Faculty Interview
Hannah Bramsen
- Tell us about your family and younger years. What was it like growing up in your family?
I grew up in Wheaton in a big family. I am the fourth of six and we were and are an extremely close family. My two younger sisters and I are all almost exactly two years apart which led our older siblings to start calling us “the three little girls” or sometimes the “three little squirrels”. The three of us did most things together and are to this day a very tight knit unit.
- Where did you go to school? Was your journey to your major short and straight, or long and winding?
I went to Gordon College. I was a double major in English and Theatre. I had known since I was about 13 that I wanted to be an English major and an English teacher when I grew up, so that one was a forgone conclusion. But as to the Theatre major, I had always loved theatre and ended up with a spare elective in my freshman schedule and so decided to take theatre arts production, or in laymen’s terms shop class. I absolutely loved it and the people in the department and so decided to take more classes in the next semester and by the end of the year I had declared a second major.
- What is your favorite time of day and what makes it so?
Twilight. There is a stillness that settles in and everyone and everything starts to slow down.
- Tell us about one of your hobbies and how you got started.
I love to garden. I got started when I moved into our first home and the previous owner had clearly loved her garden but had not had the energy to take care of it for several years. Trying to bring her garden back gave me a place to start and from there I just fell in love with the labor as well as the creativity and community that can be found in the garden.
- What is one of your hidden talents?
I am exceptionally good at Hide and Seek
- Share a favorite book. Why is it a favorite? What are you currently reading?
Persuasion by Jane Austen. I love Persuasion because it is a gentle and hopeful story about the power of forgiveness and the importance of integrity.
I am currently reading Glittering Images by Susan Howach
- What has the Lord been teaching you lately?
He has been teaching me about patience and the
importance of remembering to ask him for help with even the small things throughout the day.
- What historical figure or fictional character would you choose to spend a day with?
Dorothy L. Sayers or her creation Lord Peter Whimsey
- What would we be surprised to learn about you?
One of my favorite things to do in the summer are sprint triathlons. I love the discipline that training for this event requires me to practice, and then the day itself is just a lot of fun.
Hannah Bramsen teaches Humanities and Shakespeare in her 11th year at Clapham. She has been married to Peter for 10 years and they have 3 children. Ask any student who has played with her, and they will tell you – she is truly exceptional at Hide and Seek!