“…That One Time in Red Cloud!”: Immigration in American Ethnic Literature Takes a Field Trip

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When we think about representations of immigration in American literature, we may not always begin with stories of Midwestern homesteaders. However, Willa Cather’s My Ántonia, first published in 1919, is a reflection on the complex nature of immigration on the tall grass prairie. For students in my ENGL 655 “Immigration in American Ethnic Literature” class … Continue reading “…That One Time in Red Cloud!”: Immigration in American Ethnic Literature Takes a Field Trip

Found Object: KATE 2023

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Jordan Dombrowski (MA '24), Delaney Sullivan (MA '24), and Ian Lutz (MA '24) at the 2023 KATE Conference Location: Department digital archivesObject: Photo (November 2023)Observations: 1) K-State English has been attending the Kansas Association for Teachers (KATE) Conference for a number of years. The conference in 2023 included several graduate student presenters, including the ones … Continue reading Found Object: KATE 2023

From the Archive: 14 Halloween Children’s Books to Set Your Pumpkins on Edge

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Since our blog debuted in 2017, we have published 500+ posts.  While some of you may have been with us from the start (thank you, loyal readers!), others may have joined us more recently. So, we're highlighting periodically some of the posts that have garnered a lot of views or that address topics of continuing … Continue reading From the Archive: 14 Halloween Children’s Books to Set Your Pumpkins on Edge

Kansas State Indigenous Peoples Day

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Mary Kohn, Aileen Wang, Melissa Poll, Chris Pappan, and Cliff Hight at 2026 Indigenous Peoples Day (Photo by Liz Seaton) Last Monday, October 12 marked the 11th annual Indigenous Peoples Day at K-State. It was a special collaboration, co-organized by the university’s Indigenous Faculty and Staff Alliance and the staff at Marianna Kitsler Beach Museum … Continue reading Kansas State Indigenous Peoples Day

Found Object: Halloween Playlist

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Location: 2nd Floor, English Counseling Services BuildingObject: Whiteboard (October 2026)Observations: 1) Since 2023, the whiteboard on the 2nd floor of ECS has continued to pose questions, ask for opinions, and prompt stories.  2) After asking about our superpowers (real or imagined) in September, this October brings a new prompt: "Let's build a Halloween (or 'spooky … Continue reading Found Object: Halloween Playlist

September 2026 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

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Cover for This Music: Record of a Poet Becoming (University of Arizona Press, 2026), edited by Lisa Tatonetti with co-editors Jennifer Foerster, Deborah Miranda, Kim Shuck, and Mimi Wheatwind. Each month during the academic year, we assemble a newsletter of the department's recent publications, presentations, announcements, and awards. We're happy to recognize the recent successes … Continue reading September 2026 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

AFTLS, Much Ado About Nothing, and Shakespeare Lightning Talks

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Faculty and student presenters prepare to share their lightning talks (9 Oct 2026) On Friday, October 9, in McCain Auditorium's Kirmser Hall, the McCain Conversations series returned as faculty and students shared a series of lightning talks on Shakespeare in advance of the performance of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing that same evening at 7:30 … Continue reading AFTLS, Much Ado About Nothing, and Shakespeare Lightning Talks

First Impressions: A. J. Watson

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A.J. Watson (BA '30) in superhero pose during a sculpting exercise in ENGL 345 "Drama," as classmate Jo Benson serves as the "sculptor" (October 2026) Today we introduce a new feature to our blog: "First Impressions."   Using a Q&A format, "First Impressions" offers a glimpse into the first year experience of our undergraduate and … Continue reading First Impressions: A. J. Watson

Recognizing Banned Books Week 2026 at K-State

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Banned Books Week 2026 by Loveis Wise (Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association) One of your favorite books could be a banned or challenged book. The titles Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and Looking for Alaska by John Green may be familiar to … Continue reading Recognizing Banned Books Week 2026 at K-State

Dave Isay at Kansas State

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Earlier tonight, as part of the programming for K-State First Book, we were fortunate to hear Dave Isay speak about his work for StoryCorps and his edited collection of StoryCorps conversations, Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work, the 2026 selection for the university's common reading program. 750,000 conversations: That's how many interviews have been … Continue reading Dave Isay at Kansas State