Vanguard University

Ona LaMotte is an Assistant Professor of English and Associate Director of the Writing Center. She is passionate about literature and missionary work. LaMotte has been teaching at Vanguard for years but has recently transitioned to a full-time professor. Her parents immigrated from South Korea. LaMotte and her brother are bilingual; understanding both English and Korean. She grew up in Illinois,  where she was declared pre-medicine before switching to English during her undergraduate.

"I switched from a STEM degree to English. I believe God has a plan and purpose for everyone's life. In regards to English, I love different aspects of literature, writing, storytelling, and the mechanics' portion of it. My favorite author depends on my mood. If I'm in a particular mood, I'll read Dostoevsky."

In class, LaMotte creates a diverse curriculum of reading for her students. She also has the opportunity to spotlight Asian American work. One of her favorite authors is Amy Tan. She is an Oakland golden-state author who is best known for her novel, The Joy Luck Club. LaMotte enjoys her short story called Two Kinds within that book. Two Kinds portrays the inner works of a relationship between mother and daughter. A coming of age story that showcases the duality of cultures within Asian-American households. LaMotte also encourages readers to pick up Michelle Zauner's Crying in H mart. A memoir that focuses on forging an identity. 

"One of the best aspects of teaching is that I get to interact with students. In my experience, it's not uncommon to see Asian-American students wrestle with the multicultural experience, and every experience is different. I encourage those to understand that God has made everybody unique and in His way. You are special and God has plans for everyone whether you see it or not."

When Lamotte is not working, she enjoys traveling with her family. She has three boys. Two of whom were born abroad in different countries. Her husband and she enjoy providing education and medical opportunities to countries in need. They currently reside in San Clemente and have a church community in Aliso Viejo.

Vanguard is thankful for Ona's heart and knowledge in serving our English Department and its students. We look forward to seeing her on-campus and in class.