Weixel Wins Best Dissertation

Each year the University of Minnesota Graduate School recognizes the University's top recent PhD graduates by presenting "best dissertation" awards in four broad disciplinary areas. The recipients receive an honorarium of $1000. The department is proud to announce that Beth Weixel (PhD 2009) won the 2010 Best Dissertation Award in Arts & Humanities for "The Forest and Social Change in Early Modern English Literature, 1590-1700." Her adviser was Professor John Watkins. Weixel is currently assistant professor at Western Kentucky University.

Postdoctoral Fellowship Recipients

Lauren Curtright (PhD candidate), who defended in April, was awarded the Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellowship at Georgia Tech, a three-year fellowship. Her dissertation adviser is Paula Rabinowitz. Jennifer Miller (PhD 2009) received the Lilly Postdoctoral Fellowship, a two-year fellowship at Valparaiso University. Her dissertation adviser was David Treuer.

Hampl-Singleton Collaboration Premieres

Regents Professor Patricia Hampl collaborated with composer Alvin Singleton on the new piece Brooklyn Bones, premiering April 26, 2010, at Carnegie Hall. The composition, for which Professor Hampl wrote the lyric, is a eulogy for the 11,000 men and boys who died in horrid conditions on British Prison Ships harbored in New York City's East River during the Revolutionary War. The work is performed by choral group Cantori New York and orchestra and presented by America Opera Projects. Professor Hampl also wrote an essay about creating the text.

Michael Dennis Browne Day!

Mayor R. T. Rybak has proclaimed Friday April 23 Michael Dennis Browne Day in the City of Minneapolis. Professor, poet, and librettist Browne is retiring this spring after 39 years of service in the Department of English. He is honored the evening of the 23rd with a reception: email kglasgow@umn.edu for information or to contribute to the Michael Dennis Browne Fellowship for graduate students.

Esther Freier Speaker on MPR

Novelist Richard Powers, our guest as the 19th Esther Freier Endowed Lecturer in Literature April 14, is interviewed on MPR about the scientific background to his latest novel Generosity: An Enhancement. For his Freier lecture, he will address "What Does Fiction Know?" 7:30 pm, Coffman Union Theater.

MFA Alumna Profiled in Star Tribune

MFA alumna Gayla Marty published her memoir Memory of Trees this month with University of Minnesota Press, and she was interviewed in the Minneapolis Star Tribune Saturday April 10. Marty will read 4 pm April 13 at the University Bookstore in Coffman and, with Patricia Hampl, 7:30 pm April 22 at Common Good Books.

Professor Ed Griffin Retires

Professor of English Edward Griffin is retiring this spring after 44 years at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. A beloved teacher of both graduate and undergraduate students, Professor Griffin recently was pranked by an undergrad class, which then reported the joke to the Daily. (No joke: Griffin has won most every teaching award at the U: the University of Minnesota Award for Distinguished Contributions to Post-Baccalaureate Graduate and Professional Education, the CLA Arthur "Red" Motley Exemplary Teaching Award, and the Ruth Christie Distinguished Teaching Award in English.)