Senior Spotlight: Ellissa Chambliss

The department wishes its December graduate, Ellissa Chambliss, the best as she applies for jobs and begins the exciting transition to the next chapter of her life! Our senior generously shares her favorite memory of being a major in the English Department and her post-graduation plans.

I am an English major with minors in Creative Writing and Spanish.

My capstone, titled "Women in Russian Literature: A Close Reading Analysis of Katerina and Grushenka in The Brothers Karamazov" is designed to show the importance of Dostoevsky's novel in the history of women in literature.

My favorite memories from the English Department include the many professors I got to work with-- from being in class to working with them one-on-one to going to department-sponsored events and seeing them outside of the realm of classroom interaction. It's also been amazing to connect with peers who share the same love for literature and English as I do. 

I plan to pursue editing and/or publishing as a career. I'd love for my career to allow me to explore the world as I learn and grow my abilities of editing.

Student Reflects on Recent Reading by Hanif Abdurraqib

By Ty Young, English, Creative Writing, and Psychology major

Hanif Abdurraqib readings are always filled with raw emotion. They capture the attention of listeners and keep it. He knows how to draw you in and keep you interested throughout an entire piece while seemingly putting in little effort. I mean little effort as a compliment; he is so talented that you have no choice but to stop and listen when he speaks. Abdurraqib is able to transfer the emotions of his writing to listeners while not even being in the same room as them.

Abdurraqib gave a reading on Tuesday, October 27 that was live-streamed through the Ashland University English Department Facebook page. Although Abdurraqib’s reading was for everyone I felt seen as a black student by his reading and his presence on campus, even through Zoom. A line that stuck with me from his reading, which focused on the documentary Amazing Grace about Aretha Franklin, was “Respond in a language that we know”; I believe the language he is referring to is ebonics, which is a language derived from American English. Ebonics is defined as “African-American English, esp. when considered as a distinct language or dialect with linguistic features related to or derived from those of certain West African languages, rather than as a nonstandard variety of English.” (Oxford English Dictionary). This small gesture allowed me to feel recognized without the burden of having to translate my words before I speak them in fear that others may not understand. It gets exhausting constantly having to code switch your words in order to conform to those around you. Knowing Ebonics allows African Americans to be bilingual, but only speaking that language among other African Americans.

While Abduraqib was speaking, I could see what he was describing. Although I was not familiar with the film Amazing Grace, I could feel the energy of it through his reading. His storytelling is immaculate and leaves out no detail. My favorite part was about the gospel audience and how it was a part of the performance. Most black churches have a call and response with the choir and church goers causing everyone to become part of the performance. The line that stuck with me was, “Audience of black people and no one to quiet them”. Black audiences are not often given the space to be loud, and they are constantly forced into silence when they are loud. When these spaces are created for us, it is beautiful to witness the black joy that flows through them. I could feel that joy through his reading.

I believe Abdurraqib himself reads the way gospel is spoken. Every line seems to have a message that we are meant to hear and annotate for ourselves. Each line expands on the other and creates a deeper meaning behind his writing. I feel Abdurraqib writes for black people without structuring it in a way that is digestible for those who are not familiar with our culture. If you understand it that is fine but, if you do not he does not spend time explaining it and he moves onto his next point. Abdurraqib is aware that people can relate to his experiences, but he does not believe that his experiences as a black man are universal. Abdurraqib is an exceptional writer and makes me feel proud to be a black writer from Ohio.

Dr. Kelly Sundberg Gives Virtual Book Talk and Publishes Essay in Anthology

Dr. Kelly Sundberg, Assistant Professor of English, recently gave a virtual book talk and published an essay in an anthology. The presentation, hosted by Women’s Advocates and sponsored by Hennepin County Library in Minnesota, was focused on Goodbye Sweet Girl: A Story of Domestic Violence and Survival (HarperCollins 2018). The book was downloaded over six hundred times by library patrons in connection with the book talk. Click here to view the entire event. 

Sundberg's new essay, "The Shape of Other People," has been published recently in the anthology Grabbed: Poets and Writers on Sexual Assault, Empowerment, and Healing (Beacon Press, an imprint of PenguinRandomHouse). The collection is edited by Richard Blanco, Caridad Moro, Nikki Moustaki, and Elisa Albo and has an afterword by Anita Hill. Other contributors include Jericho Brown, Eileen Myles, Rita Dove, Denise Duhamel, and Richard Blanco. 

Congratulations, Dr. Sundberg!

Dr. Sharleen Mondal Participates in VONA Writing Workshop

Dr. Sharleen Mondal. Associate Professor of English, recently participated in the online VONA workshop "Revision Strategies: From Expression to Art" with M. Evelina Galang.

According to their website,
VONA (Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation) is the only multi-genre workshop for writers of color. VONA centers and honors the traditions and aesthetics of writers of color to provide a space for their work and learning. Through our focus on this expanded definition of craft, VONA fosters the open and honest expression of personal and political writing often marginalized almost everywhere else. Our organization and writing classes engage the work of social justice and build a global community of writers of color.

Dr. Mondal shares her experience in the workshop below. 

Q: What was the structure and content of the workshop and how long did it last?

A: This year the VONA summer workshop could not happen in person in Miami as planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The normally week-long workshop was condensed into an online 3.5-day intensive, conducted through Zoom and Slack, that included panels, faculty readings, a Restorative Justice and Healing Circle, a lounge for socializing with other writers, craft sessions, daily workshops with one’s instructor, and a final reading/presentation.

My instructor, M. Evelina Galang, organized a superb and rigorous self-workshop format because the condensed timeline did not permit for a traditional workshop in which writers read and offer feedback on one another’s work. Evelina guided us through a series of detailed exercises to evaluate conflict, plot, and character in our manuscripts. We brought back insights about these exercises to our discussions in addition to exploring how authors like James Baldwin navigate such issues in their own work. I also had the opportunity to have a one-on-one session with Evelina that was very helpful for discussing broader issues in my novel. In addition to working on craft and revision in our own writing, we read and discussed pieces by Roxane Gay and Edwidge Danticat as a way to reflect on our origin stories and cultural/historical inheritance as writers. These essays also prompted us to think about how we can navigate a literary and cinematic landscape that has historically devalued and dehumanized people of color and continues to do so.

Q: What were your goals for the experience and how did the workshop help you achieve them?

A: My goals were two-fold. First, I wanted to gain insight on both the manuscript I was workshopping and the larger project of which that manuscript is one chapter. Evelina’s detailed exercises helped me to see where and how I might revise that chapter and our individual meeting helped me resolve some questions I had about the novel as a whole.

Second, and perhaps most importantly, I wanted to be present and open to the VONA experience which is singular and transformative (even through Zoom!). I have wanted to do VONA for a few years, but it is quite competitive and I was not accepted the first time I applied. I have had few opportunities to be in spaces specially designed for writers of color, foregrounding the kinds of issues we face and amplifying our voices and stories. To participate in such a workshop would be deeply meaningful at any time, but to do so this summer, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the powerful social movements around racial justice happening at this time, was truly extraordinary. 

Furthermore, even before the summer, the literary landscape has been changing in pivotal ways, with more honest conversations happening around publishing and compensation for writers of color - for instance, the #DignidadLiteraria movement and its highly successful actions as well as the information revealed by the #PublishingPaidMe conversation. To be part of the generation of emerging writers coming into their stories and themselves in this moment is something special and to be in community with one another at such a time was a kind of collective holding open of a precious and sacred space.

Being a VONA alum comes with a serious responsibility to move not only oneself, but other writers of color forward. This mantle that we carry is lifelong and it is an honor that I am now one of this esteemed group. There are countless examples of VONA alum bringing about profound changes – social changes, changes in readers’ perceptions and understanding, and changes in the lives of other writers through mentorship and fellowship. The Foundation teaches and models what it means to write a revolution in our hearts and in our world and it was incredible to be part of the VONA summer workshop experience.

Congratulations, Dr. Mondal!

Course Design for AU's Online First-Year Composition Praised in Inside Higher Ed

In early June, an article by Lee Skallerup Bessette in Inside Higher Ed praised the course design of our online version of English 101 that is taught in Ashland’s Correctional Education platform. Bessette, a learning design specialist at the Center for New Directions in Learning and Scholarship at Georgetown University, also teaches AU English courses to incarcerated students. Citing the “less than ideal situation” of teaching a class built by another person, with the logistical challenges of the correctional environment, Bessette finds that “even with the odds stacked against us, the course is nonetheless a meaningful learning (and teaching!) experience because of the care put into designing, and then delivering, the course.”

Curtis Allen

The primary designer of the course is Curtis Allen, a part-time faculty member who has been teaching for Ashland since 2003. Allen collaborated with Dr. Maura Grady, Director of Composition, and several instructional designers on the Learn AU team, including Charles Piscatello and Emily Weller. The course design that Bessette calls “top-notch,” and “carefully designed with the learner population at the forefront of any and all pedagogical decisions,” is a result of the team’s sensitivity to the personal experiences and backgrounds of the students, as well as Allen’s long track record of teaching writing to diverse groups of students. Allen describes his approach below:

When I begin working on a course, I begin with two questions (and these are questions I keep emphasizing to my students when they write too): Who are these people and what do I want to do to them? The "who" for incarcerated students meant that a LOT of them speak AAVE (African American Vernacular English) as their first language (which really impacted the design of the grammar lessons) and many Black or Latino students had not really seen "respectable" essays from anyone but white guys, so the assigned readings included a LOT of people of color. The "what do I want to do to them" includes giving them a sense of their own ability and moving them toward fitting in with the academic culture (without losing the core of their own identity).

From Bessette’s perspective as an instructor, such an approach helps students find their voices as writers: “The writing prompts explicitly asked them to draw from their own experiences in order to engage more critically and fully with the texts, which, in their final reflections, they all appreciated: some had never before thought that they had anything worthwhile or meaningful to say or share.”

When asked about his favorite part of teaching and course design, Allen explains how he is always looking for new and better ways to reach students:

I really enjoy finding new material and bringing it to students--which means that a course preparation is rarely "done." After years as a professional typesetter, I take great pleasure in pulling things together into a neat, well-designed package on Blackboard. I do enjoy the human contact side too: every semester there are a few students who really shine, and I love being part of that process, even when their "Aha!" moment is something fairly trivial.

Dr. Maura Grady reflects on Allen's strengths and accomplishments in teaching and course design:

I approached Curt as the best instructor to lead the design of this course because of his attention to detail in his teaching. Having observed Curt’s teaching a number of times over the years, I knew that we could work together to create something meaningful and appropriate for this student population. The correctional environment carries with it a number of constraints, so we all worked together to figure out the best way to help the students meet the course outcomes. One thing I really admire about Curt’s teaching is his encouraging attitude combined with his determination that all students can complete the course and make improvements to their writing, no matter where they are at the start of the class. His attitude and philosophy is inspiring to those who are teaching the course we designed.

We appreciate Curtis Allen’s work and congratulate him and the team on this recognition in a national forum.

Alumni Spotlight: Brian Stevens

By Brian Stevens
Class of 2011
English and Journalism major
Court-Appointed Guardian and Volunteers Coordinator

I graduated from Ashland University in spring, 2011. After a brief stint in direct marketing, I left for South Korea to teach English as a Second Language. I had a wonderful time in Seoul. When I had the chance, I hostel-hopped around Cambodia and Vietnam. After completing just one contract in Korea, however, I returned to the US. I meant to be overseas again soon, specifically Malaysia, even taking TESL classes to boost my application. I found “temporary” work coordinating a volunteer program for a small hospice in Cleveland. 

I recruited, trained, assigned, and supervised hospice volunteers. I also had plenty of client visits of my own and quickly learned to love the work. My hospice team was incredible. Their dedication and caring inspired me to take up new direction for my life and stick around Cleveland for a while. I sometimes sat ‘vigil’ with our actively dying patients. Those were strangely peaceful, still nights spent at dimly lit bedsides. I offered whatever comfort I could. Often that meant just being there.

It took a while, but I learned that the only work for me is with people in need. After several years at my “temporary” job, I was offered a position at a much larger hospice. They had no functional volunteer program and meant to change that. With big plans in mind, I established a growing population of qualified volunteers. Barely into my new position, I was suddenly laid off as our programs were rolled back statewide. I had another opportunity to reinvent myself, and I did.

Throughout my short-lived hospice career, I noticed that many of our patients were without family or close friends. They often had a guardian appointed to them, so that they had one person outside the care team visiting and advocating their needs. Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s Guardianship Services is a nonprofit guardianship provider for some of Cleveland’s poorest, most vulnerable populations. I now coordinate their volunteer guardian program which includes legal guardians, pro-bono attorneys, and occasional friendly visitors. I’m also a staff guardian working on becoming a National Certified Guardian.

LMM’s Guardianship Services provides probate-appointed guardians to indigent adults mainly in Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties. Most of our clients have debilitating dementia or severe mental illness. With little money, and no one to step into the role of decision maker, we are often their last resort.

Still in Cleveland, with pride, I’ve had a pretty good time since my college days. Just as at home in the woods as I am downtown, I spend most of my spare time hiking, kayaking, and finding and photographing wild mushrooms. I’m a member of the Ohio Mushroom Society and frequent other outdoor recreation clubs. I have no plans to leave anytime soon. There’s too much to do for one thing. I also get to stay nearer my best friends. Of course, I mean the ones I met at Ashland University.

Integrated Language Arts Major Faith Edwards Awarded Competitive Scholarship

Integrated Language Arts Major Faith Edwards Awarded Competitive Scholarship.

Faith Edwards, ILA major (English Education grades 7-12) and this years recipient of the Outstanding Junior in English, was recently awarded the Isaac Webb Memorial Scholarship.

Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield Ohio

The Isaac Webb Scholarship is established by the Board of Trustees of the Ohio State Reformatory Historic Site.  Isaac Webb, as an esteemed volunteer and board member, was a former captain of the guards, author, and historian.  In his honor, the board awards three scholarships each year to students interested in pursuing higher education in English, history, and/or law enforcement.  More information is available here: https://www.mrps.org/learn/isaac-webb-memorial-scholarship.

 
We asked Faith to tell us more!
Q:  What is the scholarship? Why did you decide to apply for it?
Faith Edwards: I received The Isaac Webb Memorial Scholarship through the [nonprofit] Ohio State Reformatory Preservation Society (mrps.org). The committee requested that applicants be pursuing careers in English, history, or law enforcement. As an integrated language arts major, I qualified. Additionally, this scholarship was brought to my attention by Professor Grady in a previous course.

Q: What is it that you look forward to most about being a teacher?
Faith Edwards: In my future classroom, I am looking forward to challenging students to think deeply beyond the surface level and to reconsider their preconceived notions of their world in the past, present, and future. Literature offers an unmatched opportunity for reflection, contemplation, and growth into new ideas that impact the way in which we live. My passion is using English as a tool to help students develop into individuals of strong character, intellectual thought, and concerned citizens.

Q: What have you learned about teaching in the last semester?
Faith Edwards: From my previous experiences with high schoolers, I have learned that the range of differences in students is much larger than I anticipated; however, each student desires to be heard, understood, and known. I have loved the opportunities teaching has already provided me with to invest in these young adults.

Congratulations, Faith!

Kellie Pleshinger Awarded Howard O. Rowe Prize for Top Capstone

OUTSTANDING HONORS SENIOR CAPSTONES - HOWARD O. ROWE SCHOLARSHIP

The Ashland University Honors Program annually awards the Howard O. Rowe Endowed Scholarship to recognize the top Honors Capstone Project. Dr. Howard O. Rowe was a faculty member in Ashland College’s Education Department who was described as a compassionate teacher and a fine scholar committed to the success of the Honors Program. This scholarship fund was established in 1976 to remember Dr. Rowe’s contributions to Ashland University. This year, three students have been selected to be honored with the Howard O. Rowe award recognizing the quality of their capstone projects.

English major (Creative Writing) Kellie Pleshinger was named one of the three winners!

From the Honors Program blog: 

Creative Writing/JDM major Kellie Pleshinger’s capstone is titled "Eris Heights: The Search for Truth in a Supernatural-Horror Screenplay and Trailer." Kellie’s mentor, Dr. Maura Grady, writes: “Kellie’s project, the TV pilot script for Eris Heights, is excellent work. . . Eris Heights is tightly plotted but also has engaging characters and a compelling setting. . . . Kellie’s script leaves no detail unconsidered – music cues, character descriptions, and actions are precise and appropriate for her story. The characters jump off the page and tell the casting director exactly what to look for in the actors. . . . [Kellie] has also planned, filmed, and edited a film trailer for the series. Her technical filmmaking skills are on display in the trailer. Producing the trailer is a further step of creation beyond the already first-rate achievement of writing the screenplay.”

Kellie Pleshinger

Skylar Roberts is New President of Sigma Tau Delta

Skylar Roberts has been named as the New President of Ashland's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honorary society. Skylar is replacing outgoing officers Rachel Barkley and Sara Ludwig, who are May 2020 graduates. Thank you Rachel and Sara for your service to Sigma Tau Delta!

We asked Skylar some questions about Sigma Tau Delta and why she decided to get more involved with our chapter of the organization in a leadership role.

1. What interests you about being a member and officer of Sigma Tau Delta?

When I became a member of Sigma Tau Delta last year, I had a really good time. I thought that my peers that were also involved in the group were very welcoming and I got the chance to know more about them, which was very exciting. I also thought that the events that the previous co-presidents had planned were quite engaging. As that semester went on, I always felt like there was something that I could bring to the table. Now, coming into an officer role next semester, I think it will be fun and interesting to change the group up a little bit. I am excited to see how this honorary will help myself and others grow in our majors and grow as individuals. 

2. What are you hoping to accomplish in your leadership role?

In this leadership role, I am looking to accomplish things in two categories. First, I am looking forward to accomplishing things within the role. I hope to create an environment where people outside of just the engaged English majors feel comfortable showing up. I hope to incorporate some of my education major into this role. I want to be able to help the Ashland community with my peers. not just interact with them. I would like to keep some of the classic events from last year, while also adding new events that will hopefully be intriguing to the whole student body. Secondly, I hope to accomplish some of my own personal goals while serving in this leadership role. I hope to refine my networking skills, making more connects by communicating and planning things with different people on campus and in the community. I also hope that this leadership role helps me feel more confident in my own skills within my major, that it will help prove that the work that I have been putting into my education is paying off. I would also hope that with that the events that I hope to plan and with the environment that I plan to create within the group, I can help my peers gain confidence in themselves and in the work that they produce. 

3. What is your major and what are some career goals? 

I am a double major in English and Integrated Language Arts. I also am getting a minor in Creative Writing. My career goal is to first teach high school English in an inner city school, possibly down south. I would love to teach inner city because I feel like there are so many students who get lost in the system and feel as though there is no one who truly is rooting for them and wants them to succeed. I want to be that teacher who can make them feel like someone cares, encourage them to stay on the right path. While I am teaching high school, I would really enjoy teaching a couple of elective courses or extracurricular programs that have to do with tutoring English to their peers or finding the fun in creative writing. Eventually, the goal is to go back to school to get my masters and then my doctorate and teach college level. The relationships that I have developed with my own professors have made me want to teach at this level. I want to be for students what my professors are to me, people I know that care about my goals and aspirations. 

4. Why do you think others should apply to Sigma Tau Delta?

I think that other students should apply to Sigma Tau Delta because it is first a great way to connect with your peers outside of the classroom. It allows us to grow in our interests with one another and learn more about the field that we are studying while we are doing it. Also, I believe that Sigma Tau Delta is a group where all ideas are accepted. It will be a place where English students are able to provide feedback and suggest events in an open and encouraging environment. Lastly, students who choose to join Sigma Tau Delta are bound to make strong connections with professors on campus and with people in the community, allowing them to be able to get advice or help when needed from someone who has gone down the same path that they are experiencing. 

For more information about Sigma Tau Delta, check out their website at www.english.org. 

To become a member or Ashland's chapter, contact hdonatin@ashland.edu for an application

Honoring Senior Creative Writing Capstone Projects

Congratulations to our Creative Writing majors on the completion of their capstones

Creative Writing majors all completed an original book-length project and workshopped it in the Spring semester Capstone Workshop seminar taught by Dr. Kelly Sundberg

Rachel Barkley: Grievances Against Women (Poetry)

Emily Beaver: The Shadow Slayers (Fiction)

Jaion Harris: Grey (Fiction)

Julia Hines: Letters to Goddesses (Poetry)

Priscilla Nicole Nordman: Uncaged Songbirds (Fiction)

Sara Ludwig: Chasing May (Fiction) 

Kellie Pleshinger: Eris Heights (Screenplay)

Cassie Shaffer: Fairly Lady (Fiction)

Senior Spotlight: Jaion Harris

The department wishes its graduating seniors the best as they apply for jobs and begin the exciting transition to the next chapter of their lives! This post is the fourth and final installment in a series to spotlight these seniors, who generously shared their favorite memory of being a major in the English Department and their post-graduation plans

Jaion Harris

I am a Creative Writing and English double major.

My favorite memories are mostly spending time with the professors and other students within the department. I really enjoyed the time spent discussing literatures and other subjects with a lot of my classmates and professors in and out of class. I was glad to bond with them through different assignments and projects throughout the four years. Also, I had a lot of good memories working at the AMuLit Center and MFA/APP Office during my time as an English major. I can honestly say that they were an important part of my time and experience as an English major. I learned a lot about myself as a writer and as an individual, and met a lot of great people during my time spent in those places.

At the current time, I plan on continuing to write and trying to find a job in a publishing company or ad agency. Eventually, I want to go back for my Master’s degree in Creative Writing.

 

Attachments area

Senior Spotlight & Department Honors: Rachel Barkley

The department wishes its graduating seniors the best as they apply for jobs and begin the exciting transition to the next chapter of their lives! This post is the fourth and final installment in a series to spotlight these seniors, who generously shared their favorite memory of being a major in the English Department and their post-graduation plans

Rachel Barkley

I am an English and Creative Writing double major with a French minor. 

My favorite memories of being an English major at AU were definitely taking American Literature I and playing a Reacting to the Past game. This class is where I met many like-minded people who became my best friends at Ashland. I also enjoyed serving as Co-President of Sigma Tau Delta and putting together many events such as theater outings and a writing workshop for local Girl Scouts. Being an English major at Ashland has allowed me to meet many amazing people that I am happy to call my friends. 

After graduation, I hope to work as an editor at a publishing company, but I am open to anything that allows me to use my writing skills. 

Rachel was also honored by the English Department with the Richard Snyder Prize for her Capstone, a poetry collection entitled Grievances Against Women, which she shared with co-winner Kellie Pleshinger.  Congratulations Rachel!

Senior Spotlight: Julia Hines

The department wishes its graduating seniors the best as they apply for jobs and begin the exciting transition to the next chapter of their lives! This post is the fourth and final installment in a series to spotlight these seniors, who generously shared their favorite memory of being a major in the English Department and their post-graduation plans

Julia Hines

I am an English and Creative Writing double major with minors in Ethics, Religion, and Math. 


Probably one of my favorite memories is from my second semester when I boldly decided to take ENG 370: The Russian Novel with Dr. Weaver. It was my first literature class at AU, and we read War and Peace. I was terrified when I found out that the class was completely discussion based with Dr. Weaver calling on students alphabetically, but I quickly made a friend in the class, Julia Roblin. We sat next to each other, constantly making each other giggle with handwritten notes or faces we'd make, and she's one of the first people I befriended in the department. Besides that, once I adjusted to Dr. Weaver's class style, I realized I loved how deep his discussions delved into the text, really challenging all of us to look beyond surface level meanings. I ended up loving War and Peace, as well as Dr. Weaver's teaching. He definitely fostered my ability to analyze texts, and I always think of him whenever somebody says, "It's interesting." 


This summer, I'm attending NYU's Summer Publishing Institute, modified due to the coronavirus so that it's all online. I'll learn about book and digital media publishing, and my ultimate goal is to work in editing in book publishing. 

Honors Award Spotlight (Outstanding Sophomore): Madeline Worcester

Sophomore Madeline Worcester awarded Outstanding Sophomore in English

Congratulations to Madeline Worcester on being awarded Outstanding Sophomore in English!

Madeline is a sophomore from Cuyahoga Falls and is majoring in Integrated Language Arts Education (grades 7-12)

Senior Spotlight and Dept. Honors: Kellie Pleshinger

Senior Spotlight and Department Honors: Kellie Pleshinger

The department wishes its graduating seniors the best as they apply for jobs and begin the exciting transition to the next chapter of their lives! This post is the fourth and final installment in a series to spotlight these seniors, who generously shared their favorite memory of being a major in the English Department and their post-graduation plans

I am a Creative Writing and Digital Media Production double major. 

My favorite memories of being in the English department here at AU would probably include the workshop classes, where I got to know many of my fellow graduating seniors and I felt like we made real friendships and professional connections, and the events for Sigma Tau Delta, primarily the pizza and show nights where we would attend the Theater Department's plays and musicals. 

I have accepted a position at Chapman University for their M.F.A. in Creative Writing 

and Digital Media Production.

Department Honors:

Kellie was also awarded two department honors: Outstanding Senior in English and The Richard Snyder Prize for Outstanding Capstone, which she shared with co-winner Rachel Barkley.  Kellie's thesis was a television pilot and screenplay: "Eris Heights"

Congratulations Kellie!

Senior Spotlight: Cassandra Shaffer

The department wishes its graduating seniors the best as they apply for jobs and begin the exciting transition to the next chapter of their lives! This post is the fourth and final installment in a series to spotlight these seniors, who generously shared their favorite memory of being a major in the English Department and their post-graduation plans

Cassandra Shaffer

My major is Creative Writing with minors in Psychology and English.

My favorite memories of being a Creative Writing major would definitely be during workshop classes. Whether talking about my work or another student's, these classes were fun and informative.

My post-graduation plans are to look for a job that would create plots and characters for video games while still writing as much as I can.

Senior Spotlight: Emily Beaver

The department wishes its graduating seniors the best as they apply for jobs and begin the exciting transition to the next chapter of their lives! This post is the fourth and final installment in a series to spotlight these seniors, who generously shared their favorite memory of being a major in the English Department and their post-graduation plans 

Emily Beaver

I am a Creative Writing and English double major with a minor in History. 

My science fiction capstone, The Shadow Slayers, is set in a small Ohio town with a paranormal secret. 

My favorite memories from being a part of the English Department include analyzing a variety of modern and classical texts with all of my English professors, attending outings, such as plays and readings, and meeting lifelong friends.

 I plan to pursue a career in publishing, editing, or proofreading. I hope to continue strengthening and improving my writing by exploring history and traveling as much as possible. 

Senior Spotlight: Nicole Nordman

Priscilla Nicole Nordman 

I am an English and Creative Writing Double Major with a minor in Religion.  

One of my favorite memories from being an English major is getting to know all my fellow English majors and professors.  My Freshman year, I went on a Pre Orientation trip that allowed me to meet a lot of my really close friends who are also both in and out of my major.  This Pre Orientation trip was for all kinds of arts majors, so my close English major friends I may not have had a chance to meet until maybe Sophomore or Junior year, I had a chance to meet early.  I will also always remember having presentations at Dr Weaver's house with my fellow students and him making us brownies and fresh veggies.  

My plans for after graduation is to attend a Master's program via an online program, while (hopefully) having a full-time job.  My long term goal is to become an English professor.  

Honors Awards Spotlight: Faith Edwards (Outstanding Junior)

Congratulations to Faith Edwards for being awarded "Outstanding Junior" in English

Faith is a junior from New London, OH and is majoring in Integrated Language Arts Education (grades 7-12)

Senior Spotlight: Sara Ludwig

The department wishes its graduating seniors the best as they apply for jobs and begin the exciting transition to the next chapter of their lives! This post is the fourth and final installment in a series to spotlight these seniors, who generously shared their favorite memory of being a major in the English Department and their post-graduation plans

Sarah Ludwig

I have majors in English/Creative Writing and Minors: French/Business Administration

My favorite memories of being an English major at AU include meeting all of the people over the years who share my passion for reading and writing. I loved workshopping with everyone and getting to know my professors and classmates, especially whenever we would go to a play or musical together as a group.

After graduation I hope to get a job with a focus on writing, but I am leaving my options open.

Senior Spotlight: Gabby Hufford

The department wishes its graduating seniors the best as they apply for jobs and begin the exciting transition to the next chapter of their lives! This post is the fourth and final installment in a series to spotlight these seniors, who generously shared their favorite memory of being a major in the English Department and their post-graduation plans 

Gabby Hufford 

I'm an Integrated Language Arts major (7-12th grade Language Arts Education)

One of my favorite memories is just all the good times I had with my friends that I met in the English Department. We would sit at the nest for hours talking about our classes and our outlook on things. I also will never forget all the times I was called on by Dr. Weaver for one of his infamous impossible questions. Lastly, I really enjoyed taking Grammar and Usage and Lit and Film simply because it challenged me even though I thought I already knew everything there was. I definitely have to thank the professors for proving me wrong on that one. 

As of right now, I am applying for teaching jobs in Northeast Ohio. I also am planning on getting my Master's at some point. I hope that one day I can be a teacher who made a difference in a student's life. 

Ashland MFA Director Christian Kiefer on loss, hope, and writing amid the pandemic

Ashland MFA Director Christian Kiefer publishes an essay on loss, hope, and writing amid the pandemic at Literary Hub.

https://lithub.com/from-one-writer-to-another-a-letter-to-my-community/?fbclid=IwAR11xuSG5k3ydQM4ZFLio0IG4qlXoD610NU7ye16udiH_Pr5LJLBFYSXM5Y

Dr. Kelly Sundberg essay "Ritchie County Mall" published

Dr. Kelly Sundberg, Assistant Professor of English and MFA Faculty member, publishes an essay in Gay Mag, edited by award-winning writer Roxane Gay

Read it here:
https://gay.medium.com/ritchie-county-mall-7b30b96731f6

Deborah Fleming wins prestigious PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel award for the "Art of the Essay" category

Deborah Fleming wins prestigious PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel award for the "Art of the Essay" category

Dr. Fleming, Professor of English at Ashland University, was awarded the highly prestigious prize in New York City earlier this week. Her book Resurrection of the Wild: Meditations on Ohio's Natural Landscape was chosen from an impressive list of finalists.


Previous winners of this award include such literary giants as: Ursula K. Le Guin, James Wolcott, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Marilynne Robinson. 

Read more about the award here:https://pen.org/literary-award/pendiamonstein-spielvogel-award-for-the-art-of-the-essay-10000/


Congratulations to Dr. Fleming on this fantastic recognition for her work!

Read more about the praise this book has garnered here: http://www.kentstateuniversitypress.com/2020/we-have-a-winner-resurrection-of-the-wild-wins-2020-pendiamonstein-spielvogel-award-for-the-art-of-the-essay/
Purchase Dr. Fleming's book at your local bookstore or here: https://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Wild-Meditations-Natural-Landscape/dp/1606353756

Ashland English Department Events Spring 2020

Spring 2020: Important Dates in the English Department

March 4, 4:00 p.m., Career Services Careers Workshop for Eng. Dept. Majors
(advice and support for Creative Writing, English, and ILA!)

March 17, 7 p.m. AMuLit Center/Lounge English Assessment Portfolio Workshop
Spring 2020 graduating seniors in ALL three majors (Creative Writing, English, and ILA) are required to assemble a portfolio and attend this workshop or find a time to meet Dr. Grady. If you are graduating in the spring and have not been contacted by Dr. Grady, please reach out to her.

March 19, 4:30 p.m., Ronk Lecture Hall Hanif Abdurraqib Reading

March 31, 7:00 pm, Eagles Landing ENG majors/minors open mic

April 7, 4:00, Heritage Room Celebration of Dr. Naomi Saslaw’s 50th Year Teaching at AU
Upper Convo

April 15, all day, Upper Convo URCA

April 16, Redwood Hall Birthday Bash for the Bard (Shakespeare)

April 28, 7:00 pm, Eagles Landing Last ENG majors open mic night of the year/Senior Reading

Professor Deborah Fleming Event at Troutman Winery 3/20

Professor Deborah Fleming Event at Troutman Winery 
Fri, March 20, 2020

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM EDT

Buckeye Book Fair’s "Authors on the Vine" speaker series at Troutman Vineyards is partnering with “Wine & Wilderness” to bring you author programs that promote nature discovery.

Author and equestrian DEBORAH FLEMING lives in rural Ashland, Ohio. Having cared for Ohio land for decades, Deborah has written about and will discuss her ecological perspective of this region.

Deborah's discussion will cover topics like fox hunting, the impacts of the mining and drilling industries, Ohio’s Amish community, and life on her farm.

Deborah Fleming's new book is RESURRECTION OF THE WILD: MEDITATIONS ON OHIO'S NATURAL LANDSCAPE, a collection of fourteen interrelated essays nominated. It is one of ten books long-listed for this year's PEN Art of the Essay Award.

$12 ticket includes your first glass of wine. Books will be available for purchase and signing following the program. Carry in food is permitted.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ohios-natural-landscape-with-deborah-fleming-tickets-90390956785

Troutman Vineyards and Winery

4243 Columbus Rd

Wooster, OH 44691

Writer Hanif Abdurraqib to give reading 3/19 in Schar College of Education

Author, poet, and spoken word artist Hanif Abdurraqib will read at Ashland University in the Ronk Lecture Hall of the Schar College of Education (Main Campus) on 3/19 at 4:30 PM. The event is free and open to the public.

A dynamic and enthralling poet to hear live, you can see a sample of Hanif's performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZxsRiKJje8

Poet Paige Webb Reading 2/6/20 at Ashland University

On February 6, 2020, Poet Paige Webb presented work from her new chapbook, Tussle, recently published by Dancing Girl Press.

Her new book has been described by poet Philip Metres in this way:

In her mind-bending debut Tussle, Paige Webb restages the old Western philosophical problem of the subject-object split as a wrestle between a quicksilver mind and erotic consciousness, which perceives the interpenetration of seeing and seen, of self and everything else. Ecologically astute and philosophically sharp, Webb’s cubistic poems remind of Gertrude Stein, Virginia Woolf, and Anne Carson. “Who doesn’t want to be,” Webb asks, looking at bees floating in a pool, “quietly wild, unshaven, drenched in collision?” Reader, drench yourself in this collision. 

Webb read several poems from this collection, shared some newer poems, and stayed to answer questions from the audience of student, faculty, and community members. 

To learn more or to order Paige Webb's new book, click here: https://dulcetshop.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/tussle-paige-webb

More information about her other work can be found here: https://www.ashland.edu/cas/faculty-staff/paige-webb

Ashland English majors hold First Open Mic Night of Spring 2020

The Ashland English majors held the first Open Mic night of the semester on Tuesday, Jan. 29. 

Students from the English department read from their original work. 

The remaining Spring 2020 Open Mic Nights are scheduled for 2/25, 3/24 and 4/19, all at 7 pm in the Eagles Landing.

Kellie Pleshinger

Emily Beaver

Sara Ludwig