Dr. Sandra Archer Young joined the Columbia International University faculty in 2013. Prior to joining the CIU family, she served as Program Director for the English Education at Columbia College and taught literature, writing, methods courses, and First Year English courses (2006-2013). Dr. Young enjoys teaching a variety of literature and composition courses at CIU particularly African American literature, Creative Nonfiction, and Professional Writing.

Since 1981, Dr. Young has been married to Charles, and they are the parents of two grown children, Charlotte and Christopher, and two grandchildren, Tolu and Israel. She spends many hours outside of CIU interacting with the members of the thirty churches that her husband supervises in his role as a presiding elder in the Seventh Episcopal District A.M.E. Church. Whenever she has free time, you’ll find her reading, writing, and trying to finish a jigsaw puzzle.

Education  

• PhD, University of South Carolina
• MAT, The Citadel
• Certificate in Bible, Columbia International University
• BA, George Fox University

Selected Publications  

“The Power of a Pedicure.” Reachout Columbia. December, 2018.

“Remembering the Honorable Reverend Clementa Pinckney.” The Christian Recorder, June 12, 2017.

 "Using History, Literary Theory, and Reflection to Teach African American Literature." Teaching American Literature: A Journal of Theory and Practice. Vol. 8  no. 2, Winter,  2016. 

Contributor. "An ‘English Journal’ Article that made a Difference: A Forum” by Don Zancanella.  The English Journal., vol. 101, no. 3, Jan. 2012.

“Coercion or Concern? The Marital Woes of Paul Laurence Dunbar and Alice Moore.”  College Language Association Journal, Spring, 2012.

Book Review of Urban Verses by Alexis Spencer-Byers, Barclay Press Online Conversation Cafe. August, 2007

“The Rhetoric of Segregation, Subversion, and Resistance:  Allen University vs. the State of South Carolina.” The A.M.E. Church Review, July – September, 2005.

Awards

• The President’s Award, CIU, 2022.
• Excellence in Teaching Award, Columbia International University. South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, 2019.
• United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Exemplary Teacher Award, Columbia College, 2010-2011.
• Student Choice Award for Teaching Excellence Recipient, Columbia College, 2010-2011.