Dr. Reed

Dr. Brian D. Reed is a member of the faculty in the English Department at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is very popular with his students. On the Rate My Professors site on Mercyhurst’s Web, consistently gets high ratings primarily because he makes the class very interesting and mixes a lot of humor in with his lectures. The students do say however that he requires a lot of reading and his pop quizzes are not that easy. 

Dr. Reed is originally from Canfield, Ohio, a small town of over 7000 people that is located about 10 miles Southwest of Youngstown, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, a Masters degree in English Literature at Youngstown State University and a PhD in English Literature at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio. It sounds like the State of Ohio is near and dear to Dr. Reed’s heart.

Dr. Reed chose to apply and accept a position at Mercyhurst University primarily due to the wonderful way that the faculty works together in bringing together and sharing their knowledge and ideas. He was also impressed with the high caliber of students that attend Mercyhurst University and their dedication to learning. Finally, the small liberal arts college atmosphere was a big factor in Dr. Reed’s decision to come to Mercyhurst.

A couple of interesting facts that Dr. Reed shared with me was that he owned a restaurant for 10 years and that he has never watched a Rocky film all the way through. I would venture to say that the years of running a restaurant that required dealing with the people from all walks of life prepared him quite well for his vocation as a teacher. It’s no wonder that the students like him so much.

Christa Knipes

Christa Knipes is a Junior from Lebanon, Ohio, and is double majoring in Dance and English and minoring in Psychology. She is involved with several clubs on campus.

Christa did not have your typical upbringing; she started her education through being homeschooled in her rural town, with not much to do. She expressed she was unlike the other students in her hometown that were homeschooled. She knew this form of education was not a good fit for her, as she has a passion for dance.

Christa knew to achieve success in the field of dance; she needed to take a leap of faith. So, in her Junior year of high school, she decided to enroll in Interlochen Arts Academy. She knew boarding school would be different, but with her bubbly personality, she excelled and reached her goal of majoring in dance at the university level.

Christa grew up with her parents, her dog, and her older brother Connor who was homeschooled with her from a young age. She believes her family has been vital in achieving the success she has today, as they have been both supportive and inspiring as she took steps to reach her goal of pursuing dance at a higher level. She jokes that her family is like a real-life sitcom. The laughs and love her family has provided her throughout her life, has helped her stay grounded and be her true self.

Hurst Day 2019, Christa is on the far right. 

After graduation, Christa has several goals in mind. She plans to receive a Master's in Secondary Education and intends to become a professional ballet dancer for as long as she can. She also hopes to utilize her degree to teach English to middle schoolers and high schoolers.






Christa is active in several clubs on campus and has very little free time between her involvement on campus and her studies. She is in Dance Club, Phi Chi, Phi Eta Sigma, and NHSDA. Christa is currently the Co-President of Dance Outreach as she has limited time to herself, from her studies clubs, and her job on campus. She utilizes her free time for catching up on sleep, reading, writing, and having sarcastic conversations with her friends.


She prides herself in reading the entire Harry Potter series out loud to her dog when she was in elementary school. Her passion for reading at a young age has helped her excel as an English major, as she picked up on grammatical structures at a young age from the extensive reading she would do in her spare time. 

Christa is a student who is always on the move. If you are lucky enough to have a class with her or find her in her free time, I would suggest taking the opportunity to have a conversation with her.  You will be able to meet someone who has a unique background and has continued to work her way to the top while redefining the odds.

- Isabel C. Merriman