A Little More 

Brian Riley has been teaching English at Anne Arundel Community College since 2007, helping students build strong writing skills while exploring the stories that shape our culture. He teaches Academic Writing and Research I (ENG-101) and II (ENG-102), along with courses in American literature from 1865 to the present.

Riley brings a wide range of interests into the classroom, from 19th- and 20th-century fiction and drama to the Gothic, the grotesque and film. He once taught a course on popular horror fiction and hopes to bring it back someday.

His teaching style continues to evolve through his work with the Center for Liberal Arts Work (CLAW), where he focuses on seminar-style learning and transformative texts that invite discussion and reflection. He is also an active scholar, presenting at conferences such as the Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association and the Associated Faculties for the Advancement of Community College Teaching. His writing has appeared in Literature/Film Quarterly and Response: The Digital Journal of Popular Culture Scholarship. 

Outside the classroom, Riley enjoys movies, theater and music, and he plays the piano when he gets the chance. Originally from Los Angeles, he still considers it “the center of the universe,” even after spending more than half his life elsewhere.

What does he enjoy most about AACC?

"The diverse student body, the friendly and supportive faculty, and the enthusiasm of people who are here to learn," he said.