Rate My Professor James Matthews

Dr. James Matthews serves as Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Professor of English at Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia. He earned his B.A. from Saint Vincent College, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. from Duquesne University. Matthews has been part of the Fairmont State faculty since 2002, beginning his career there as an Associate Professor of English within the Department of Humanities. Over the years, he has progressed to full professor and now holds the key administrative role of Interim Dean, overseeing operations and academic programs across the College of Liberal Arts, which includes the Departments of Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

In these capacities, Dr. Matthews actively supports student success and scholarly pursuits in Literature and English studies. He has served as faculty advisor for the Beta Omega Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, guiding student members through induction ceremonies documented in university announcements from 2017 and 2019. Matthews has contributed to public engagement by delivering scholarly lectures, notably 'The Historical Background of Dickens's "A Christmas Carol,"' presented at 4 p.m. on December 1, 2004, in Multi-media Room A of the Ruth Ann Musick Library. He has also instructed talented high school students in the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth's Governor's Honors Academy program hosted at Fairmont State University. As a leader in university governance, Matthews participates in Faculty Senate committee assignments, such as those for the 2023-2024 academic year representing Humanities. Additionally, he manages the College of Liberal Arts website and has championed cultural and artistic initiatives, including welcoming the Rustic Mechanicals theater troupe for their performance of Macbeth on October 1, 2025, and facilitating the acquisition of new sousaphones for the university band program in March 2026. Through his multifaceted roles, Dr. Matthews advances liberal arts education, pedagogy, and community involvement at Fairmont State University.