The English education faculty at Western Michigan University are committed to their teaching and serving the teachers of the Kalamazoo area. If you are interested in coming to WMU as a graduate student or for your undergraduate studies, please feel free to contact any of the faculty. We're happy to give advice and answer questions.

Beth Amidon, Master Faculty Specialist
Elizabeth studied English literature at Eastern Michigan University and Library Science at the University of Michigan. At Western Michigan University, she teaches Children’s Literature, Multicultural Children’s Literature, and Writing in the Elementary School. Her current research interests include international children ’s literature. Amidon is the recipient of a College of Arts and Sciences merit award for excellence in teaching and currently serves as chair of the department’s Faculty Development and Student Success Committee.

Ellen Brinkley, Professor (Ph.D. Michigan State University) 
Ellen is the founder and director of the Third Coast Writing Project. She is the author of Caught Off Guard: Teachers Rethinking Censorship and Controversy and publications that focus on teaching reading and writing, MEAP writing assessment, censorship, and school reform. Ellen is the outgoing chair of the National Writing Project's Rural Site Network. Ellen is a former president of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English (MCTE) and has recently worked with the College Board to revise writing curricula and standards. Ellen recently received the Charles Carpenter Fries Award from MCTE for her contributions to the teaching of language and literacy in Michigan.

Jonathan Bush, Associate Professor (Ph.D. Purdue University) 
Jonathan specializes in composition studies. He is also co-director of the Third Coast Writing Project and former editor of the Language Arts Journal of Michigan and has published widely in professional journals, including English Education, Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education (CITE Journal), English Leadership Quarterly, English Journal, Pedagogy, and others. He is also co-author of But Will it Work with Real Students: Scenarios for Teaching Secondary English Language Arts (NCTE, 2003) and collaborating author of Grammar to Enrich and Enhance Student Writing (Heinemann, 2008). Jonathan is the co-chair of the Conference on English Education Commission on Writing Teacher Education and the co founder and former chair of the Conference on College Composition's Special Interest Group: English Education/Composition Connections. He is also a public-affairs officer in the US Navy Reserve and on deployment in Afghanistan, Spring Summer 2010.

Toby Kahn-Loftus, Instructor

Karen Vocke, Associate Professor (Ph.D, University of Toledo)
Karen teaches courses in English education, literacy, and language. Her research interests include critical literacy, migrant education, English-as-a-Second-Language, bilingual education, and international literacy perspectives. She is the author of Where Do I Go From Here? Meeting the Unique Educational Needs of Migrant Students (Heinemann, 2007) based upon her work with teachers and migrant farm workers across the U.S. She continues her work in the area of migrant education by working extensively with southwest Michigan school districts in their migrant education initiatives.

Allen Webb, Professor (Ph.D. University of Oregon) 
Allen specializes in teaching literature, Internet technology and postcolonial studies. A former secondary teacher he has published Teaching and Testimony (SUNY Press, 1997), Making Subject(s): Literature and the Emergence of National Identity (Garland/Routledge, 1998), Literature and Lives: A Response-based, Cultural Studies Approach to Teaching English (NCTE, 2001), Literature and the Web: Reading and Responding with New Technologies with Robert Rozema (Heinmann, 2008), and The Doctoral Degree in English Education (Kennesaw, 2008). He has also published many articles, given 100+ conference presentations, and has won five grants totaling 1.5 million dollars. Former President of the Michigan Conference on English Education, he has served on the Executive Committee of the National Conference on English Education, and is one of the authors of the State of Michigan 9-12 Language Arts Content Standards. He designed the “Classroom of the Future” English Education Labs.

Other important English Education faculty members and instructors include

Scott Peterson, Melinda Dobson, CJ Gilbert. Doctoral Students teaching in the program: Cheryl Almeda, Erinn Bentley, Amanda Stearns.