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

Scrumptious Kansan Krauts: English Students Bake Bierock with Bakery Science

Cooling Bierock surrounded by undergraduates Claire Adamyk, Chase Bauman, Melaina Gross, Jolyon Griffith, Sarah Hemenway, Anna Jirak, Bella Lane, Olivia McComb, Reagan Montgomery, Hailey Rush, Zyler Wyman, Rachel Zimmerman together with Jeanette Rohleder, Elisa Karkle, and Steffi Dippold, instructor for ENGL 210 “Honors English: How to Cook a Raccoon: The Memory Work of Cookbook Collections” … Continue reading Scrumptious Kansan Krauts: English Students Bake Bierock with Bakery Science

Faculty Spotlight: James Machor

Professor Emeritus James (Jim) Machor during a presentation on Mark Twain at the English Department’s 2016 Fall Colloquium In 2008, a special issue of Time magazine called Mark Twain “the most widely known literary figure on the planet,” dubbing him America’s “first literary superstar.” Despite their journalistic hyperbole, such comments testify to Twain’s hypercanonical status … Continue reading Faculty Spotlight: James Machor

Undergrad Student Spotlight: Justin Dickinson

Justin Dickinson (BA '23) Over spring break, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Costa Rica with Tanya Gonzalez and Rebecca Paz for our Latin(x) Literature course, ENGL 389. The trip was service-work oriented and was geared toward first-generation students and first-time travelers abroad. I had never left the country before the trip, but … Continue reading Undergrad Student Spotlight: Justin Dickinson

Alumni Spotlight: Mel Hammond

Mel Hammond (MA '14) In August 2012, I drove through the golden-yellow Flint Hills for the first time. I’d applied to K-State’s Children’s Lit program because I wasn’t sure what else to do after college. I liked kid’s books and I liked school, and the thought of getting a job gave me existential dread. It … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Mel Hammond

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

Found Object: Sidewalk Chalk

Location: The sidewalk to the ECS BuildingObject: Sidewalk chalkingObservations: 1) Early evening on Wednesday (April 5), members of Sigma Tau Delta, our student honorary society, prepared a welcome surprise for us on Thursday morning: literary messages of encouragement, celebration, and spring. 2) Ranging across centuries, nations, and genres, the selected quotes remind us to use … Continue reading Found Object: Sidewalk Chalk

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

Open House 2023

Teri Jacques (BA '23) celebrates writing the last poem at the 2022 Open House K-State's Open House is happening on Saturday April 1 — and K-State English is ready! As the preview page for Open House explains: Love to read or write? Explore your next chapter with English — one of K-State’s most versatile degrees. … Continue reading Open House 2023

Undergrad Student Spotlight: Cassidy Hartig

Cassidy Hartig (BA '24) I have a game running with myself when I tell someone my major. I’ve practically rigged it— a 90% win rate. The rules are simple: 1) tell someone I’m studying English, 2) see how many words off I am from the usual “You’re planning to teach?” Honestly, it’s an honor— teachers … Continue reading Undergrad Student Spotlight: Cassidy Hartig