About the Department
Students studying Humanities at Olivet study English, Journalism and Mass Communication ( JMC), Religion, Philosophy, and Foreign Languages. Our students enjoy small class sizes with plenty of opportunities for one-on-one contact with professors and advisers. English students are regularly involved in preliminary judging for our national Abbie M. Copps Poetry Competition, and have a central role in choosing the contest’s judge and guest reader. JMC students get hands-on instruction and experience with the technology they will be using as professionals. New to the department is our Convergent Media Center, which houses:

A video production studio and lab
Our FCC-licensed radio station, WOCR 89.7 FM
Our campus literary magazine, Garfield Lake Review
Our award-winning campus newspaper, the Echo

Humanities students have the opportunity to participate in any of these media starting with their first semester on campus. Our students have interned in publishing, writing and editing for newspapers, reality TV production, radio broadcasting and public relations. They have also traveled to professional conferences with their advisers. Reading, writing and critical thinking are stressed in the department.

50 Ways to use your English degree:
English degree (PDF file)

Humanities Department Majors:
English
English Elementary Teaching
English Secondary Teaching
Journalism and Mass Communication
Writing

Humanities Department Minors:
English
English Elementary Teaching
English Secondary Teaching
Journalism and Mass Communication
Language Arts Elementary Teaching
Religious Studies and Ethics

Course Offerings
Degree Programs
Faculty

Department Links:
2009 French Film Festival
2012 Sandburg-Auden-Stein Residency (PDF file)
Student Media


Department Chair                                    

Kirk Hendershott-Kraetzer Chair, Humanities Department; Associate Professor of Humanities khendershott@olivetcollege.edu Conservatory 235 (269) 749-7621 (faculty bio)

Faculty Members

		Karen Chaney Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Ethics kchaney@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-7726 (faculty bio)

		Laura Barlond-Maas Associate Professor of English; Director of Writing Programs         lamaas@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-7678 (faculty bio)
		Martha Perkins Associate Professor of Humanities; Advisor for the Garfield Lake Review mperkins@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-7114 (faculty bio)
		Gary Smith Assistant Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication           gsmith@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-7693 (faculty bio)
		Joanne Williams Associate Professor of Journalism and Theatre; Advisor of The Echo       jwilliams@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-6630 (faculty bio)

Adjunct Faculty    

Cecilia R. McCaleb
Adjunct Instructor of Spanish
cmccaleb@olivetcollege.edu
(269) 749-7227