Dr. Robert A. and Linda Lattin Burns

Dr. Robert A. and Linda Lattin Burns

Linda Lattin Burns was a professor of English and Secondary Education at Southeast Missouri State University for 33 years. A graduate of McPherson (KS) High School, she received her Bachelor of Science in education and Master of Arts in English from Emporia (KS) State University. She taught at Wyandotte (KS) High School and at the University of Missouri-Columbia before joining the English staff at Southeast as a Lecturer (the term for wife a of afaculty member). She joined with other wives as part of a suit against the University for wives of faculty to be given full-faculty status. As a result, she was granted leave to pursue her doctorate, and she received her Ph.D. in English Education from University of Missouri-Columbia. While a student there, she was the first femail on campus to be inducted into Phi Delta Kappa. Upon returning to Southeast Missouri State University, she served as advisor for Students of Language Arts and for the Southeast Missouri English Teachers Association. She also served as president of the Missouri Association of Teachers of English and as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of Teachers of English. Dr. Burns was the initiator and coordinator of the Secondary Education, and received honors awards for Outstanding Service from the College of Liberal Arts and for Effective Teaching of Children’s Literature and Significant Influence on English Education in Schools of the University Service Region from the College of Humanities.

Dr. Robert A. Burns was professor of English at Southeast Missouri State University for 35 years. He was a graduate of Neodesha (KS) High School, and is an English and Speech major, received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Emporia (KS) State University. After teaching high school for two years, he joined the Navy, attended Officer Candidate School, and served three years as Lieutenant, J.G. He then received his Master of Arts in English from Emporia (KS) State University and taught a year at Wyandotte (KS) High School. He joined the English staff at Southeast Missouri State University and received his Ph.D. in English from St. Louis University. Dr. Burns served as editor of The Cape Rock, Acting Chair of the Department of English, and Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. He and his wife, Linda, enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, and attending opera, symphony, and theater performances.

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