Tamara McGinnis
Director of Corban Theatre | Associate Professor of English and Humanities
Education
- B.Ed. Corban University
- B.S. Western Oregon State College
- M.A. Portland State University
About Professor McGinnis
Professor McGinnis teaches a wide range of English courses, including Shakespeare, British Literature, and Literary Criticism. In addition, Professor McGinnis has directed theatre at Corban since 1990, producing shows ranging from Shakespeare’s Macbeth to Meredith’s The Music Man. In that time, she has gathered a group of loyal volunteers who help to ensure quality productions each year.
Professor McGinnis also presents drama seminars, directs a summer children’s theatre camp at Corban, and heads a theatre patron group.
In May 2006, she led a group of 15 actors to Sydney, Australia, on a two-week drama mission trip where their full-length show, Pilgrim’s Progress, was used as an outreach tool by local churches. In 2015-16, McGinnis celebrated her 25th anniversary directing theatre at Corban.
Tamara is the mother of two amazing daughters and the wife of a gifted videographer.
Recently Taught Courses
Faith & the Literary Imagination
Join the great and ongoing conversation of literature. Explore the themes, techniques, and timeless questions of poetry, fiction, and drama as you discover how storytelling reflects the human condition and spiritual truth.
Literary Criticism
Engage with the great literary thinkers from Aristotle to modern theorists. Examine major schools of criticism—like Feminism, Marxism, and Psychoanalysis—and sharpen your ability to analyze texts through multiple critical lenses.
Devotional Poets
Explore how Christian faith and literary artistry intersect through the poetry of Donne, Herbert, Rosetti, and Hopkins. This course examines how doctrine and personal faith blend with poetic form and emotion, offering a deeper understanding of devotional literature’s spiritual and artistic significance.
Fundamentals of Speech
Build confidence and clarity as a communicator. This course guides you through the process of preparing and delivering informative, persuasive, and devotional speeches—all through the lens of a biblical worldview.
I enjoy my job teaching literature and directing theatre, as it pays me to do the things I love: read, teach, discuss the intersection of the arts and Christianity, and connect with students.