English Faculty

L. Ivory Giles teaches courses in Customer & Occupational Relations, Workplace Interpersonal Communications, and Writing Fundamentals. He received a B.S. in Communication from Indiana State University and an M.Ed. from the University of Minnesota. In addition to his teaching career, Ivory has worked as a vocational education advisor, as a special needs support service manager, and as a technical college counselor. He has worked at Saint Paul College since 1977.

Michael Leggs teaches English Composition and Fundamentals of Writing courses at Saint Paul College. He has been a full-time instructor in the English Department since Fall 2005. He earned his B.A. in English and a M.A. in English Literature & Creative Writing from Kansas State University. While at KSU, Michael was a recipient of the Hickock Fellowship in Creative Writing. Prior to teaching at Saint Paul College, he was the Senior Media Planner for Thompson/West Publishing, and an Interactive Media Planner for Monster.com's parent company, TMP Worldwide. In his spare time, he performs as a bassist-for-hire at various Twin Cities music venues and as a studio musician. He is also an alumnus of The Brave New Institute School of Improvisation and Stevie Ray's School of Comedy Improvisation. On occasion, he can also be found performing stand-up at local comedy club open mics.

Jody Wheeler teaches Communications, Composition and literature courses at Saint Paul College. She also has taught at Rochester Community and Technical College, as well as Ridgewater College in Willmar and Hutchinson. Jody also worked as the Assistant Director at Bemidji State University's writing center. She earned her B.A. in English at Bemidji State University and her M.A. in Rhetoric and Applied Writing at St. Cloud State University. Recent talks include “Tuning in to ESL Students in the Writing Tutorial” (National Writing Center Conference).

Judy Blanchard teaches courses in Composition and Literature, including surveys of American Literature and the Post-Civil War American Novel. She holds both a B.A and an M.A in English from the University of Wisconsin.

You may visit my Professional Development electronic portfolio at http://judithblanchard.efoliomn.com/

Jayne Rock teaches courses in Composition and Writing Fundamentals. She received a B.A in French and English from South Dakota State University and Saint Cloud State University, respectively. She received an M.A. in English from St. Cloud State University. Her teaching career includes teaching English, French, and study skills classes in various high schools. She has also taught at both the technical college and the community college in Rochester, Minnesota. Jayne has been an instructor at Saint Paul College since 1999.

Jayne’s hobbies include walking outdoors, water aerobics, and reading. She also enjoys traveling with her husband and children, particularly enjoying visits with her “family of origin” in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. She enjoys traveling to other parts of the United States and abroad, and recently traveled to Croatia and Germany.

Mary Crispin has been part of Saint Paul College's full time faculty since 2003. She received her B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1992 and an M.A. in English from the University of St. Thomas in 1999. She currently teaches Composition 1 and 2. She also teaches online courses: Introduction to Poetry and African American Literature. Her favorite aspect of Saint Paul College is its student centered philosophy regarding instruction. Since she began teaching here, Mary Crispin has completed three Twin City Marathons. The finish line of the Twin Cities Marathon is visible from the City View Cafe, here at Saint Paul College.

Lori Stoltz teaches courses in English Composition, Fundamentals of Writing, and Literature at Saint Paul College. She received her M.F.A. in Writing from Hamline University, St. Paul, MN, and earned her B.A. English, and minor in Art History from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. She has taught at Rochester Community and Technical College, The College of St. Scholastica, and Cardinal Stritch University and absolutely loves teaching. She aligns with Albert Einstein’s belief, which states, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

Growing up as the oldest of seven children, the daughter of a Master Sargeant in the Air Force, she moved all over Europe and the United States, appreciating the learning and growth that came with being exposed to other cultures and ideas. She especially delights in the stories of the Brothers Grimm since she spent her childhood in Germany. Her parents were both avid readers and passed down the stories that ignited her passion for literature and imagination. She has passed this love of stories and learning onto her four children: two daughters and two sons.

In 2001, she had a chapbook of poetry published by a small press, Black Hat Press, called "Sleepers in the Wake" and was a poetry editor for Water-Stone Review in 2006, which published her interview with renowned writer, Maxine Hong Kingston. Her poetry and non-fiction essays are published in a variety of local literary magazines. Recently, was selected as semi-finalist for the Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry in the Nimrod International Journal of Poetry. She enjoys giving readings whenever and wherever she can because "poetry is an ancient language that brings joy to the human spirit."

Justin Bonnett is a full-time English instructor at Saint Paul College. After teaching, coaching, and mentoring for ten years in the Saint Paul Public Schools district, Justin Bonnett joined the Saint Paul College English department in 2009. He received his M.A. in English from the University of Saint Thomas in 2007 and his B.A. in English with a minor in education from Saint John’s University in 1998. Although he always knew that he would become a teacher, Justin had a hard time choosing what to teach because of his wide range of interests. He decided that English would best meet his desire to explore all realms of life because writing and literature encompass everything. As an educator, not only has Justin had the opportunity to teach, but just as importantly, he has had the opportunity to be taught. The students at Saint Paul College bring a world of experiences to his classroom, and through their writing and discussions, Justin has been able to absorb a knowledge that he could acquire nowhere else. The Latin proverb which states that “By learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn” is true for Justin on many levels.

Justin’s hobbies include walking, running, bicycling, and going on adventures which require walking, running, and cycling. He and his wife have bicycled across many countries and have through-hiked numerous long trails, including the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail. Although their current primary adventure is raising three children, bicycle trailers and backpacks allow for plenty family-friendly biking and hiking.

Kasandra Duthie teaches Composition and Writing Fundamentals courses at Saint Paul College. She also enjoys teaching Literature and Creative Writing. She received her B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University. Before coming to Saint Paul College, she taught at Minnesota State University, Normandale Community College, Hennepin Technical College, and Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

At Saint Paul College, Kasandra loves learning from her students and believes that the classroom is a place to look closely at new topics as individuals while remembering to use a worldly lens. Through the process of reading, writing, and thinking, Kasandra aims to form a vibrant and supportive learning community where students can embrace their unique talents as critical thinkers in each of her classes. She believes that writing is both a tool for analysis and a way to hone communication skills. She practices these skills in her own work as a fiction writer who has been published in national magazines and anthologies.