Marilyn Johnson

  

Johnson’s enthusiasm for college teaching is evident in her contributions to academics. She has introduced more than 15 courses to the curriculum, among them African-American Women Novelists, Reason and Revolution in Literature, and Images of Women in Literature. Johnson takes a mentor-like approach in the classroom. She prefers to let her students work their way through the course materials and the challenges they present, and devise their own interpretations. "I believe in being the 'guide on the side' instead of the 'sage on the stage,'" Johnson says. "That is, I want my students to be the most active agents in their learning experience." She also spends time exploring cinematic interpretation of literature, African-American authors, linguistics, the Romantics, and genre studies. Johnson holds a B.A. from Spring Hill College, an M.A. from Villanova University, and a Ph.D. from Temple University. She resides in King of Prussia, Pa.