Michael Adams Publishes Two Articles
Michael Adams has recently published two articles: "DARE, Literature, and Enregistered Regional Identities" in American Speech and "The Dictionary of American Regional English and the Idea of Dialect" in Historiographia Linguistica.
He feels old when he realizes that his first article about DARE appeared twenty-three years ago. His review of Rosemarie Ostler's The United States of English: The American Language from Colonial Times to the Twenty-First Century (OUP, 2023) appears in the Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development.
Celebrating Storytelling with Angela Jackson-Brown at the IMU Bookshop
On April 17th, 2025, the IMU Bookshop hosted a book signing and lecture with acclaimed author and professor Prof. Angela Jackson-Brown. The event celebrated her latest work and provided students and faculty with an opportunity to engage deeply with her insights on writing, storytelling, and the themes she explores in her novels.
Dr. Jackson-Brown shared reflections on her literary journey, discussed the craft of storytelling, and offered valuable advice on navigating the writing and publishing world. Attendees also had the chance to purchase signed copies of her newest book, making the evening both enriching and memorable.
Celebrate the Release of Janan Alexandra's Debut Poetry Collection
Join us in celebrating the release of "come from", the debut poetry collection by Janan Alexandra (BOA Editions), on Monday, April 28th at the I Fell Gallery. The evening will begin at 6:30 PM with a community potluck, followed by performances from a diverse lineup of interdisciplinary artists.
This event is free and open to the public. We look forward to seeing you there!
PhD Candidate Ellen Stenstrom Publishes in English Language Notes
Congratulations to PhD candidate Ellen Stenstrom, whose article, "The Self-Fashioned Writer’s 'Confession': Margery Kempe, Sylvia Plath, and Me," appears in the Fall 2024 issue of English Language Notes. In this insightful piece, Stenstrom explores the literary and personal intersections of confessional writing across centuries, drawing connections between medieval mystic Margery Kempe, twentieth-century poet Sylvia Plath.
Read the article here: https://doi.org/10.1215/00138282-11343911
CAHI Graduate Capstone Research Award for Spring 2025
Congratulations to Matthew Robinson for receiving the CAHI Graduate Capstone Research Award for Spring 2025 in support of their dissertation project, “Queer Collaborations in Life and Art.” This award will help advance their important work in exploring the intersections of queer identities and artistic expression.
Professors Baxipatra, Kreilkamp, and Sheldon Honored with Trustees Teaching Award
Prof. Mahasweta Baxipatra, Prof. Ivan Kreilkamp, and Prof. Rebekah Sheldon have received the Trustees Teaching Award in recognition of their contributions to teaching and student learning. The award honors faculty members who demonstrate effective and thoughtful pedagogy.
Symposium on Postcolonial Ecocriticism & Environmental Humanities Honors Byron Santangelo
On March 6 & 7, 2025, the department hosted a symposium in honor of Byron Santangelo, titled “Postcolonial Ecocriticism & Environmental Humanities.” The event brought together graduate students and faculty for two days of insightful discussions on Africa, ecocriticism, and Byron’s impactful pedagogy.
The symposium featured a variety of thought-provoking presentations, including:
Robert Metaxatos, "Reevaluating the Place of The Trial of Dedan Kimathi in Ngugi wa Thiong’o's Drama"
Christoph Irmscher, "Gordimer's Revisions"
Renissa Gannie, *"Breaking Boundaries: Defiance in Conformity in Season of Migration to the North"
Ryan Lally, "The Environmental Spiritualism of Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer"
Benjamin Hoover, "'Summer’s Blood Was In It': A Landscape of Violence in the Early Irish Tanic Sam"
Joey McMullen, *"'The Snake Had Charmed Me': Ideas of Britain in Matthew Paris’s 13th-Century Chronica Majora"
Joshua Pontillo, "Ecocritical Storytelling and the Role of Ymir in Medieval Norse Cosmology"
Evan Sennett, screening of "Visitors," followed by expert commentary by Nathan Schmidt
Sushmita Samaddar, "Ecoanxiety and Indigenous Erasure"
A moving roundtable discussion on Byron’s pedagogy closed the symposium, featuring Sarah Lawler, Robert Metaxatos, Lydia Nixon, Joshua Pontillo, and Sushmita Samaddar.
We extend our gratitude to Christoph Irmscher, Shannon Gayk, and Sara Gregg for organizing this memorable event.
The College of Arts