September 2009 Archives

Interim Chair Geoff Sirc on the Department of English's renewed public engagement efforts.

English Professor Emeritus Peter Firchow died October 18, 2008. He is survived by his wife Evelyn, a professor of German at the University of Minnesota, and daughter Pamina. Professor David Haley remembers Firchow and provides a vita.

The Department of English is thinking big about public engagement, and this issue of English@Minnesota focuses on its efforts.

An interview with Professor Ray Gonzalez, new director of the Creative Writing Program

Recent graduate Halima Abdi explains the significance of her service learning to Development Officer Emily Paulson.

A quick interview with Queens native Matt Burgess (MFA 2009) about his upcoming book with Doubleday, writing superstitions, and the wonderful effect of staying in Minnesota.

Memoirist Maxine Hong Kingston and poet Anne Carson are among the strong slate of writers visiting in the coming months.

Jamie Kreil (BA summa cum laude 2009) talks with thesis adviser and Shakespearean scholar Katherine Scheil about Shakespeare in English language learner classrooms, global Shakespeares, and women's Shakespeare reading groups.

Jaime Joslin (BA 2009) and Alyssa Lochner (BA 2009), publishing interns and members of the English class who created the 2009 University of Minnesota undergraduate literary journal Ivory Tower, outline the benefits of the department's publishing and editing programs.

Larisa Garski (BA 2009) explains how participating in service learning through an English course led her to Sénégal.

Oklahoma State University English professor Carol Mason (PhD 1996) investigates the language of conservative activism.

Recent English alumni Stephen Courchane and Ryan Magee describe the highs and lows of joining Teach for America.

Director Judi Dutcher (BA '84, JD '87) has assembled a crack team of University of Minnesota alumni to turn on Twin Cities audiences to the Museum of Russian Art.