English Professors Reflect on Music's Impact on Their Lives

Professors share how music has shaped their personal and professional experiences.

Feb. 10, 2026 at 8:15am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Four English professors - Dr. Melinda Menzer, Dr. Timothy Helwig, Dr. Gretchen Braun, and Dr. Joni Tevis - discuss how music has become intertwined with their lives and careers. They share personal stories of how certain songs and albums have created powerful memories and influenced their perspectives over the years, from the music that defined their college experiences to the songs they turn to for comfort or inspiration. The professors also recommend albums and artists that have been meaningful to them.

Why it matters

This article provides insight into how music can serve as a shared language, connecting people across generations and experiences. The professors' reflections reveal how music becomes woven into the fabric of our daily lives, shaping our moods, memories, and even our identities.

The details

The professors share a range of personal anecdotes about how music has impacted them. Dr. Helwig recalls fond memories of listening to the Smiths on the bus after high school swim meets, while Dr. Braun associates the Everclear song "Santa Monica" with the big life transition of moving to San Diego after college. Dr. Menzer used a Pete Seeger album as lullabies for her child, and Dr. Tevis turns to They Might Be Giants when she wants a happy start to her day. The professors also discuss how certain artists, like Liz Phair and Ani DiFranco, introduced them to more complex representations of femininity and challenged societal norms. Additionally, the professors recommend albums and artists that have been meaningful to them, including Gillian Welch's "Time (The Revelator)" and Liz Phair's "Exile in Guyville".

  • In the 1980s, the professors would have "Smiths listening parties" as English majors.
  • A Pete Seeger tribute album was released when Dr. Menzer's child was small.

The players

Dr. Melinda Menzer

An English professor who used a Pete Seeger tribute album as lullabies for her child and finds comfort in listening to AC/DC's "Back in Black" when she has a lot of grading to do.

Dr. Timothy Helwig

An English professor who has fond memories of listening to the Smiths, the Cure, Depeche Mode, and other 1980s alternative bands during his college experience, and who plays the Smiths' song "Cemetery Gates" for his FYW Seminars because of its anti-plagiarism message.

Dr. Gretchen Braun

An English professor who associates early Liz Phair, Ani DiFranco, and Alanis Morissette with an introduction to more complex representations of femininity, and who recommends listening to "Exile in Guyville" by Liz Phair and acknowledges Taylor Swift's lyrical skills.

Dr. Joni Tevis

An English professor who turns to They Might Be Giants for a happy start to her day and finds Gillian Welch's album "Time (The Revelator)" puts her in a "deep dream state" that can inspire good writing.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Music can fuse with our experiences and create really potent memories.”

— Dr. Timothy Helwig, English Professor (thepaladin.news)

“There are certain albums that I associate with certain periods in my life.”

— Dr. Melinda Menzer, English Professor (thepaladin.news)

“I always gravitate toward music that resonates for me as somebody living an authentic life, rather than presenting a kind of constructed, perfect version of themselves.”

— Dr. Gretchen Braun, English Professor (thepaladin.news)

“If I want to have a happy beginning to my day, it's going to be They Might Be Giants.”

— Dr. Joni Tevis, English Professor (thepaladin.news)

The takeaway

This article highlights how music can serve as a powerful connector, shaping our personal experiences, memories, and identities across generations. The professors' reflections reveal the profound and multifaceted ways in which music becomes woven into the fabric of our lives, from providing comfort and inspiration to challenging societal norms and influencing our perspectives.