June Dwyer
JUNE DWYER, PH.D., who taught English at the College for 35 years and diligently served the Manhattan community on numerous committees and as chair of the English department, died on Nov. 9. She was 71. A professor emeritus, Dwyer began at Manhattan in 1981 as an adjunct, just as the campus was becoming coeducational. She was one of the first female faculty members in the English department. Dwyer and fellow professor Judith Plaskow, Ph.D., professor emeritus of religious studies, co-founded Committee W to raise awareness of women’s issues on campus. “June was a beloved teacher and a colleague of great intelligence, wit, competence and good humor,” Plaskow recalls. “She was involved in numerous facets of College life without ever calling attention to herself or her myriad contributions. She and I created the Global Origins of U.S. Society course, which was part of the Arts curriculum for about 15 years, but that was just one of her long list of contributions.” Dwyer rose through the academic ranks during her tenure, retiring as professor of English in May 2010. She also served as chair of her department and was respected as a mentor to English faculty and students alike. Dwyer was a key member of the Dante Seminar Group, still attending events annually after she retired.
“June was a beloved colleague, teacher and friend, and she will leave an absence that will never be filled,” says Rocco Marinaccio, Ph.D., professor of English and director of the liberal arts and science core curriculum. “The best we can do is to try to fill that absence with our many wonderful memories of June, and, for her faculty colleagues, among the most prominent of those memories is that of her unwavering commitment to her students. Nothing — nothing — ever challenged her belief that they were the most important members of the College, and doing what was best for them was our primary duty and privilege.” A prolific writer, Dwyer was a known expert on Jane Austen, publishing Jane Austen with Continuum in 1989. She was completing a new book at the time of her death with Lexington Press as part of an echo-critical theory and practice series. It was about iconic places in contemporary American literature: texts, voids and American culture. She also focused regularly on immigrant literature and ethnic American literature. Dwyer kept the department fresh, often creating new courses, such as Literature and War. Retirement gave Dwyer more time to spend on her lifelong hobby of horseback riding. A resident of Greenwich Village, she also had a residence in Germantown, N.Y., to allow her the time to spend with her horses and garden. Always the teacher, she worked with autistic children, and used horses to provide therapy that often helps to calm the senses and create a new level of confidence. In addition, Dwyer continued to teach at Quest Learning Community in New York City, providing an intellectual outlet for retirees. A graduate of Vassar College, Dwyer earned her master’s degree from Columbia University and doctorate from New York University. She is survived by her sons, Colin and Quetzal; and sister, Anne Iskrant. A memorial service was held at Manhattan College on Dec. 5.
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