Patricia Oman has been teaching at Hastings College since 2012 and is currently the chair of the Department of Languages and Literatures. She teaches courses in literature, film, publishing, and writing. Whether teaching surveys of U.S. literature or courses on narrowly focused topics (such as the Muppets), she delights in challenging academia's assumptions about literary and cultural value.

Dr. Oman's research specialty is twentieth-century American regional literature and culture, focusing particularly on the Midwest, forgotten writers, and popular culture. She serves on the board of directors for the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature and is the editor of the peer-reviewed journals MidAmerica and Midwestern Miscellany.

As the director of Hastings College Press, Dr. Oman works one-on-one with students in courses and internships. Students who are interested in learning about the process of making books should consider taking WRIT 234 Book Production or WRIT 281 Literary Magazines.