The Fall 2026 semester is underway — and we’re looking forward to some great events ahead!
This semester, several of our events will be Hyflex (in-person with a concurrent streaming option), so we can accommodate colleagues and students who may not be able to join us on campus. A continuing advantage of this format: we can welcome to a shared virtual space our out-of-town alumni, students, and friends. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!
Below are some of our upcoming events to add to your calendar:
~ Our Visiting Writers Series includes three authors this fall.
We’ll first hear from author and multi-media artist Lisa Olstein. Lisa is the author of six poetry collections published by Copper Canyon Press as well as non-fiction works. She is also the lyricist for the rock band Cold Satellite, fronted by Jeffrey Foucault. Lisa will offer a reading and artist talk at the Beach Museum on Thursday, September 10 at 5:30pm; a reception and book signing will follow, 6:30-7:00pm. We’re honored to co-sponsor this event with our colleagues at the Beach Museum of Art.
Jordan Thomas, an award-winning non-fiction author and K-State alum in Anthropology, is up next. Jordan will offer a craft workshop on Tuesday, September 29, 1:00-3:00pm, co-sponsored by the Department of Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work. Additional details will be available from our online calendar closer to the event.
Finally, we’ll hear from K-State English alum Dan Hornsby (BA ’12), an award-winning author of fiction. His novels include Via Negativa (2001) and Sucker (2023), both published by imprints of Random House. Dan will read from his work on Monday October 26 at 7:00pm in Union Wildcat Chamber and on Zoom (register for the link at https://tinyurl.com/hornsbykstate).
~ Going to the 2026 Kansas State Fair? Traci Brimhall, in her role as Kansas Poet Laureate, will be there on Saturday September 12, 5:00-6:30pm, for a reading of the State Fair poems of 2026! This year’s reading — “There’s No Place Like Home: Poems by Kansas Families” — will feature the poems written by young Kansans. Stop by on September 12 to enjoy poetry and giveaways!
~ David Isay, author of the 2026 K-State First Book selection Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work, will offer a lecture on Tuesday September 29 at 7:00pm in the K-State Student Union for K-State students, faculty, and staff and community members. (Additional programming about Callings is open to the public throughout the fall semester. More information about all 2026 KSFB events is available from K-State First Book.)
~ Explore the theory and practice of cultural studies with our 2026 Cultural Studies Mini-Seminar. Sponsored by the Graduate Concentration in Cultural Studies, the mini-seminars will take place this fall on Friday October 23 and Friday November 13 in anticipation of the 36th Annual Cultural Studies Symposium in Spring 2027. Contact Greg Eiselein, Concentration Coordinator for Cultural Studies, at eiselei@ksu.edu for more information.
~ K-State scholarly and creative expertise in English will be on display for our Fall 2026 Colloquia Series on Wednesday October 28 and Wednesday November 18 at 3:30pm. Watch our social media feeds on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram and our online calendar to learn which faculty members and graduate students will present!
Keep up to date on all events — and find links for the online sessions mentioned above — at our online calendar. You can also and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for photos and recaps — and check back here each week for highlights of research and creative activity from our faculty and students, perspectives from our current students and alumni, glimpses into the department’s past, and plans for its future.
— Karin Westman, Department Head
K-State English 