Nichole DeWall

Nichole DeWall is a Professor of English at McKendree University, serving as Director of the Honors Program and a Provost Fellow. She holds a Ph.D. from Northeastern University (2008), an M.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2001), and a B.A. from St. Olaf College (2000). Her research focuses on innovative pedagogical strategies, Shakespeare studies, and the intersection of digital media with humanities education. DeWall frequently publishes in The Teaching Professor, emphasizing practical teaching advice, classroom climate optimization, and bias mitigation in student evaluations. Her work also explores historical texts like John Davies’ Triumph of DEATH and George Herbert’s poetry, contextualized through modern challenges like pandemic teaching. She advocates for trust-based assessment practices and integrates classical literature into contemporary educational discussions.

Education:

• Ph.D., English, Northeastern University (2008)
• M.A., English, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2001)
• B.A., English, St. Olaf College (2000)

Research Interests: DeWall’s work bridges early modern literature and modern pedagogy. She examines how Shakespearean themes inform teaching strategies, champions the use of course packs and audiobooks in curriculum design, and develops frameworks to address bias in student evaluations. Her writing often blends personal anecdotes with scholarly insights, offering actionable advice for educators.

Recent Article Trends: Her 2023-2024 articles prioritize actionable teaching advice, bias-aware assessment, and leveraging historical texts for modern pedagogical innovation. She consistently advocates for educator well-being and student evaluation transparency.

Labs/Teams: She led program notes for McKendree University’s 2009 production of Love’s Labour’s Lost, demonstrating her commitment to integrating theater into literary education.