Faculty

Susan Carlile

Coordinator

Susan Carlile teaches Eighteenth-Century British Literature, British Literature Survey, and numerous courses in the English Single Subject program. She taught English to adults in Madrid, Spain for three years before she moved to Arizona, where she taught for seven years in the Phoenix Union High School District. She was part of a team that created the Center for Academic and Technical Studies at Metro Tech Vocational Institute of Phoenix and later became a writing teacher trainer for the Fusion Project at PUHSD. She earned her Ph.D. in English, with an emphasis on eighteenth-century British literature, from Arizona State University in 2001. She has published articles and reviews in Eighteenth Century Studies, Eighteenth-Century Novel, Issues in Teacher Education, The Journal for Adolescent and Adult Literacy, and The Yale University Library Gazette. She recently published with Ruth Perry, a modern edition of the 1758 novel Henrietta by Charlotte Lenox (University Press of KY, 2008).

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Don Hohl

Off-Site Student Teacher Placement

Don Hohl was a full-time English teacher at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California for three decades, and he has been an adjunct professor in the English Single Subject program at CSULB for the past two decades. A busy graduate of CSULB (when it was officially called Long Beach State College), he was co-director of the South Basin Writing Project for 15 years, created the CSULB Young Writers' Camp with Dr. Vipond in 1986, oversaw the annual Kaleidoscope Writing and Art contest with Dr. Arthur Axelrad from 1983 to 1988, and has taught a plethora of courses in composition, adolescent literature, and teaching methodology. He has four grandchildren, all of whom are cuter than Shirley Temple; two children, who are both public school teachers; and a wife of 40 years, who oversees the whole corporation. As a lifelong educator who believes in student-centered classrooms, Mr. Hohl tries to live by the aphorism: be a guide on the side rather than sage on the stage.

Stephanie Johnson

On-Site Student Teacher Placement

BIOGRAPHY for STEPHANIE JOHNSON
Written by student Jennifer Minami for an English 482/60 presentation, Summer 2005

Stephanie Johnson is currently an instructor for the English Department at California State University, Long Beach. Ms. Johnson is an experienced K-12 teacher who has received multiple college degrees, which include a BA in Communications from Saint Louis University, a BA in English Literature from UC Irvine, and an MA in English with emphasis in Teaching from CSULB. She also earned both a Multiple Subject and a Single Subject Credential through UCI. Ms. Johnson began her career in teaching as a Teacher’s Assistant for an advertising class at Saint Louis University. She was even named one of the “Top 10 College Draft Picks” in the U.S. by American Advertising magazine. To this date, she has had experience working with every grade level, from kindergarteners through college graduates. Ms. Johnson has encountered many exceptional students, a few of whom she named her daughter, Elizabeth, after. One of Ms. Johnson’s favorite authors of literature for adolescents is Gary Paulsen, who has written popular books such as Hatchet and GUTS. According to Ms. Johnson, Paulsen’s books may be known primarily as books for young adults, but they are popular among both young and old.

BIOGRAPHY for STEPHANIE JOHNSON

Written by student Ali Zakka in EDSS 300G: Introduction to Teaching-English in Fall 2006

Despite staying busy with work, Stephanie Johnson is a family woman. She is married to Eric, a Project Analyst for Southern California Edison; they have one daughter, Elizabeth Anne (who has apparently changed her middle name to Anna).

Prof. Johnson has three degrees from three different universities: Saint Louis University, UC Irvine and CSULB. Her degree from CSULB is a MA in English with emphasis in teaching. She has also earned both multiple subject and single subject credentials. Her teaching career began at Saint Louis University in 1987; she was a TA for Communications 471. She has since taught students at every grade level since K-12 and beyond. When I asked how she balances the challenges of teaching and commitments to home life, she answered, “Precariously.” Although her life seems complicated, and busy, she seems to genuinely enjoy her work. Ms. Johnson not only works as an instructor, but also as an advisor to student teachers. She has experience with private schools such as DePaul, Chapman, and Saint Louis University, and is quick to point out how well the advisors on those private campuses are able to assist students. She strives to produce that level of advisement here at CSULB.

I asked if she had a ticket to anywhere in the world, where would it be? She answered, “Tasmania”, and a close second being San Moritz, Switzerland. It seems that although she enjoys working with students in the off-season, she may have something planned for next summer.

BIOGRAPHY for STEPHANIE JOHNSON

Written by student Diana Zamora for English 482, Fall 2007

Stephanie Johnson has no pets, but that hasn’t stopped her from realizing that there is more to life than television, music, and iPods.  She has been working as a teacher for the past eighteen years and has taught every grade level from Kindergarten to college.  As a teenager, she had the privilege of traveling with her family to water ski on the Mississippi River and at the Great Barrier Reef.  Although this has nothing to do with wanting to be a teacher, it’s these family moments that can leave a lasting impression on people.  She has received degrees from Saint Louis University, UC Irvine, and Cal State Long Beach and has attended DePaul University in Chicago, Irvine Valley College, and Orange Coast College.  With such an impressive resume in higher education, it wasn’t until her graduate year when she started working to get an MA in English with an emphasis in teaching that she realized she wanted to be a teacher.  After two years as a full-time teacher at The Beach, Stephanie Johnson plans to continue teaching, not just because it helps pay for her child’s tap dance and ice skating classes, but because she has realized that teaching future teachers is an important job.  After all, just as a wonderful family moment can leave a lasting impression on a person, so can one good teacher leave a lasting impression on a student.  With teachers like Stephanie Johnson helping future teachers teach, the future looks bright for future generations.

BIOGRAPHY for STEPHANIE JOHNSON

Written by student Sara Duke for English 482, Spring 2008

Stephanie Johnson grew up in southern Illinois in a town that used to be called Bellevile, but the name has since been changed.  She moved to California when she was seventeen years old: she already had some family in the area.  She received her first bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations in St. Louis.  While working on her degree she met Professor Meyer who she said is one of her greatest influences.  Mrs. Johnson received her second bachelors at UCI in English literature and her masters in English with a teaching emphasis.  When I asked her why she chose this profession she said it was because she gets paid to read and write.  She enjoys students’ creativity when reading their papers.  Mrs. Johnson has taught every grade from kindergarten to graduate studies. 

Last update: 9/23/08