This year Spelman College will be retiring some of its finest educators as they take on the next journey of their lives. Specifically, the English department will be losing Dr. Christine Wick Sizemore, a well-educated English Professor that has been a part of the Spelman faculty for decades. She is truly a woman who has followed her dreams. From the time she was an undergraduate she knew that she wanted to pursue a career in English. Her passion for reading and writing is inspirational and admirable to those who respect the liberal arts. Dr. Sizemore’s expertise in teaching English will truly be missed.
Full Name: Christine Wick Sizemore
Born: Washington, D.C.
Raised: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Job Title at Spelman College: Professor of English
Length of Employment at Spelman: 36 years, Started in the Fall of 1978
Current Favorite Authors: Doris Lessing and Virginia Woolf
Current Favorite Book: Four Quartets by T.S. Elliot
Where did you attend college and what degrees have you obtained?
I received my B.A. in English from Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, now known as Carnegie Mellon University. I also received my M.A. in English and Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania.
What inspired you to become an English professor at Spelman College?
I have always loved literature. As an undergraduate I thought about other paths, but I always came back to English. I wanted a career to talk to people about literature.
What genres in the English Major have you been most interested in teaching?
I have specialized in teaching Modern and Contemporary British Literature, Postcolonial Literature, and Renaissance Literature.
What has been most rewarding as a Professor at Spelman?
When I was at the Modern Language Association Convention in January of 2014, I ran into a former student who is now an associate professor at Cornell. Then the next day I went to a meeting and ran into other former students that are now professors. It is just wonderful to see former students of mine who have chosen to take on my profession.
Have you published any scholarly works? If so, which is your favorite (s)?
I have published numerous articles and two books. Some of my published works are Negotiating Identities in Women’s Lives: English Postcolonial and Contemporary British Novels and A Female Vision of the City: London in the Novels of Five British Women.
What are your next endeavors after leaving Spelman College?
I would like to spend more time with my grandchildren. Also, I plan to continue publishing articles specifically related to Doris Lessing. I have really enjoyed teaching and I am willing to come back and work part time as an English professor in the near future.
What piece of advice would you like to offer to current and future English majors?
I want English majors to realize what wonderful skills they really have and that they are well-rounded students. Having the skills to read, write, and speak well opens doors for all professions.