John J. Burke Jr. is professor English at the University of Alabama and is currently serving as director of undergraduate studies in the English department. His principal job as director of undergraduate studies is to look after the wellbeing of approximately 500 majors who call the English Department their home. This puts him in charge of advising and other matters that concern English majors. He necessarily also plays an important intermediary role between the students and the Department’s faculty and instructors at the 200-level and higher.