Anyone who has taken a class from Andrews University English professor L. Monique Pittman, or “Dr. Mo,” as students often call her, can’t help but catch her contagious affinity for all things literary. She is without a doubt the English department’s resident powerhouse of enthusiasm. Pittman enjoys nothing more than sharing her love of language with eager students.

Before accepting her current assistant professorship at Andrews University in 1999, Pittman served in a similar position at Pacific Union College (’96–’99), where students first acknowledged her academic excellence and gracious spirit. By electing her Advisor of the Year and Honors Teacher of the Year, Andrews University students continue the tradition of awarding outstanding professors.

Pittman attributes her passion for learning and language to several early influences, beginning with her parents, who exposed her to literary, cultural, and artistic influences early in life. Thanks to a “fabulous, but crazy-mad” high school English teacher, Pittman became enthralled with language and what one could accomplish with the deft turn of phrase. During an undergrad women’s literature class she took at Andrews University, Pittman decided to pursue a career in teaching. After completing her B.A. at Andrews University, Pittman returned home to Virginia and attended the College of William and Mary for her M.A., subsequently pursuing her Ph.D. at Purdue University, where she focused on 16th century (Renaissance) literature and 18th century British literature.

A lifelong student, Pittman continues to engage in regular research, periodically contributing articles to scholarly journals such as the Literature Film Quarterly, where she critiques the tendency of modern film adaptations of Shakespeare to subscribe to stereotypes and portray destructive gender constructs under the disturbing pretext of following Shakespearean precedence.

Pittman thanks Andrews University for creating a faith-based community that facilitates the exploration of difficult questions and champions intellectual pursuits while remaining ever anchored in the “bedrock of belief.” Pittman also posits that Andrews has long underscored her subscription to the credence that one should continually strive to do everything to the best of one’s abilities and ultimately to the glory of God.

Elizabeth Lechleitner, University Relations student news writer