Marti Eads

Martha Greene Eads grew up in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge mountains and studied literature and theology at Wake Forest University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Durham (UK). Before coming to EMU, she taught at the North Carolina Correctional Center for Women and at Valparaiso University in Indiana, where she held a Lilly Fellowship in Humanities and the Arts from 2001-2003. Her research and teaching interests include twentieth- and twenty-first-century drama, English modernism, and contemporary Southern fiction, and her articles on those topics have appeared in The Carolina Quarterly, Christianity and Literature, The Cresset, Modern Drama, The Southern Quarterly, and Theology.

As a professor of literature and writing, I especially enjoy helping students recognize connections between great books and "real life" through community-learning partnerships. Whether we’re analyzing Anna Karenina with residents of the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community or acting out A Raisin in the Sun with men at the Coffeewood Correctional Center, my students and I are stretching intellectually, socially, politically, and spiritually. My graduate-level studies in literature and theology and recent certifications in trauma awareness and resilience have equipped me to lead young adults in tackling some of life’s toughest questions. While I am eager to work with people from all backgrounds, I believe that an important aspect of my life calling is to foster students’ faith formation and preparation for theologically informed service to Christian congregations, whether as clergy or laity.

• “Crime and Punishment in Virginia: Approaching Trauma and Addiction Through Reading Dostoevsky.”  The International 19th-Century Studies Association Inaugural Conference.  Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom.  July 10-12, 2024.
• “Well-Meaning Dreamer: Ron Rash's Reckoning with Systemic Racism in ‘Overtime’,"  The Appalachian Studies Association Conference.  Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.  March 7-9, 2024. 
• "'Then You Read' Ron Rash: Facing Addiction and Forging Recovery among and with Formerly Incarcerated Women."  Beyond the Classroom Walls: Practicing Community as Celebration of Cultural Capital Panel.  The Modern Language Association Conference.  Philadelphia, PA.  January 4-7, 2024.  
• "Claiming the Lens of Love: Reading Invisible Man Through I Corinthians 13."  The Conference on Christianity and Literature Southeast Regional Meeting.  Charleston Southern University, Charleston, SC.  October 26-28, 2023.
• "Resources for Recovery:  Reading Ron Rash’s Short Stories Alongside Formerly Incarcerated Women."  University Colloquium. Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA. February 15, 2023.
• "Making the Rough Places Plain: Teaching Hope Through Handel in Ron Rash’s World Made Straight."  (With James Richardson, Assistant Professor of Music, Eastern Mennonite University.)  The Conference on Christianity and Literature Midwest Regional Meeting.  Hosted Online by Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. June 23-24, 2021.
• "Ron Rash’s World Made Straight as a Round-About Route to Anti-Racist Reflection."  (With James Richardson.)  The Appalachian Studies Association Conference.  Hosted Online by Ohio University, Athens, OH.  March 11-14, 2021. 
• “Adventures in Teaching: (OR Courting Professional Martyrdom at the 21st-Century Church-Related College).” The Graphic Narratives and Multiple Marginalities Panel.  The Modern Language Association Conference.  Seattle, WA.  January 9-13, 2020. 
• “Singing Heavenward in Gap Creek.”  MorganFest: A Robert Morgan Celebration.  Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, October 3, 2019. 
• “Ron Rash’s Christocentric Theodicy: A Kingdom-Oriented Reading of The World Made Straight.”  An International Meeting of the Conference on Theology and Literature. Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, MA.  March 28-29, 2019.
• “The Epicenter of Who I Am”: Ron Rash’s Roots in Aho, North Carolina.  The Appalachian Studies Association Conference.  The University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC, March 14-17, 2019.  
• “‘Use Nothing Only Once’: Believing Again with Roger Lundin, Emily Dickinson, and Ron Rash.” Western Conference on Christianity and Literature. George Fox University, Newburg, OR, April 13-15, 2018.
• “Reflecting on Rash Choices: Reading Ron Rash’s Something Rich and Strange with Ex-Offenders.” The Appalachian Studies Association Conference. Cincinnati, OH. April 6-8, 2018.
• “Throwaway Men?: Eve Ensler’s and Lynn Nottage’s Treatments of Male Perpetrators of Sexual Violence.” The Comparative Drama Conference. Rollins College, Orlando, FL. April 6-8, 2017.
• “It’s Complicated”: Ron Rash’s Relationshp to Flannery O’Connor.” Keynote Address. Sigma Tau Delta (International English Honor Society) Symposium. Lee University, Cleveland, TN, October 22, 2016.
• “Lynyrd, Loretta, and Handel Lead Heavenward: Music in Ron Rash’s World Made Straight.” University Colloquium. Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA. September 21, 2016.
• “Not Just Whistling ‘Dixie’: The Civil War’s Legacy in Ron Rash’s The World Made Straight.” The Appalachian Studies Association Conference. Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV. March 18-19, 2016.
• “Lynn Nottage’s Ruined: A Vagina Monologues for the Twenty-First Century?” The South Atlantic Modern Language Association Conference. Research Triangle Park, NC. November 11, 2015.
• "The Christ-Abandoned Landscape of Ron Rash’s Nothing Gold Can Stay." The Appalachian Studies Association Conference. East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. March 24-26, 2015.
• "Meeting Wendell Berry’s Challenge: Denise Giardina’s Mountain Fiction." New Southern Writing and Its Genealogies. The Modern Language Association Convention. Chicago, IL. January 8-11, 2014.
• "Feminist Forgiveness in Robert Morgan’s 'The Trace'.” The Appalachian Studies Association Conference. Appalachian State University. Boone, NC. March 22-24, 2013.
• “'Job Had It Easy': Suffering in Robert Morgan’s Fiction." The South Central Conference on Christianity and Literature. Our Lady of Holy Cross College. New Orleans, LA. March 8-9, 2013.
• "Raising the Dead in Denise Giardina’s Appalachian Fiction." The South Atlantic Modern Language Association Conference. Research Triangle Park, NC. Nov. 9-11, 2012.
• "Kingdom Come: Denise Giardina’s Unrealized Eschatology." South Central Regional Conference on Christianity and Literature. Our Lady of Holy Cross College. New Orleans, LA. May 24-27, 2012.

• Interview with Ron Rash,  United States Artists Virtual "Appalachian Artists Crawl."  October 21, 2022.
• “Poetry’s Promise for Prison and Pandemic,”  The Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community.  July 14, 2020.
• “Talkback” after Bonhoeffer (with production team members), Eastern Mennonite University. January 21, 2022.  
• "This Is His Story, This Is Our Song: Finding Calling in Story,"  Lindale Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA. February 13, 2019.
• "Singing Heavenward in Robert Morgan's Gap Creek,"  Colloquy Sunday school class, Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA. February 17, 2019; also in the Shalom Sunday school class, November 18, 2018.
• "Resourcing for Pastoral Care and Relational Interactions," (with Laura Yoder), Lancaster Mennonite Conference. Ephrata, PA.  June 6, 2015.
• "Eastern Mennonite University’s Listening Process and Book Discussion Group Around Issues of Sexual Difference," in the Conversation on Human Sexuality Series, Eastern University, St. Davids, PA. March 10, 2015.
• “Talkback” after Into the Woods (with Anne Waltner and student cast members), Eastern Mennonite University. March 4, 2014.
• “Talkback” after Anna Karenina (with Phil Grayson and EMU students Makayla Baker, Samantha Ferrier, and Kate Swartz), Eastern Mennonite University.  February 2, 2013.
• Synthesis/Response Panel. Mennonite/s Writing VI Conference. With Ervin Beck (Goshen College), Jesse Nathan (San Francisco Bay Area), Shirley Showalter (Brooklyn, New York), Anita Hooley Yoder (Cleveland Heights, Ohio), Robert Zacharias (University of Toronto). April 30, 2012.
• “Talkback” after The Importance of Being Earnest (with Kim Brenneman and the EMU theatre cast), Eastern Mennonite University.  October 27, 2011.

• Poet for The Peacemakers based on Leymah Gbowee’s Mighty Be Our Powers. Composed by Gwyneth Walker and performed by Musica Harmonia, EMU Bach Festival, June 13, 2013, and again January 11, 2014.
• Reader for “Letters to the World,” a musical setting of poems by Emily Dickinson, performed by Musica Harmonia, Martin Chapel, EMU, September 18, 2010.

• Early Church (an Anabaptist fellowship), 2023 to present
• Lilly Graduate Fellows Program Mentor, 2021-2024
• Conference on Christianity and Literature Board, 2016-2019
• Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts National Network of Church-Related Colleges and Universities Board, 2010-2014
• Lilly Fellows Program Reunion Planning Committee, 2014
• Conference on Christianity and Literature Nominating Committee, 2013
• Lilly Graduate Fellows National Selection Committee, 2009-2011

• Eastern Mennonite University Research Course Release (three hours), Fall 2024
• Eastern Mennonite University Excellence in Teaching Award (for Tenured Faculty), 2021
• Eastern Mennonite University Summer Research Grants, Summers 2006 and 2017
• Participant, Diversity Responsive Teaching Seminar, National Science Foundation, Eastern Mennonite University, 2016-2017
• The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Faculty Seminar, “Slave Narratives,” Yale University, Summer 2015
• Eastern Mennonite University Summer Teaching Grants, Summers 2011 and 2013
• Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Summer Seminar, “Professing Literature: Christian Engagement with Contemporary Literary Studies,” Calvin College, 2009
• Eastern Mennonite University Lilly Foundation Theological Exploration of Vocation Mini-Grant, Spring 2009
• Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning Summer Seminar, “Faith in the Classroom: Christian Perspectives on Teaching and Learning,” Calvin College, 2006
• Eastern Mennonite University Lilly Foundation Faculty Mini-Grants, Fall 2006, Spring 2006, Spring 2005, and Spring 2004
• Eastern Mennonite University Research Grant, Summer 2006
• Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts Faculty Mentoring Grant, 2005-2006
• Eastern Mennonite University Research Course Release (six hours), Fall 2004
• National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute, “Regional Study and the Liberal Arts: Appalachia Up Close,” Ferrum College, 2004
• Lilly Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Arts and Humanities, Valparaiso University, 2001-2003
• Pew Younger Scholars Mentoring Program, 2000-2003
• Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to the University of Durham, England, 1991-1992
• Phi Beta Kappa

• Appalachian Studies Association
• Conference on Christianity and Literature
• Modern Language Association
• International Nineteenth-Century Studies Association

• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts National Conference, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI, October 20-22, 2023.
• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts National Conference, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN, October 28-30, 2022.
• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts National Conference, Boston College, Boston, MA, October 8-10, 2021.
• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts National Conference, Baylor University, Waco, TX, October 16-18, 2019.
• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts National Conference, Hope College, Holland, MI, October 12-14, 2018.
• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts National Conference, Augsburg College, St. Paul, MN, October 14-16, 2016.
• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts National Conference, Belmont University, Nashville, TN, October 10-12, 2015.
• “Islam in the Classroom: Challenges and Opportunities of Teaching About Islam in a Post-9/11 World,” Gordon College, Wenham, MA, Monday, September 21, 2015.
• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts Administrators’ Conference and National Conference, Xavier University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, September 25-28, 2014.
• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts Administrators’ Conference and National Conference, The University of Scranton, Scranton, PA, October 17-20, 2013.
• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts Administrators’ Conference and National Conference, The University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, October 19-21, 2012.
• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts Administrators’ Conference and LFP National Conference, Samford University, Birmingham, AL. October 19-23, 2011.
• Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts National Conference, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN. October 14-16, 2010.

• Reading Fiction (Fall 2023)
• Literary Depictions of the Traumatized US South (Spring 2023--Honors Credit)
• Recovery and Resilience (therapeutic community-learning partnership with Dean House of the Gemeinschaft Home, Fall 2022)
• Senior Seminar: Running the Race (interdisciplinary course co-taught with Roger Mast, Health and Physical Education, Spring 2021)
• Bibliotherapy Internship (therapeutic community-learning partnership with the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Fall 2019)
• Rooms of Their Own (Spring 2019)
• Senior Seminar: Stairway to Heaven (interdisciplinary course co-taught with James Richardson, Music; Fall 2018)
• Global Literature I (Fall 2018)
• Adolescent Literature (Spring 2017)
• Global Literatures II (Fall 2014)
• ‘American’ ‘Manhood’? (Fall 2014; revised Fall 2016 to include a community-learning component at Coffeewood Correctional Center)
• Southern Epic Journeys (Spring 2014; seminar in the major)
• Shakespeare and the Modernists (Spring 2014)
• Allegiance, Identity, and Peace (Spring 2013)
• Global Literatures III (Spring 2010; revised Spring 2013 to focus on Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina; revised Spring 2014 to focus on Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment; revised Spring 2018 to include a community-learning component at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community)
• Ways of War and Peace (Spring 2012; revised 2014 to include a community-learning component; revised 2021 to include residents of the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community)
• Broken Families: Approaching the American Novel Through Attachment Theory (Spring 2011; seminar in the major)
• What Do Women Want? (Spring 2010; revised to include more international texts and a community-learning component)

• Faculty Representative, Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts Network, 2003 to present
• Member, Intellectual Life Committee, 2020 to present; Chair, 2020-2021, 2022-23
• Member, Faculty Status Committee, 2007-2012, 2015-2021
• New Faculty Mentor, 2010-2011, 2016-2019, 2023-2024
• Member, Music Faculty Search Committee, 2016-2017
• Chinese Friendship Families Partner, 2016-2017
• Member, Faculty Scholarship Committee, 2012-2015
• Member, Fall Faculty-Staff Conference Planning Committee, 2006-2007, 2013-2014, 2015-2016
• Intensive English Program Conversation Partner, 2012-2014
• Residence Hall Prayer Partner, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2014, 2015-2016
• Honors Mentor, 2007-2010, 2012-2013
• Senior Class Co-Advisor, 2010-2011
• Member, Provost Search Committee, 2007-2008
• Coordinator, New Faculty Mentoring Program, 2005-2007
• Chair, Department of Language and Literature, 2004-2007
• Member, Academic Council, 2004-2007
• Member, Strategic Planning Committee, 2004-2007