Joe Nordgren

Professor in the Department of English and Modern Languages

Began working at Lamar University in 1992

‘I graduated from Florida State University and had my doctoral degree in Modern European and Modern British Literature. I was in North Carolina working as an instructor. I am a week away from going back to Florida State to defend my dissertation. I am sitting in my house one evening and it looked like it was going to be something of a rough evening and Hurricane Hugo blew right through Charlotte, North Carolina at that given time and I could not catch a flight out for five weeks. I was just frozen where I was at that given time. I did complete my dissertation and back in the job market…I had a wonderful opportunity to meet with the Department Chair of English and Modern Languages and we had a very good discussion, and the next thing he said, let me have a contract out to you in a couple of weeks’ time. So, I was able to join Lamar University in the Fall of 1992. And, I have enjoyed my stay here ever since that time. It has been a wonderful opportunity for me to evolve as a teacher, to evolve as a researcher, and for some odd reasons, I fell into various administration roles. I ended up being acting Associate Provost. It's given me a career I never thought I would have. I was allowed to teach anything I wanted to as long as the syllabus received an approval. I had an opportunity to teach British Literature at all levels, primarily the 19th Century to the present time. I was permitted to teach World Literature from the 1600 to the present time. All of these were new opportunities for me. I really like the environment. I like the comradery, particularly among all faculty. It’s unique….I was very pleased when I was selected to be the department chair in English and Modern Languages. I thought at that given time, having been here for 12 years, maybe I could indeed change the climate, a little bit, not that the climate was bad, but broaden it. Opportunities for people, play to their strengths, and we continue to have very active research here. It has been fun. In the College of Arts and Sciences I think there is a genuine concern for the wellbeing of others. Our reputation has been built on three venues: 1. How we wish for our colleagues to see us looking upward. 2. How can we impact the immediate area, the public if you will. 3. We have a strong presence in our community. I think our community members deeply appreciate the work that we do in every area. Unique is a good term for Lamar. I have found Lamar to be the very perfect fit for me and I don’t think I am alone in thinking that.’