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Dear Jolanta,

I cannot express how much I appreciate everything you've done for me. You have always believed in me, even when I didn't. Honestly, if it weren't for you and Courtney supporting me, I don't know that my thesis would have ever gotten finished. Lol. You've been such a guiding light in so many people's lives and you deserve every second of the retirement you're about to enjoy. Remember to fit a nice long vacation in, before you inevitably get cozy back up with Joyce, and all that work that paradoxically does and does not feel like work.
I really wish Courtney and I could have come in for your party, but will absolutely settle for dinner, drinks, and discussion the next time we make it back east. We both miss you fiercely and always love hearing about your work and accomplishments. Please don't ever stop being your wonderful awesome self.

Love and best wishes always,
Ian Simpkins

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Dr. Wawrzycka, dearest Jola, I can't even put into words the impact that you had on me. You saw me through some of my lowest points and some of my highest. You fanned embers of joy into flames of passion. You've intimidated me, taught me, mentored me, and changed me - you have been an inspiration and a goal for the type of person that I want to be.

I will always remember all of the classes I had with you and the challenges that you gave me. Were it not for you, I probably wouldn't have even wanted to go back for my Master's at RU. You make such a difference in the lives of everyone you meet - your students or not. You always went above and beyond for me, like you do for everyone. You are, and will always be, one of the brightest stars in my sky.

I remember that in my freshman year, when I was taking my first class with you, I was so anxious about doing well in college that I carried yarn with me to fiddle with to keep my nerves down. I kept finger-crocheting and undoing a square of different stitch types during lecture. You noticed. Instead of criticizing or telling me to put it away, you bought me a multicolored skein and told me to make something beautiful. I did, and I still have it. Someday, I hope to be even half of the amazing woman that you are.

RU is losing a true treasure, and I am so thankful that I had the chance to learn from you. Enjoy your retirement. Do everything that makes you happy. You deserve nothing less than everything. I hope you get everything you might wish for, always. And please never forget how much we all love and appreciate you. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Brynn Miller

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Dear Dr. Wawrzycka,

Just yesterday I was telling a colleague about you -- specifically, how great an influence you had on me as both a student and, later, a scholar. I can't thank you enough for all you've done for the  academic community. Though my own research has moved very far away from the topics of your classes, it is still very much informed by the skills and practices you instilled in students.

I've never forgotten how scared I was the first day of the first class I ever took with you, when you emphasized to me personally how hard the class was going to be. That first meeting inspired me to rise to a whole new challenge, and I was honored to arrive at the end of that semester with you as a mentor. Thank you for helping so many of us realize our potential, for welcoming us to scholarship, and for making space in your classrooms for anyone who wanted to learn from you (and for letting me make that weird no-tech kidney video as a final project one year!).

RU is losing a fantastic professor with your departure, but how fortunate we've all been to have worked with you.

Wishing you all the best in your well-earned retirement!

Tosha R. Taylor

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While I only had one undergraduate class with you, your knowledge and character have stayed with me and the hundreds of students that have come before. I'm so glad I was able to be back at Raddy to see you off on your next great adventure.

Enjoy your retirement!
Dixie Seitz

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I still remember all the classes I’ve taken with you, learning about everything from Nobel Prize winners to James Joyce. Studying abroad with you was one of the best experiences of my life!

I still remember your lessons on creating good PowerPoint presentations, keeping your audience engaged, and wearing a scarf when it’s cold to keep fork getting a cold. You’re an incredible scholar and person, and your students will miss you dearly.

Congratulations :)

Rebecca Lynch Gruber

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Jolanta,

I still remember sitting in your very early morning summer class in 1991, learning about Joyce and Lawrence and Woolf. I was barely 21 years old, hated mornings, but woke up and dragged myself there everyday and enjoyed every minute of it!

The 1994 Gender of Modernism class was equally joyful. Was that the first time you taught it? We were in Davis Hall and I was so excited to learn about women I’d never heard of before. So much so that I read a book not assigned - Nightwood - and wrote my final paper on it.

That class was one of a handful at RU that brought me to Women’s Studies.

You are one of only two remaining colleagues who was also one of my professors, and I will miss your presence. Please message me for help with technology any time! 😃

I hope you have a happy, healthy, and fulfilling retirement,

Michele Ren

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Congratulations to My Favorite Joyce Scholar!! 

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Congratulations to My Favorite Joyce Scholar!! 

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Oh, Dr. Wawrzycka,

I have no words. You are everything I have ever aspired to be as a scholar, teacher, and mentor. You are the person who helped me realize that research is my passion. You pushed me to read every book, every letter, and every artifact I could possibly find, and because of that I consider my thesis on Joyce and Parnell one of my crowning achievements.

I hope you know that there are very few professors willing to go above and beyond like you do. I have never had someone since my days at RU guide and shape my work like you have. I give credit for my academic ability to you, and any time I see the story Ivy Day in the Committee Room, I smile. I'll never forget the day you invited me to go to Rome with you, and after that week I was never more sure that this is what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

You make such a difference in people's lives, not just as a professor, but as a person. I still have the Ivy pin you gave me, and I wore it on my wedding day because the colors were (of course) green. I hope you enjoy a well-deserved retirement. Take some time for you and do what you love to do! Your scholars will take it from here, and we will do our best to carry on your legacy and make you proud. <3

All my love,
Marti

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Nearly 4 years later, there is hardly a day that goes by that I do not think of your class and how much it opened my eyes, pushed me, and challenged me as a writer and a student. I was recently showing my fiancé the collected works of James Joyce, a few of which have made it into our apartment library. You helped me gain a whole new perspective on literature, and through that, the world around me.

Thank you and congratulations!

McKenna Moore

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Dear Jolanta,

I can't possibly articulate how much your friendship and mentorship has meant to me over the past 10 years. Your courses gave me confidence in my writing as a Victorianist (who still routinely dabbles in Irish modernism). You've been instrumental in my scholarly life and by helping me gain the confidence to become the PhD candidate I am today. I'll be defending my own dissertation in April 2024. Without you in my corner, I never would have gotten this far.

You've read so many of my drafts for classes, MA comprehensive exam, thesis chapters, application documents, and journal articles among other things. You taught me how to read more critically than I ever expected to. You helped me hone my academic voice when I decided to continue into a PhD program. Learning from you took my work to a new level. I still revisit your theory lessons when I need a refresher (or need to eloquently explain theory to an undergraduate).

I'm so fortunate to be following in your literal footsteps at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. I'm honored each time I can visit your physical dissertation on James Joyce and José Donoso in Morris Library. I do this quite often when I'm missing you and your advice. Sharing this PhD experience with you across time (but in the same space) is more meaningful than you will ever know.

Thank you for being my friend and my mentor. I'm so happy you've reached retirement and can spend all of your time reading, writing, and traveling.

Congratulations!!
Courtney Simpkins

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Dear Dr. Wawrzycka,
I remember the first week in your class we were made to share our first writing assignment. I was terrified, because I knew you were an expert on everything Joyce. I read it, and you told me it was great writing. I shook my head, and you looked straight at me and told me, “Don’t ever disagree with me again.” After that, I had much more confidence in my writing abilities. We didn’t get to share too much time in class due to it being the beginning of lockdown, but you have no idea how much I appreciate what you said to me that day. Thank you.

-Ari Martínez

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Thank you for improving my research and writing!

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Thank you for improving my research and writing!

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Dear Dr. Wawrzycka,

Thank you for teaching me what it means to be an English scholar and for encouraging me to stay at Radford for grad school! Furthering my career as a GTF has been so rewarding. You made our class discussions about literary theory and Joyce fun in your literary criticism course and brought Yeats's poetry to life in our Irish literature course. My senior undergraduate thesis turned out amazing thanks to your guidance and expertise! I know that all of your students and colleagues, including myself, are lucky to have known and worked with you throughout the years. Congratulations on your retirement! Enjoy your time reading and studying beyond academia. Radford will miss you!

~Samantha Conner

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Thank you for making me step up my professionalism 

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Thank you for making me step up my professionalism 

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Your class was a turning point for me in my academic career, where I realized that conferences weren't just a one off thing that I had to do to get through Dr. Baker's class.  You pushed me to take my career seriously, outside of the classroom, and I will never forget those lessons.  Happiest of retirements.  I hope you enjoy spending your time on what you want to study and read.

Take care,
Jessy Hylton

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You made it possible for me to travel internationally.

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You made it possible for me to travel internationally.

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Joining your Study Abroad trip (was it 2003?) gave me the confidence to travel on my own. I don't think I would have ever made it to Italy without you. Thanks for all your guidance over the years.

Laurie Cubbison

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Dear Dr. Wawrzycka,

Congratulations on your retirement! When I signed up for your class, I knew that it would be an exciting challenge. I always tell people that the day you put a “smiley face” on my grade sheet for my fairy presentation was the day that I peaked. You opened my eyes to a new world of literature, and a new way of analyzing texts. Because of your class, I became a better student, teacher, researcher, and writer. I wish you all the best in the future!

~ Jessica Mundy

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Dear Jolanta,

Your class terrified me at first, but by the end of the semester, I finally understood not only the value of literary theory but the beauty and joy of it as well.

I’ll always remember when I sent you the draft of my presentation on Freud and you sent back a picture of his couch to include. (Weird memory, huh?) When I teach my American literature class now, I make sure to include those unique touches as I find that those details are the ones that stand out.

Thank you so much for being my professor and my colleague. I grew so much learning from you.

Justine Jackson Stone