James Schultz began to make a name for himself in the world of pop-culture scholarship thanks to his experience at Slippery Rock University. Schultz, a 2025 SRU graduate with a degree in secondary education-English, presented his article, “Romanticism in Tolkien’s The Hobbit: Nature and Domestic Life as a Force for Good,” at the 2025 National Popular Culture Association Conference in New Orleans in April. His article was also published in The Journal of Tolkien Studies.
Schultz was inspired and mentored by multiple SRU faculty members.
Schultz began this research in a British Literature class taught by Nicholas Katsiadas, an assistant professor of literatures, languages, cultures, and writing. Katsiadas, a respected expert in the field of Tolkien scholarship, took interest in Schultz’s final paper and encouraged him to continue pursuing scholarship relating to Tolkien and romanticism. It was that final paper that would become the article that made it all the way to the New Orleans conference and to publication.
“Reading ‘The Hobbit’ from a romanticist lens just really resonated with me,” Schultz said. “There’s a love of nature and art that comes with romanticism that struck a chord with me based on my personality. Since I was already reading the book through that lens, I figured I might as well make it official with the paper.”
Schultz chose to pursue a teaching career to make a living from his love of literature. One of the unique features of the teaching preparation majors at SRU is the high and equal emphasis on courses in a student’s content area as well as courses in pedagogy.
“Sometimes it can feel like a double major,” explained Schultz. “I twice as many opportunities to meet incredible professors and to take advantage of opportunities from both departments.”
Both education and English professors helped Schultz to succeed. The presentation in New Orleans occurred during his student-teaching semester, a period of an education major’s senior year that is critical for getting classroom experience before entering the job market. Schultz explained the opportunity to his student-teaching supervisor who encouraged him to give the presentation. Katsiadas and Danette DiMarco, a professor of literatures, languages, cultures, writing, were also champions of his work.
“Dr. Katsiadas was so passionate about his classes that it inspired me to do what I did,” Schultz said. “Dr. DiMarco also saw my work and took interest in it. She would talk to me and really make sure I was reaching my potential.”
Both Katsiadas and DiMarco accompanied Schultz to the conference, supporting him all the way as he took the first steps to establishing himself as an expert in literary studies.
“I came to SRU in part because of the low cost of admission, but the strength of the faculty was very attractive,” Schultz said. “I got amazing opportunities at SRU that students at bigger, more expensive colleges weren’t getting. It’s part of the awesome culture of the University.”
Schultz is now a substitute teacher at Canon-MacMillan High School, jump-starting his teaching career. Each day, Shultz is making use of the skills he learned and ideas he developed at the University in the classroom. Thanks to the attention and care that Schultz’s mentors invested in him, he as an accomplished and well-rounded expert invested in his own students.
Schultz’s article can be accessed on the Journal of Tolkien Studies website.
More information about secondary education and English programs at SRU are available on the program webpages.
