Document Type
Interview
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Publication Date
5-2-2025
Abstract
Ordained in 1961, Charley arrived at Santa Clara University in 1965 after earning his doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served as chair of the English Department for many years, leaving a lasting impact on students and faculty alike. He spent his three sabbaticals in London (twice) and Oxford. In the spring of 1991, he lectured and tutored in American literature at Donetsk State University in Ukraine through the SCU-DSU Exchange Program. While living with a non-English-speaking family in the industrial city, known for coal mining and steel production, during the final months of the Soviet Union, Charley discovered nonverbal communication skills he never knew he had. “It’s amazing how much you can communicate when you don’t know the language,” he recalled. Now retired, Charley resides at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, occasionally visited by family and friends. Being back where he was ordained brings a sense of life coming full circle.
Recommended Citation
Zhu, Cindy, "Father Charles Phipps, Professor of English, Emeritus" (2025). Living History Project: Stories that connect generations. 9.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/living_history/9
Comments
Interviewer: Cindy Zhu - Gerontology minor