Tag Archives: ENWL faculty

General

Remembering Dr. M. P. A. Sheaffer

Dr. M.P.A. Sheaffer passed away last week, and we take this moment to honor her legacy in the English & World Languages Department. She was a distinguished faculty member of Millersville University’s English Department who dedicated 52 years to teaching students and sharing her knowledge of literature and the arts. Her legacy continues through the Dr. M.P.A. Sheaffer Academic Excellence Scholarship Endowment for the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Dr. Sheaffer was honored with the 50-Year Marauder Milestone in 2017.

In the wake of this news, many of Dr. Sheaffer’s colleagues offered memorable stories and remembrance. Dr. Elizabeth Mutzabaugh shared “[Dr. Sheaffer] always prefaced her commentary to students about a place she was describing with “When you go…” not “If you go…” so we all felt like we would see the world someday.” Dr. Nicole Pfannenstiel remembered “Dr. Sheaffer attended a dinner while I was interviewing for the position. She was determined I would leave the interview understanding how to correctly say Lancaster.” Finally, Dr. Mando shared “I remember during the first year that I worked at Millersville, she came to one of our faculty readings led by Bill Archibald. She read a sonnet from Shakespeare and a sonnet of her own. I recall the pleasant presence she had in that space as she was reading her own work and clearly enjoying the writing of her colleagues.”

D. Sheaffer began her own academic journey at Shippensburg University in her hometown, where she majored in English. From there, she moved to New Orleans to earn both her master’s and doctorate in English at Tulane University. Her quest for knowledge then took her to Florence, Italy, where she earned a master’s in art history from Rosary College at Villa Schifanoia. She also pursued a master’s in Humanities at New York University, followed by a certificate in English language teaching at Marble Arch Language Center in London. Dr. Sheaffer’s journey reflects her commitment to broadening her academic horizons and deepening her expertise in a variety of disciplines.

In a 2016 interview, Dr. Sheaffer said that she believes that “the Humanities are intertwined with music, history, science, literature and art”. One of her favorite classes was Humanities 300 which is a combination of literature, art, and music. She loved the music of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky as well as Shakespeare and the Victorian period. Dr. Sheaffer was also a poet and especially enjoyed the works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti. She authored several collections, including Moonrocks and Metaphysical Turnips, Lacquer Birds and Leaves of Brass, and Paths, published in England in 2000. As a member of the Pennsylvania Poetry Society, Poetry Society of America and the American Academy of Poets her love for poetry was evident in her contributions. Dr. Sheaffer’s love of music led her to sing with the Richmond Hille Chorale and the Canterbury Chorale Society.

Dr. Shaeffer will be remembered for her love and knowledge of music, literature and poetry as well as her contributions to the English Department at Millersville University over her many years of service.

General

Faculty Feature: Dr. Jill Craven

Dr. Jill Craven (she/her) is a Professor of Film Studies and Coordinator of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. As an undergrad, she received her BS in Math/Computer Science from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill then completed her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from UNC-Chapel Hill. With her expertise focusing on 20th century fiction films and her background in comparative lit, some of her favorite courses to teach include Comparative Literature (ENGL 431) and Film and American Society (ENGL 482) which is being offered next semester – Spring 2025 (CRN 14803).

One of her favorite books to teach is Absalom, Absalom!, a novel by William Faulkner, “because the narrative is so complex and so reflective of our complex national identity.” You can check it out from McNairy here.

What does it mean to Dr. Craven to be an English & World Languages Scholar?

“Being an ENWL scholar enables you to explore aspects of our cultures and our selves that make us human–our thoughtful, artistic inquiries into the big questions of life. These questions help us understand the aspects of living that make life meaningful, and, through that, help us set priorities for engaged and fulfilling lives. Such explorations help us understand differences better, and often foster empathy, an ability that improves our prospects of peace and kindness in our world.”