Hennessy named next Liberal Arts dean at Texas State

Posted by University News Service

April 15, 2011

Michael Hennessy has been named the next dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Texas State University-San Marcos. Hennessy will assume his duties on Sept. 1, when Dean Ann Marie Ellis retires.

Hennessy (PhD, Marquette) joined the Texas State faculty in 1980 and was promoted to professor in 1987. From 1993 to 2003, he directed the lower-division studies program in the English Department, then served for two years as associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts.  He has been chair of the English Department since 2005. 

A widely respected teacher and scholar, Hennessy has twice won the Everette Swinney Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2001 he was named a Piper Professor. His publications include chapters, articles, and essays on the work of James Joyce, W. H. Auden, Charles Tomlinson, and other twentieth-century British and American poets.  He is also author of three widely adopted textbooks: The Borzoi Handbook for Writers (with Frederick Crews and Sandra Schor), The Borzoi Practice Book for Writers, and The Random House Practice Book.

Hennessy received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Service in 1999. He was Liberal Arts representative to the General Education Council for twelve years and was appointed in 2002 to the Presidential Task Force on Strategic Planning. He has served as president of the campus chapter of the Texas Faculty Association.