Found Object: University Honors Program Projects, 2011-2012

Location: Main office archives, ECS 108. Object: Book of abstracts of undergraduate projects completed for the University Honors Program, 2011-2012 academic year. Observations: 1) In the spring of 2012, the University Honors Program produced a book of abstracts representing the work that undergraduate Honors students completed during that academic year. Led at that time by … Continue reading Found Object: University Honors Program Projects, 2011-2012

Seeing Like a Squirrel: Nature Writing with GROW

It was the last brisk morning of June, and Maryam ElZayat (MA '24), a graduate student of literature, and I gathered on the lawn of Engineering Hall with a group of about fifteen students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades who were part of the 2023 GROW Program at K-State. After a short reading of … Continue reading Seeing Like a Squirrel: Nature Writing with GROW

Fall Preview

Kansas wheat photographed by David Mayes for Kansas State Research and Extension, 2016. The Fall 2023 semester is underway -- and it sure is toasty here in the Little Apple! Kudos to the students, faculty, and staff who are navigating record-setting heat as classes begin, and we'll look forward to temps below 100 degrees in … Continue reading Fall Preview

April 2023 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Several English Department faculty, graduate students, and alumni presented at the Popular Culture/American Culture Association Conference in San Antonio, TX, 5-8 April 2023. 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 in research, scholarship, and creative activity … Continue reading April 2023 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Ask Yourself the Best Questions

On May 13, 2023, Traci Brimhall, Professor of English and Poet Laureate of Kansas, provided the commencement address for the College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University. Below is the text of her speech. Many thanks to Traci for allowing us to share it here. (You can view her presentation through the university’s … Continue reading Ask Yourself the Best Questions

Found Object: 2023 M.A. Projects

Location: Social media.Object: Project Titles,  graduating M.A. students.Observations: 1) Each spring, for many years, we have displayed the M.A. Project and Thesis titles of our graduating M.A. students at our annual spring Awards Banquet.  2) This year, even as we've resumed an in-person awards celebration, we're continuing our new (Covid-inspired) tradition: with the help of … Continue reading Found Object: 2023 M.A. Projects

2022-2023 Annual Awards

Irises in bloom in Manhattan, KS ~ early evening, April 2023 Our annual awards celebration was back in person for the first time since 2019, now that the height of the COVID pandemic has passed and we could gather with greater safety. Rather than the sit-down banquet from the pre-COVID days, we opted for a … Continue reading 2022-2023 Annual Awards

Our Thanks to Don Hedrick and Katy Karlin

Don Hedrick and Katy Karlin at their joint retirement celebration at the K-State Alumni Center (26 April 2023)   On Wednesday April 26, we gathered at the Alumni Center, with concurrent live-stream, to celebrate the contributions of Don Hedrick and Katy Karlin, two of our faculty members who are retiring this May after, respectively, 47 … Continue reading Our Thanks to Don Hedrick and Katy Karlin

March 2023 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Cover image for Jim Machor's new book The Mercurial Mark Twain(s): Reception, History and Iconic Authorship (Routledge, 2023) 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 in research, scholarship, and creative activity outlined below.  Want to catch … Continue reading March 2023 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Alumni Spotlight: Lamees Al Ethari

Lamees Al Ethari (MA '08) “The best two years of my life” seemed a bit of an over-exaggerated description, especially to the professor who was conducting my exit interview during my final days at K-State. I think that’s why he replied, something along the lines of, “I mean, I have heard good things, but the … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Lamees Al Ethari