Elisabeth Lore

I chose to get my Ph.D. in Comparative Literature because I could not pin down one research interest. Traveling to over 28 different countries as a student and a volunteer has filled me with a deep appreciation for the differences and similarities between cultures and I try to include a little bit of this in every class I teach. In my entry-level writing courses, I like to challenge my students to examine the myth of the American Dream and discern whether this dream is attainable by every inhabitant of the U.S. as so many believe. In my advanced writing courses, I encourage my students to share their family’s or friends’ life-changing experiences and to research how our community reaches out to help those in need.

As a daughter of a French immigrant mother who had to relearn her maternal language, I find that I can especially appreciate the challenges our multilingual students face, especially our international students who work so hard to get a college degree in a foreign language. For all my students, I love breaking down the belief I hear so often: “I’m just not a good writer.” I believe all my students have the capability of being good writers – writing takes practice and perseverance pays off.