The TCU English department announced the hiring of two new African-American literature teachers, Cedrick May and Stacie McCormick.

May is joining TCU as an associate professor, while McCormick will join as an assistant professor.

“They are both the full package,” Karen Steele, the chair of the English department, said. “We see both of them having potential of developing into national scholars and are already very seasoned teachers.”

May comes to TCU after teaching at the University of Texas at Arlington for the past six years. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from UTA and received his Ph.D. from Penn State in 2003. 

May said he was excited about coming to TCU because of its proximity to his hometown.

“I grew up in Cleburne and have had a connection to TCU since I was young,” May said. “Having the opportunity to give to the TCU community was something I thought I should jump at.”

May published his first book, “Evangelism and Resistance in the Black Atlantic, 1760-1835,” in June 2008. He is currently working on his next book project, which is about 18th century slave and poet Jupiter Hammon.

McCormick, who specializes in modern African-American literature, spent the last two years teaching at Montclair State University in New Jersey. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and her Master’s degree from Southern Mississippi University, and received her Ph.D from City University of New York. 

She said she looks forward to working with TCU students, who she said she holds in high regard.

“I was very impressed during my campus visit with the caliber of students at TCU,” McCormick said.

May and McCormick begin teaching classes at TCU in fall 2014.