Kathy Shumate, MFA

My interests are wide-ranging and eclectic. I began college aiming for a course of study in archaeology and anthropology. Although I ended up with two degrees in English instead, I keep up with these interests, Egyptology and evolution, in particular, as well as astronomy, music, art, photography, history, and genealogy. These interests influence my reading and my approach to teaching. Being close with two of my nephews, from babyhood to young men in college, brought me back to children’s literature. I gave one of my nephews The Hobbit when he was in fourth grade; at 22, he now has read most all of Tolkien’s works and has been working on his own Tolkienesque project. My younger nephew, now a sophomore at SDSU, never liked reading until Harry Potter arrived. Now, we have lively discussions about the books and movie adaptations. Since I also teach at area community colleges year-round, I don’t have much time for creative or scholarly endeavors. When I can, I work on revising my poetry manscript for future publication. Through teaching Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in English 220, Introduction to Literature—and being a LOST fan—I have been researching the connections between the two. My interest in genealogy led me to research Huguenot family roots in Southwestern France for a historical novel in progress.