Dr. Andrea Pringle Rivers, English faculty at South Mountain Community College, presented her research at the Oxford Symposium on Literature and Culture, held December 8–10, 2025, at Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, in Oxford, UK.
The Symposium brings together scholars from a wide range of institutions for research-focused dialogue on literature and culture. Participants represented universities across the United States, including the University of Alabama and George Mason University, as well as international institutions from South Africa, Romania, Ghana, Canada, and India. Dr. Rivers represented SMCC among this international group of scholars.
Dr. Rivers presented dissertation-based research examining poetry’s transformative role in shaping rhetorical analysis instruction. The research was conducted with SMCC English 101 students and highlights how literary study can support critical thinking, analytical skills, and student engagement across disciplines.
The Symposium provided a forum for interdisciplinary exchange and global scholarly collaboration, reflecting the importance of faculty research and professional engagement at SMCC.
Returning to Oxford held special meaning for Dr. Rivers, as it is the homeland of her mother and grandmother. It was a privilege for her to share research rooted in community college student experiences in a place connected to her family history.