Chinese Language Instructor, English Adjunct Join Mississippi College Faculty

After having served as an adjunct professor, Kimberly Lewis, left, is a full-time instructor in the English Department, while Wei-Ting "Tiffany" Tseng is the second visiting Mandarin Chinese instructor at MC.

A seasoned teacher of Chinese as a second language and an adjunct instructor in English have joined the Mississippi College faculty this fall.

Wei-Ting “Tiffany” Tseng, who has taught Chinese in East Asia for the better part of a decade, and Kimberly Lewis, who obtained her graduate degree from Mississippi College last year, are new additions in the Office of Global Education and the Department of English, respectively.

Tseng is the second visiting Mandarin Chinese instructor at MC sent by Chung Yuan Christian University in Tawian. She will teach two Chinese language classes this fall alongside Lingshan Song, MC Writing Center director, according to Mei-Chi Piletz, executive director of global education.

“‘Miss Tiffany’ will bring with her not only the rich Chinese culture, but the unique Taiwanese aborigine culture to MC’s campus,” Piletz said. “’Miss Tiffany’ is excited to interact with MC students since she already met one of our four MC students who spent the last three months studying Chinese at her alma mater, CYCU, a couple of months ago.”

Tseng obtained her Bachelor and her Master of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language from CYCU in Taoyuan, Taiwan. She served as an advanced-level Chinese tradition teacher at Mandalay Confucian School in Myanmar before teaching beginner and advanced-level Chinese tradition classes at PU TAI Senior High School in Nantou, Taiwan. She is proficient in English and Japanese language.

Piletz said Tseng is financially sponsored mainly by the Taiwan Ministry of Education and CYCU.

After teaching English composition and literature courses as an adjunct instructor in English at Mississippi College for five years, Lewis will serve as a full-time instructor.

“The Department of English and Philosophy is delighted to have Kimberly Lewis join us,” said John Meadors, professor and chair of the department. “Kimberly cares deeply about her students and brings great enthusiasm and insight to the classroom. Her positive rapport with students and her commitment to the craft of teaching make her a valuable addition to our community.

“We are fortunate to have her with us.”

Lewis obtained her B.A. in English from Jackson State University, where she was a W.E.B. Du Bois Honors College member and was selected as graduation marshal, and her M.A. in English from Mississippi College. A member of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society, she received the Forman and Nina Musselwhite Award at MC. She is a sponsor for the Chenoa social tribe at Mississippi College.

Her research interests include Shakespearean drama, Medieval and Renaissance British literature, and academic research and composition, among other topics.