English Major Triumphs in Spoken Word

Last year, English undergraduate Michael Lee was named the 2011 Best Individual Poet at the national College Unions Poetry Slam, leading the University of Minnesota team to a fourth place finish. He also received a 2011 Verve Grant for Spoken Word Artists, the only spoken word grant in the country. And now, in collaboration with Runner Runner, a Minneapolis production company, he has made a stunning video of his elegiac spoken word poem "Pass On," which has been entered in the 2012 Vimeo online video awards. More . . .

President's Student Leadership & Service Awardees

Two English majors and one MFA candidate have been selected to receive a President's Student Leadership & Service Award this spring. English senior Kari Eloranta is actively involved with civic engagement and is the undergraduate Service-Learning Mentor for the English course, The Literature of Public Life (ENGL 1501W); she also coordinates the University YMCA's tutoring projects this year. English senior Echo Martin is the web editor for two English student publications, Ivory Tower and Parachute, and has been involved with service learning and the English major student group FUSE. Third-year MFA candidate Claire Stanford is involved with sustainable agriculture and youth farm work in the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul. Only about 35 students--both undergraduate and graduate--are selected from across the University, approximately one-half of one percent of the student body, for exceptional leadership and service to the University of Minnesota and the surrounding community.

Graduate Students Publish Books!

Three current graduate students in the Department of English are publishing books this year. PhD candidate Katie Robison was recently interviewed in the Minnesota Daily about her new debut young adult novel Downburst (Quil Books, Inc.). She is working toward a PhD in medieval and early modern literature. Meanwhile, MFA candidate Feng Sun Chen just published her first poetry collection Butcher's Tree with Black Ocean. MFA candidate Sarah Fox publishes Mother Substance, her second collection with Coffee House Press, next fall. The three authors will be reading from their respective books at 12:30 pm April 26, in Lind Hall 207A.

Minnesota State Arts Board Grant Winners

Congratulations to our 2012 Minnesota State Arts Board grant winners! MFA candidates Elizabeth Abbott, David Malley, and Andrea Uptmor received grants to support their creative work. Alumnae/i winners include Matt Burgess, Kathleen Glasgow, Brian Laidlaw, Heather McPherson, Margie Newman, Michael Opperman, and Holly Vanderhaar.

Hancher to Join Senate Consultive Committee

Professor Michael Hancher has been asked to serve a one-year term on the Faculty Consultative Committee of the Faculty Senate, which serves as the consulting body to President Eric Kaler and as the executive committee of the Faculty Senate. Professor Hancher finished a three-year term to this elected body in 2011.

Prospective Student Visit

The Department of English welcomes prospective graduate students March 22-23. Events scheduled include a reading by MFA alum authors, a subfield meeting and conference, class visits, library tour, and dinner with graduate students and faculty. We look forward to meeting you!