Nancy Romig serves as an Associate Professor of English in Howard Payne University’s School of Humanities. With 12 years of teaching experience, Romig brings a strong background in literature, writing, and literary analysis to her work with students. Her teaching reflects a deep appreciation for stories, language, and the ways literature can help people better understand themselves, others, and the world around them.
Romig teaches Composition I and II, American Literature, World Literature, Christianity & Literature, War & Literature, and Modern & Postmodern American Literature. She enjoys all of her upper-level courses because they allow students to engage deeply with authors, themes, historical contexts, and different ways of interpreting literature. World Literature, although a sophomore-level course, is also one of her favorites because of the wide range of texts, cultures, and perspectives students are able to explore.
One of the aspects Romig values most about teaching at HPU is the opportunity to work with a broad variety of authors and texts. The diversity of literature allows her to introduce students to different experiences, ideas, cultures, conflicts, and traditions. She enjoys helping students recognize that literature is not simply something to be read for a grade, but something that can shape the way they understand human experience.
Romig is especially passionate about literature because storytelling has always been an important part of human life. She believes that literature and writing help people know themselves and others in deeper and more meaningful ways. Stories can give readers opportunities to encounter perspectives they may not otherwise experience, challenge assumptions, and develop greater empathy. Romig believes many people can identify a particular story or set of stories that helped them see their communities and the people around them with greater understanding and compassion.
For Romig, this connection between literature and empathy also has a Christian dimension. She sees reading and writing as valuable tools for learning to approach others with greater compassion, attentiveness, and care. By engaging with the experiences of others through literature, students can become more thoughtful about the ways they respond to people whose backgrounds, struggles, or perspectives may be different from their own.
Romig earned a Bachelor of Arts from Howard Payne University, a Master of Arts from Texas State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas. Her academic background has supported both her teaching and her continued engagement with literary scholarship.
In addition to her classroom work, Romig has presented at the Popular Culture Association and at various literary organizations. These presentations reflect her continued involvement in conversations surrounding literature, culture, and interpretation.
Outside of the classroom, Romig enjoys gardening and practicing yoga. She is also involved with Union Presbyterian Church in Brownwood.
Through her teaching, scholarship, and commitment to literature, Romig seeks to help students become stronger readers, writers, and thinkers while encouraging them to understand themselves and others with greater depth, empathy, and compassion.
