Faculty
Gail Lavender
College Professor
Email:
glavende@nmsu.edu
Office Address:
NMSU Department of English
P.O. Box 30001, MSC 3E
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003
Phone:
(575) 646-2247 (office)
(575) 646-7726
Fax:
(575) 646-7725
Biographical Statement
- B. A. Drake University , Des Moines , IA
- M. A. Drake University , Des Moines , IA
Courses Commonly Taught
- Critical Writing (Engl 310)
- Mythology (Engl 392G)
- The Arthurian Tradition (Engl 390G)
- Worlds of Arthur (Hon 234G)
- Children’s Literature (Engl 363)
- Creative Nonfiction Mythology (Engl 392G)
Awards/Honors
Donald C. Roush Award for Teaching Excellence for the College of Arts & Sciences
Arts & Sciences Award for 15 Years of Service
Honorary Member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society
Former Essay Editor of Puerto del Sol
Teaching Statement/Emphasis
My role as a teacher is to facilitate and guide students to achieve the critical reading, writing, and thinking skills necessary for our increasingly complex world.
Research or Creative Interests
I am intrigued by the infinite ways humans construct meaning, particularly in mythology, folktales, and fairytales. These archetypes, symbols, folktale motifs, and themes often thread throughout cultural artifacts, such as fiction, creative nonfiction, drama, poetry, and film. My teaching and research reflect this particular emphasis.

