Dr. Joanne Gates is in the process of retiring from her position as an English Professor at JSU. She is originally from West Winfield, NY, and earned her B.A. in Drama at Vassar College and M.F.A. in Theater and Ph.D. in English at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, before coming to JSU. When Gates arrived, she learned that her colleague Dr. George Richards grew up on the same street as her. “Our grandfathers and fathers knew each other well, but he had moved away before I started school. It felt like a small world.”

Gates first came to JSU in search of a tenur- track job as several positions were opening with educators (including retired Shakespeare professor Evelyn McMillian) ending their time at the school; Gates has been here for the past 34 years. She often taught English Composition II (EH 102), Survey of English Literature I (EH 203), Shakespeare I and II (EH 403 and EH 404), Women’s Literature (EH 420), and Graduate Studies in Shakespeare (EH 562). She would consider Shakespeare and Women’s Literatureas her favorites, the latter of which was created by Gates after encouragement from retired English Department Head Dr. Cox. About what she will miss the most in retirement, Gates said, “The sharing that happens among the faculty, especially those in my department.” The most notable change(s) Gates observed during her time at JSU were the recent renovations and rebuilding following the EF3 tornado that hit Jacksonville in 2018, the refacing of the Houston Cole Library—which used to be white granite—and the construction of Meehan Hall and the Recreation Center. Gates points out that there has been evident change within buildings too, stating, “One notices a vibrancy among the staff, students, faculty, with programs and offerings adjusting rapidly to these changing times.”

Currently, Gates is working on research before she officially enters retirement. This is not a new task for Gates, as she continues to research Shakespeare and women writers. Elizabeth Robins happens to be one of the women writers that Gates specializes in, as she has published a biography titled, Elizabeth Robins 1862-1952: Actress, Novelist, Feminist, and helped create “The Elizabeth Robins Web” page on the JSU website (http://www.jsu.edu/robinsweb/), which she will continue to enhance as she pursues research interests in retirement. This past November, Gates delivered a paper on Robins at the virtual South Atlantic Modern Language Association (SAMLA) conference. Gates has a commendable number of accomplishments, such as making contributions to Modern Drama by Women 1880s-1930s, that can be found on her personal website (http://www.joannegates.com/index.htm).

Gates plans to continue her research on Robins once she has retired. She has other objectives, too. “I have not ruled out attempting fiction. I continue to send out my poems and papers I have presented on Shakespeare. In addition, we keep a vegetable garden in the summer. Recently I have taken up knitting. I make only simple scarves and baby blankets, as gifts, but it is a good past-time.”

The advice that Gates would give to new faculty at JSU is “Respect where the students come from and their individuality. Share among your peers. Take time to pursue individual hobbies. Apply for Research Grants and offer programs that cover your specialties.”

Her advice to students is just as wise. “Take pride in all your accomplishments. The classwork is always primary, but find ways to explore and express yourself in the extracurricular offerings. Attend the plays and the special events. Make friends.”