It was while teaching at Washington and Lee University that he helped to found Shenandoah—a publication that featured the debut work of Tom Wolfe among others. He also taught at the University of Brazil and the University of California at Santa Barbara, before assuming the position at USC where he taught for 37 years.
It was during his time as an educator at Washington and Lee University that he contributed to establishing Shenandoah—a magazine showcasing debut works by notable authors. He also taught at other institutions, including the University of Brazil and the University of California at Santa Barbara, before taking up a long-term position at USC.