English Majors at UNA are bound to meet Dr. Cynthia Burkhead.

She is an English instructor and specializes in composition and 20th century American Literature.

After high school, she enlisted in the military and later spent many years working as a retail loss prevention specialist. However, she spent her lunch or dinner hours reading Shakespeare.

She had always wanted to go back to school, but outside forces were often in her way.

“When my twins were four and I was newly single, it seemed like the perfect time to go after my dreams and also model for them a life spent pursuing education,” Burkhead said.

When she began college, she was a pre-med major but soon realized that English was a better fit.

“I finally accepted that my lack of math skills and poor preparation for science was making me miserable, while what really made me happy was reading and writing, and I was pretty good at it,” Burkhead said.

She received her master’s from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and her Ph.D from Middle Tennessee State University.

After her husband took a job at Redstone Arsenal, Burkhead found her way into the UNA English Department. Her favorite part of the day is being in class.

“Teaching is amazing because in the midst of all the stress of life, going into class is just about the students and helping them grow intellectually,” she said.

While in class, she focuses on what the students show they need most help with. When teaching, she tries to be fun to relate the subject to her students.

“A few of the television shows I have used either for textual analysis assignments or reviews are ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ ‘Lost,’ and ‘Firefly.'” Burkhead said. “They are all very different, but each provides a lot of material for students to use in writing assignments.”

Burkhead is very involved at UNA. She is co-chair of the George Lindsey Film Festival and faculty advisor for Habitat for Humanity. During the past eight years, they have sponsored two habitats, including the Shoals’ first solar habitat.

She is also a member of the Whedon Studies Association.The WSA focuses their studies on many different television shows including “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “Firefly,” “Dollhouse” and many more created by Joss Whedon. She co-edited “Joss Whedon: Conversations” with David Lavery; it is filled with interviews that together provide a complete picture of Joss Whedon.

“One of the best interviews, in my opinion, was a long discussion of his feminism, for which he has been honored by many women’s groups,” Burkhead said.

During her spare time, Burkhead enjoys watching television and making jewelry, mostly from vintage religious jewelry and rosaries, to sell at First Fridays. She is married and has three sons and one daughter.