From Steven Kruger, Acting Chair, Department of English:

I am sad to announce the passing of Nancy Comley, Professor Emerita and former Chairperson of English.

Professor Comley received her PhD in American Literature from Brown in 1977. She taught at Trinity College and the University of Oklahoma before coming to Queens College in 1982 to direct the Composition Program. She chaired the English Department from 1998 to 2011 and was fully dedicated to the integration of the teaching of writing and literature. She oversaw a significant revitalization of the department through a series of hires in both established and emerging fields of study, e.g. both Victorian Studies and Asian American Studies, and roughly half of the current faculty was hired during her tenure as chair.

In addition to American Literature, Nancy’s areas of expertise included Composition and Rhetoric. Much of her scholarly work was done with Robert Scholes. Together (and with others), they wrote a number of influential textbooks for the teaching of writing, including The Practice of Writing. Also with Scholes, she wrote a major reassessment of Ernest Hemingway, Hemingway’s Genders.

Professor Comley’s obituary may be found at http://www.wrwatsonfuneralhome.com/obits.php?id=1350. Her funeral service will be private. A memorial service will be held on a date and time to be announced by her family. Condolences may be sent to Nancy’s daughter, Ann Noyes, 56 Sowams Road, Barrington, RI 02806.