Dr. Christine Hait is the recipient of the 2006 South Atlantic Association of Departments of English Outstanding Teacher Award in the four-year private college category. This prestigious award is based on an exemplary record of teaching and is given annually by the SAADE organization.   According to the SAADE Newsletter, “at the SAMLA Meeting each fall, recipients of SAADE teaching awards are honored at a reception hosted by SAADE and are featured speakers at a special session devoted to the topic of creative teaching.”

Dr. Christine Hait is an Associate Professor of English.  She received her B.A. and M.A. from Texas A&M University and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.  Dr. Hait teaches a variety of courses including composition, American literature, honors film seminar, and introduction to mass communication.  She has published essays on American women writers Katherine Anne Porter and Kay Boyle, serves on the executive committee of the Katherine Anne Porter Society, and is co-founder of the Kay Boyle Society.  She recently completed her term as historian and member of the board for Sigma Tau Delta, the international English Honor Society.  She served as chair of the faculty and received the Faculty Excellence Award and the Outstanding Honors Faculty Award from the Honors Students Association.

Columbia College is a private liberal arts women's college with a legacy of developing women leaders with the courage, commitment, competence and conviction to build a better world. The College is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. In addition to the Women’s College,  coeducational Evening College and Graduate School programs are also offered. Columbia College has been ranked for 11 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top comprehensive undergraduate colleges in the South. Enrollment is 1500 students from 23 states and 20 countries.