After teaching for twenty-seven years, Associate Professor of English, James Wardwell will return to Maine to spend more time with his family. “I am as old as this building,” Wardwell joked. He chuckled as he went on to recall the lack of doors on the freshly built Chamberlain Building a week before classes started in August of ’89. Wardwell’s response about his future is similar to that of recent graduates: he truly does not know whether he will be getting another job, going into service and volunteer work, or teaching again. According to Wardwell, there is no definite plan. His face brightened when discussing living closer to his family and being able to return to the place he calls his home. “I’m not really retiring, I’m just leaving,” said Wardwell.
During his tenure at Houghton, Wardwell taught a variety of classes ranging from Modern and Contemporary Drama to Major Author: Shakespeare to Literature in the Age of the Enlightenment. Additionally, for twenty years he has taught numerous online classes for the college and Adult Education (formerly PACE) Business Writing classes in Olean, Dansville, Buffalo, Jamestown, Williamsville, and Lockport. Wardwell has also served as the Chair of the English and Writing department and Associate Dean for Arts and Letters for five years.
Wardwell also started the First Year Honors program at Houghton along with professors Cameron Airhart and Christopher Stewart in ’97 after a trip to London in ‘95. Since then he has taught semesters in the humanities honors program: East Meets West, Contemporary Literature Honors, and Honors in London. Faculty and students alike agree that Wardwell has been influential in the English curriculum by starting an Introduction to Literary Studies course and teaching other classes that have been added to the English major. “I think [Professor] Wardwell had a big role in offering classes in certain subject areas that no other professor could, or would,” said Lex Dakin ’16. “Classics and foundational texts in English literature are important subjects to study for any literature student, so his presence and capabilities have been necessary in our department.”
“When I think of the department with [Professor] Wardwell, I think of Shakespeare,” said Emily Loomis ’16. Wardwell has pioneered Shakespearian literature at Houghton, for English and writing majors the two names are almost synonymous. Loomis added, “He absolutely loves Shakespeare, and the passion that he has for the plays and sonnets and such simply oozes from him when he talks about it.” Wardwell refers to himself as an English Renaissance Literature specialist and a Literary Dramatic specialist. “Basically anything before 1800 is my passion,” Wardwell commented. “I enjoy creative writing and I write plays in my free time.” In the past, he was involved with the Shakespeare Players (Encore) dramatic performances by serving as an advisor.
Those who don’t know Wardwell personally may find him intimidating, but students and colleagues would say that he’s actually a very caring, passionate, and fun professor. “[He] challenges us, he puts us on the spot, he helps us articulate our ideas” said Loomis. “He has a passion for his field and wants to cultivate that passion in others.”
“I’m thankful and grateful for gainful employment” Wardwell remarked. “I will miss reading in preparation for class and thinking deeply about literature.” He mentioned he will also miss the dear friends he has made here and what a great place Houghton is to raise a family. Wardwell will be missed by many in the Houghton community. “We wish him well as he reunites with extended family and friends in Maine, with us knowing we’ll miss him, but also being excited for him as well as grateful for everything he has invested in us, the department, and the College” said Dashnau.