{"id":24151,"date":"2025-06-12T16:28:39","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T20:28:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/?page_id=24151"},"modified":"2025-07-15T11:46:41","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T15:46:41","slug":"words-matter-spring-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/publications\/words-matter-spring-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Words Matter (Spring 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Volume XIV, Issue II<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-in-page\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/documents\/words-matter-spring-2025.pdf\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">View the Printable Version<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"simpletoc-title\">Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"simpletoc-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#chairs-note\">Chair\u2019s Note<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#mihaela-moscaliuc-phd-selected-as-a-member-of-the-2025-class-of-guggenheim-fellows\">Mihaela Moscaliuc, Ph.D., Selected as a Member of the 2025 Class of Guggenheim Fellows<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#toni-morrison-day-welcomes-keynote-speaker-autumn-womack\">Toni Morrison Day Welcomes Keynote Speaker: Autumn Womack<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#department-of-english-hosts-sixth-annual-toni-morrison-day\">Department of English hosts Sixth Annual Toni Morrison Day<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#acclaimed-author-akhil-sharma-visits-monmouth-university\">Acclaimed Author Akhil Sharma Visits Monmouth University<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#visiting-writers-series-andrew-martin\">Visiting Writer\u2019s Series: Andrew Martin<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#a-reading-by-poets-katie-farris-and-ilya-kaminsky\">A Reading by Poets Katie Farris and Ilya Kaminsky<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#brother-austen-poetsintheclassroom-seriesthe-final-chapter\">Brother Austen Poets-in-the-Classroom Series\u2014The Final Chapter<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#senior-spotlight-grad-school-bound\">Senior Spotlight: Grad School Bound<\/a>\n\n\n<ul><li>\n<a href=\"#interview-with-meghan-reilly\">Interview with Meghan Reilly<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#interview-with-ashley-zingillioglu\">Interview with Ashley Zingillioglu<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#from-dublin-to-the-cliffs-a-writing-retreat-in-ireland\">From Dublin to the Cliffs: A Writing Retreat in Ireland<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#english-departmental-award-winners\">English Departmental Award Winners<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#congratulations-to-the-winners-of-the-spring-2025-graduate-creative-writing-awards-for-prose-and-poetry\">Congratulations to the Winners of the Spring 2025 Graduate Creative Writing Awards for Prose and Poetry!<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ma-and-mfa-manuscripts-defended\">MA and M.F.A. Manuscripts Defended<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#graduate-symposium-april-29-2025-and-mfa-reading-may-2-2025\">Graduate Symposium &#8211; April 29, 2025 and M.F.A. Reading &#8211; May 2, 2025<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#department-student-achievements\">Department Student Achievements<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faculty-news\">Faculty News<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#congratulations-sigma-tau-delta-members-and-spring-2025-graduates\">Congratulations Sigma Tau Delta Members and Spring 2025 Graduates<\/a>\n\n\n<ul><li>\n<a href=\"#spring-inductees\">Spring Inductees<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#may-2025-graduates\">May 2025 Graduates<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#pictures-from-the-semester\">Pictures from the Semester<\/a>\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"chairs-note\">Chair\u2019s Note<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Each year, as the Spring semester ends and I look back at all that our students and faculty have accomplished over the past academic year, I find myself at a bit of a loss trying to decide what to focus on in this column. Should I try to impress upon our newsletter\u2019s readers the degree to which our students achieved unprecedented levels of success in securing spots on the programs of regional and international conferences, in bringing home campus honors like the Undergraduate and Graduate Library Awards and first and second place in the Center for Entrepreneurship\u2019s Hawk Tank Competition, and in gaining acceptances to prestigious graduate programs at institutions like Harvard, Columbia, UPenn, NYU, UNC-Charlotte, UDelaware, Rutgers, and Seton Hall? Should I use my allotted space to help ensure that everyone appreciates what a big deal it is that our faculty are being recognized with Guggenheim Fellowships and are being listed as finalists for honors like the PEN\/Faulkner Award? Or should I trust that all of these impressive accomplishments will receive their just due elsewhere in the newsletter and focus on some particular challenge that the English department is presently facing? Fortunately, thanks to what I hope the students in my EN373 (Art of Persuasion) class would recognize as the rhetorical figure of paralipsis, it isn\u2019t necessary to choose, and having preliminarily gestured toward these various topics that I feel are important by indicating that I\u2019m not going to talk about them, I am free to turn to what I would like to focus on: namely, our department\u2019s gratitude to two colleagues who will be leaving us at the end of this year and our excitement about two new colleagues who will be (re)joining us in the Fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is difficult to overestimate the impact that Heide Estes, Ph.D., has had on the English department over the course of her 27+ years at Monmouth University. Estes, who will be retiring at the end of this academic year, came to Monmouth in 1998, and she earned tenure and promotion to the rank of associate professor in 2005 and promotion to full professor in 2013. She collaborated with Prescott Evarts, Ph.D., to write the proposal for the English department\u2019s M.A. program and served as the program\u2019s director for its initial nine years, and she helped to set new standards for scholarly productivity in our department, having published two highly-regarded books and nineteen peer-reviewed articles and having been instrumental in establishing the new subfield of medieval scholarship known as medieval ecocriticism. With her innovative and challenging teaching, her energetic service to the department and the university, her passionate advocacy for climate and social justice, and her example as an internationally recognized scholar in the humanities, Estes made Monmouth University a better, more intellectual, and more ethically responsible and responsive place. We are thrilled to share that Estes will remain affiliated with Monmouth University&#8217;s Department of English as faculty emerita, and we wish her good health and ample opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with Catherine at their new home in Maine. She will be greatly missed and impossible to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This also seems like an appropriate place to officially share with the broader campus community that Associate Professor Alex Gilvarry has accepted an offer to join the creative writing faculty at Cornell University and will be leaving Monmouth University at the end of the academic year. Shortly after having published his debut novel, &#8220;From the Memoirs of a Non-Enemy Combatant&#8221;, in 2012 with Viking\/Penguin and having been named one of the National Book Foundation\u2019s \u201c5 under 35\u201d for 2014, Professor Gilvarry was brought to Monmouth as an Artist-in-Residence. After having served in that capacity for two years, Gilvarry was hired as an assistant professor of creative writing. On the basis of his outstanding teaching and mentoring of the English department\u2019s creative writing students, his strong track record of service to the department and the university, and the publication of his second novel, &#8220;Eastman Was Herewith&#8221; (Viking\/Penguin) in 2017, Gilvarry earned a promotion to the rank of associate professor in 2021. The English department is especially appreciative of the leadership that Gilvarry demonstrated in helping to bring the 2016Norman Mailer Conference to Monmouth University and in coordinating the Visiting Writers Series for two years and directing our new M.F.A. in Creative Writing Program for three years. We wish Alex all the best in his new creative writing teaching position in Ithaca and will miss his presence around the department and at our Visiting Writers Series events. Thankfully, I also have the pleasure of sharing the good news that our AY2024-25 artist-in-residence, John Vercher, will be returning to Monmouth next year as an assistant professor of creative writing (Fiction) and that Brittany Biesiada, Ph.D, who has been serving as an emergency instructor for the past several years, will be remaining with the English department as a full-time (renewable) lecturer. I would like to publicly thank the members of the search committees that were tasked with conducting the national searches that were required to fill these two positions. and coordinated their candidates\u2019 campus visits in a highly efficient and professional manner. I sincerely hope that the members of the Assistant Professor of Creative Writing Search Committee (Ken Womack, Alena Graedon, Mihaela Moscaliuc, and Veronica Davidov) and the Lecturer Search Committee (Courtney Werner &#8211; Chair, Sue Starke, and Jeff Jackson) know how much their hard work and professionalism is appreciated! And speaking of things that are greatly appreciated, I would be remiss if I were to sign off without once again acknowledging the generous gift\/donation in support of creative writing that has provided funding for our Brother Austin Poets-in-the-Classroom Series, our recent student trip to Ireland, our FA24 and SP25 Graduate Creative Writing Prizes for Prose and Poetry, and various other creative writing enrichment initiatives (including student travel to poetry-related events). We are incredibly thankful for this anonymous donor\u2019s support, as well as for all of the various ways in which each of you support our department. Thank you for taking the time to read our SP25 newsletter, and best wishes for a productive and relaxing summer break!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mihaela-moscaliuc-phd-selected-as-a-member-of-the-2025-class-of-guggenheim-fellows\">Mihaela Moscaliuc, Ph.D., Selected as a Member of the 2025 Class of Guggenheim Fellows<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Austin Morreale<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"190\" height=\"300\" style=\"object-position: 64.69% 22.76%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_3_1-190x300.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman standing near podium that reads &quot;Guggenheim Fellowship&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-24159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_3_1-190x300.jpeg 190w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_3_1-95x150.jpeg 95w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_3_1.jpeg 353w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 190px) 100vw, 190px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Mihaela Moscaliuc, Ph.D., professor in the Department of English and graduate program director at Monmouth University, poet, and translator, was recently named a Guggenheim fellow for the Class of 2025. One of only one hundred fellows selected to receive the prestigious award in 2025, Moscaliuc joins the ranks of exceptional artists who\u2019ve received Guggenheim Fellowships over the years, including the writers Gwendolyn Brooks, Theodore Roethke, E.E. Cummings, and Zora Neale Hurston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe news was humbling and slightly numbing (but in a good way). I was too excited to react or even share the news,\u201d said Moscaliuc. \u201cIt\u2019s a huge honor to join the 2025 cohort of fellow artists, scholars, and scientists, and to be part of this 100-year-old tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moscaliuc will use her fellowship to work on a new body of poetry and nonfiction, centering on cross- cultural beliefs and practices related to death and mourning. She will travel to Latin America and Europe to research the rituals, narratives, and spiritual scaffolding that frames loss and remembrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Guggenheim Foundation has supported over 19,000 artists, scientists, and scholars since the early 1925, dedicated to their mission of adding \u201cto the education, literary, artistic, and scientific power of this country, and also to provide for the cause of better international understanding.\u201d (Senator Simon Guggenheim, 1925.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"toni-morrison-day-welcomes-keynote-speaker-autumn-womack\">Toni Morrison Day Welcomes Keynote Speaker: Autumn Womack<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Meghan Reilly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" style=\"object-position: 42.045% 16.7%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_4_1.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman speaking out podium with her hands raised\" class=\"wp-image-24160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_4_1.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_4_1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_4_1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_4_1-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Autumn Womack, Ph.D. delivering her keynote speech.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"355\" height=\"236\" style=\"object-position: 55.775% 53.975%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_4_2.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman Speaking at podium in front of photo of Toni Morrison\" class=\"wp-image-24163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_4_2.jpeg 355w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_4_2-300x199.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_4_2-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Womack speaking in front of a picture of Toni Morrison.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Monmouth University\u2019s sixth annual \u201cToni Morrison Day\u201d began with a speech delivered by Princeton professor and Toni Morrison scholar, Autumn Womack, Ph.D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>President Patrick F. Leahy provided opening remarks in which he specifically commended Monmouth\u2019s \u201cfirst-rate\u201d department of English, which organizes the event yearly. The tradition started after Morrison\u2019s death in August 2019 and the then Department Chair Susan Goulding, Ph.D., wanting to make an event to honor the literary icon\u2019s enduring influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Goulding, associate professor of English and former English departmentchair, said, \u201cToni Morrison is one of the most important American writers we have, and the legacy she gave us should live not only in her works but in celebrations and recognitions that extend her legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Womack\u2019s keynote speech was entitled \u201cToni Morrison and the Power of Storytelling: Or, How to Achieve a Breakdown,\u201d tying into this year\u2019s event theme. Womack specifically mentioned the timeliness of the event considering the continued scrutiny and recent attacks on fields such as African American Studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Morrison\u2019s 1993 speech for the Nobel Prize in Literature, she mentions that \u201cunmolested language surges toward knowledge, not its destruction.\u201d This functioned as a segue to Womack\u2019s discussion of banned books, particularly Morrison\u2019s own. Morrison\u2019s novels The Bluest Eye and Beloved have been frequently challenged by book regulations as well as her 1998 novel, Paradise. Womack explains that this novel particularly was banned by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which accused the novel of having \u201cinformation designed to achieve the breakdown of prisons through inmate disruption such as strikes, riots, or security threat group activity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is why Morrison\u2019s novels depend so heavily on what Womack refers to as \u201cthe activation of the readerly subject.\u201d This is when readers become an active participant in what they are reading, an uninterest in what a text should mean to what it could mean. Readers should consider their reactions to a text and why they feel that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When curiosity is piqued, Womack believes that is what produces conversation, consideration of what is on and off the page, and become open to what a text can become. Curiosity, however, is what is considered troublesome. As can be seen in the banning of Paradise, the Department of Justice considered free thinking dangerous but as Morrison sees it, her literature is working. When stories can stir conversation in this manner, there is true engagement between a writer and reader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI really liked how Womack referred to Morrison as a consistent student of craft, although we often like to think of her as a teacher. I find that dedication to remaining a student throughout one\u2019s career is such an important detail to emphasize,\u201d said Zafira Demiri, M.A. student in English. \u201cI\u2019ve always loved being a student, and I know I will never stop being one because the only way to grow is to keep on learning. We should all try to embody Morrison\u2019s ethic in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked to share what she hopes to be the audience\u2019s biggest takeaway, Womack said, \u201cReading is challenging and that is okay. When readers can take a story, book, or essay into their own hands, this is when true participation occurs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Reprinted<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>with<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>permission<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>from<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>Meghan<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>Reilly,<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>The <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>Outlook, Vol. 97 No. 16, February 26, 2025<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"department-of-english-hosts-sixth-annual-toni-morrison-day\">Department of English hosts Sixth Annual Toni Morrison Day<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Taylor Memoli<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" style=\"object-position: 51.2025% 24.3175%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_5_2-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"Four young adults standing in classroom\" class=\"wp-image-24169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_5_2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_5_2-150x100.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_5_2.jpeg 615w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left to Right: Students Zafira Demiri, Timothy Pakrad, Kia Womack, and Carlee Migliorisiby<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Monmouth University\u2019s sixth annual Toni Morrison Day was held on Feb. 21 in Pozycki Auditorium. Toni Morrison Day celebrates the acclaimed American author and editor in a day-long event hosted by Monmouth\u2019s English Department. This year, the event\u2019s focus was \u201cThe Power of Storytelling.\u201d This year, the event featured guest speaker Autumn Womack, an associate professor of African American studies and English at Princeton University, and four other events throughout the day. At each event, attendees learned more about Morrison\u2019s work and Black politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After Womack\u2019s keynote speech, the lecture \u201cFaculty and Student Composition Panel: \u2018Intelligent Struggle is Needed\u2026\u2019: Writing for Racial and Linguistic Justice in the First-Year Composition Classroom\u201d was hosted from 11:40 a.m.\u20131 p.m. Beth Swanson, M.A., lecturer in the Department of English, moderated the panel that featured presenters Courtney Werner, Ph.D., associate professor and director of First Year Composition; Linda Sacks, MAT, lecturer; and Jennifer Harpootlian, M.A., lecturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Werner introduced the panel, discussing the first-year composition\u2019s (FYC) dedication to challenging their students to learn and analyze topics they might never have been confronted with before. Werner also mentioned how each FYC syllabus includes a values and anti-racism statement so students can understand the core values of these classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Swanson discussed how her FYC class was tasked with watching Jordan Peele\u2019s \u201cGet Out\u201d in an attempt to make her students analyze the film and the messages behind any movie, especially Peele\u2019s psychological horror. The speech featured her FYC student, Jessica Mendez, who read her in-class paper regarding the themes of \u201cGet Out\u201d and how they relate to the current-day struggles of the Black community. Sacks\u2019s presentation focused on her class assignment on climate change. Her FYC students had to write a paper on the topic using a social epistemic approach. Sacks read a paper from her student Emma Vilardi, who could not attend the event. Vilardi\u2019s paper focused on climate privilege and how fast fashion contributes to the climate crisis. Lastly, Harpootlian discussed how her class created partner presentations covering the topic of social justice through the music of different generations and genres. Her presentation featured two of her FYC students, Kailyn Bloch and Kristen Sarnicola. The two presented their slideshow which compared the songs \u201cDear Mr. President\u201d by Pink and \u201cThe Bigger Picture\u201d by Lil Baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next event at 1:15\u20132:15 p.m. was \u201cToni Morrison Book Discussion: <em>The Origin of Others<\/em>.\u201d This event was moderated by Lynn Siracusa, Ed.D., lecturer in the Department of English, with panelists Joe Torchia, M.A., lecturer in the Department of English; and Noel Belinski, MAT, Lecturer in the Department of English. The three discussed Morrison\u2019s book &#8220;The Origin of Others&#8221; by examining certain chapters. They also applied Morrison\u2019s messages and stories to modern-day society and examined them from a more critical lens. Siracusa started off the lecture by discussing the books forward by Ta\u2019Nehisi Coates, discussing that Morrison is not just about race, but power. Belinski discussed the first chapter of \u201cThe Origins of Others\u201d by asking the audience for other examples of \u201cThe other\u201d in different societies and media as well as discussing the sanitization of slave literature over time. Lastly, Torchia talked about chapter two and how \u201cothering\u201d can bring power, value, and\/or rank to the person doing it. Society values difference because it affords certain individuals power and rank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201cToni Morrison Day Digital Poster Contest and Toni Morrison Day Creative Writing Contest\u201d was held next from 2:15\u20133:15 p.m. The winners of both of these events were announced by Kurt Wagner, University librarian, and Zafira Demiri, senior English major and editor-in-chief of The Monmouth Review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Digital Poster Contest winners were Katharine Tito and Daniel Martin. Both won a certificate and their posters were hung in the library for the remainder of the semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The winners of the Creative Writing Contest were Rachel Melillo, Carlee Migliorisi, and Kia Womack, who all had the chance to read their poetry to the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This event also featured students from Asbury Park High School\u2019s Project Right Now. This program connects Asbury Park High School students with mentors from Monmouth University to prepare these students for their college careers and future. Three students\u2019 poems were read to the audience, titled, \u201cOur World is on Fire,\u201d No Way Out,\u201d and \u201cScaredy Cat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last event from 3:30\u20135 p.m. featured Monmouth\u2019s artist-in-resident, John Vercher. Vercher read from his latest novel, &#8220;Devil is Fine&#8221; and answered questions from Lauren DeFelice, Hana Vozzo, and Melaina Carrara from the Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society E- Board. During the Q&amp;A, Vercher spoke about how he has drawn inspiration from Morrison and her work. He referenced Morrison\u2019s quote, \u201cIf there\u2019s a book you want to read, but it hasn\u2019t been written yet, then you must write it,\u201d and how he has used that to propel his career as an author.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vercher also discussed his shift into satirical and absurd writing. He stated that it is \u201cliberating\u201d to write in this genre and that it\u2019s \u201ca space I\u2019m going to stay with\u2026 [it is] fun to explore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that, the Sigma Tau Delta E-board provided the audience with closing remarks and thanked their co- sponsors Intercultural Center, Office of the Provost, Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Leon Hess Business School, School of Social Work, Guggenheim Memorial Library, Monmouth Review, Sigma Tau Delta for another successful event celebrating art, literature, and the legacy of Toni Morrison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Reprinted with permission from Taylor Memoli The Outlook, Vol. 97, No. 16, February 26, 2025<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"820\" height=\"547\" data-id=\"24174\" style=\"object-position: 50.115% 19.41%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_4.jpeg\" alt=\"Man stands at podium with one hand over the other, glasses resting on forehead\" class=\"wp-image-24174\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_4.jpeg 820w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_4-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_4-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_4-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Artist-in-Residence John Verchergives a reading from his novel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"820\" height=\"546\" data-id=\"24172\" style=\"object-position: 45.743333333333% 32.735%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_3.jpeg\" alt=\"Two students stand near their Toni Morrison posters, holding awards.\" class=\"wp-image-24172\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_3.jpeg 820w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_3-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_3-768x511.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_3-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Poster winners: Katharine Tito and Daniel Martin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"615\" height=\"410\" data-id=\"24175\" style=\"object-position: 48.61% 19.04%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_5.jpeg\" alt=\"President of University speaks at podium during event.\" class=\"wp-image-24175\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_5.jpeg 615w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_5-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_5-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Patrick F. Leahy kicks off the day with opening remarks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"820\" height=\"547\" data-id=\"24171\" style=\"object-position: 30.725% 23.3%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_2.jpeg\" alt=\"Man in suit and tie speaks at podium\" class=\"wp-image-24171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_2.jpeg 820w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_2-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_6_2-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Department of English Chair JP Hanly introduces the keynote speaker.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"acclaimed-author-akhil-sharma-visits-monmouth-university\">Acclaimed Author Akhil Sharma Visits Monmouth University<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Veronique Manfredini<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" style=\"object-position: 47.050833333333% 62.505833333333%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_7_3-300x201.jpeg\" alt=\"Crowd of people sit in ornate room, listening to speaker\" class=\"wp-image-24176\" style=\"width:300px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_7_3-300x201.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_7_3-150x100.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_7_3.jpeg 402w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Akhil Sharma reading to a packed house in The Great Hall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Monmouth University&#8217;s Visiting Writers Series welcomed award-winning author Akhil Sharma for a special reading and discussion on Feb. 3, 2025. Sharma, recipient of the 2001 PEN\/Hemingway Award for An Obedient Father and the 2016 International Dublin Literary Award for Family Life, shared insights into his creative process and the challenges of the writing profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the event, Sharma read a historical fiction short story centered on William Shakespeare. He explained his approach to the genre, noting that \u201cthe way historical fiction works is that you can&#8217;t say anything that is probably untrue,\u201d while adding, \u201cI wanted to make it feel like everything was true\u201d so he \u201cfiddled\u201d around with it until he got it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sharma emphasized the importance of passion in storytelling, stating that \u201cso much of what makes fiction interesting is the life that you put in it. It&#8217;s your excitement for it. The story.\u201d He encouraged attendees to keep their commitment to the things they write very low, \u201cthere are so many other things that are worth writing.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re going to write many stories, each of them will leave an impression on you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He spoke candidly about the financial realities and the \u201castonishing pressure of money: facing writers today. \u201cBeing a writer is squeezing every dollar,\u201d he remarked, \u201cI don\u2019t care if the story is great, I just want to know if I can make money\u201d from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The author highlighted how in India, \u201cwriting is not an important form\u201d because music serves as the dominant art form, where the novel didn&#8217;t emerge until the 1890s. Language is very important, the choice of words and phrasing is what moves the text forward. He highlighted how \u201cthe experience of theater represented [in this short story] is the experience of watching theater in India\u201d where \u201cpeople rush into the theater with sticks to beat you\u201d if they don\u2019t like what you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His discussion about language and writing made his insights particularly valuable for emerging writers seeking to find their own distinctive voice and place in contemporary literature.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"visiting-writers-series-andrew-martin\">Visiting Writer\u2019s Series: Andrew Martin<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Jacqueline Collo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" style=\"object-position: 50.9075% 20.2775%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_7_2-300x201.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_7_2-300x201.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_7_2-150x100.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_7_2.jpeg 402w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andrew Martin in conversation with Associate Professor Alena Graedon. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The English Department held its final Visiting Writers Series event, welcoming Andrew Martin, on March 10 in the Julian Abele room. Before the reading, Martin gave a craft discussion to Associate Professor Alena Graedon\u2019s Craft Seminar class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Andrew Martin is the author of the novel &#8220;Early Work&#8221;, a New York Times Notable book, the story collection &#8220;Cool for America&#8221;, and the forthcoming novel &#8220;Down Time&#8221;. His works appears regularly in <em>The Paris Review<\/em>, <em>The New York Review of Books<\/em>, and <em>Harper&#8217;s Magazine<\/em>, and his stories and essays have also been published recently in <em>The Atlantic<\/em>, <em>The Yale Review<\/em>, <em>McSweeney&#8217;s<\/em>, <em>The New York Times Book Review<\/em>, and elsewhere. A graduate of the University of Montana&#8217;s MFA program, he teaches in the Writer&#8217;s Foundry MFA at St. Joseph&#8217;s University and in the Mountainview MFA program at Southern New Hampshire University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In her introduction of him, Graedon called Martin\u2019s writing the \u201cwittiest, wisest, silliest,\u201d creative work that is \u201chilarious, illuminating, moving, and \u201cdirty\u201d all at once. Martin doesn\u2019t shy away from writing about humans who make mistakes and have a desire to connect with others and live a full life, and it is his willingness to write messy people that makes his work so compelling to both hear and read. There is no doubt that Martin pulls from both the world and life around him, which he confirmed when he stated that his \u201cwork has sort of aged with\u201d him and the life he has led. Attendees were rewarded with a delightful conversation on Martin\u2019s writing processes and experiences, banter, and a reading from his yet-to-be-published novel. It was certainly a night worth remembering and learning from going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-reading-by-poets-katie-farris-and-ilya-kaminsky\">A Reading by Poets Katie Farris and Ilya Kaminsky<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Dorothy Doyle, \u201923 M, \u201925 MFA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"181\" height=\"181\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_8_1.jpeg\" alt=\"Poet holding mask with flowers on forehead \" class=\"wp-image-24181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_8_1.jpeg 181w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_8_1-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 181px) 100vw, 181px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Katie Farris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On a cold Tuesday evening in February the campus community was treated to a moving, memorable evening in the Julian Abele room in The Great Hall with the poets Ilya Kaminsky and Katie Farris. Farris, whose work has appeared in <em>The New York Times<\/em>, <em>The Nation<\/em>, <em>Poetry<\/em>, and other publications, began the evening with readings from her memoir-in-poems, &#8220;Standing in the Forest of Being Alive&#8221;, which was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Poetry Prize and was one of <em>Publishers Weekly<\/em> Top 10 Poetry Books of 2023. A breast cancer survivor, Farris\u2019 collection includes not only devastating reflections on illness and the idea of facing one\u2019s mortality, but it also contains moments of tender realism and unexpected humor. Farris is an engaging, funny speaker, and the audience was moved by her humorous, off the cuff comments as well as the eloquent, raw expression of her experiences and her ability to face even the most terrifying moments of cancer treatment with self-awareness and candor. As she says, \u201cOne must train oneself to find, in the midst of hell, what isn&#8217;t hell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ilya Kaminsky is a well-known editor and translator, and the author of the poetry collections &#8220;Dancing in Odessa&#8221; and &#8220;Deaf Republic&#8221;, the latter of which won many accolades including best book of the year by <em>The New York Times Book Review<\/em>, <em>The Washington Post<\/em>, <em>Publishers Weekly<\/em>, <em>The Irish Times<\/em>, as well as others. With &#8220;Deaf Republic&#8221;, Kaminsky has written an allegory about an era that bears a striking resemblance to our current one, and hat bears a striking resemblance to our current one, and it serves as both a warning and clarion call. It begins, presciently, with these lines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"181\" height=\"181\" style=\"object-position: 36.62% 44.43%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_8_2.jpeg\" alt=\"Poet smiling, resting cheek on hand\" class=\"wp-image-24183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_8_2.jpeg 181w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_8_2-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 181px) 100vw, 181px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ilya Kaminsky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>And when they bombed other people\u2019s houses, we protested<br>but not enough, we opposed them but not enough. I was<br>in my bed, around my bed America<br>was falling: invisible house by invisible house by invisible house.<br>I took a chair outside and watched the sun.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In the collection the citizens choose a disability, deafness, as a weapon of protest and as the means to defy a totalitarian regime. As in Farris\u2019 work, there is as Kevin Young in The New Yorker says, \u201calso humor, or at least a profound set of ironies.\u201d As Kaminsky writes in &#8220;Soldiers Aim at Us&#8221;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>On earth<br>a man cannot flip a finger at the sky: <\/strong><br><strong>each man is already<br>a finger flipped at the sky.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like Farris, Kaminsky writes about serious, important issues. And also like Farris, his seriousness is imbued with a bit of humor sprinkled on top with jimmies of hope. Both possess demeanors that are approachable and charming, so that in addition to engagement with the gravity of their subject matters, the audience enjoyed every moment of their visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"brother-austen-poetsintheclassroom-seriesthe-final-chapter\">Brother Austen Poets-in-the-Classroom Series\u2014The Final Chapter<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Austin Morreale<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pittsburgh poet, Lisa Alexander, visited Mihaela Moscaliuc\u2019s Poetry Forms class on April 8 as a guest of the Brother Austen Poets-in-the-Classroom series, sharing her poems and insight with the undergrads and graduate students who filled the room that evening. Lisa read from her debut full-length book, Throttlebody (Get Fresh Books, 2024), which was her labor of love for seventeen years. Lisa encouraged the students to \u201cFollow the poem. When I\u2019m working on a poem, everything I do\u2014whether it\u2019s considering references or taking risks\u2014has to serve the poem. I try to block everything out just let the poem be what it wants to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On April 15, David Rigsbee, author of twenty-three book and chapbooks, editor, and translator, spent time with graduate students and Moscaliuc\u2019s Poetry Forms students during the final 2024-2025 Brother Austen Poets- in-the-Classroom event. Taking requests from the students, David read poems from &#8220;Watchman in the Knife Factory: New and Selected Poems&#8221; (Black Lawrence Press, 2024). He also shared personal anecdotes, stories about his poetry peers, and artistic acumen garnered over his more than forty years of writing poetry. \u201cAim for clarity in your poems,\u201d he advised the writers in attendance. \u201cClarity doesn\u2019t equal simplicity. You want to create an experience for your reader, and you can do that without getting lost in lofty language or self-indulgence. Clarity allows the reader to access your poem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"senior-spotlight-grad-school-bound\">Senior Spotlight: Grad School Bound<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>We spoke with seniors Meghan Reilly and Ashley Zingillioglu about their experiences applying to graduate school. They shared their insights and advice for those preparing to apply. (Some portions of these interviews have been edited for brevity.)<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"interview-with-meghan-reilly\">Interview with Meghan Reilly<\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"226\" height=\"300\" style=\"object-position: 48.685% 37.12%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_9_3-226x300.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman holding book on a rail in an indoor mall\" class=\"wp-image-24190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_9_3-226x300.jpeg 226w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_9_3-113x150.jpeg 113w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_9_3.jpeg 362w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meghan Reilly<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>motivated<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>you<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>to<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>pursue<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>graduate<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>studies,<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>and<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>how<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>did<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>you <\/strong><strong>decide on the specific program(s) or school(s) you applied to?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was motivated to pursue graduate study because in my junior year I dropped my Secondary Education major and realized how much I loved studying English. I did not have a sudden dislike for education but rather I realized I wanted to be an educator at a different level, more specifically in higher education institutions. I knew that to reach these career goals, I would need to earn advanced degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can you share ways that being an English major at Monmouth helped to shape your decision to pursue a graduate degree, and how it has prepared you for graduate study?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Monmouth\u2019s English department has been instrumental in preparing me for graduate study and advancing my career goals. My experience taking split-level undergraduate\/graduate courses was particularly valuable, as it provided insight into the demands of graduate-level coursework and allowed me to network with current graduate students at Monmouth University. Also, I have worked as a writing assistant at Monmouth\u2019s Writing Services for the past two years, which has equipped me with practical tutoring experience directly applicable to my prospective graduate programs. The completion of my Honors School thesis, including the research and accompanying presentations, solidified my confidence in my research capabilities and revealed the potential for further exploration within my project. I am currently working on another presentation of my thesis at Seton Hall\u2019s Undergraduate Literature Conference in late April. What I want to note as the most integral part of my preparations, however, has been the mentorship and guidance I have received from the English department. I have had professors who have taken the time to meet with me privately to share their experiences with me and give me their honest opinions, which has helped me refine my list of grad schools. My academic advisor, Stanley Blair, Ph.D., has been incredibly helpful during this process. Blair has helped me generate a list of schools, proofread personal statements, decide on a writing sample, reach out to the schools for further information, and is currently helping me in the decision-making process. I am so grateful to Blair and the rest of the Monmouth English department for helping with my preparations!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What was your initial reaction when you found out you were accepted to graduate school? How does it feel to take this next step in your academic journey?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My initial reaction was a mixture of excitement and shock. It felt so surreal that the preparations I have done for months leading up to application deadlines had finally had results! As a first-generation college student, being accepted into an undergraduate college, let alone graduate school, was a huge step. When starting this process, I had no one in my family or close friends that could share any guidance on this process, which is why I am so grateful for the support I was given my Monmouth faculty. Taking this next step for me means that I have grown confident in my abilities to succeed and I am working to develop the skills, both academically and personally, to reach my goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What are your long-term career goals, and how do you envision your graduate studies helping you achieve them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After receiving my M.A. degree, I would like to continue schooling to get my Ph.D. degree and work in higher education as a professor and scholar. I intend to use graduate school to find which of my current research interests I can utilize as a potential doctoral specialization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>advice<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>do<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>you<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>have<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>for<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>English<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>Majors<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>and<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>other<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>students <\/strong><strong>at Monmouth who are thinking of applying to graduate school?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To summarize, applying to graduate school can be as demanding as a college course, so staying organized and timely is key. I found spreadsheets essential for keeping track of deadlines, application requirements, and details like class size and assistantship availability. Starting the search and organizing in the summer allowed me to be ready when application windows opened in late August or September. I also created separate spreadsheets for writing samples, personal statement prompts, and financial details. If possible, find a mentor\u2014especially someone who\u2019s been through the process\u2014to guide you, keep you on track, and offer valuable insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meghan has been accepted to five English M.A. programs including Monmouth University, Montclair State University, Seton Hall University, Rutgers University-N, and University of North Carolina Charlotte. She has decided to pursue her graduate studies at UNC-Charlotte beginning this fall.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"interview-with-ashley-zingillioglu\">Interview with Ashley Zingillioglu<\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" style=\"object-position: 50.655% 21.495%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_9_2-300x201.jpeg\" alt=\"Ashley Zingillioglu sitting on park bench\" class=\"wp-image-24191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_9_2-300x201.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_9_2-150x101.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_9_2.jpeg 344w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ashley Zingillioglu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What motivated you to pursue graduate studies, and how did you decide on the specific program(s) or school(s) you applied to?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on my experiences in high school, I see much potential in the field of educational technology to help students with autism. Although Monmouth does not yet offer an ed tech undergraduate major, through my English major and three minors, I developed the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to pursue this interdisciplinary field of study at the graduate level. With each university I considered, I researched its faculty, curriculums, and internship opportunities, and then looked for a fit between them and my research interests, creative talents, and entrepreneurship plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can you share ways that being an English major at Monmouth helped to shape your decision to pursue a graduate degree, and how it has prepared you for graduate study?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After gaining research experience from multiple speech-language pathology professors\u2019 projects, my English academic advisor, Stanley Blair, Ph.D., encouraged me to pursue an Honors School thesis. This opportunity enabled me to explore and deepen my interdisciplinary research interests in autism, education, and interactive media. I spoke about my thesis to several English department faculty, and they encouraged my thesis as well as my development as a musician and a future graduate student. In turn, the thesis provided the basis for professional presentations on campus and at regional and national conferences. Also, as an English major with a Creative Writing concentration, I participated in writers&#8217; workshops. Critiques taught me to appreciate the importance of details and to be more welcoming of detailed feedback, even when it is less than complimentary. This was important during the application process, as it helped me craft compelling personal statements and additional essays that were required. Because I was open to Blair\u2019s detailed comments on improving each statement, I could better address each prompt component, providing program faculty with a customized view of my reasons for applying or my goals as a future student in their program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What was your initial reaction when you found out you were accepted to graduate school? How does it feel to take this next step in your academic journey?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An abundance of excitement and relief, to say the least, with the first two acceptances, and then shock and awe when I was accepted into three Ivy League programs. I cried for about an hour after receiving Harvard\u2019s acceptance letter. I also did several fist pumps (too many to count!) after reading Columbia and Penn\u2019s letters offering acceptance and financial aid. It is still a little hard for me to believe that I have been so fortunate. I knew all along that researching these programs and then developing customized personal statements for each would be a massive investment in my future. I believed in myself, and the English department, along with my recommenders, believed in me as well. All of this has made me feel more confident about the future and welcome the challenges ahead with a smile! I have found that if you put your mind, time, and effort into yourself as a professional, whether it\u2019s music or graduate study, then any goal is possible to achieve! You just have to believe in it! And be prepared to do the work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What are your long-term career goals, and how do you envision your graduate studies helping you achieve them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To summarize, my first step after completing my master&#8217;s will be to work in the ed tech industry with an educational gaming company. After that, I plan to recruit peer specialists and start my own company focused on developing learning technologies for individuals with autism. Graduate school will help me by providing the skills I need, like multimedia production, instructional design, and website design. I&#8217;ll also gain insight into leadership and team collaboration. I\u2019ve already identified faculty who can mentor me, and I plan to work on independent projects that will build my research agenda and portfolio, so I\u2019m ready to launch my company after graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What advice do you have for English majors and other students at Monmouth who are thinking of applying to graduate school?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In summary, here\u2019s the advice I\u2019d give: First, go beyond your degree requirements to stand out. Do extra work and set small goals that align with your bigger objectives. For me, that extra effort paid off through presentations at both regional and nation-al conferences, and it even led to a journal article co- authored with a professor, plus another article from my thesis that\u2019ll be published soon. I wouldn\u2019t have pushed myself this far without Blair\u2019s honest guidance, so I\u2019m thankful for that! Second, start your grad school application process early\u2014at least a year in advance. Research the programs you\u2019re interested in, their outcomes, and the faculty. Tailor your personal statement to include specifics on how certain courses or professors align with your goals. The more detail you include, the stronger your application will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Ashley has been accepted to Columbia University, Harvard University, New York University, and University of Pennsylvania. She has decided to pursue graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"from-dublin-to-the-cliffs-a-writing-retreat-in-ireland\">From Dublin to the Cliffs: A Writing Retreat in Ireland<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Jacqueline Collo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over spring break 2025, Mihaela Moscaliuc\u2019s Advanced Creative Writing class spent their time honing their craft through exploring Ireland with Niamh Hamill, John O\u2019Connell, and the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland. During their time abroad, the students were given the opportunity to stay in Bundoran, and visit Arranmore Island, Donegal Town, Derry \/ Londonderry, Yeat\u2019s Country, Dublin, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They enjoyed traditional Irish music showcases and even marched in Bundoran\u2019s St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade, but they traveled constantly, gathering ideas and learning more about poetry everywhere they went. Even when enjoying their time at the pub attached to their hotel, they found memories relevant to the academic; Lauren DeFelice fondly recalled a \u201cmoment antithetical to every bar experience\u201d she had ever had where \u201ceveryone gushed about writing, linguistics, reading, learning, and everything language majors love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When she was asked to reflect on her most formative moments, craft-wise, Niki Manfredini talked about \u201cwatching [Michael Waters, Ph.D.] go through everyone\u2019s poem[s]\u201d and what it helped her learn about critiquing even her own work: \u201cI\u2019m more aware of the mechanics of poetry and what makes a poem more interesting and meaningful.\u201d So, while there were multiple workshops throughout the trip, the most notable for a number of students seemed to be the split workshop. Half of the class joined Mihaela Moscaliuc for a generative workshop with a focus on haibuns while the other half joined Waters for a workshop centered in revision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The students were also lucky enough to experience multiple readings during their time in Ireland. On March 19th, after a morning visit to Donegal, the students got to meet and listen to Annemarie N\u00ed Churre\u00e1in read poems like \u201cSowthistle,\u201d \u201cBloodroot,\u201d and \u201cA Villager Speaks of Eithne.\u201d She asked (and answered!) questions and even integrated writing time into her schedule so students could write their own poems reminiscent of her own \u201cGhostgirl\u201d and \u201cBog Medicine,\u201d forcing them to think of their roles as witnesses through being poets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On their first day in Dublin, the students also attended a reading at Club na M\u00fainteoir\u00ed where they met and heard from Irish poets Paula Meehan and Theo Dorgan, as well as more familiar poets Sean Nevin, Michael Waters, and Mihaela Moscaliuc. One student present at this reading, Tim Pakrad, calls watching \u201cthe triumvirate of our own special guild of poets\u2026 recite and enlighten this room that, for the moment, felt like the hospital chamber [they were] born in\u201d their core memory of the trip, and one that was formative to their experience as a poet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, the trip was not only a highly enjoyable experience for the EN 451\/598 students but was enriching for their writing as well. They learned new craft elements constantly\u2014Moscaliuc quizzing them on information from her poetry lexicon\u2014and got to engage with the world around them to become more well-rounded writers. Going forward, they hope to integrate the mythology, culture, language and magic of Ireland into their own work which is something we should all be eager to read and be privy to; Sl\u00e1inte (Cheers)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"285\" height=\"380\" data-id=\"24194\" style=\"object-position: 50.185% 25.95%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24194\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_3.jpeg 285w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_3-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_3-113x150.jpeg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 285px) 100vw, 285px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mihaela Moscaliuc and Michael Waters hold a Monmouth banner at the St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"605\" height=\"807\" data-id=\"24197\" style=\"object-position: 40.84% 52.6525%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_2.jpeg 605w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_2-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_2-112x150.jpeg 112w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 605px) 100vw, 605px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students Kia Womack and Kaitlin McGuire pose with wicker sculpture.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"374\" height=\"498\" data-id=\"24195\" style=\"object-position: 52.16% 32.185%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_4.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_4.jpeg 374w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_4-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_4-113x150.jpeg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Student Jacqueline Collo reads at an open mic night.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" data-id=\"24198\" style=\"object-position: 47.298333333333% 73.105%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_5.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_5.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_5-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_5-150x113.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students Gwyneth Finn, Michael Corbett, and Dorothy Doyle pose on Arranmore Island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-id=\"24192\" style=\"object-position: 56.036315789474% 49.822631578947%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_1.jpeg\" alt=\"Large group of people posing for photo in front of a park statue\" class=\"wp-image-24192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_1.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_1-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_11_1-150x113.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mihaela Moscaliuc\u2019s EN-451\/598 class in Ireland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"english-departmental-award-winners\">English Departmental Award Winners<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Congratulations to all of our award winners and scholarship recipients!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-4 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"264\" height=\"338\" data-id=\"24213\" style=\"object-position: 43.385% 31.715%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_7-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_7-1.jpeg 264w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_7-1-234x300.jpeg 234w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_7-1-117x150.jpeg 117w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 264px) 100vw, 264px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Melaina Carrara<\/strong><br>The English Award for Creative Writing in Prose<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"237\" height=\"338\" data-id=\"24202\" style=\"object-position: 47.68% 37.945%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_1.jpeg 237w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_1-210x300.jpeg 210w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_1-105x150.jpeg 105w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Lauren DeFelice<\/strong><br>The English Award for Academic Writing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"230\" height=\"341\" data-id=\"24207\" style=\"object-position: 47.97% 23.345%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_4.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_4.jpeg 230w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_4-202x300.jpeg 202w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_4-101x150.jpeg 101w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Meghan Reilly<\/strong><br>The English Award for Graduate Study<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"236\" height=\"339\" data-id=\"24205\" style=\"object-position: 48.715% 21.88%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24205\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_3.jpeg 236w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_3-209x300.jpeg 209w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_3-104x150.jpeg 104w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Ashley Zingillioglu<\/strong><br>The English Award for Graduate Study<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"254\" height=\"338\" data-id=\"24203\" style=\"object-position: 44.98% 40.24%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_2.jpeg 254w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_2-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_2-113x150.jpeg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Ana Carvalho<\/strong><br>The Caryl and Charles Sills English Education Scholarship 2024-2025 Recipient<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"309\" height=\"453\" data-id=\"24211\" style=\"object-position: 60.61% 19.11%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_6.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_6.jpeg 309w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_6-205x300.jpeg 205w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_6-102x150.jpeg 102w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 309px) 100vw, 309px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Kia Womack<\/strong><br>The English Award for Creative Writing in Poetry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"271\" height=\"338\" data-id=\"24209\" style=\"object-position: 51.72% 39.92%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_5.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_5.jpeg 271w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_5-241x300.jpeg 241w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_5-120x150.jpeg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 271px) 100vw, 271px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Justine Bouton<\/strong><br>The English Merit Award<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"341\" data-id=\"24215\" style=\"object-position: 56.77% 29.59%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_8.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24215\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_8.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_8-211x300.jpeg 211w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_8-106x150.jpeg 106w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Eleanor Curatolo <\/strong><br>The English Alumni Scholarship 2024-2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"282\" height=\"338\" data-id=\"24216\" style=\"object-position: 48.145% 40.41%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_9.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_9.jpeg 282w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_9-250x300.jpeg 250w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_9-125x150.jpeg 125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 282px) 100vw, 282px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Julia Dziewa<\/strong><br>The English Alumni Scholarship 2024-2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"374\" height=\"248\" data-id=\"24218\" style=\"object-position: 46.925% 25.9075%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_10.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_10.jpeg 374w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_10-300x199.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_12_10-150x99.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Kailey O\u2019Connell<\/strong> (Academic Essay)<br><strong>Rachel Damstra<\/strong> (Researched Essay)<br>The David Tietge Memorial First-Year Composition Award 2024-2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"congratulations-to-the-winners-of-the-spring-2025-graduate-creative-writing-awards-for-prose-and-poetry\">Congratulations to the Winners of the Spring 2025 Graduate Creative Writing Awards for Prose and Poetry!<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The submissions for the Poetry and Prose Awards underwent a blind reading by judges Katie Farris (Poetry) and Andrew Martin (Prose). The prizes for the graduate awards are funded, in part, by an anonymous donation to the Engiish Creative Writing program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 15%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"is-style-big-body\"><strong>Prose:<\/strong> Michael Qualiano for \u201cThe Dive,\u201d Judged by Andrew Martin who said the following of Qualiano\u2019s work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">\u201cThe Dive&#8221; is an excruciatingly funny story, one that taps into the anxieties and disappointments inherent in growing older and growing apart from old friends. Through the character of Joy, the author has created a caustic, memorable voice, one whose rage is directed outwards at her friend Kat and her new baby, even as the narrator struggles to come to terms with her own shortcomings. In its mix of poignancy and spite, this story reminded me of Lorrie Moore&#8217;s &#8220;You&#8217;re Ugly, Too,&#8221; another great party tale, and Dorothy Baker&#8217;s Cassandra at the Wedding. It&#8217;s a wonderful, gimlet-eyed piece of writing, rooted in a specific time and moment, and filled with perfectly chosen details.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"254\" height=\"338\" style=\"object-position: 50.1275% 58.885%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_13_1.jpeg\" alt=\"Man holding a book\" class=\"wp-image-24223 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_13_1.jpeg 254w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_13_1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_13_1-113x150.jpeg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:2rem\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 15%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"is-style-big-body\"><strong>Poetry:<\/strong> Austin Morreale for &#8220;Snapshots,&#8221; Judged by Katie Farris who said the following of Morreale\u2019s work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This poet\u2019s playful eroticism is found in the beautiful clutter of a loving life\u2014\u201ccheeseball-dust fingerprints,\u201d \u201ccantaloupe cast away by our kids,\u201d \u201clove letters stuck on the inside of cabinet doors\u201d \u2013and in the gorgeous vivacity, difficulty, and sometimes tragedy of queer community. The eros is found in the poet\u2019s beautiful ear as well, in moments ranging from the ironic&#8211; \u201cIs all this bawking really the voice of God?\u201d&#8211; to the tender: \u201cI\u2019d paint her just as she is\u2014pajamas, dog, and all\/ and make sure her month was always the month that\u2019s hanging on my wall.\u201d This collection is funny, warm, loving, sophisticated, and I couldn\u2019t be more honored to be able to choose it as the winner of Spring 2025 Graduate Poetry Contest.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"338\" style=\"object-position: 42.965% 44.11%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_13_2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24225 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_13_2.jpeg 250w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_13_2-222x300.jpeg 222w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_13_2-111x150.jpeg 111w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ma-and-mfa-manuscripts-defended\">MA and M.F.A. Manuscripts Defended<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dorothy Teevan Doyle, &#8220;Wellspring&#8221;, Spring 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Morgan Kelly, &#8220;The Night Everything Changed&#8221;, Spring 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jenna Lozzi, &#8220;Blue Violets&#8221;, Spring 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anna Mancini, &#8220;Gangs in the Neighborhood&#8221;, Spring 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Veronique Manfredini, &#8220;Halo of Fire&#8221;, Spring 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kaitlin McGuire, &#8220;Sleight of Hand&#8221;, Spring 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Michael Qualiano, &#8220;Rubbernecker: Stories&#8221;, Spring 2025<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"graduate-symposium-april-29-2025-and-mfa-reading-may-2-2025\">Graduate Symposium &#8211; April 29, 2025 and M.F.A. Reading &#8211; May 2, 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>M.A. students gathered in the Guggenheim Memorial Library and M.F.A. students in The Great Hall to share their work. The April event was co-organized by graduate students Jacqueline Collo and Austin Morreale<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-4 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"479\" height=\"320\" data-id=\"24233\" style=\"object-position: 65.565% 24.19%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_5.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_5.jpeg 479w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_5-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_5-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 479px) 100vw, 479px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jac Collo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"533\" height=\"357\" data-id=\"24229\" style=\"object-position: 56.46% 30.29%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_3.jpeg 533w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_3-300x201.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_3-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Austin Morreale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"365\" data-id=\"24226\" style=\"object-position: 72.98% 15.76%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_1.jpeg 545w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_1-300x201.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_1-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gabriella Petrillo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"591\" height=\"394\" data-id=\"24228\" style=\"object-position: 33.3825% 24.135%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_2.jpeg 591w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_2-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Peter Malave<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1008\" height=\"670\" data-id=\"24231\" style=\"object-position: 59.2325% 35.32%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_4.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_4.jpeg 1008w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_4-300x199.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_4-768x510.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_4-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Carlee Migliroisi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"801\" height=\"1200\" data-id=\"24238\" style=\"object-position: 18.61625% 19.272083333333%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_9.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_9.jpeg 801w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_9-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_9-684x1024.jpeg 684w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_9-768x1151.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_9-100x150.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 801px) 100vw, 801px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dorothy Doyle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"615\" height=\"820\" data-id=\"24236\" style=\"object-position: 43.98% 30.81%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_7.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_7.jpeg 615w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_7-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_7-113x150.jpeg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rob Zadotti<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"385\" height=\"513\" data-id=\"24240\" style=\"object-position: 41.085% 44.465%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_8-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_8-1.jpeg 385w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_8-1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_8-1-113x150.jpeg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 385px) 100vw, 385px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dorothy Doyle and Michael Qualiano<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1210\" height=\"908\" data-id=\"24235\" style=\"object-position: 49.627142857143% 41.627142857143%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_6.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_6.jpeg 1210w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_6-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_6-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_6-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_14_6-150x113.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1210px) 100vw, 1210px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Michael Qualiano, Rob Zadotti, Dorothy Doyle, Kevin Flook, John Vurro, Marci Rubin, and Anna Mancini at the M.F.A. reading in The Great Hall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"department-student-achievements\">Department Student Achievements<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Graduate student Zafira Demiri \u201924 was accepted into the Skidmore Summer Institute, and has been awarded a merit scholarship to attend. She also presented at the 2025 AWP Conference in Los Angeles in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior Meghan Reilly was awarded the 2025 Undergraduate Library Research Award. Reilly also presented at the Seton Hall University Undergraduate Literature Conference in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior Breanna Guinta and junior Justine Bouton presented at the Seton Hall University Undergraduate Literature Conference in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Congratulations to recent graduate, Dorothy Doyle, \u201923M, \u201925MFA, whose chapbook, &#8220;Unsolicited Legacy&#8221;, was accepted for publication by Finishing Line Press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduate student Carlee Migliorisi \u201924 was awarded the 2025 Graduate Library Research Award. Migliorisi was also awarded a travel grant to support her thesis research at Duke University&#8217;s David M. Rubenstein Rare Book &amp; Manuscript Library for summer 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent Master\u2019s graduate and current M.F.A. student, Veronique Manfredini, won second place at the &#8220;Hawk Tank&#8221; competition hosted by the Monmouth University Center for Entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior Ashley Zingillioglu took first place at the &#8220;Hawk Tank&#8221; competition hosted by the Monmouth University Center for Entrepreneurship and 2nd place at the Hess Excellence in Scholarship Series. Zingillioglu also presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh in March. Zingillioglu\u2019s conference presentation, \u201c\u2018Talking with Friends\u2019: An Interactive Social Story for Students with Autism\u201d, was selected as the recipient of the undergraduate Daniel Walden Prize by the Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association (MAPACA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduate student Hana Vozzo \u201924 and senior Melaina Carrara presented their work at the College English Association Conference in Philadelphia in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduate student Gabriella Petrillo presented her work, \u201cCrooked Heaven: The American Nightmare in the Neighborhoods of Colson Whitehead\u201d, at Binghamton University&#8217;s English Graduate Conference in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faculty-news\">Faculty News<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Artist-in-Residence John Vercher\u2019s third novel, &#8220;Devil is Fine&#8221;, was longlisted for the PEN\/Faulkner Award for Fiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interim Associate Dean, Professor of English, and Wayne D. McMurray Endowed Chair Kristin Bluemel, Ph.D., published a chapter titled, \u201cOrwell and Feminism\u201d in The Oxford Handbook of George Orwell (Oxford UP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jeffrey Jackson, Ph.D., presented his work, \u201cStage Fright: Alfred Hitchcock and the Idea of the Theater&#8221;, as part of an invited talk for &#8220;&#8216;Interpreting Sexuality and Film on Stage&#8217;: Dial M for Murder&#8217;s Contexts and Conversations Panel Discussion&#8221;, at Two River Theater, in Red Bank, New Jersey, in February. Jackson also presented his work, \u201cFreedom Now Appeared, to Disappear No More Forever&#8217;: Teaching Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845) through Critical Literacy in the General Education Literature Survey&#8221;, at the Conference of the College English Association in Philadelphia in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alumnus and adjunct faculty member, TJ Spicer, has been accepted to Rutgers Law School, Camden for Fall \u201925.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lecturers Noel Belinski, Lynn Kraemer-Siracusa, Linda Sacks, and Jennifer Harpootlian, gave a presentation titled, \u201cB- side Remix: Downloading Student Interests, Streaming Student Voices\u201d at the Conference on College Composition &amp; Communication in Baltimore in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mihaela Moscaliuc, Ph.D., was awarded a Pushcart Prize for her essay \u201cExtractions\u201d, a Hawthornden Foundation fellowship for a six-week summer residency in Casa Ecco, Lake Como, Italy, and a two week residency at the Virginia Center for the Arts. Her poems, translations, and interviews have appeared in <em>The Arkansas International<\/em>, <em>Exchanges: Journal of Literary Translations<\/em>, and <em>The Journal of the Honduran Academy of Letters<\/em>. Her co-edited anthology, &#8220;Fruits of the Earth: Harvest Poems&#8221;, is forthcoming from Knopf in October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Associate Professor Alena Graedon&#8217;s short story &#8220;Headless&#8221; is forthcoming in the spring 2025 issue of <em>New Plains Review<\/em>. She was also invited to apply to the Hawthornden Casa Ecco artists&#8217; residency on Lake Como, but she has deferred the application until 2026. Additionally, Graedon was awarded a Summer Faculty Fellowship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Congratulations to Abha Sood, Ph.D., who was appointed co-chair for the Pearson World Cinema Series for 2025-26. This year, she participated as a discussant for the film Saint Omer. Sood also hosted a teach-in titled, \u201cExploring Connections: Ecological Connections in the Time of Climate Change\u201d at the Icehouse Gallery in connection with the exhibit, \u201cOcean Bodies, A Solo Exhibit by Kimberly Callas\u201d. Additionally, Sood conducted a first year composition roundtable discussion titled, \u201cThe Impact of Climate Change on Oceans and Ice Caps: Exploring Ecological Connections\u201d as part of Scholarship Week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"congratulations-sigma-tau-delta-members-and-spring-2025-graduates\">Congratulations Sigma Tau Delta Members and Spring 2025 Graduates<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" style=\"object-position: 45.984705882353% 32.404705882353%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_17_1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_17_1.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_17_1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_17_1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_17_1-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Inductees Pictured &#8211; Back row, left to right: Michael Corbett, Drew Burnett, Branden Van Allen, Jacob Dates, and Andrew Vinca. Center row left to right: Kayla Kearney, Veronique Manfredini, Gwyneth Finn, Kaitlin McGuire, Sabrina Chung, Madison Connelly, Erin McGuire. Front row left to right: Valentine Miller, Liza Gordon, Hana Vozzo, Lauren DeFelice, Melaina Carrara, Meghan Reilly, and Faculty Advisor Beth Sara Swanson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"spring-inductees\"><strong>Spring Inductees<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-three-column\">\n<li>Drew Burnett<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Michael Corbett<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jacob Dates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tara Hurley<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kayla Kearney<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erin McGuire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valentine Miller<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Branden Van Allen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"may-2025-graduates\"><strong>May 2025 Graduates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-three-column\">\n<li>Lauren Bevacqua<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jillian Bodiford<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sabrina Burkhard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Melaina Carrara<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sabrina Chung<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Madison Connelly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lauren DeFelice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Natalie DellaRagione<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dorothy Doyle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Victoria Ferrisi<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ava George<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Debora Graas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Breanna Guinta<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cameron Janovic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kayla Kearney<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Morgan Kelly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Larissa Leonel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jenna Lozzi<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anna Mancini<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Veronique Manfredini<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erin McBride<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kaitlin McGuire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Taylor Memoli<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Madison Monath<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Timothy Pakrad<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jessica Propst<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Michael Qualiano<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meghan Reilly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sabine Saavedra<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Samantha Saoud<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Milana Shindelman<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tiffany Smith<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Isabella Sorrentino<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Andrew Vinca<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kia Womack<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ashley Zingillioglu<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pictures-from-the-semester\">Pictures from the Semester<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"727\" height=\"968\" data-id=\"24253\" style=\"object-position: 49.63% 39.015%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_1.jpeg\" alt=\"Three students posing for photo\" class=\"wp-image-24253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_1.jpeg 727w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_1-113x150.jpeg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Breanna Guinta, Meghan Reilly, and Justine Bouton at the Seton Hall University Undergraduate Literature Conference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"24256\" style=\"object-position: 51.637777777778% 74.810277777778%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_3.jpeg\" alt=\"Group of people outside building with mural of a bird\" class=\"wp-image-24256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_3.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_3-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_3-113x150.jpeg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Moscaliuc\u2019s EN-451\/598 classes pose for a photo-op in Ireland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"470\" height=\"834\" data-id=\"24255\" style=\"object-position: 48.16% 28.5475%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_2.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman and man holding a book, posing for a photo\" class=\"wp-image-24255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_2.jpeg 470w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_2-169x300.jpeg 169w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_2-85x150.jpeg 85w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 470px) 100vw, 470px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Student Morgan Kelly (left) poses with with John Vurro, M.F.A. with a copy of his recently published novel, Play, &#8220;Rewind&#8221; (Tortoise)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"804\" height=\"536\" data-id=\"24252\" style=\"object-position: 61.661666666667% 39.331666666667%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_4.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman reading from a book in a garden, with audience listening\" class=\"wp-image-24252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_4.jpeg 804w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_4-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_4-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_18_4-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 804px) 100vw, 804px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Graduate student Carlee Migliroisi led the annual reading of William Wordworth\u2019s poem, \u201cI Wandered Lonely As a Cloud\u201d with English students, faculty, and staff participating.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"436\" height=\"268\" data-id=\"24247\" style=\"object-position: 53.32% 19.7625%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_7.jpeg\" alt=\"Four people smiling for a photo\" class=\"wp-image-24247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_7.jpeg 436w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_7-300x184.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_7-150x92.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 436px) 100vw, 436px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lauren Defelice, Hana Vozzo, Artist-in-Residence John Vercher, and Melaina Carrara at Toni Morrison Day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"516\" height=\"688\" data-id=\"24248\" style=\"object-position: 30.03% 27.14%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_4.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman leaning on freestanding sign that reads &quot;25 NCUR: Welcome to the Home of Student Presenters&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-24248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_4.jpeg 516w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_4-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_4-113x150.jpeg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 516px) 100vw, 516px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Senior Ashley Zingillioglu at the NCUR Conference in Pittsburgh.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"511\" data-id=\"24250\" style=\"object-position: 44.795% 34.985%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_5.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman smiling at a table with wrapped up books.\" class=\"wp-image-24250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_5.jpeg 668w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_5-300x229.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_5-150x115.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Senior Meghan Reilly at the table for Blind Date with a Book, sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"635\" height=\"475\" data-id=\"24251\" style=\"object-position: 52.471666666667% 35.335833333333%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_6.jpeg\" alt=\"Six people posing for photo in ornate room, a fountain behind them\" class=\"wp-image-24251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_6.jpeg 635w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_6-300x224.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2025\/06\/image_19_6-150x112.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">John Hanly, Stanley Blair, Meghan Reilly, Kurt Wagner, Carlee Migliorisi, and Susan Goulding, at the Library Research Awards Ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Volume XIV, Issue II Chair\u2019s Note Each year, as the Spring semester ends and I look back at all that our students and faculty have accomplished over the past academic year, I find myself at a bit of a loss trying to decide what to focus on in this column. Should I try to impress [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"parent":539,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_mu_eop_enabled":false,"_mu_eop_name":"","_mu_eop_name_override":false,"_mu_eop_description":"","_mu_eop_description_override":false,"_mu_eop_url":"","_mu_eop_url_override":false,"_mu_eop_program_type":"","_mu_eop_educational_credential":"","_mu_eop_time_to_complete":"","_mu_eop_number_of_credits":"","_mu_eop_occupational_category":"","_mu_eop_occupational_category_code":"","_mu_eop_program_prerequisites":"","_mu_eop_application_deadline":"","_mu_eop_application_start_date":"","_mu_eop_start_date":"","_mu_eop_end_date":"","_mu_eop_day_of_week":"","_mu_eop_time_of_day":"","_mu_eop_educational_program_mode":"","_mu_eop_financial_aid_eligible":"","_mu_eop_maximum_enrollment":"","_mu_eop_offers_price":"","_mu_eop_offers_currency":"USD","_mu_eop_offers_price_per":"","_mu_eop_offers_preset":"","_mu_eop_salary_upon_completion":"","_mu_eop_training_salary":"","_mu_eop_recognized_by_name":"","_mu_eop_recognized_by_url":"","_mu_eop_concentrations":"","_mu_eop_identifier_cip":"","_mu_eop_provider_name":"","_mu_eop_provider_name_override":false,"_mu_eop_provider_url":"","_mu_eop_provider_address":"","_mu_eop_provider_city":"","_mu_eop_provider_state":"","_mu_eop_provider_zip":"","_mu_eop_provider_country":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-24151","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24151"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24277,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24151\/revisions\/24277"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}