English

Cecily Brunelli
Assistant Professor of Composition
307-382-1630
Office: A-104

Cecily teaches Basic English II, English Composition I, Technical Writing, and Vampires in Literature & Film.  A native of Wyoming, she earned a B.S. in English with an emphasis in journalism from Emporia State University in 1991, an M.A. in English from Kansas State University in 1994, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos in 1997.  When not teaching, she enjoys camping, playing board games with her children, and watching Star Trek with her husband.

Rick Kempa
Associate Professor of English
307-382-1731
Office: 1414
Rick teaches writing and philosophy and directs the Honors Program at Western Wyoming College.  He earned his BA from St. John’s College in Santa Fe in 1979 and his MFA from the University of Arizona in 1987. He is a poet and essayist whose work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies (see his Wyoming Authors webpage for more information), and a book of his poems, Keeping the Quiet, has been published by Bellowing Ark Press.  He is also an avid backpacker, with a special love for the Grand Canyon and for the red rock wilderness of southern Utah.

Judy Killion
Lecturer of English
307-382-1303
Office: 1748

I am Judith Killion, Lecturer of English, and I have taught a variety of English classes, at Western, during the past 14 years. I have lived in Sweetwater County for 38 years and consider myself almost a native of this wonderful place. I am an Alumna of Western, as were my two daughters, and my husband. My grandchildren continue to carry on the legacy of attending WWCC. I have degrees in English and Education with several areas of minor studies. I am a rather eclectic individual. My degrees come from the University of Wyoming. I am the campus sponsor of Baptist Colligate Ministries. I have many different interests. These include riding motorcycles, horses, camping, fishing, biking, gourmet cooking, fashion design, interior decorating, reading, writing, and gardening. I am passionate about good food, travel, and the personal beliefs that sustain my life.

Lora Meredith
Instructor of Composition
307-382-1822
Office: 1434

Lora teaches composition and literature at WWCC. She earned her B.A. in English secondary education from the University of Northern Colorado. She later received her M.A. in English at UNC where she also studied Speech Communications. Thus far, she has had the opportunity to study abroad in Greece and England and looks forward to visiting more interesting places, but she loves the West which she considers her permanent home. In her downtime she enjoys playing the piano, violin, harp, and a new Bodhran from Ireland.

Heather Pristash
Assistant Professor of Composition
307-382-1856
Office: 1434

Heather Pristash is a native Ohioan whose move to Rock Springs marks her first full-time residence outside of that state. She's enjoying western Wyoming very much thus far, although you may hear her grumble a bit in the winter. She's still finishing her dissertation on rhetorical uses of knitting and craft as part of Bowling Green State University's doctoral program in Rhetoric and Writing, and she also has Women's Studies certification from the same institution. Her other research interests include the use of intuition in writing, visual rhetoric, and women's rhetorical practices. When not teaching or researching, she enjoys video games, knitting, comic books/graphic novels, trawling the Internet, and dyeing her hair unnatural colors, among other pursuits. The thing she loves most of all, however, is spending time with her Canadian politico/philosopher fiancé and their two cats.

Chris Propst
Assistant Professor of English and ESL
307-382-1732
Office: 1413

Chris teaches Basic English, Composition, English as a Second Language, an occasional literature class, and specializes in Creative Writing.  He has a B.A. from Colorado College, an M.A. in English from Kansas State University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Texas State where he studied with Debra Monroe, Dagoberto Gilb, and Tom Grimes.  He writes a little bit of everything, and sometimes even participates in Poetry Slams.  His brother has gotten him interested in mountaineering recently, and he climbed Mt. Rainier in 2010 with him—they’re looking for another big mountain that’s not overly scary.  Being in the wilderness reinvigorates him, whether climbing, camping with family, or being a desert rat.

Sharon Taylor
Associate Professor of English
307-382-1725
Office: A-106

Sharon teaches Basic English and English I.   Sharon has an M.A. in Reading from the University of Northern Colorado.