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Carmen Acevedo Butcher, Ph.D.

Shorter College
315 Shorter Avenue, S.W.
Rome, GA 30165
www.carmenbutcher.com
706.233.7252

Education

  • Ph.D. and M.A., University of Georgia, Medieval Studies, Phi Beta Kappa
    John T. Algeo, major professor
  • B.A., Shorter College , English, Summa Cum Laude

Professional Experience

  • Associate Professor of English and Scholar-in-Residence, Shorter College, 2005-
  • Fulbright Senior Lecturer, Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea, 2004-2005
  • Assistant Professor of English, Shorter College, 2002-2005
  • Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Lecturer, University of London, 1989-1991
  • Teaching Assistant, English Department, University of Georgia, 1986-1989
  • Research Assistant, Comparative Literature, University of Georgia, 1984-1986

Honors

  • Professor of the Year for Georgia, Carnegie Foundation, CASE, 2006
  • President’s Teaching and Scholarship Award, Shorter College, 2007
  • Georgia Woman of the Year Nominee, Georgia Commission on Women, 2007
  • Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers , 8th edition, 2004
  • Graduate Teaching Award, University of Georgia, 1988
  • Rotary International Graduate Scholar, University of Heidelberg, 1983-1984

Books

  • The Cloud of Unknowing and The Book of Privy Counsel: A New Translation (Shambhala Publications, under contract for 2008 release).
  • With John T. Algeo, Problems in the Origins and Development of the English Language and Answer Key, 6th edition (Heinle Thomson International, 2009).
  • A Little Daily Wisdom (Paraclete Press, 2008). Re-issue of Incandescence.
  • Hildegard of Bingen: A Spiritual Reader (Paraclete Press, 2007).
  • God of Mercy: Ælfric’s Sermons and Theology (Mercer University Press, 2006).
  • Man of Blessing: A Life of Saint Benedict ( Paraclete Press, 2006). Reprinted 2006.
  • Incandescence: 365 Readings with Women Mystics (Paraclete Press, 2005). Reprinted 2005.
  • Walking with the Mystics: Stations of the Cross (Paraclete Press, under contract for 2009 release).
  • With John T. Algeo, Problems in the Origins and Development of the English Language and Answer Key, 5th edition (Heinle Thomson International, 2005).
  • Edited Release and Restoration (Shorter College Press, 2004).

Articles

  • “Ælfric’s Sermons and Their Penitential Tone.” Sewanee Medieval Studies , Sewanee Medieval Colloquium, University of the South (2008): 25-46.
  • “The Questing Female in Hildegard’s Ordo virtutum.” Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching (SMART): Teaching the Journey: Quests and Pilgrimages in Medieval Literature (2008). With webquest, “Questing After Quests: Their Meaning in Medieval and Modern Times.”
  • “A Life of Benedict of Nursia.” Christian History & Biography (Winter 2007): 11-15, 19-20. Published by Christianity Today International.
  • “The Case Against the ‘Native Speaker’: Do we need fairer names for speakers of English?” English Today: The International Review of the English Language. Vol. 21, Issue 2 (April 2005): 13-24. Published by Cambridge University Press.
  • “Recovering Unique Ælfrician Texts Using the Fiber Optic Light Cord (FOLC),” The Old English Newsletter ( OEN ), Vol. 36, No. 3 (Winter 2003): 13-22. Western Michigan University, Medieval Institute.
  • “The Feminine Nature of Ælfric’s Works,” Magistra: A Journal of Women’s Spirituality in History . Vol. 9, No. 2 (Winter 2003): 87-115.

Grants

  • Undergraduate Scholarship Seed Grant with junior Heather Gentry Michot, for ten-month project editing 200 poems by North Georgia poet, Mildred Greear, with Moving Gone Dancing published by Fall Line Arts Press, 2007.
  • Undergraduate Scholarship Seed Grant with senior Ben McFry, with publication of student essays in The Online Hamlet Companion , SCHOLAR website, 2003.

Editorial Work

  • Paraclete Press, Editorial Board, Brewster, Massachusetts, May 2007.
  • Magistra: A Journal of Women’s Spirituality in History , Editorial Board, 2004-5.
  • The Fulbright Review , Seoul, South Korea, Editorial Board, 2004-2005.

Pedagogy Online

Papers and Conference Participation

  • “Hildegard of Bingen and Her Love of the Polysemous Logos,” Plenary Address, International Society for Hildegard of Bingen Studies, Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, May 29-June 1, 2008.
  • “Clouds of Forgetting and Unknowing for Dry Souls.” Plenary Address, “Human Flourishing,” Intervarsity triennial conference, Marriott Magnificent Mile, Chicago, December 27-31, 2008. Also speaking: Francis Collins, Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute; Jeff Van Duzer, Dean and Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Seattle Pacific University; and N. T. Wright, Bishop of Durham and former Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey.
  • “From Ælfric of Eynsham to Julian of Norwich: Exploring Their ‘And All Will Be Well’ Theology,” Faculty Lecture Series at Shorter College, October 23, 2007.
  • “Are Medieval Women Mystics Relevant Today?” Lecture for Center for Justice Ministries and Women’s Studies Department, North Park University, Chicago, October 4, 2007.
  • “Life Lessons from Wise Women: Hildegard of Bingen, Catherine of Siena, and Clare of Assisi,” evening lecture for Campus Theme Lecture Series, North Park University, Chicago, October 4, 2007.
  • “Embracing a Global Home: A Southerner’s Fulbright Seoul Adventures,” Southern Women Writers Conference, Berry College, Rome, September 28, 2007.
  • Convocation Lecture, Shorter College, Rome, August 24, 2007.
  • “The Questing Female in Hildegard’s Ordo virtutum , ” 7th Annual Teaching Medieval Literature Conference, Georgia Gwinnett College , March 2-3, 2007.
  • “A Trinity of Benedictines: How St. Benedict’s Rule Informs Works by Hildegard of Bingen, Elisabeth of Schönau, and Julian of Norwich,” 41st International Congress on Medieval Studies, Western Michigan University, May 5, 2006.
  • “The Case Against ‘Native Speaker’,” Sogang University, Seoul, May 4, 2005.
  • “Ælfric’s Unique Christmas Homily: A Close Analysis of Content Sources, and Style,” 39th International Congress on Medieval Studies, 2004.
  • “The Dream of the Rood and Its Unique, Penitential Language,” SAMLA, 2003.
  • “Ælfrician Pedagogy,” 38th International Congress on Medieval Studies, 2003.
  • “Excalibur and Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte Darthur,” 3rd Annual Conference on Teaching Medieval Literature, Kennesaw State University, March 2003.
  • “The Dependence of Ælfric’s Gospel Message of Penance on Augustine,” 30th Annual Sewanee Medieval Colloquium, University of the South, April 2003.
  • “Comparative Analysis of Western and Classic Asian Philosophies,” Institute for Infusing Chinese Culture into Undergraduate Curriculum, University of Hawaii-Manoa, August 2003.
  • “Importance of a Liberal Arts Education,” Phi Beta Kappa Symposium, Oglethorpe University, Atlanta, GA, July 2003.
  • Phi Beta Kappa keynote lecture, Atlanta Alumni Association, November 2002.
  • “Of Monsters, Golden Treasure, and Mead: English Life and Art in 700 AD,” University of London , October 1990.

Curriculum Development

  • Medieval Women Mystics and Their Environment, Integrative Studies (IS)
  • Vikings and Early English Homiletics (IS)
  • Introduction to Old English Literature
  • Development of the English Language (IS)

Service

  • Chair, Integrative Studies Curriculum Committee, 2005-present
  • Faculty Senate, 2005-2007
  • Integrative Studies Curriculum Committee, 2002-present
  • Hubert Trust Fund Task Force, 2007-present
  • Search committee, Humanities Chair, 2006-2007
  • Annual Fund Task Force, Faculty Representative, 2005-2006
  • Teaching Initiative Task Force, 2005-2006
  • Library Expansion Task Force, 2005-2006
  • Writing Center Tutor, 2005-2006
  • Fulbright/Korean-American Educational Exchange Committees, 2004-2005
  • International Studies Committee, 2003-2006
  • Excellence in Undergraduate Student Research Committee, 2003-2006
  • Library Committee, 2003-2006
  • Freshman Advisor, 2003-2005
  • Grades Appeal Committee, 2003-2004
  • English Major Advisor, 2002-2006
  • Academic Standards and Assessment Committee, 2002-2005
  • Sigma Tau Delta Advisor, 2002-2005
  • Public Relations Task Force, 2002-2005
  • Shorter Development Campaign Task Force, 2002-2003
  • Educational Effectiveness Committee, 2002-2003

Student Engagement and Community Outreach

  • Supervised successful Fulbright application for Sogang University graduate student to Duke University for Ph.D. study, 2005-2008. Hong, Sehoon is researching medieval women mystics and their views of the body.
  • Conducted successful M.A. thesis supervision of Sogang University linguistic graduate students: Kim, Gi-Bum; Song, Young-Wan; Choi, Hee-Young; Kim, Ju-Bong; and Pak, Soo-Hee, 2004-2005.
  • Served on two bi-national committees in Seoul interviewing and selecting Korean faculty and students for Fulbright grants to America, 2004-2005.
  • Coordinated first annual campus-wide Spring Poetry Reading at Shorter College, with Sigma Tau Delta students Ben McFry and Danielle Buckley, 2003.
  • Supervised senior Capstone research papers for Shorter students in 2007, Amber Walker, Bonnie McNulty; in 2006, Libby Grammar, Jonathan Howard, Becky Manners, Haley Oldham, Sam Renick; in 2003, Ben McFry, Danielle Buckley.
  • Tutor at-risk elementary school students and conduct writing workshops for Challenge (gifted) classes at Elm Street Elementary, Rome, GA, 2002-present.
  • Lecture at local K-12 schools on medieval women mystics and on publishing.
  • Interviewed by several major newspapers, including The Washington Times, TheDallas Morning News , The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, and local papers .
  • Man of Blessing: A Life of Benedict featured in April 2008 issue of Columba Magazine, for the Knights of Columbus (circulation 1.6 million), also translated into French and Spanish for their foreign members.  

Membership in Professional Societies

  • Fulbright Association Lifetime Member & International Education Task Force
  • International Society of Anglo-Saxonists
  • Phi Beta Delta, International Scholars Honor Society
  • Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Chapter, University of Georgia
  • Medieval and Early Modern English Studies Association of Korea
  • Modern Language Association
  • South Atlanta Modern Language Association