Bill Abernethy earned a BA in English and German, and an MA in linguistics from the University of Oregon and then went on to obtain a Ph.D. in English at the University of Wisconsin--Madison, where he specialized in Old and Middle English. He was hired at WCC as a full-time faculty member in the English Department in 1993 and since then has taught a variety of writing and literature courses as well as serving in various administrative capacities at the college. Recently he has taught English 160, English 170, English 200, and English 226.