There’s No Place Like Home: Poems of Kansas Landscape and Food at the 2026 State Fair

As my time as Poet Laureate of Kansas is coming to an end here in 2026, I had one final chance to bring poetry back to the State Fair. This year, I knew I wanted to bring poems by young Kansans to the Fair in both posters placed around the Fair and for a reading … Continue reading There’s No Place Like Home: Poems of Kansas Landscape and Food at the 2026 State Fair

Summer 2026 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Cover for India Animated: Essays on Contemporary Practice (Palgrave, 2026), which includes an essay by Anuja Madan. Each month during the academic year, we assemble a newsletter of the department's recent publications, presentations, announcements, and awards. The issue for September showcases a greater range of research, scholarship, and creative activity that our faculty and students … Continue reading Summer 2026 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Alumni Spotlight: Heather Etelamaki

Heather Etelamaki (BA '12, MA '15) When I started in the English graduate program for creative writing in 2013, I knew I wanted to be a writer and also have a career separate from writing to help support myself. I’d known that many authors had “day jobs” to help pay the bills. Every author had … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Heather Etelamaki

Fall Preview

From “Kansas Fall Color Parade” (Photo: Dr. Megan Kennelly) 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 … Continue reading Fall Preview

Found Object: 2026 M.A. Projects

Location: Social media.Object: Project Titles,  graduating M.A. students.Observations: 1) Each spring, for many years, we displayed the M.A. Project and Thesis titles of our graduating M.A. students at our annual spring Awards Banquet.  2) For the past few years, we have continued a newer tradition: with the help of our 2026 Graduate Program Assistant Ruth … Continue reading Found Object: 2026 M.A. Projects

April 2026 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Philip Nel and his co-editors have published Λέξεις-Κλειδιά για την Παιδική Λογοτεχνία [Keywords for Children’s Literature, Second Edition] (2026), a Greek edition of their earlier book (New York University Press, 2021) 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 … Continue reading April 2026 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

2025-2026 Annual Awards

Program for the 2025-2026 Annual Awards Celebration Earlier today we gathered at the Alumni Center and online to celebrate the success of students and faculty. As we have since 2023, we exchanged the sit-down banquet from the pre-COVID days for a less formal reception which allowed for more conversation -- and an earlier evening. We're … Continue reading 2025-2026 Annual Awards

Found Object: 2025 Young Writers’ Workshop

Location: Department digital filesObject: Photo from Day 3 of the 2025 Young Writers' Workshop.Observations: 1) This photo captures the energy and creativity that powers our annual Young Writers' Workshop. 2) Now in its 13th year, the Young Writers' Workshop provides five days of creative writing workshops with the guidance of experienced K-State faculty and graduate … Continue reading Found Object: 2025 Young Writers’ Workshop

Alumni Spotlight: Lindsey Givens

Lindsey Givens (MA '11) Sometimes when I tell people what I do for work, they hear the word “editor” and immediately start cracking jokes about me judging their grammar. But there are many types of editors, and I actually don’t work very closely with manuscripts.  Copyediting is important, but so many other things go into … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Lindsey Givens

Open House 2026

Tom Sarmiento, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, welcomes guests to the K-State English table at the 2025 Open House. K-State's 2026 Open House is happening on Saturday April 18  — and K-State English is ready! As the preview page for Open House explains: Love to read or write? Explore your next chapter with … Continue reading Open House 2026