Diana Fleming, English professor “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison “She explores many important themes that we still inherit today. These fascinating characters illustrate internalized racism, racial bias, unconscious bias and female horizontal aggression.”

Kanako Suda, ESL instructor “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee “Everything was interesting to me. The meaning of the title and how fascinated the students were to learn about that time period and American culture.”

Azin Arefi, English professor “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger “When you are a young person going through your own anxieties and difficulties, when you read someone else’s words you realize, ‘I’m not alone. I’m not the only person who feels disenfranchised or different.’”

Brian Malone, English professor “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville “I am a big fan of ‘Moby-Dick.’ It’s queer in all of my favorite ways.”

Roseanne Giannini Quinn, English professor “Beloved” by Toni Morrison “Because Morrison is our greatest author ever. She is our national treasure.”