Prof. Thea Gavin has taught writing at Concordia University since 1997. The wild landscapes of Orange County (and beyond) inspire her poetry and creative nonfiction, which have been published in a variety of media.
Dr. Kurt Krueger was elected president of Concordia University Irvine in 2010. Prior to his election, Dr. Krueger was the Executive Director of the Board for University Education of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and President of the Concordia University System. From 1986 to 2005, he was a professor of English at Concordia University Irvine and served as provost for nine years. He has also served on the faculty at Concordia University Wisconsin. Dr. Krueger has authored several articles on the life and work of Ernest Hemingway, has written about servant leadership for Concordia Publishing House, and speaks frequently about the characteristics of Christian colleges and universities and the value of Lutheran higher education. Dr. Krueger and his wife Val have two married children and one grandchild.
Professor Lee currently teaches Postcolonial Literature, Modern Novel, Literary Criticism, Literary Theory and Film as Literature.
He has led over 100 students to 30 countries since 2007. In addition to leading summer mission trips to China, India, East Africa, and Guatemala, he led the first two Around-the-World Semesters and has backpacked in almost 80 countries on six continents.
He lived in Asia for nine years where he trained teachers and taught university English in South Korea, China and Mongolia.
Lee is a founding board member of Fikisha, an NGO working with street boys in Kenya, and has partnered with LCMS World Missions, YWAM, E3, Operational Mobilization, Cup of Cold Water Ministries, the Sisters of Charity and World Mission Prayer League.
Dr. Norton teaches courses in Shakespearean drama, 18th-century British literature, and American literature. He also teaches in the English core curriculum. Although primarily a Shakespearean, Norton’s academic interests are wide, and he enjoys uncovering and analyzing the life in Shakespeare and other literature in his classes and in his writing. Norton’s articles have appeared in Shakespeare, Early Modern Literary Studies, and Continuum Renaissance Drama. Norton is one of the leaders and developers of the Around-the-World Semester. He and his family, wife Erica, son Jack, and daughter Naomi, traveled around the world with the first ATW team in 2010. Norton worked with the 2012 ATW team in India and Bolivia. Through his work with the ATW semester, Norton has helped to design the Global Cultural Studies Minor and the International Studies Major. Some of Dr. Norton’s fondest memories at Concordia are from his years as head coach of the men’s and women’s tennis teams, 2005-2010.
Camelia Raghinaru has recently completed her PhD in English at the University of Florida (May 2012) and teaches literature in the Core Curriculum at Concordia University, Irvine. Her research interests include 20th-century British literature; modernism and imperialism; Judaic studies and utopian studies; and critical theory. Her publications include articles on James Joyce, Joseph Conrad, and D. H. Lawrence. Courses taught in the last five years include Twentieth-Century British Novel, Advanced Argumentative Writing, Surveys of British, American, and World Literature, Technical Writing, and Rhetoric and Academic Research.
20th-Century British Literature; Modernism and Imperialism; Judaic studies and Utopian studies; Critical Theory
English Graduate Student Organization member-at-large, 2007-present, executive-at-large, 2009-2010, University of Florida, 2009-2010
Professor Schmidt has over 20 years experience teaching college writing, Romantic and Victorian Literature, and Modern Drama. In addition to teaching, Professor Schmidt serves as Lead Faculty for Freshman Writing and advisor for the literary magazine, The Aerie. She is also the Director for Concordia's Writing Center. Professional memberships include the National Council of Teachers of English, the Conference on College Composition and Communication and The Association of Writers and Writing Programs.