plaid shirt over a dark t-shirt Len Pellettiri

1968 - 1986

  
 

a black and white photo of a man, George Perantau, with dark hair, bangs, and a short beard and mustache, and wearing a turtle-neck shirt and blazerGeorge Peranteau

1966-1967

D

 a black and white photo of a smiling man, Evan Phillips, with short hair and dark framed eyeglasses, and wearing a dark suit and a necktie Evan Phillips

1962-1965

D

 a black and white photo of an older man, Gary Phillips, wearing rimless eyeglasses, a Western hat, light-colored sport coat with a darker colored dress shirt Gary Phillips

1995 - 2011

Chair		 a black and white photo of a man, Ray Reynolds, with thick wavy hair and eyeglasses, and wearing a suit and a necktie Ray Reynolds

1961 - 1968

T: Journalism
A black and white photo of a smiling middle-aged woman, Glenda Richter, with short, dark wavy hair and wearing a vertically striped blouse Glenda Richter

1968 - 1997

Chair

a black and white photo of a smiling man, John Saetti, with dark curly hair and dark framed eyeglasses, and wearing a dark suit and white dress shirtJohn Saetti

1962 - 1965

T: Humanities

a black and white photo of a middle-aged man, Qais Sako, with graying hair along the sides, and wearing a dark polo shirt with a darker open collarQais Sako

2001-2018

A black and white photo of a smiling woman, Jane Spooner, with short, dark wavy hair and wearing light colored dress with lapelsJane Spooner

1962 - 1963

T: Speech		  
 

a black and white photo of an older balding man, Fred Stollenwerk, with greying temples and sideburns, wearing eyeglasses and a casual, light-colored open-collar shirt over a white t-shirtFred Stollenwerk

1967 - 1991

Chair

A black and white photo of a smiling woman, Marie Sweadner, with short curly blonde hair, and wearing dress draped with a patterned silk scarf Marie Sweadner

1964 - 1986

a black and white photo of a man, C. Frank Vittor, with dark hair slicked back from his forehead, wearing rimless eyeglass and a tweed suit jacket and necktieC. Frank Vittor

1966 - 1982

Chair

a black and white photo of a man, George M. Washington, with thick and wavy sandy-colored hair, and a sport coat and dress shirt

Geo. M. Washington

1961 - 1965

T: Spanish

 

Sources

The following images appearing on this page have been used with permission:

  • Stanford T. Carlson (The Hockaday School, Dallas, TX)

  • Fidelia Dickinson (Special Collections, and Digital Initiatives at the Copley Library of the University of San Diego)

  • Jack Lynch (Legend Yearbook, El Cajon Valley High School)

  • Kamal Kapur (© author Kamla K. Kapur)

  • George Peranteau (Archives, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL)

  • C. Frank Vittor (University Archives Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Library and Information Access, San Diego State University)

  • George M. Washington (El Recuerdo Yearbook, Grossmont High School Museum)

Likenesses used under public domain or copyright exemption under FAIR USE act for purposes of education and archival preservation include the following:

  • Ryane Harris
  • Elizabeth Juul
  • Harold Loumeau

All remaining faculty photos, property of Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District or Grossmont College English Department.

 

Thanks

Considerable gratitude is owed to numerous individuals and agencies for their contributions of media content and institutional memory, or for their help in securing permissions for use of archival images that have helped to build the Grossmont College English Department Archive. Please visit the Acknowledgments page to find out who they are.