Graduating Senior Spotlight

The Department of Languages and Literatures wishes its December graduating senior, Melissa Crisan, the best as she applies for jobs and begins the exciting transition to the next chapter of her life! Melissa generously shared her favorite memories of being a major in the department and her post-graduation plans.

From the moment I first toured the campus back in 2016, I knew immediately that Ashland University was the place for me. When I met the faculty of the English Department, I had never felt more welcomed, and the opportunities that were presented to me during my undergraduate career have given me invaluable lessons, insights, and plenty of amazing memories!

Some of the fondest moments in my reel of highlights come from the various Creative Writing workshops I took throughout the years. In particular, The Essay and Creative Nonfiction/Fiction courses had an especially memorable impact on me both as a student and aspiring writer. In these classes, I discovered my love for this genre. It was incredibly liberating to unpack and transform the intense, overwhelming experiences of my life into artistic expressions. Not only did this aid in my healing, but the feedback, thorough guidance, and support that I received from my professors allowed me to make drastic improvements in my approach to writing. Having such an open, comfortable platform with honest and encouraging peers has given me the confidence and space to grow as a writer. Additionally, I was challenged to step outside of my comfort zone by writing in styles I had never previously explored. Dr. Grady’s Screenwriting workshop, for instance, was one of the most difficult classes I have taken to date. However, the ways in which she pushed me to stretch beyond my limits have earned it a place as one of my favorite courses to date.

The novels, poems, plays, and short stories that were covered in many of the classes I took were inspiring and thought-provoking. Engaging with diverse perspectives is critical in fostering deeper understanding and bridging cultural gaps, so I was extremely appreciative that the English Department at AU chose a wide variety of texts from authors all over the world. Some of my favorites include Lynn Nottage’s play Ruined, Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands by Mary Seacole, Nick Vujicic’s Life Without Limits, and many more. The in-class discussions that surrounded these works, though, were equally as important and enlightening. Dr. Weaver and Dr. Mondal’s courses were especially informative and entertaining.

But the classes were not the only activities that I cherished during my time at Ashland. My time as an Associate Editor with the student literary publication Black Fork Review made me fall in love with the publishing industry, and solidified my love for producing stories. I also had the opportunity to work as a Senior Communication Coach at the Writing and Communication Center for two years. Working alongside the talented AU student body on their assignments was an amazing experience!

After I graduate with my Bachelors in English and Creative Writing with minors in Marketing and Psychology, I plan to seek a job somewhere in publishing!

Madeline Worcester Named Valedictorian at Spring 2022 Commencement

Madeline Worcester, an Integrated Language Arts major from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, has been named as one of two Valedictorians of the 2022 graduating class at Ashland University. 

Worcester shared the following reflection on her time at AU:

When I delved into the college selection process nearly six years ago, there were two primary facets of a "dream school" that I considered constantly: I wanted to take classes from all disciplines, and I wanted to shine as an individual instead of a number. Even though my college journey has been difficult, I do believe that my four years at Ashland University have fulfilled both of these paramount ideals. The English professors at AU have taught me more about writing and analysis than I ever expected to know, and I have treasured core classes from the realms of theatre to psychology. Similarly, I have appreciated every opportunity and internship experience along the way; many of these chances and communities would not have been open to me at a larger institution. Ultimately, my hope is for bright futures and an even brighter world for all recent graduates.

We are thrilled that Madeline earned this honor and grateful that she spent her college years with us. Best wishes and congratulations, Madeline!

Worcester, left, along with fellow Valedictorian Molly Gregory and Salutatorian Addie Coder

                                

Graduating Senior Spotlight: Part Two

The Department of Languages and Literatures 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 second and final installment in a series to spotlight these seniors, who generously shared their favorite memory of being a major in the department and their post-graduation plans.

Caleb Crowley

I switched majors quite often, eventually landing on an English major after choosing to forego an education degree. The department head Dr. Donatini was wonderfully helpful in my major transition, especially since my class requirements meant a lot of help in a few substitutions and scheduling properly.

My best memories in the department have been my classes with my advisor Dr. Waterman along with Dr. Grady, Dr. Sundberg, and Dr. Mondal. Specifically, Dr. Grady’s Film and Literature class helped me recognize how film techniques could translate concepts from literature onto the screen. This gave the books we read a greater life when I could experience them in two separate mediums. Further, Dr. Mondal and Dr. Waterman’s abilities to implement historical context to the literature we read greatly improved the class experience. Their expertise and background knowledge gave a much deeper understanding and comprehension of the pieces, thus assisting

me and my classmates in developing more in-depth and unique thesis statements to argue. 

I want to highlight my work with Dr. Sundberg especially. When I joined the department, I dreaded the concept of creative writing, believing that I could never write anything worthwhile. In only two classes with Dr. Sundberg, my perspective entirely shifted, and I have learned thoroughly to love the creative writing process. Her feedback always pulled the best out of my

work and influenced my process in every paper after her classes, whether creative or research-oriented.

After graduation, I will be working in social media marketing for a video game marketing agency. The skills I have developed in creativity and grammatical strengths have benefited my future tremendously in this position, helping to curate valuable content and marketing strategies.

Kyle Russell

I am a Creative Writing Major with a minor in English, and it has allowed me to write some of my favorite stories.

My favorite memories as a Creative Writing Major were my Capstone for my final senior project as well as all the other workshop classes I've taken throughout my time here at Ashland. I deeply enjoyed being able to create my own thing and bring my own slice of creativity to the table. I loved being able to write out my ideas and having them critiqued so that I could improve them and mold them into something much better. Going through these classes has allowed me to develop my love for fantasy and creating fantastical worlds even more. Even in my poem workshop class, I still managed to create moments of  fantasy within the stanzas that I wrote. In my non fiction workshop I managed to create a slideshow of memories through my writing  that could allow the reader to experience a bit of my life through my words. Overall, my time as a Creative Writing Major has been absolutely positive and I don't regret picking it in the slightest.

Because of my love of writing, my future plans consist of me further developing my Senior Capstone after college and hopefully getting it published one day.

Tyayia Young

Some of my favorite memories from my time in the department are working with Dr. Sundberg on my senior capstone project and working in our MFA office with Rebecca Parillo. Both of these opportunities have made my decision to attend an MFA program easier. I was able to gain insight into a low-res program through the MFA office, and Dr. Sundberg helped me with the application process for grad school as a whole. In the future I will be attending Miami University in Oxford Ohio to receive an MFA in creative nonfiction. 

Honors Convocation Recognizes Outstanding Students

On Sunday, April 24, AU recognized student achievement at the annual Honors Convocation. Pictured above is Sarah Yeaste, Outstanding Junior in the Department of Languages and Literatures. 

Ashley Kovac, Outstanding Sophomore, and Andrew Cook, Outstanding Senior, were unable to attend the ceremony. 

Graduating Senior Spotlight: Part One

The Department of Languages and Literatures 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 first installment in a series to spotlight these seniors, who generously shared their favorite memory of being a major in the department and their post-graduation plans.

Madeline Worcester

I am an Integrated Language Arts major at Ashland University.

Since I have been extremely involved with the English Department for the duration of my college career, I have numerous experiences I would classify as "favorites" not only from the department exclusively, but of my college experience altogether. Ironically, my best and most treasured moments of college stem from my current internship off-campus at Medina High School, where I serve as the student teacher for AU alumnus David Mohn. We have been able to share countless laughs and stories of Ashland throughout the years, and we have spent many free periods discussing books, pedagogy, theatre, and various trivia. His guidance has made me a tremendously better teacher and person overall. 

I also had the chance to work for the MFA in Creative Writing program for two consecutive summers. The MFA community is so vibrant and captivating, and the opportunities available for both students and interns are simply phenomenal. I am so fortunate that I was able to hone my own craft while supporting the education of others through this unique summer opportunity. Furthermore, I am excited to serve as the intern for my third summer this year as the program transitions back to an in-person model.

My other favorite memories naturally stem from the classes I took within the department, where I was able to engage with brilliant peers and educators alike. I enjoyed taking Dr. Waterman's full American Literature course rotation, especially when my friend (a bored nursing major) randomly shadowed our American Literature IV class one day while we read Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, and Dr. Waterman fully endorsed her participation. Conversations about grass, fish, eyeballs, and sledding were never dull. I also appreciated classes with Dr. Mondal and Dr. Grady due to the support of open perspectives and the depth of student-centered class activities. I have adopted double entry journals into my classroom as a result of Dr. Grady's classes, and I have learned so much about global literature and fandom culture from these two inspiring women.

After I graduate, I plan to teach high school students in the Northeast Ohio area, and I will continue to write novels and poetry on the side.

Danielle Brown

Ashland University and particularly the English Department have played a huge role in my life throughout these last four years. My very first memory was the mentor meeting my freshman year where seniors told us that we would have a wonderful time in the department because all of the professors were wholly dedicated to their students and furthering their education. I can truly say that that ideal has been upheld! Some of my personal favorite memories are when I was in Studies in Shakespeare my freshman year and Dr. Saslaw was acting out a scene from a play. Out of nowhere she yelled at the top of her lungs and everyone jumped! The part called for drama and she delivered! I didn't think that a sound that big could come from a woman that small!

Another group of memories I recall with fondness is the in-depth discussions held in Dr. Waterman's class about British vs. American foods and ideals. I learned just as much from the class content as I did from the side conversations and less conventional experiences that will stay with me forever!

In the department, creativity was always inspired. There was never a bad idea, only ideas that needed more development. The unspoken rules of mutual respect, kindness, and a love of learning truly made me feel welcome and cared about in my academics and personal life. It was clear to me from the beginning that the professors in the department were passionate about their respective fields and were eager to cultivate the next generation of learners and teachers. 

I am attending Kent State University this coming fall and will be in their online Masters of Library and Information Science program with a specialization in cataloguing. I will be living in the Norwalk area, but hope to stay involved and close to Ashland and the campus I have called home over the past four years. I am planning to start work right after graduation and work through the next two years of my education before finding a job in my field of interest. I hope to instill the same love for education and knowledge in my library patrons that I have received from my mentors and professors within the English department. 

Andreas Cook

My favorite moments would have to be the conversations that I have had with my professors. My post-graduation plans are to continue learning what I can about music theory and sound design so that I can create electronic music.

Ekushey February: International Mother Language Day

February 21 marks International Mother Language Day, recognized annually by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The day commemorates the importance of preserving multilingualism globally and maintaining the myriad cultures and identities that sustain themselves through language. 

International Mother Language Day originated in present-day Bangladesh. On Ekushey February (or February 21), Bengalis fought for linguistic sovereignty in what was then officially known as East Pakistan. At that time, West and East Pakistan were one nation, yet geographically these regions did  not touch, straddling either side of India. Furthermore, the regions were culturally and linguistically distinct. The 1950s brought to the foreground the conflict over whether or not Bangla (also known as Bengali) could be one of the national languages of Pakistan. Ekushey February is celebrated in Bangladesh to commemorate those who were killed during the language movement demonstrations in 1952 - and indeed, all the way through to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. For Bangladeshis, on this day, people gather early in the morning at their nearest Shahid Minar (monument to the martyrs), walking barefoot and placing flowers in front of the monument in honor of those who died so that present-day Bangladeshis can speak Bangla. The iconic song "Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano Ekushey February" is played, translated loosely as "Can I forget the blood of my brothers spilled on February 21?" 

Bangladesh's struggle for linguistic sovereignty and eventually, liberation is depicted in literary works such as Tahmima Anam's novel A Golden Age, a novel recently assigned in fall 2021 in Ashland University's ENG 316: Postcolonial Literature course. The broader issue of the value of the "mother tongue" and the cost of language erasure is also discussed thoroughly in courses such as ENG 330: African Literature, most notably in the context of the famous debate between writers Chinua Achebe and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o in their respective essays on African literature.

The AU Department of Languages and Literatures joins the global commemoration of International Mother Language Day, recognizing the unique power of language in holding the multitude of human experiences that make up our world.

Dr. Sharleen Mondal with family at the Shahid Minar in Bogra, Dupchanchia, Bangladesh (2015).

Dr. Mondal's makeshift Shahid Minar at her home in Ohio (February 21, 2022).