How Charles Berger Influenced the Growth of African American Literary Studies at SIUE

Back in the fall of 2013, at our first literature committee meeting of the year, Charles Berger walked in carrying and the distributing a stack of printouts. He had assembled a detailed list of the courses our committee members had taught over the previous several years. He explained that he had worked closely with our department’s longtime office administrator, Linda Jaworski-Moiles, to compile the information.

Charles’s gesture sparked an idea for me. With Linda’s assistance, I created a parallel list focused specifically on African American literature courses. I began by documenting everything taught between 2003, the year I arrived at SIUE, and 2013. Later, I expanded the record to include offerings dating back to the 1980s.

That initial list became far more than a reference. It gave me a clear, data-informed view of our curricular momentum and helped me make a compelling case for strengthening our commitment to African American literary studies. Even though we had just hired someone in 2013, the documentation had played a decisive role in securing another tenure-track line in 2014.

I continued updating and expanding that list every year. It became a running chronicle of our growth and a practical tool for illustrating student interest and departmental engagement in the discipline. In 2020, 2021, and again in 2025, the evidence the list provided helped us make additional hires.

All of this traces back to Charles’s original act of preparation and generosity in 2013. His instinct for the kind of documentation that supports long-term academic development quietly shaped the trajectory of African American literary studies at SIUE. As he approaches retirement, it’s worth recognizing how his thoughtful work made many things possible.

Related:

• Charles Berger Week