The English Department works with joy and vigor to create a vibrant and creative intellectual environment on campus through exciting programming, orientations to guide our students into graduate schools and careers, and rip-roaring social events.
Please check this page regularly to keep up with department happenings, which are almost always open to the broader community and public.
past Events
English Department welcomes Natasha Trethewey as Brommel-Hahs Lecturer
On February 29th, 2024, in the Pedroso Center, the College of Arts & Sciences and the English Department presented the Brommel-Hahs Lecture with Natasha Trethewey, a former U.S. Poet Laureate, Pulitzer Prize winner, New York Times best-selling memoirist, and the Board of Trustees Professor of English at Northwestern University.
After being introduced by Creative Writing students Matilde Ortiz Martinez and Diana Medrano, Trethewey read from her heartbreaking, beautiful memoir, Memorial Drive, and a selection of her poems from Native Guard, a deeply moving experience. Following her reading, a number of students asked insightful questions and a very personal book signing followed.
The 82: Student Edition - Spring 2024
Faculty and fellow students (including the Writing & Literary Collective) congregated in fellowship to hear and see current Creative Writing students read LIVE from their own works! All The 82 events are organized and hosted by Creative Writing Minor Coordinator Olivia Cronk.
Gothics as Aesthetic and Political Practice
In conjunction with her ENGL 325: Gothics course, Professor E. Mar Garcia hosted an exciting cultural and literary event at El Centro about the Gothic aesthetic, with several guests/vendors in attendance. There were live craft demonstrations, plus refreshments!
Poetry ... and Pancakes!
As part of Alumni Weekend
September 2023
They came, they saw, they read poetry and enjoyed fresh cooked pancakes!
Creative Writing Coordinator Olivia Cronk hosted the event, and English Department Associate Chair and chef Tim Scherman served warm pancakes with fresh toppings. For this year, the event moved to an alternate venue (the South Porch area of Lech Walesa Hall), where students, staff and faculty heard powerful and moving works read by Scott Andrews,Timothy Garrison, Kathryn Hudson, Nick Pecucci, Gabe Redd, Jarilyn (Lyn) Rivera, Jasmine Rodriguez, Katrina Underwood, and Michael Vogel.
