Leonard Oakland Papers, 1970-2005

Leonard came to Whitworth in 1966 after graduate study at U.C. Berkeley in English and Scandinavian. Previously he taught at Westmont College (1962-65) where he took his undergraduate degree in 1960. Leonard did his doctoral work at Washington State University (1975-77), where he wrote his dissertation on Donald Davie and modern British poetry. He teaches various courses in 19th and 20th century poetry, British and American, plus courses in the epic (Homer, Virgil, and Dante) and film studies (American Film, World Cinema). After thirty years of association with Core 250, he still has excitement for the questions raised by Aristotle and Aquinas, Pascal and Nietzsche. Leonard helped to lead the France Study Tour, from 1980 to 1998, and has led the British Isles study tour ('96, '02). His research interests include cinema studies and contemporary British poetry and fiction. Leonard has for over a decade served as producer and host of a classical music program on KPBX-fm (91.1.), the NPR affiliate in Spokane, as well as frequently participating in a weekly film critics show, Movies 101. Daughter Jordy is making her way as an actress in Portland, while his son Sather studies at Mead High School in Spokane. (NOTE: Leonard Oakland Faculty Page n.d. http://www.whitworth.edu/Academic/Department/English/Faculty/OaklandLeonard/Index.htm, 15 February 2006.)