Instructors
Ellen Perry
Chair, English and Communication
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 206Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 829
Email: eperry@abtech.edu
Education: M.A. in English, Appalachian State University; B.A. in Literature and Language, UNCA
Work Experience: UNC-Asheville: Co-Director of Advising and Registration, Director of University Peer Tutoring, Coordinator of Liberal Arts Learning and Disability Services, Assistant Director of the University Writing Center, Adjunct Instructor of Literature/Language and Humanities; A-B Tech: Adjunct Instructor of English and Humanities
Courses Taught: British Literature I and II, Southern Literature, Expository Writing
Favorite Literary Works: Fair and Tender Ladies, The Rover, The Way of the World, The Country Wife, Birdsong, A Farewell to Arms, Storming Heaven, A Parchment of Leaves, Moll Flanders, Evelina, Madame Bovary, Sense and Sensibility, A Confederacy of Dunces, Frankenstein, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Favorite Quote: "I suppose she can sing, dance, and jabber a little French; but I'll be hang'd if she knows how to make a pye or a pudding." The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless (1751), Eliza Haywood
Ellen was born in Asheville, North Carolina, where she continues to live near her family and friends. She loves teaching students from all walks of life and working with the talented faculty in the A-B Tech English and Communication department. Her academic interests include 17th- and 18th-century British life and literature, Restoration drama, and Southern and Appalachian culture. The recipient of the 2003-2004 Distinguished Teacher Award for part-time faculty at UNCA, Ellen enjoys traveling (most recently to Paris), reading, singing, ballroom dancing, speaking French, learning Italian, and photography.
Kenet Adamson
Dean, Arts and Sciences; Instructor, English
Office: Elm 230BPhone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 7650
Email: kadamson@abtech.edu
Education: B.S. in Journalism, University of Florida (1980); B.A. in English, Georgia State University (1997); M.A. in English, Western Carolina University (2000)
Work Experience: Taught at A-B Tech since 1997
Courses Taught: ENG 111, ENG 113, ENG 131, ENG 275, HUM 115
Favorite Literary Works: Jonathon Strange and Mister Norrell, Invisible Man, The Lord of the Rings, To Kill a Mockingbird
Favorite Quote: "No other job in the world could possibly dispossess one so completely as this job of teaching. You could stand all day in a laundry, for instance, still in possession of your mind. But this teaching utterly obliterates you. It cuts right into your being: essentially, it takes over your spirit. It drags it out from where it would hide." — Sylvia Ashton-Warner, Spinster
Kenet was born in Frankfurt, Germany and spent the next five years moving around; he ended up in a small town (Troy) in a large cornfield (Ohio). He moved to Florida during senior year of high school and is still waiting to know what he wants to be when he grows up. Kenet has taught at A-B Tech since 1997 in the Developmental Studies, Continuing Education, and English departments. He was nominated for the Adjunct Instructor of the Year in 1998 and awarded the 2001 Adjunct Instructor of the Year.
Yesho Atil
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 228Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 354
Email: yatil@abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 102, ENG 111, ENG 113, ENG 125/126, ENG 135
Jennifer Browning
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 205Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 345
Email: jbrowning@abtech.edu
Education: B.A. in English, University of North Carolina at Asheville; M.A. in English, Georgia State University; currently working on PhD from Georgia State University
Work Experience: An English instructor since 1993, Jennifer has taught a variety of courses including Argument-Based Research, Professional Research and Reporting, Expository Writing, and Literature-Based Research. She has worked at A-B Tech for two years and focuses primarily on English 111, 113, and 125/126.
Courses Taught: ENG 111, ENG 113, ENG 125/126, ENG 131
Favorite Literary Works: The Optimist's Daughter, Eudora Welty; anything by F. Scott Fitzgerald; The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay; Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg; Escaping Into the Open by Elizabeth Berg; and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.
Favorite Quote: "... all experience is an enrichment instead of an impoverishment." Eudora Welty
In addition to her teaching obligations, Jennifer has served as faculty advisor to the school newspaper, Voices, and is working on her PhD dissertation on Eudora Welty (which she hopes to finish soon).
Jan Caldwell
Instructor, Communication
Office: Elm 223Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 889
Email: jhcaldwell@abtech.edu
Education: B.A. and M.S., Murray State University; M.A., Northwestern University
Courses Taught: COM 120, COM 231
Helen-Mary Cowart
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: cowart.helen@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 111
Ren Decatur
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 231Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 335
Email: rdecatur@abtech.edu
Education: B.A. in English, UNC-Charlotte (1974); M.A. in Literature, University of Idaho (1984); post-graduate studies, University of Vienna-Austria (1986)
Courses Taught: ENG 111, ENG 112, ENG 261/262
Favorite Quote: "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
Michael Flanagan
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: flanagan.michael@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 111, ENG 102
Michael Flynn
Instructor, Communication
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: flynn.michael@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: COM 231
Kathy Godfrey
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 228Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 7632
Email: kgodfrey@abtech.edu
Education: Kathy received her A.A. degree at A-B Tech, her B.A. degree at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and her M.A. degree at the University of Tennessee.
Courses Taught: ENG 102, ENG 111, ENG 113, ENG 114, ENG 131, ENG 125/126
Favorite Literary Works: Any Jane Austen, Sula, Riven Rock, Disgrace, Prince of Tides, The Weight of Glory, If You Want to Write, and a million more
Favorite Quote: "We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
A native North Carolinian, Kathy graduated from A. C. Reynolds High School (almost was Homecoming Queen in eighth grade, but that other girl collected more money), AB-Tech (1992), UNCA (1994) and finally UT-Knoxville (1997) where she distinguished herself as the graduate student who most utilized the free therapy offered by the Psychology department. She is the recipient of the 1997 John C. Hodges Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Sandi Goodridge
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 233Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 318
Email: sgoodridge@abtech.edu
Education: B.A. and M.A. Ed. in English, University of South Carolina; further graduate study in Speech and Mass Communication, Western Carolina University and North Carolina State
Work Experience: Sandi has taught at A-B Tech since 1983 (part-time) 1986 (full-time) and worked as an instructor at OCTEC in South Carolina before moving in 1983 to teach at Asheville High School. She served as reading coordinator for Lexington School District #4 and honored as District Teacher of the Year.
Courses Taught: ENG 111, ENG 113, ENG 232
Favorite Literary Works: A Walk in the Woods (Bryson), any American author from 1700's on
Nominated for Instructor of the Year in 1996 and Who's Who Among America's Teachers in 2002, Sandi edited a non-fiction book, North Carolina UFOs, and has been involved in publishing the creative writing chapbook for several years. She received two grants from the Mountain Area Writing Project and served on the Financial Aid and LRC committees here at A-B Tech. Sandi belongs to CEI and served as a contributing editor to Hamilton Gregory's Public Speaking text.
Hamilton Gregory
Instructor, Communication
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: hamiltongregory@charter.net
Work Experience: A full-time instructor at A-B Tech for 20 years, Hamilton was named Instructor of the Year in 1989. Now he teaches part-time and writes full-time. He is the author of Public Speaking for College and Career, a textbook used at hundreds of colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Web site for book: http://www.mhhe.com/gregory
Courses Taught: COM 231
Favorite Quote: "Give me health and a day, and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous." Ralph Waldo Emerson
In addition to teaching and writing, Hamilton enjoys photography.
Kathryn Hast
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: hast.kathryn@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 111
Melody Hays
Instructor, Communication
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: hays.melody@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: COM 231
David Holcombe
Instructor, Communication
Office: Elm 337Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 337
Email: dholcombe@abtech.edu
Education: B.A., Mars Hill College; M.A., Indiana State University; further graduate study, Western Carolina University
Work Experience: When in graduate school, David was a resident actor with the Indiana State University Theater, scene designer for Terre Haute Children's Theater, and taught in the Indiana public schools. After graduation, David taught at Mars Hill College and served as a director and designer for theater. He then joined the faculty of Converse College, serving as the designer for the theater department, the opera workshop, and the Brevard Music Center opera productions. David began teaching at A-B Tech in 1986.
Courses Taught: COM 231, ENG 235, DRA 124, HUM 160
Favorite Quote: "The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably would lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square." Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest
Rusty Holmes
Instructor, Communication
Office: Elm 224APhone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 835
Email: rholmes@abtech.edu
Education: B.A., UNC-Chapel Hill; M.A., University of Oklahoma; Ed.S., University of West Florida; further study at Florida State University
Courses Taught: COM 120, COM 231
Jessica Hutchman
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: hutchman.jessica@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 111, 113
Jennifer Johnson
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: johnson.jennifer@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 111
Lisa Johnson
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 235Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 324
Email: ljohnson@abtech.edu
Education: B.A. in English and M.A. in English Education, Western Carolina University
Work Experience: Lisa began her teaching career in Georgia's public schools (Johnson County High School and Lithia Springs High School), where she taught a variety of literature, composition, and research methodology courses and coached tennis. She has been a member of the A-B Tech faculty since 1989 and a teacher for twenty-three years.
Courses Taught: ENG 111, ENG 113
Favorite Quote: "I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the Heart's affections and the truth of Imagination."' John Keats
Lisa met her husband Bob in the Asheville Community Theater's 1971 production of Fiddler on the Roof. Bob teaches choral music and drama at Erwin High School. In their spare time, Lisa and Bob enjoy gardening, taking long walks, boating, and reading to each other from The Complete Works of Mark Twain. Her most memorable moments in her classroom are those in which she learns all over again'with the help of her students'the wonder of extraordinary writing: its power, as Pablo Neruda explains, "to widen out the boundaries of our being."
Kitty King
Instructor, Communication
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: king.kitty@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: COM 231
Ken Krahl
Instructor, Communication
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: krahl.ken@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: COM 231
Erin Lesh
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: lesh.erin@alt.abtech.edu
Education: B.A. in English, College of Charleston; M.A. in English with a concentration in Education in the Community College from Appalachian State University
Courses Taught: ENG 111, ENG 113
Favorite Literary Works: Bob Dylan, Ernest Hemingway, biographies, letters and memoirs
Favorite Quote: "I gaze into the doorway of temptation's angry flame and every time I pass that way I always hear my name." B. Dylan
Erin's roots are on John's Island, South Carolina's beautiful sea island layered with old oaks. Growing up, she remembers visiting her aunt in Asheville several times a year; as she crossed the border, she would always imagine the mountains were blue ladies lying on their sides lounging. That peaceful image stayed with Erin, and she has always felt most comfortable protected by mountains. She is living on part of an old farm in Marshall with an old chicken house, a grist mill, two dogs collectively known as Poosham, one cat (Luna), five horses, and a very patient other-half John.
Deb Maddox
Instructor, Communication
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: maddox.debra@alt.abtech.edu
Education: B.A., University of Northern Iowa; M.A., University of Nebraska-Omaha; further graduate study, University of Houston
Work Experience: Deb has worked as a public school educator, Ogilvy & Mather Advertising researcher, Stewart Title Guaranty Company Director of Communications, and corporate and freelance writer.
Courses Taught: COM 120, COM 231
Favorite Literary Works: Blackbird: The Story of a Childhood Lost, My Mother's Ghost, The Sparrow, The DaVinci Code, The Lovely Bones, The Lords of Discipline, Through a Glass Darkly, The Great Gatsby, Into Thin Air, Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not
Deb was born and raised in a small, western Iowa town (too small); she then lived and worked in Houston, Texas (too big) for eight years. She moved from Omaha (9,000 shades of brown, eight months of winter) to Asheville in May 2000 with her husband and son. Deb began teaching at A-B Tech in spring 2002 and adopted a little girl from China in June 2004.
Rebecca Massey
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: massey.rebecca@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 111, ENG 114
Meghan McGuire
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: mcguire.meghan@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 102, 110, 111, 113, 111, 114
Ziggy Nix
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: nix.duane@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 111, ENG 113, ENG 261/262
Stephanie O'Brien
Instructor, Communication
Office: Elm 210Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 487
Email: sobrien@abtech.edu
Courses Taught: COM 150, COM 120, COM 231
LaDean Peterson
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: peterson.ladean@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 113
Debra Stokely
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: stokely.debra@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 111
Mary Sugeir
Instructor, Communication
Office: Elm 225
Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: sugeir.mary@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: COM 120, COM 140, COM 231
Erik Tschekunow
Instructor, English; Coordinator, Transfer Advising Center
Office: Elm 200Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 882
Email: etschekunow@abtech.edu
Education: B.A. in English, East Carolina University; M.F.A in Writing, Emerson College (Boston); further graduate study, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Courses Taught: ENG 111, ENG 113, ENG 134, ENG 232
Favorite Literary Works: Poetry by John Berryman, Elizabeth Bishop, Alan Dugan, Bill Knott, James Wright
Favorite Quote: "Talent is like a baby, Wrap it up in wool and it goes to sleep." Oscar Levant
Erik grew up in the rough and tumble suburbs of Boston, MA, where he acquired an obligatory taste for biting sarcasm. After a few years of studying aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he realized poetry was the only real way to keep aloft. He has a forthcoming chapbook of poems entitled Build Your Own Worship Workbook. Erik is a yearly presenter at the Poets on Poetry conference at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN.
Heather Vaughn
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 221Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 315
Email: hvaughn@abtech.edu
Education: B.A., Elon University; M.A., University of Nebraska
Work Experience: A full-time instructor at A-B Tech for six years, Heather received the Adjunct Instructor of the Year award in 2000.
Courses Taught: ENG 111, ENG 113, ENG 114, ENG 274
Favorite Literary Works: To Kill a Mockingbird, Atlas Shrugged, Cider House Rules, My Antonia, Fair and Tender Ladies
Favorite Quote: "I've put up with too much too long, and now I'm just too intelligent, too powerful, too beautiful, too sure of who I am finally to deserve anything less." Sandra Cisneros taken from
Woman Hollering Creek
Lisa York
Instructor, English
Office: Elm 225Phone: 828-254-1921, Ext. 867
Email: york.lisa@alt.abtech.edu
Courses Taught: ENG 114, ENG 111
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