academics
John V. Kitterman, PhD
Assistant Professor of English
SCHOOL of A rts & H umanities
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small campus setting and personal relationships—those are the aspects Dr. John Kitterman, Associate Professor of English and publisher of Ferrum’s literary magazine, “Chrysalis,” was looking for when he chose Ferrum. Kitterman grew up in the Tidewater region of Virginia and has taught at several large universities in the state, including part-time, as a graduate student at the University of Virginia, as an adjunct professor at Longwood University, and as full-time instructor at Norfolk State University. While at Norfolk State, Kitterman felt the city and the large campus were no longer what he needed in his professional and personal life. He came to Ferrum in search of a smaller environment and a more rural area: “I saw a vacancy at Ferrum and I jumped at the chance.”
The English Department at Ferrum is one of the largest teaching groups on campus, as almost everyone teaches some aspect of the required composition and literary survey courses. Kitterman notes that they are a very close-knit group, congenial and extremely dedicated to their profession. Kitterman and several colleagues are working toward expanding the offerings of the department to include exciting new areas such as the exploration of films, creative writing and cultural studies. The hope is that by bringing new opportunities to the department and broadening the traditional areas of emphasis, more students will be attracted to the alternatives of the standard literary track. “Reaching the unmotivated student is our biggest challenge, and new courses of study may help with that,” says Kitterman. “When I came to Ferrum 10 years ago, there were maybe 800 students. We have grown exponentially since then.” But despite the growth of the campus, Kitterman believes Ferrum has both a laid-back atmosphere where students enjoy learning and professors enjoy teaching, and an exciting feel of working together to achieve a greater education for everyone. “I like the fact that on this campus there are activities for everyone, where everyone is included. That’s the bonus of a small school.” Kitterman tells the story of his annual end-of-the-year senior class party; a tradition for Kitterman and his wife, the party features a band and includes an invitation to all graduates, faculty and staff. One year in the recent past, he had to cancel the party; students and faculty alike contacted him to share their disappointment! “It has become one of my favorite things,” Kitterman says, and he is happy to be able to continue the tradition each year.
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Along with his duties as an Associate Professor, Kitterman is also a poet, characterizing his work as “dark and political.” Beyond his personal publications, he serves as the adviser and publisher of the campus literary magazine, “The Chrysalis.” The magazine focuses on the art, prose, poetry and photographs of students, and is largely produced by the students. Ferrum Magazine | Winter 2011–2012
Additionally, the magazine offers information about cultural activities and events for the Ferrum College community. “The magazine is a great opportunity to showcase the talents of our student body,” says Kitterman, “but it is definitely not the same publication as in its earlier years.” When Kitterman took over, the layout of the magazine was done manually and only featured a few items per page; in its current form, the digital layout allows the pages to be completely filled with the work of students. That student work is not limited to just the magazine, however. Kitterman also started a monthly coffeehouse performance night. Students attend to perform their original works in a small setting, among fellow artists and friends. As time has gone on, the popularity of the event has grown significantly. “We started out very small, with 25–30 people and actually drank coffee; now we have attendance in the hundreds, and there is soda and pizza and a more club-like atmosphere.” He feels the changes and advancements in the literary magazine and the coffeehouse events are quite emblematic of the changes on the campus of Ferrum. “While we are growing and changing with a different dynamic, my hope is that we will always retain the family atmosphere for which we are known.” n
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