English News
Undergraduate Researchers in Honors Course Investigate Writing Tools of Digital Natives
Students in a course on the History of Writing taught by Distinguished Professor Joyce Kinkead investigated traditional, college-aged students and their preferred writing implements
English Students Present at USU’s Student Research Symposium
Each April during Research Week, the Student Research Symposium (SRS) provides space and resources for more than 300 graduate and undergraduate presenters to share their research with peers, faculty evaluators, and the campus community!
English Department Hosts Concurrent Enrollment Teaching Conference
On April 19, 2023, the English Department hosted its annual teaching conference designed for the English concurrent enrollment teachers and the USU faculty members who support reciprocal mentorship through the department's Teaching Partnership program.
Congratulations to Christine Cooper-Rompato, Recipient of the English Faculty Mentoring Award
The recipient of the 2023 English Faculty Mentoring Award is Professor Christine Cooper-Rompato!
English Department Faculty and Graduate Students Present at Spring Conferences
The English Department is proud to highlight faculty and graduate students who present at conferences this spring!
Travis Franks Publishes in Settler Colonial Studies
Assistant Professor Travis Franks recently published "Uncanny Encounters and Haunting Colonial Histories in Australia's Reconciliation-Era Narratives" in Settler Colonial Studies.
Swenson Park opening celebration
Utah State University's Department of English invites you to the Swenson Park opening celebration.
English Department Students Present at the 2023 Sigma Tau Delta Convention
USU’s English Department was well-represented at the annual Sigma Tau Delta Convention in Denver, Colorado, from March 29-April 1 with 12 undergraduate participants from four different campuses.
Shanan Ballam Publishes in The Quarter(ly)
Senior Lecturer Shanan Ballam has published her poem, “the return,” in The Quarter(ly) Journal.
Undergraduate Basil Payne Wins the Legacy of Utah State Award
At this year’s Robins Award Ceremony, English Department student Basil Payne, a junior majoring in English with a Creative Writing emphasis, was honored with the 2022-23 Legacy of Utah State Award.
English Department Literature Social
Come hear about fall classes and eat pizza at the English Department Literature social!
New Major and Minor in Technical Communication and Rhetoric (TCR)
The English Department is thrilled to announce a new Major and Minor in Technical Communication and Rhetoric (TCR) beginning Fall 2023!
Shanan Ballam Publishes in Wordgathering: A Journal of Disability Poetry and Literature
Senior Lecturer Shanan Ballam has recently published her poem “the dream” with Wordgathering: A Journal of Disability Poetry and Literature.
USU Creative Writing Students Present at National Undergraduate Literature Conference
On March 31, 2023, three undergraduate students presented at the National Undergraduate Literature Conference held annually at Weber State University.
Department of English Creative Writing Social
Celebrate this year's creative writing accomplishments, socialize, and learn more about upcoming classes and opportunities at the Creative Writing Social!
Senior Lecturer Lezlie Christensen-Branum Receives TEAL Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award
English Department Senior Lecturer Lezlie Christensen-Branum has been honored with the TEAL Dissertation of the Year Award for Myside Bias Shifting in the Written Arguments of First-Year Composition Students.
A Poetry Reading Michael Sowder
Join the English Department to celebrate the beginning of Michael Sowder's retirement.
2023 English Department Awards
The English Department is thrilled to be hosting the annual Departmental Award Ceremony, honoring exceptional faculty, staff, and students, Wednesday, April 5th at 3:00 p.m. in the Caine Room in the Family Life Building.
Swenson Visiting Writer: Aimee Nezhukumatathil
On March 13th and 14th, the English Department welcomed Aimee Nezhukumatathil as this year’s Swenson Visiting Writer.
Helicon West is proud to present the USU Bull Pen Slam Team
The event will be held on Thursday, March 23rd at 7:00 pm at the CacheARTS Thatcher-Young Mansion.
Alumna Spotlight: Alyssa Quinn
USU’s English Department would like to spotlight English (creative writing) alumna Alyssa Quinn.
Michaelann Nelson Selected for Utah Presidential Leadership Fellowship
Associate Professor of English Michaelann Nelson was selected to participate in the Carnegie Mellon-funded Utah Presidential Leadership Fellowship.
USU Creative Writing and Art Contest Announces 2023 Winners
USU’s Creative Writing Contest has named the winners in its 30th annual competition, recognizing the best creative work by USU students.
English Department Faculty Wins NASPA Award for Article
Associate Professor Avery Edenfield, along with Emmalee Fishburn (Office of Equity) and Felicia Gallegos (SAAVI), recently published an article that won a gold medal in the 2022-2023 NASPA Excellence Awards.
Swenson Visiting Writer Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Join USU English for the Swenson visiting writer, Aimee Nezhukumatathil.
Student Spotlight: Kyler Tolman
USU’s English Department would like to spotlight creative writing student Kyler Tolman.
Department of English Faculty Present at CCCC 2023 in the Windy City
Multiple department faculty attended The Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCCs) on February 15-18, 2023 in Chicago, IL.
UCUR 2023 Features English Department Students
Five English majors presented at the 17th annual Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research (UCUR) hosted in Salt Lake City, on February 17.
English Teaching Students Participate in Utah Council of Teachers of English Conference
On February 3, 2023, seven English teaching students participated in the annual Utah Council of Teachers of English Conference, held in Sandy, Utah.
Graduate Student and English Dept Faculty Published in Special Issue
In December of 2022, Assistant Professor Chen Chen and Director of Composition Beth Buyserie, as well as PhD student Hannah Stevens, were published in a special issue of The Journal of Multimodal Rhetorics on carework and writing during COVID.
Amber Caron Publishes in Story
USU English Department Assistant Professor Amber Caron was featured in the Autumn 2022 issue of Story, a tri-annual print publication devoted to the world of short fiction.
Millie Tullis Publishes Essay in Edited Collection
USU Folklore graduate student Millie Tullis recently published her essay “Polygamy and Revelation in Magical Mormonism: Four Peepstone Bride Narratives” in the collection DNA Mormon: Perspectives on the Legacy of Historian D. Michael Quinn
Supplemental Instruction for English 2010 Courses
Supplemental Instruction (SI) provides an important foundation for successful learning environments with peer academic support. Madison Harris is in her second semester as an SI Leader working with Department Lecturer Ashley Wells as her faculty mentor.
Podcasts in the Classroom
Members of the USU English Department faculty have found unique opportunities to include podcasting as a part of their course curriculum.
Rebecca Walton Receives Two CCCC Awards
Professor Rebecca Walton is the recipient of two 2023 CCCCs awards in the categories of Best Article on Philosophy or Theory of Technical Scientific Communication with co-author Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq and Best Original Collection of Essays in Technical or...
The English Club Presents Story Time with the English Club
Join the English Club for Story Time, Wednesday, January 25th starting at 4:30pm in Ray B West room 114 on USU's main campus.
Get Involved with English Department Clubs
The English Department hosts a variety of opportunities for CHaSS students to connect with each other and faculty advisors. Student-led clubs are a fun opportunity to get involved, grow, and build community here at USU.
Matthew Whitaker Appointed Associate Director of the Writing Center
English Department Lecturer Matt Whitaker has been appointed Associate Director of the Writing Center.
English Students Participate in Fall Student Research Symposium
USU’s annual Fall Student Research Symposium, which was held on Thursday, December 8, 2022, featured several students from the English Department.
USU Faculty and Students at Folklore Society of Utah Conference
USU Folklore had a strong presence at the annual Folklore Society of Utah Conference, which took place at Westminster College the weekend of November 18-19, 2022
Folklore and Landscape Class Visit
Associate Professor Lisa Gabbert’s 6710 Folklore and Landscape class visited the site of the Bear River Massacre on Wednesday, October 19.
Jeannie Banks Thomas Publishes New Book
Professor Jeannie Banks Thomas has edited and published Creole Soul: Zydeco Lives.
Michael Sowder Publishes Poems in Muse India
Professor Michael Sowder, who is a lifelong yoga and meditation teacher, has had several poems accepted for publication by Muse India, an Indian literary magazine.
Recital en el Recinto Poesía hispana en USU Saturday November 19th
Join the Departments of World Languages and English for poetry readings in Spanish by USU students and special guests from Artes de México en Utah.
Russ Beck Publishes in Fly Culture
Senior Lecturer Russ Beck has recently published his essay, “On Fly Boxes, Perfect Streams & Dying Fathers,” in Fly Culture: A Fly Fishing Quarterly.
5000 Years of Writer’s Block Featured on The Conversation and Nerdette Podcasts
Joyce Kinkead, whose recent book A Writing Studies Primer (Broadview, 2022) begins with the first writing systems in Sumer in 3200 BCE, was featured on The Conversation as well as on Chicago NPR Nerdette podcast talking about the long history of writer’s ...
National First-generation College Celebration Day
In honor of the National First-generation College Celebration day on November 8th, English Department faculty have shared some of their personal experiences working with and being first-generation college students.
English Faculty Present at Western Literature Association
Six faculty members—current and emeritus—presented at the Western Literature Association in Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 20-23, 2022
English Literature Student of the Year Award
The English Department named Racquel Bera the Literature Student of the Year
Shanan Ballam Wins Honorable Mention in the Utah Original Writing Competition
English Department’s Senior Lecturer Shanan Ballam received an honorable mention in the Utah Original Writing Competition for her collection of poems titled First Poems After the Stroke.
USU Alumna Spotlight: Madison Asbill Gray
Madison Asbill Gray graduated from USU in 2018 with a Bachelor's in English (Creative Writing emphasis). Since then, she's put her English degree to good use as Content Lead for a small marketing firm in Salt Lake City.
Michael Dubon Publishes Essay in The Plentitudes
English Department Lecturer Michael Dubon has published his essay, “Savor” in The Plentitudes. In this heartfelt piece, Michael delves into nostalgia, memory, and family.
English Teaching Student of the Year Award
The English Department celebrates Jessica Garfield Swasey as the English Teaching Emphasis Student of the Year for 2021-2022.
Sigma Tau Delta and the English Club present Poe After Dark
Poe After Dark, an evening of spooky stores, scary treats, with a costume contest and games will take place October 26th, 2022 at 7:30pm on USU's campus in Ray B West 114.
Zackary Gregory Publishes in Bikepacking magazine: Wolf Hole Mountain Overnighte
Zackary Gregory conducted a research project on the rhetoric of bikepacking journals, which resulted in a publication in Bikepacking magazine, where Zackary detailed the adventurous experience of a bikepacking trip through Pueblo and Southern Paiute Land ...
Amber Caron Publishes in Bennington Review
Assistant Professor Amber Caron has recently published her short story, “Call Up the Waters,” in Bennington Review. In this haunting, beautiful story, a devastating drought leads a mother of two deep into the Colorado Rockies in search of water.
Technical Communication and Rhetoric Student of the Year Award
The English Department would like to recognize Celina Sevilla Johnson as the Technical Communication and Rhetoric Student of the Year.
Travis Franks Publishes in ariel: A Review of International English Literature
Assistant Professor Travis Franks recently published an article in ariel: A Review of International English Literature
English Graduate Students and Faculty Present at SIGDOC Conference
USU English Department graduate students Rachel Bryson, Sam Clem, Kailey Collins, Margaret Hsiao, and Wesley Mathis, along with Assistant Professor Chen Chen and CHaSS Associate Dean Rebecca Walton, presented at the SIGDOC conference in Boston, Massachuse...
Avery Edenfield and Jamal-Jared Alexander Win ARSTM Award
Associate Professor Avery Edenfield and Jamal-Jared Alexander, a graduate of USU’s Technical Communication and Rhetoric PhD program, have recently won the Association for the Rhetoric of Science, Technology, and Medicine (ARSTM) Article of the Year Award ...
Jessica Rivera-Mueller Publishes in Prompt: A Journal of Academic Writing Assignments
Assistant Professor Jessica Rivera-Mueller published her article, “Inquiry Journal Facilitation: A Writing Assignment for Practicing Exploratory Speech” in volume 6, issue 2 of Prompt: A Journal of Academic Writing Assignments.
General English Student of the Year Award
The English Department is happy to celebrate Bonnie Swenson as their 2022 General English Student of the Year!
Undergraduates Published in Prestigious National Journal
The July 2022 issue of NCTE’s College English features an article written by 14 undergraduates, who were enrolled in a research methods course, English 3470, taught by Dr. Joyce Kinkead in Fall 2020.
English Department Faculty Present at Summer Conferences
During the summer of 2022 some English department faculty presented research at academic conferences.
Amy Piotrowski Publishes Chapter in Critical Digital Literacies: Boundary-Crossing Practices
Amy Piotrowski, Associate Professor of English education in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership with a secondary appointment in the English Department at USU’s Uintah Basin campus, recently co-wrote a chapter.
American Studies Student of the Year Award
The English Department’s American Studies program gladly named Caitlyn Rogers for their 2021-2022 Student of the Year Award. The committee chose Caitlyn because she “exemplified the interdisciplinary spirit of the American Studies program.
Beth Buyserie and Jessica Rivera-Mueller Awarded Master Teaching Certificate by Empowering Teaching Excellence
Assistant Professors Beth Buyserie and Jessica Rivera-Mueller were both recognized as Master Teachers at this year’s Empowering Teaching Excellence (ETE) Conference on August 17 at USU’s Logan campus. The
Creative Writing Student of the Year Award
The English Department’s Creative Writing committee has named Keegan Waller their 2022 Student of the Year!
Afsane Rezaei Publishes in the Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies
USU English Department Assistant Professor Afsane Rezaei recently published an article in the Journal of Middle East Women's Studies.
The English Department Welcomes New Faculty
Please join us in welcoming the English Department’s newest faculty members: Michael DuBon, Travis Franks, and Chen Chen. We are so pleased to have them joining the department.
2022 Ken Brewer Festival of Writing Events
The first of two Ken Brewer Festival of Writing events will take place on Monday, September 26 at 7 p.m. at USU’s Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, featuring poetry readings, a live jazz ensemble, and an open mic. The main event will be a reading by wri...
USU Lecturer Mary Ellen Greenwood Wins Research Award
USU English Department Lecturer Mary Ellen Greenwood recently received the 2022 Richard A. Meade Award for Research in English Education. This award is sponsored by English Language Arts Teacher Educators (ELATE) of the National Council of Teachers of Eng...
Jason Olsen at FanX Comic Book Convention
On September 24, 2022, from 5:00-6:00 p.m., USU Associate Professor Jason Olsen will present at FanX, a Salt Lake City comic convention, where he will discuss Captain America’s overall growth as a character, drawing from his book, Mark Gruenwald and the
Join the Writers’ Cache on September 8th at 7PM at the Thatcher-Young Mansion!
The Writers’ Cache is a dedicated critique group based in the Logan, Utah area. They provide a nurturing environment for friendship, education, and encouragement to writers of all genres and skill levels.
Rebecca Walton to Present at USU Library’s Peer Review Week
On Friday, September 23rd, Associate Dean and Professor of Technical Communication and Rhetoric Rebecca Walton will present for USU Library’s Peer Review Week, “a community-led yearly global virtual event celebrating the essential role that peer review pl...
Senior Lecturer and Logan City Poet Laureate Shanan Ballam Reading
Shanan Ballam will be reading at The Lavender House in Bear River City on September 9 at 6 p.m. The reading will also feature poet Danielle Dubrasky and songwriter Jake Rogers.
CHaSS Alumni Lunch Series Featuring English Department Graduates
On Friday, September 16, the CHaSS Alumni Lunch Series will feature USU alumni and published authors Alyssa Quinn (BA English ’16) and Stacie Denetsosie (MA English ’19, BS English ’16).
Ashley Wells Reading at Helicon West
USU English Department Lecturer Ashley Wells will read at Helicon West on August 25, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the Cache ARTS Thatcher-Young Mansion in Logan.
Two English Department Students Win Grants from the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies
Students Bonnie Swenson and Millie Tullis have won grants for their research projects from the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies.
Creative Nonfiction Writing Students Craft Multimodal Pieces
In Lecturer Ashley Wells’ Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing course, students created podcasts, dioramas, paintings, collages, and zines to accompany their Spring 2022 final portfolios.
USU’s Rachel Bryson Wins ATTW Graduate Research Award
Congratulations to USU English Department graduate student Rachel Welton Bryson, who was recently awarded an Association of Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW) Graduate Research Award.
Amy Piotrowski Adds Two Publications
Dr. Amy Piotrowski is co-author on two recent publications.
English Students Win Three of Four Awards for Student Research Symposium
The Student Research Symposium, an annual showcase of student research during USU’s Research Week, culminates with awards. In 2022, students from the English Department took three of the top four awards for Arts and Humanities.
New Writing Fellows Scholarship Awarded to Two Students
A newly-established scholarship to honor outstanding Writing Fellows has been awarded to Samantha Wallace and Grace Hallock.
USU Undergraduate Ericka Stone Presents Research on Smallpox Quarantining
English Undergraduate Researcher of the Year Ericka Stone delivered the presentation to the Cache Valley Historical Society.
Congratulations to Lezlie Christensen Branum!
Senior Lecturer in the English department has successfully defended her PhD dissertation.
English Department’s Avery Edenfield Named Inaugural Director for the Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research
Associate Professor of Technical Communication and Rhetoric Avery Edenfield has recently been named the Inaugural Director for the Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research
Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Sinor, Inaugural Recipient of the English Faculty Mentoring Award!
Professor Jennifer Sinor has been chosen as the inaugural recipient of the English Faculty Mentoring Award.
English Department Faculty and Graduate Students Awarded OER Grant
A professor and graduate students were recently awarded summer funding from the Open Educational Resource (OER) Program team at USU Libraries.
English Department Hosts Concurrent Enrollment Teaching Conference
The English Department hosted a professional development conference for Utah’s English 1010 and English 2200 concurrent enrollment teachers and USU faculty who support teacher-learning in our program.
Sink Hollow Publishes Special Contest Issue
Sink Hollow, USU’s international undergraduate literary journal, has published its special Creative Writing Contest issue.
English Majors Present at Sigma Tau Delta Convention
Six USU undergraduate English majors traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, where they presented their work alongside other English majors from around the country at the Sigma Tau Delta 2022 International Convention.
English Department Graduate Students and Faculty in IEEE Transactions Special Issue
English Department Technical Communication and Rhetoric graduate students Sam Clem, Ryan Cheek, Hannah Stevens, and Jamal-Jared Alexander, along with Associate Dean of CHaSS Rebecca Walton, were published in the IEEE special issue on Enacting Social Justi...
USU English Department at the 2022 Student Research Symposium
The English Department had excellent representation at the 2022 Student Research Symposium.
Library Writing Center Unveils New Exhibit on the History of Writing
Although writing systems began to appear 5000 years ago, their history is not well known. A new exhibition called "A History of Writing and Its Material Culture" is open at the Library Writing Center (LIB 162).
Jason Olsen Publishes Poem in Rattle
Associate Professor Jason Olsen published his postmodern poem “If Anyone Was Offended...” in Issue #73 of Rattle.
USU Alumna Spotlight: Hailey Cragun-Barney
USU alumna Hailey Cragun-Barney (MA 2017) is now a grant-writer for Safe Harbor Crisis Center.
Undergraduate Jessica Garfield Swasey Named CHaSS Undergraduate Teaching Fellow of the Year
USU English Teaching emphasis undergraduate Jessica Garfield Swasey was recently honored with the CHaSS Undergraduate Teaching Fellow of the Year award.
Senior Lecturer and Logan Poet Laureate Shanan Ballam Named Finalist in North American Review Poetry Contest
North American Review literary magazine has recently named their winners, runners-up, and finalists for the 2022 James Hearst Poetry Competition, judged by Natalie Diaz. USU’s Senior Lecturer and Logan City Poet Laureate Shanan Ballam was chosen as a fina...
New Book on Writing Studies by Joyce Kinkead
Writing is omnipresent in our lives, yet, according to USU’s Joyce Kinkead, Distinguished Professor of English, we too rarely stop and consider its history, tools, technologies, and mythologies.
English Department Faculty Named Transformative Intersectional Collective Fellows
USU recently announced six fellows who will be joining the Transformative Intersectional Collective (TRIC), a partnership with the University of Utah’s School for Cultural and Social Transformation, supported by an Andrew W. Mellon grant, three of whom co...
Swenson Writers Series
The Swenson Writers Series will take place on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 1:30 p.m.
English Department CHaSS Award Winners
Congratulations go to the English Department recipients of College of Humanities & Social Sciences awards!
English Alumna Published in Pedagogy
USU alumna Andrea Bresee co-authored an article in a special issue of Pedagogy: Critical Approaches to Teaching Literature, Language, Composition, and Culture, an innovative journal that offers a vibrant discourse around teaching in English studies.
USU Writing and Art Contest Announces 2022 Winners
USU’s Creative Writing Contest has named the winners in its 29th annual competition, recognizing the best creative work by USU students.
English Department Students and Faculty at the Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research
USU’s English Department was well represented at the 16th annual Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research (UCUR) hosted in St. George, Utah, on February 25.
Helicon West
This edition of Helicon West will take place on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.
Jason Olsen Nominated for Pushcart Prize
Associate Professor Jason Olsen has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize for his poem “Hummingbird.”
USU Folklorists Open Digital Exhibit in Special Collections and Archives
Talking to America: Iranian Communities in Southern California, USU’s new digital exhibit, showcases findings from Dr. Afsane Rezaei's and Dr. Ehsan Estiri's ethnographic research with the Iranian-American communities of Southern California.
Utah English Journal Publishes Two Articles by English Department Faculty
The 2022 issue of The Utah English Journal was unveiled at the February 11 Utah Conference for Teachers of English (UCTE), an annual convening of statewide K-16 English teachers, which was held in Salt Lake City. This latest issue features two USU English...
Honoring the Legacy of Poet May Swenson
The English Department is thrilled to announce that work will begin soon at the site of award-winning poet May Swenson’s childhood home.
Jamal-Jared Alexander Partners with the Inclusion Center
USU graduate student Jamal-Jared Alexander’s English 4410: Document Design & Graphics course has partnered with the Inclusion Center to develop a set of print documents.
Rebecca Walton and Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq Publish Article in Rhetoric Review
USU Technical Communication and Rhetoric alumna Dr. Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq and Associate Professor and Associate Dean Rebecca Walton have published an article in Rhetoric Review.
English Major Bonnie Swenson Presents at Research on Capitol Hill
Bonnie Swenson, a USU English major from Emery County, presented at the 2022 edition of Research on Capitol Hill on February 8, 2022.
English 2720 Students Create American Folklore: Class Cookbook & Foodways
In Fall 2021, Professor Jeannie Thomas and her English 2720 students compiled a book titled American Folklore: Class Cookbook & Foodways.
Jason Olsen Publishes Book on Captain America Writer Mark Gruenwald
Associate Professor Jason Olsen recently published his book Mark Gruenwald and the Star Spangled Symbolism of Captain America, 1985-1995.
Christine Cooper-Rompato Publishes New Book
Professor Christine Cooper-Rompato’s book "Spiritual Calculations: Number and Numeracy in Late Medieval English Sermons" was recently published by Penn State University Press. This work explores how medieval Christian sermonists used numbers, arithmetic, ...
Jason Olsen Named New JETE Editor, Taking Over from Kim Hales
Lecturer Kim Hales has completed three successful years as Editor-in-Chief of USU’s Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence (JETE).
Senior Lecturer and Logan City Poet Laureate Shanan Ballam Featured on Utah Public Radio
Senior Lecturer and Logan City Poet Laureate Shanan Ballam opened the first Logan City Council Meeting of 2022 with her poem "Poem for the New Year, 2022."
USU Creative Writing Contest
Entry Deadline for the creative writing contest is 4:00 p.m., Monday, February 7, 2022
Folklore Society of Utah Conference at USU
On November 12 and 13, 2021, the Folklore Society of Utah held its annual meeting at the Eccles Conference Center on USU’s Logan campus. The USU Folklore program made a great showing, as students, faculty, and alums all presented.
English Students Participate in Fall Student Research Symposium
On Thursday, December 9, 2021,USU’s annual Fall Student Research Symposium, which was inaugurated in 2013, featured several students from the English Department.
USU Creative Writing and Art Contest
Entry Deadline for the USU Creative Writing and Art Contest is 4:00 p.m., Monday, February 7, 2022
Faculty Published in Skeptical Inquirer
USU Professor of English and Folklore Jeannie Thomas' article on verifying information in news articles published in Skeptical Inquirer.
Newest Issue of Sink Hollow Published
The 12th edition of Utah State University's undergraduate literary magazine, Sink Hollow, has been published online.
Welcome New Faculty Amber Caron
The Utah State University Department of English welcomes new fiction faculty Amber Caron.
USU’s 2021 Fall Student Research Symposium
Applications are now open for USU's Fall Student Research Symposium. Students can apply individually or as a group.
USU’s Chris González Webinar for National Humanities Center
English Professor, Associate Dean, and Director of the USU Latinx Cultural Center Chris González has participated in several speaking events this past month.
USU Emeritus Professor Wins Western Literature Association Creative Writing Award
On October 21st, Melody Graulich won the Western Literature Association’s Creative Writing Award for her story, “The Magpie.”
Writing Fellows: A Source for Students and Professors to Improve Writing in Courses
The Writing Fellows program consists of high-achieving students nominated to the program by their professors because of their excellent writing skills.
National First-generation College Celebration Day
In honor of the National First-generation College Celebration day on November 8th, English Department faculty have shared some of their personal experiences working with and being first-generation college students.
Creative Writing Graduate Students Win Utah Original Writing Competition Awards
Several recent and current USU English Department graduate students took home awards at this year’s Utah Original Writing Competition.
English Department Faculty and Graduate Student Awarded Research and Teaching Fellowships
USU’s Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research awarded English Department faculty and a graduate student for their commitment to intersectional research and practice.
English Department Faculty and PhD Students Published in SIGDOC '21
Associate Professor Avery Edenfield and Technical Communication & Rhetoric PhD students Ryan Cheek and Sam Clem have recently published in the proceedings of SIGDOC '21.
USU Technical Communication and Rhetoric Alumna and Faculty in Journal of Business and Technical Communications
USU Technical Communication and Rhetoric PhD alumna Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq, Assistant Professor Avery Edenfield, and Professor Emeritus Keith Grant-Davie have published an article in the Journal of Business and Technical Communications.
Associate Professor Josi Russell Speaks at Helicon West
Associate Professor Josi Russell was the featured speaker at Helicon West’s August event at the Thatcher-Young Mansion in Logan.
Ken Brewer Celebration of Writing Event
USU’s English Department held the inaugural Ken Brewer Celebration of Writing on September 16th at the USU amphitheater. Brewer was a former USU professor from 1968 to 2000.
Associate Professor Ben Gunsberg in 'Atticus Review'
Associate Professor Ben Gunsberg’s “What a Baby,” which premiered at the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art in 2019, is featured with Atticus Review.
Lecturer Mary Ellen Greenwood in English Education
Lecturer Mary Ellen Greenwood, along with co-authors, including Assistant Professor Amy Piotrowski from the College of Education, has published an article in English Education.
Associate Professor Ben Gunsberg in "Jelly Bucket"
Associate Professor Ben Gunsberg’s compelling sonnet, “John Henrys,” was recently published in Jelly Bucket.
Avery Edenfield and Jamal-Jared Alexander in "Technical Communication Quarterly"
Assistant Professor Avery Edenfield and graduate student Jamal-Jared Alexander have recently published an article titled “Health and Wellness as Resistance: Tactical Folk Medicine” in Technical Communication Quarterly.
USU Alumna Zines Selected for Salt Lake City Library's Alt Press Fest
USU alumna Lydia Velazquez had two zines selected by the Salt Lake City Library’s Alt Press Fest to be included in their grab bags in October.
USU English Department Faculty and Students at Utah Humanities Book Festival
Students Anne Schill and Jay Paine, along with Associate Professor Ben Gunsberg, read their creative work at the UtahHumanities BookFestival in late August.
Students Return to Campus for Light on the Hill 2021
Check out these pictures from Light on the Hill, the welcome-back ceremony for the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences!
English Department Faculty Contribute to Resilient Pedagogy Book
Resilient Pedagogy: Practical Teaching Strategies to Overcome Distance, Disruption, and Distraction, gathers practical advice and theoretical wisdom on addressing the challenges that came with COVID-19.
Joyce Kinkead, Distinguished Professor of English, Publishes Article on Research Methods Course
Kinkead's article, “The Empirical Strikes Back: A RAD Research Methods Class for Undergraduate English Students” appeared in the College English Association journal.
USU professor examines how spiritualism shaped Sherlock Holmes in How Sherlock Pulled the Trick
Brian McCuskey, associate professor and associate department head of English at Utah State, recently published a book titled How Sherlock Pulled the Trick.
Rebeccca Walton, Associate Professor and Associate Dean of CHaSS, Publishes New Book on Technical Communication and Social Justice
Many people experience a disconnect between caring about social justice and knowing how to implement it in their own workplace. Rebecca Walton recently co-edited a book which she hopes will help people bridge that gap.
USU English Professor Edits Two Issues of Langston Hughes Review
USU English professor Shane Graham has helped commemorate the centennial of this landmark publication by editing two special issues of the Langston Hughes Review around the theme of “‘The Negro Speaks of Rivers’ at 100.”
English Students Present at Sigma Tau Delta
The national convention for Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, was held online this year, on March 25th to 27th.
English Ph.D. Student Jamal-Jared Alexander Receives University Diversity Award
Jamal-Jared Alexander, a third-year Presidential Doctoral Research Fellow in the Technical Communication and Rhetoric Ph.D. program, has been named as the student recipient of the 27th annual Utah State University Diversity Award.
"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" Turns 100
USU English Professor Edits Two Issues of Langston Hughes Review. I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
The SLAP Test for Conspiracy
Professor Jeannie Banks Thomas is featured on Episode 144 of “Squaring the Strange,” speaking on “The Slap Test for Conspiracy Theories” (SLAP).
Dr. Edenfield and Dr. Colton Win National Award
Avery and Jared’s article “Queering Tactical Technical Communication: DIY HRT,” won for the Best Article on Philosophy or Theory of Technical or Scientific Communication category.
Dr. Lynne McNeill's Essay, "Classifying #BlackLivesMatter"
Dr. Lynne McNeill’s essay “Classifying #BlackLivesMatter: Genre and Form in Digital Folklore” has recently appeared in Folklore and Social Media, a new collection of essays edited by Trevor Blank and Andrew Peck.
USU Alum and Adjunct Instructor Publishes Poetry Chapbook
Britt Allen, adjunct instructor for the English Department and USU alumna, is publishing her first poetry chapbook with Finishing Line Press this summer.
Shanan Ballam's Poetry Featured with Line Rider Press
Senior Lecturer Shanan Ballam’s poem “Spring Hollow, Thanksgiving Day 2020” and interview were recently featured on the Line Rider Press website.
Ph.D. Candidate and Alum Published in Communication Design Quarterly
Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq and Dr. Breeanne Matheson have recently published their article “Decolonizing Decoloniality: Considering the (Mis)use of Decolonial Frameworks in TPC Scholarship” in Communication Design Quarterly.
Professor Joyce Kinkead Wins University Service Award
For the second year in a row, a member of the USU English Department has been honored with the University Faculty Service Award.
Jason Olsen Publishes in The Inflectionist Review
Jason Olsen, associate professor of English on the Price campus, had a poem published in The Inflectionist Review.
MA Folklore Alum Publishes in The Atlantic
Jon D. Lee has just published an article in The Atlantic, “The Utter Familiarity of Even the Strangest Vaccine Conspiracy Theories.”
Student-Athlete and Professor Publish Article on Undergraduate Research
Cameron Haney, who played cornerback for the Aggies Football Team, and Dr. Joyce Kinkead co-authored an article in Perspectives on Undergraduate Research and Mentoring (PURM).
Shane Graham Publishes Book on Langston Hughes
Shane Graham publishes *Cultural Entanglements* with the University of Virginia Press.
Department Faculty-Student Research Team Awarded College Summer Grant
Samantha Stringham and Dr. Joyce Kinkead have been awarded a Faculty-Student Summer Mentorship Grant, one of twelve grants funded for 2021.
Hearing Voices in the Middle Ages
Dr. Christine Cooper-Rompato's essay on medieval "visions" has been published in an essay collection.
Dr. Edenfield Wins Career Achievement Research Grant
Congratulations to Dr. Avery Edenfield, who has been awarded a Career Achievement Research Grant by the Association for Computer Machinery's Special Interest Group on Design of Communication (ACM SIGDOC).
Digital Folklore Project's 2020 Digital Trend of the Year
The meme “How It Started/How It’s Going/How It Ended” has been named the #DigitalTrendoftheYear by student and faculty researchers at USU’s Digital Folklore Project.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Shane Graham, Professor of English
The 2020 English Department Researcher of the Year is Dr. Shane Graham, a specialist in postcolonial literatures of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries who has been at USU since 2005.
Utah Council of Teachers of English Virtual Conference
Three USU faculty members presented at the Utah Council of Teachers of English this November.
Dr. Phebe Jensen Publishes New Book on Astrology, Almanacs, and the Early Modern English Calendar
Astrology, Almanacs, and the Early Modern English Calendar serves as a practical guide to early modern English calendars and the culture surrounding them.
Folklore Society of Utah and Fife Honor Lecture 2020
The USU Folklore Program had a strong presence at last weekend’s Folklore Society of Utah (FSU) virtual meeting.
Dr. Kristine Miller's New Book on Honors Contracts
Kristine Miller, Professor of English and Executive Director of the Honors Program, has recently edited a collection of essays as part of the National Collegiate Honors Council Monograph Series in October.
Ph.D. Candidate Ryan Cheek Published in Communication Design Quarterly
Ryan Cheek, a Ph.D. Candidate in Technical Communication and Rhetoric, has recently published an article in Communication Design Quarterly.
Emeritus Faculty Spotlight: Gene Washington, Professor Emeritus
Gene Washington is testament to the philosophy that if you work with your mind, there’s no real retirement.
Jamal-Jared Alexander Presents Findings from Summer Research Internship
Jamal-Jared Alexander recently presented the results of a summer research internship on Zoom.
Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence
Dr. Jessica Rivera-Mueller, an Assistant Professor in the Department of English, has recently published an essay in USU’s Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence.
English Undergraduate Curates Library Exhibition on Aggie Women
Merrill-Cazier Library announces the grand opening of “Telling Our Story: 130 Years of Aggie Women.”
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Cecelia Harrison Foxley, '64
This spotlight takes a look at Dr. Cecelia Harrison Foxley, a dedicated Commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education and early advocate for civil rights.
Andrew Romriell, Honorable Mention in the Utah Original Writing Competition
Andrew Romriell received the Honorable Mention award for Creative Nonfiction in this year's Utah Original Writing Competition.
Ashley Wells Publishes "The Cowgirl and the Racehorse"
Ashley Wells has just published The Cowgirl and the Racehorse with Lantern Publishing a scholarly memoir about cowgirl stories, gender, and the whitewashing of the West.
Afsane Rezaei and Avery Edenfield named Research Fellows
Congratulations to Assistant Professors Afsane Rezaei and Avery Edenfield, who were named inaugural Research Fellows at the Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research for 2020-2021.
Melody Graulich to be Published in Ploughshares
Granite Ledges,” a short story by Melody Graulich, Emeritus Professor of English and American Studies, will be published in the Fall 2020 issue of Ploughshares.
Lynne S. McNeill Publishes New Book
Associate Professor of English Lynne S. McNeill has co-edited a new book, This is the Plate: Utah Food Traditions (2020), published this month by the University of Utah Press.
"Women, Surrealism, and Abstraction" Exhibit
Several current and former English Department members wrote ekphrastic poems for the “Women, Surrealism, and Abstraction” exhibit.
Amber Caron’s Fiction in The Threepenny Review
Amber Caron has just published a short story in the Fall 2020 issue of The Threepenny Review, one of the country’s most prestigious and competitive literary journals.
Alan Blackstock’s New Book on Willa Cather and E. M. Forster
Alan Blackstock has recently published a new book with Roman & Littlefield.
Dr. Edenfield’s Essay in The Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Dr. Avery Edenfield has just published an essay in the Journal of Business and Technical Communication as part of a special issue on COVID-19 rhetorics.
Dr. Christopher Gonzalez Book Wins the 2020 International Latino Book Award for Best Non-fiction, Multi-Author
Christopher Gonzalez’s co-authored book won the 2020 International Latino Book Award for Best Non-Fiction, Multi-Author.
Jennifer Sinor Reads from *Sky Songs*
Jennifer Sinor, a Professor of English at USU, reads a selection from her new book, Sky Songs.
Professor Charles Waugh, Assistant Editor at 'Isle'
This summer, Professor Charles Waugh accepted a position as assistant editor for fiction at ISLE, the official publication of the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment and the top US journal in the field of ecocriticism.
Fiction by Emeritus Professor Melody Graulich
Emeritus Professor Melody Graulich published a short story in the Spring 2020 issue of Front Range Review.
Professor Joyce Kinkead Featured in Utah State Magazine
In a recent article in Utah State Magazine, Distinguished Professor of English Joyce Kinkead reflects on her forty-year career at Utah State University.
Professor Publishes Advice on Slow Writing
The National Council of Teachers of English published Professor Joyce Kinkead’s essay on the importance of slow writing
New English Department Faculty
Join us in welcoming our newest Department of English faculty members at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Christine Cooper-Rompato’s Essay in the 'Chaucer Review'
Christine Cooper-Rompato’s essay has been published in this summer’s issue of the Chaucer Review.
Professor Ben Gunsberg’s poem, “Dark Impactor,” was recently published in Reed Magazine, California’s oldest literary journal.
Professor Ben Gunsberg’s poem, “Dark Impactor,” was recently published in Reed Magazine, California’s oldest literary journal.
Christopher González Blog
Christopher González is an Associate Professor of English and the Founding Director of the Latinx Cultural Center at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. He also maintains a blog, covering topics such as current issues and book reviews.
“Witches, Ghosts, and Pesky High Schoolers”: Podcast with Dr. Jeannie Thomas
Professor Jeannie Thomas discusses the Salem Witch Trials and the haunted nunnery in Logan, Utah.
Chris Gonzalez Podcast, “In the Midst of Protest”
Chris Gonzalez interrupts his regularly scheduled podcast, “Hospitable Imaginations,” with a necessary reflection on the killings of members of our Black community.
“Utah in the Green Book: Segregation and the Hospitality Industry in the Beehive State”
Christine Cooper-Rompato’s essay, “Utah in the Green Book: Segregation and the Hospitality Industry in the Beehive State,” was published in the most recent issue of the *Utah Historical Quarterly*.
Professor Contributes to Undergraduate Research Book
Joyce Kinkead, Distinguished Professor of English, was invited to contribute the Afterword to *The Naylor Report on Undergraduate Research in Writing Studies*.
"Breathing to Write" by Professor Jennifer Sinor
Professor Jennifer Sinor published an essay titled "Breathing to Write" in the Association of Writers & Writing Programs.
"The Masque of the Red Death" Webinar by Professor Paul Crumbley
Arizona State University presents Pandemic Dialogues, a new virtual series in the school’s Civic Discourse Project providing perspective on the current civic crisis.
English Department Awards
The English Department is proud to honor the following award winners for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Two English Faculty Members in the list of "50 Most Influential Aggies"
Lynne McNeill and Sonia Manuel-Dupont were both named in the annual list compiled by the staff of the student newspaper The Utah Statesman of the “50 Most Influential Aggies.”
Alumni News: Abi Newhouse's Article in The American Scholar
A Utah State alumni has had an article published in The American Scholar, the magazine of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
Sink Hollow 2020
USU’s undergraduate literary journal, Sink Hollow, has just published the 2020 Contest Issue.
Professor Wins University Service Award
Professor Sonia Manuel-Dupont, who holds appointments in two departments, English and Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, won the Faculty University Service Award at the Robins Ceremony.
Department Leadership Changes
On February 24th 2020, Dr. Jeannie Thomas stepped down as the Department Head in English after eleven years of distinguished service.
Moral Compass, Circa 1941
Dr. Marion Bishop, an emergency room physician and English/CHaSS alum, has written a poignant and thoughtful commentary that brings COVID-19 home and right into our front rooms.
From behind the mask of Red Riding Hood, new Logan Poet Laureate finds her voice
Shanan Ballam, a senior lecturer in the USU Dept of English, will be named Logan City Poet Laureate Aug. 20, 20919, for a five-year term.
Poet Gunsberg welcomes ‘dangerous life' in Jan. 29 reading of new poems
Poet Gunsberg, assistant professor of English, reads from new collection of poems, "Welcome, Dangerous Life."
2018 Digital Trends let us hear sex-assault victims, scorn teen show-offs
Utah State University's Digital Folklore Project has named the most influential and wide-spread memes of 2018, including the hashtag #WhyIDidntReport and the Tide Pod Challenges.
Atlantic magazine tells how young USU English alum mastered Pres. Obama's voice
Kolbie Blume, English 2014, answered hundreds of letters with calls for compassion and attention from Americans to Pres. Obama
Poetry contest honoring May Swenson anticipates groundbreaking for retreat
Contest winners will read their poems at ground- breaking ceremony Sept. 18
A path to understanding USU's best-known poet
A walk in her shoes: May Swenson Poetry Path maps Swenson sites in Logan and beyond
Research’s Champion
English professor Joyce Kinkead earns USU’s top award for her scholarship and advocacy of student inquiry
Tiny tenants of Ray B. West: A feature, not a bug
Generations of students in Ray B. West come to terms with boxelder bugs, maybe even grow to love them and the building
English professor Joyce Kinkead awarded USU's most prestigious accolade
CHaSS's own Joyce Kinkead earns USU’s highest research honor, the 2018 Wynne Thorne Career Research Award.
Folklore
The topic: Dude ranches. The place: The picturesque slopes of the Tetons. The takeaway: A bat’s bite is so tiny it can’t be felt by a sleeping person.
Shively & Willa Cather
English professor has role in nurturing American novelist’s continuing legacy
Folk Life
CHaSS folklorists and fans look forward each December to the year’s most feted event: The announcement of the Digital Trend of the Year.
CHaSS Alumni: Vernal Teacher of the Year
A 1999 Utah State University graduate in English has been named the 2018 Utah Teacher of the Year.
Let Poetry Matter: Star Coulbrooke named Logan City Poet Laureate
Let Poetry Matter: Star Coulbrooke named Logan City Poet Laureate. Story featured in spring 2016 issue of Liberalis.