Biography and education
I am a native San Martian, and I graduated from San Marcos High School in 1998. I earned each of my three degrees here at Texas State. I have a BA with a double major in French and English and a minor in Philosophy, an MA in Literature (my master’s thesis focused on Cormac McCarthy’s border trilogy and included original research from the McCarthy Archives housed in the Wittliff Collections) and an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction (secondary education). Before accepting a position with Texas State, I taught 9th - 12th grade English and was an adjunct professor for Austin Community College and Coastal Bend College. I currently teach for the English Department and serve as a clinical teaching supervisor with the College of Education’s Office of Educator Preparation.
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Polasek, C. A. (2020). “‘Each the other’s world entire’: Father and Son in The Road.” In Carrying the Fire: Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and the Apocalyptic Tradition. Volume 1: Characters, Themes and Issues.
- Polasek, C. A. (2014). “‘Books are Made out of Books’: Moby Dick and Cormac McCarthy’s Judge Holden.” In They Rode on: Blood Meridian and the Tragedy of the American West.
Featured service activities
- Member
Co-Req Curriculum Development
- Other
Miller Middle School Dance Team
- Chair
Reading Task Force
- Member
First Year English Committee
- Member
Teacher Preparation Committee
- Volunteer
PTO - Miller Middle School