Millennium Magazine_6th Ed

113 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine D r. Brian Abel Ragen always held a deep love and appreciation for literature. He chose to enter teaching not only to share his wealth of knowledge, but also to honor his aunt, a professor of history at San Diego State University, who became his guardian and inspiration. In 1980, Dr. Ragen received a BA from Pomona College and went on to obtain an MA in 1983 and PhD in 1987, both from Princeton University. Commencing his career in 1984, Dr. Ragen was a lecturer at Princeton University until 1988 and at Bryn Mawr College from 1986 to 1987. Moving out to Illinois, Dr. Ragen spent 1988 to 1993 as an assistant, associate and full professor at Southern Illinois University, but returned to Bryn Mawr in 1993, where he similarly took on the positions of assistant, associate and full professor. Upon his retirement, Dr. Ragen was a visiting professor at Hong Kong Baptist University in China in 2010, and has since been honored as emeritus professor by Southern Illinois University in 2013. Outside of his direct teaching, Dr. Ragen produced the album “Words to Music: Songs of Eugene Field featuring Christine Brewer and Scott Kennebeck” in 2018. He is the author of the 1989 work “A Wreck on the Road to Damascus” and worked on the 2002 paper “Tom Wolfe: A Critical Comparison.” Additionally, Dr. Ragen is a contributor to numerous articles to popular and professional publications, major articles on heraldry, hymnity and literary canon. Notably, in 2009, he was the recipient of the Design Award: The Best Heraldic Design of the Year from the American Heraldry Society. Dr. Ragen is a member of the Modern Language Association, American Recorder Society, Conference on Christianity and Literature, Country Dance and Song Society, Knight of Justice Order of St. John, Order of the Holy Sepulchre and Knight of Magistral Grace. He is also a trustee of Fontbonne University and a board member of the Field House Museum and St. Louis Cathedral Concerts. Additionally, Dr. Ragen has volunteered more than 300 hours to the Department of Veterans Affairs. BRIAN ABEL RAGEN, PHD EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH Southern Illinois University Saint Louis, MO EDUCATION