Kirkland Honored for 55 Years of Service to ECU

Dr. Jim Kirkland received the Special Service Award in recognition of his 55 years of service to ECU teaching in the Department of English.

“I never imagined what my career would be when I got here,” said Kirkland, who joined the faculty in 1969 right out of graduate school in Tennessee to teach American literature.

Kirkland teaches predominantly writing-intensive courses, which allows him to spend more time individually with students. He has also taught folklore, directed the English composition program, and served as interim director of the university writing program. “Writing is really the core of everything,” he said. “I still love to do that.”