Anne Longmuir, D. Kimball Smith, and Greg Eiselein at the inaugural “Spotlight on Faculty,” with moderator and Director of Undergraduate Studies Tom Sarmiento (23 Oct 2025)
On Thursday, October 23, 2025, students and faculty gathered in Hale Library to get a behind-the-scenes look at three English professors’ lives. The inaugural event, “Spotlight on Faculty,” featured professors Greg Eiselein, Anne Longmuir, and D. Kimball Smith.
We learned about the journey to becoming an English professor, with stops along the way, such as working for the BBC (Dr. Longmuir) and writing as a journalist (Dr. Smith). Dr. Eiselein almost became a lawyer, but a mentor suggested he become a professor instead.
We also learned about alternate/fantasy career paths, such as working in higher education student services (Dr. Eiselein) or owning a seaside bookshop in Scotland (Dr. Longmuir). For Dr. Smith, there’s nothing he would rather be doing than being an English professor.
All three panelists made evident their care for students’ well-being and their passion for research and teaching. Participants got to see their beloved professors as multifaceted people who are more than their jobs; they also received great life advice during the question-and-answer portion.
Participants shared how “getting to know more about faculty beyond the classroom” in a “candid, informal, [and] personal” setting made the event impactful and how “it was a fun way to spend [their] evening.” They appreciated the opportunity to connect with the English community. And they look forward to the next set of faculty panelists in spring 2026!
— Tom Sarmiento, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies
K-State English 