Martha Luan Brunson Haynes

Biography

Dr. Martha Luan Brunson Haynes (1931–2020), a native of Anna, Illinois, joined Southwest Texas State College's English department in 1967. She earned her BS (1952) from Northwestern University and MA (1958) and PhD (1967) from Texas Technical College (now Texas Tech University). Before joining SWTSC, Brunson taught at Texas Tech, Del Mar College, and Plainview and Lubbock public schools. She served as chair of the Department of English from 1972–1983, earning the distinction of being the first woman to chair a large department at the university. Brunson also served as associate dean of liberal arts for fourteen years.

Brunson was a member of the College English Association, Conference of College Teachers of English, Modern Language Association, and Association of Departments of English. She was named professor emerita in 1999.

*While Dr. Brunson remarried in 2001 and took the last name Haynes, at the time the oral histories were recorded she was known as Dr. Brunson. Thus, the decision to list her alphabetically under B.

Part of the Texas 150 Oral History Project

Dr. Brunson discusses the changes that the university has seen over the years. She talks about  the challenges of being a woman professor and certain women faculty members, specifically in the English department. Along with discussing the English department's offerings and history, she describes the ways that  different university presidents' administrations', including Billy Mac Jones and Dean Ralph Randolph, affected the English department's curriculum and operations. Brunson recalls her time as chair of the department and helping to establish the Therese Kayser Lindsey Chair. Brunson reflects on some of her department colleagues, including Dr. Ralph Houston. She talks about changes in students' preparation and changes for women on campus, including the creation of a women's studies minor.

Full audio is available for this interview. Reading Room access only.