{"id":24528,"date":"2026-01-16T15:21:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T20:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/?page_id=24528"},"modified":"2026-01-16T17:14:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T22:14:20","slug":"words-matter-fall-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/publications\/words-matter-fall-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Words Matter (Fall 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"is-style-big-body\"><strong>Volume XV, Issue I<\/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-fall-2025.pdf\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">View 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=\"#note-from-the-chair\">Note from the Chair<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#new-voices-new-stories-a-monmouth-review-update\">\u201cNew Voices, New Stories \u2014 A Monmouth Review Update\u201d<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#curating-a-beginning-a-conversation-with-student-intern-justine-bouton\">Curating a Beginning: A Conversation with Student Intern Justine Bouton<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#new-mini-exhibit-premieres-at-holiday-open-house\">New Mini Exhibit Premieres at Holiday Open House<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#visiting-writers-series-welcomes-blake-butler\">Visiting Writers Series Welcomes Blake Butler<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ghost-stories-in-the-great-hall-an-afternoon-of-frights-flash-fiction-and-folklore\">Ghost Stories in the Great Hall: An Afternoon of Frights, Flash Fiction, and Folklore<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#congratulations-to-the-winners-of-the-fall-2025-graduate-creative-writing-awards-for-prose-and-poetry\">Congratulations to the Winners of the Fall 2025 Graduate Creative Writing Awards for Prose and Poetry<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ma-and-mfa-manuscripts-defended\">M.A. and M.F.A. Manuscripts Defended<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faculty-news\">Faculty News<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#department-student-and-alumni-achievements\">Department Student and Alumni Achievements<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#congratulations-graduates-and-new-sigma-tau-delta-members\">Congratulations Graduates and New Sigma Tau Delta Members<\/a>\n\n\n<ul><li>\n<a href=\"#new-fall-2025-inductees\">New Fall 2025 Inductees<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#january-2025-graduates\">January 2025 Graduates<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#7th-annual-toni-morrison-day\">7th Annual Toni Morrison Day<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#spring-visiting-writers-event\">Spring Visiting Writers Event<\/a>\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"note-from-the-chair\">Note from the Chair<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>If you are a student, faculty member, alum, or friend of Monmouth University and you have not been living under a rock, you have undoubtedly heard the great news about the University\u2019s having recently been reaccredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. What you may not have known is that, in November, the English department received similarly great news about its having successfully completed Monmouth University\u2019s External Program Review process and its also having been \u201creaccredited\u201d through AY2031-2032. I\u2019d like to take the opportunity, in this semester\u2019s &#8220;Note From the Chair&#8221;, to thank everyone who pitched in and helped to write the department\u2019s AY2024-25 Self-Study for Program Review, who met with our External Reviewer and provided her with the information that she needed to be able to generate her AY204-25 External Reviewer Report, and who assisted with developing our AY2025-32 Strategic Plan. It was definitely a team effort, and I am proud of the insights that we were able to generate, the strengths that we were able to confirm and consolidate, and the priorities for continued improvement that we were able to identify. Here\u2019s a bit more about what the process entailed and what we learned from the experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In May 2024, the English department was notified via e-mail that we would be required to complete \u201cprogram reviews in the upcoming AY2024-25 for all academic programs in the department.\u201d According to the e-mail, the program review was to include \u201ca self-study conducted by the department,\u201d \u201can external reviewer visit and report,\u201d and a \u201cdepartmental strategic plan for the next seven years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the next several months, the English department\u2019s 164-page AY 2024-25 Self Study for Program Review was developed by the department\u2019s leadership team via a-collaborative process, and the report was submitted on Jan. 31, 2025. In the self study, we were able to demonstrate how, in spite of a wide range of challenges and opportunities, including numerous changes in university leadership, the adoption of a new strategic plan, the immediate and ongoing effects of a global pandemic, declining enrollments, shrinking budgets, and the loss of seven tenured and tenure-stream departmental colleagues, the English department remains a productive and vital academic unit, notable for its commitment to excellence in teaching and advising, its outstanding faculty, its substantial contributions to the university\u2019s general education program, its high-profile annual events like Toni Morrison Day and the Visiting Writers Series, and its high-achieving students. We presented and analyzed extensive data about enrollment trends, faculty productivity, student learning outcomes, and alumni success, and we identified a number of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that we hoped to discuss with our external reviewer and address in our strategic plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also during the Fall 2024 semester, the English department reached out to Claire Buck, Ph.D., a professor emerita from Wheaton College with considerable prior experience serving as an MLA-authorized program reviewer for other university English departments across the country, about serving as our external reviewer. Buck accepted the invitation and was provided with a copy of the self study for her review in advance of her campus visit on March 26-27, 2025. During her visit, Buck met with the English department chair, with the members of the department\u2019s leadership team, with office staff, with undergraduate and graduate students, with full-time and adjunct department faculty, with the SHSS deans, with the provost, with the directors of CETL and Writing Services, and with the associate dean of the School of Education. Buck submitted her External Reviewer Report to the department on May 6. In the report, she praised the department \u201cfor the breadth of its programs, the dedication and expertise of its faculty, and its responsiveness to the rapidly changing and turbulent environment in Higher Education.\u201d She also challenged the department to commit to some serious strategic planning, to reexamine and possibly update the structures of its graduate and undergraduate programs, to revise its undergraduate student learning outcomes to better reflect the breadth and depth of what students take away from our programs, and to identify ways we could take on more of a leadership role in preparing University students to think critically about reading and writing in the age of AI. Our department\u2019s leadership team carefully considered these and other recommendations made by Buck and collaboratively developed an AY2025-32 Strategic Plan, which was submitted on Oct. 1 and approved in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I share all of this not only because we are proud of having successfully completed the above-described process and of having been \u201creaccredited\u201d by the institution, but also because we are excited about what we have learned about ourselves and what comes next. We are grateful to all of those whose generosity helps to make what we do possible\u2014especially the anonymous donor who has given multiple gifts to support creative writing at Monmouth, our former chair Caryl Sills, who continues to endow an important and substantial scholarship for outstanding English-Education majors, and the SHSS Dean\u2019s Office, which paid for me to be able attend the Modern Language Association\u2019s ADE-ALD Summer Seminar for English department chairs from May 28-31, as was recommended by our external reviewer in her report. And we appreciate each of you. Thanks for taking the time to read about what we\u2019ve been up to, your interest in what our faculty and students are doing, and your support for our department\u2019s important work. Best wishes for a successful Spring semester!<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"new-voices-new-stories-a-monmouth-review-update\">\u201cNew Voices, New Stories \u2014 A Monmouth Review Update\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Peter Malave<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"153\" style=\"object-position: 47.746111111111% 18.190555555556%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_3-300x153.jpeg\" alt=\"Eight students and an older man in a polo smiling for a photo.\" class=\"wp-image-24549\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_3-300x153.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_3.jpeg 470w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Monmouth Review board members and contributors gather for the Early Bird submission celebration on Dec. 6.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At Monmouth University, <em>The Monmouth Review<\/em> has cultivated an open and safe space for emerging creators as a literary and arts magazine. <em>The Monmouth Review<\/em> club hosts an annual publication to highlight student talent across campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students (and alumni!) of all majors can submit literature, artwork, or adjacent creative works to <em>The Monmouth Review<\/em> via eCampus, under <em>The Monmouth Review<\/em> module. Writers can submit poetry, prose, essays, interviews, and other creative mediums. Artists can submit work in any medium, including graphic design, digital photography, oil and acrylic on canvas, and more. Writers and artists may submit both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Submissions open as early as September, with an early bird deadline of Dec. 6 and a final submission deadline of Jan. 8. Afterward, the e-board comes together to read and evaluate students\u2019 work to decide what gets published in the magazine based on the overall quality and creativity of each submission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see a blend of different aspects of the arts spread throughout the university,\u201d said Zafira Demiri, M.A. in English student and editor-in-chief of <em>The Monmouth Review<\/em>. \u201cIt\u2019s like a celebration of all the creative voices at Monmouth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Run by and for students, <em>The Monmouth Review<\/em> provides noteworthy experience to prepare students for future publications. The club works together with creators and editors, becoming a learning opportunity for both parties. The art and literature teams then collaborate to construct a cohesive story with the student-submitted works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a long history in print, <em>The Monmouth Review<\/em> is approaching 70 years of publishing student work, with even more opportunities on the horizon. Starting with issues #67 and #68, student work will be published digitally. A new goal of the club is to work backward to prior issues to archive past student work, offering a worthwhile experience for those interested in archival work.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"curating-a-beginning-a-conversation-with-student-intern-justine-bouton\">Curating a Beginning: A Conversation with Student Intern Justine Bouton<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"299\" height=\"283\" style=\"object-position: 51.73% 20.59%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_6.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24555\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The English department recently spoke with Justine Bouton, a senior English major who completed an internship with the Township of Ocean Historical Museum this semester. This internship marked the first student placement in a pilot program developed by Stanley Blair, Ph.D., associate professor of English, in partnership with the museum. Her work behind the scenes offered valuable insight into the role of writing, research, and public engagement in cultural institutions. We asked her to share what she learned, how her major prepared her for the experience, and what advice she has for fellow students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What made you want to intern at the museum, and how did it connect to your interests as an English major?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After having Dr. Blair for two semesters in a row and meeting with him weekly as my advisor, I had heard a great deal about the museum. I knew Dr. Blair was very involved, and by Spring 2025 I still had to fulfill my experiential education requirement, so when he mentioned that he would be proposing a possible internship through Monmouth University with the Ocean Township Historical Museum, I immediately jumped on it. I sent him my resume that day, and he made sure to mention me to the board members. At first glance, the internship might seem like it\u2019s mostly for history majors, but it actually draws a lot on skills you develop as an English major. I knew I would be able to use all the interdisciplinary skills I have picked up as a student during this internship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What was one project or task from your internship that stood out to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While I thought writing about the Ocean Township Police Department exhibit would be the easiest part, I was sorely mistaken. Undergraduates are expected to write in a formal academic style, but in making my extended PowerPoint that would play during the exhibit, I had to adapt my writing skills to be more accessible. This meant keeping all the research I did but presenting it in ways that the public would be able to consume quickly and with shorter attention spans. This is one of the most important aspects of Experiential Education that I had taken for granted before, since I had yet to translate my academic skills into real-life practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How did your English major help you succeed in your work at the museum?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My research skills were really put to the test during this experience, but since I developed those skills as an English major, I was able to actually enjoy the work I was doing. Thanks to classes like Dr. Blair\u2019s Modern American Literature, Dr. Werner\u2019s seminar course, Dr. Bluemel\u2019s Writing During WWII, Dr. Jackson\u2019s many courses I have taken, and so on, my knowledge was already strong, and I could actually put those skills to use in a real-life application. I was using library databases, newspaper archives, census archives, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What skills did you learn or improve during your internship?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am a person who prefers to work independently and even panics at the thought of group projects, so when I was introduced to this internship as a collaborative effort, I was nervous. I had to force myself to communicate better and more efficiently with the board members and Dr. Blair in order for the exhibit to succeed. I am grateful for this internship because it pushed me far out of my comfort zone and prepared me more for life after college, where collaborative work is expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What did working with museum staff and visitors teach you about public humanities or community engagement?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before working at the museum, I was a bit pessimistic about the future of the humanities, but working with people like Lois Keily, Peggy Dellinger, Jim Foley, and everyone else involved, their enthusiasm was contagious. They truly wanted to deepen the community\u2019s connection to its past and heritage so that future generations will not only carry on this legacy but also appreciate the past and all that has come from it. While the world often seems not to take the side of public humanities, people like the board members of the Ocean Township Historical Museum are a beautiful reminder of a promising future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What advice would you give other English majors who are thinking about interning at a museum or similar place?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should be open to any kind of internship in the humanities, whether you think it fits perfectly with your interests or not, because after this experience, I have acquired not only new skills but also a wealth of knowledge about my community and beyond. English is not just about writing papers and reading; it develops skills that will help you in any profession, and I am grateful that I could demonstrate that through my internship experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are proud of Justine\u2019s success as the program\u2019s first intern, and her thoughtful, interdisciplinary work highlights the versatility of an English degree. We look forward to seeing where her talents take her next and hope her experience encourages other majors to explore hands-on opportunities that bring their studies to life. Justine is a senior English major who will graduate this January. She was featured in the Township of Ocean Historical Museum\u2019s newsletter, shared below.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"new-mini-exhibit-premieres-at-holiday-open-house\">New Mini Exhibit Premieres at Holiday Open House<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"177\" style=\"object-position: 53.545625% 27.14%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_7-300x177.jpeg\" alt=\"Student holding National Night Out shirt in front of six police officers.\" class=\"wp-image-24560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_7-300x177.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_7.jpeg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Monmouth University intern Justine Bouton took her research to the field, attending \u201cOcean\u2019s National Night Out,\u201d an annual event to promote police-community relations, and neighborhood safety.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>(Article and photo reprinted with permission from Peggy Dellinger, <em>Ocean\u2019s Heritage<\/em>, Vol. 41, No. 2, Fall-Winter, 2025.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new exhibit, \u201cKeeping the Peace: The History of the Ocean Township Police,\u201d premiering at our Holiday Open House on Dec. 6 and 7, is the product of our first-ever internship program with Monmouth University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior Justine Bouton worked under the supervision of Board members Lois Kiely (University alum, adjunct professor, and retired school administrator,) and Stanley Blair, Ph.D. (University professor, the museum board University liaison, and Bouton\u2019s internship Universty supervisor).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With their support and guidance, Bouton searched&nbsp;museum files and&nbsp;newspaper archives, interviewed University police department personnel, and developed a multimedia presentation that chronicles the MUPD\u2019s history from its beginnings to its contemporary use of technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pilot is just the beginning of an ongoing program. To learn more about internships, contact Kiely at <a href=\"mailto:llkiely@aol.com\">llkiely@aol.com<\/a> or Blair at <a href=\"mailto:sblair@monmouth.edu\">sblair@monmouth.edu.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"visiting-writers-series-welcomes-blake-butler\">Visiting Writers Series Welcomes Blake Butler<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Eleanor Curatolo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"665\" height=\"350\" style=\"object-position: 53.365% 31.415%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_10.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24567\" style=\"width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_10.jpeg 665w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_10-300x158.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Blake Butler reading from his memoir, &#8220;Molly&#8221;<em> <\/em>(Archway Editions, 2023). Photo by Matthew Geller.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On Oct. 22, 2025, the Monmouth University Department of English held its first Visiting Writers Series event for the 2025\u20132026 school year, inviting Blake Butler for a reading and discussion with Kenneth Womack, Ph.D. Butler\u2019s short fiction, essays, interviews, and reviews have appeared in <em>The New York Times, Harper\u2019s, The Paris Review, Fence, Bomb, Bookforum<\/em>, and <em>Vice<\/em>. In 2021, he was longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize. He is the author of twelve book-length works, including &#8220;UXA.GOV&#8221;, &#8220;Void Corporation&#8221;, &#8220;Aannex&#8221;, and &#8220;Molly&#8221; (Archway Editions, 2023), excerpts from which faculty and students had the privilege of hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Molly&#8221; tells the story of Butler\u2019s wife, how she died by suicide, and the repercussions of the loss on Butler\u2019s life. The excerpt he read reflected one of his final days spent with Molly at an art museum, depicting both the stress Butler felt at the time and Molly\u2019s melancholic thoughts through her poetry, journals, and emails interlaced throughout. Butler captures both the bleakest and most meaningful moments in his memoir, honoring Molly\u2019s life in every word. The vulnerable account of a husband\u2019s devout love for his late wife left the audience in awe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the reading, Womack led a conversation about Butler\u2019s work and writing process. In writing &#8220;Molly&#8221;, Butler claimed he was \u201ccalled\u201d to create \u201csomething indescribable.\u201d Womack noted that Butler \u201cbenefited from having lots of material to draw on from Molly.\u201d Once Butler Began reading Molly\u2019s work following her death, he \u201ccouldn\u2019t stop pulling the threads,\u201d which became the basis for his memoir. Womack remarked that \u201cMolly wanted to be seen\u201d in how she directed Butler to her material. In documenting the story of his life with Molly, Butler came to \u201cunderstand how such a rare person could lose grip of the things holding her together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first ten publishers to whom Butler sent his memoir claimed that such a heart-wrenching story could not be published during the pandemic. Butler persisted for Molly, who believed that \u201cit\u2019s your duty to tell your story.\u201d When the memoir was eventually published, Butler explained that &#8220;Molly&#8221; received mixed reviews. The discussions about suicide, affairs, and mental health were off-putting to some readers but inspiring to others. Butler\u2019s and Molly\u2019s families thought the publication of such sensitive information was inappropriate, writing poor reviews of the memoir in response. Butler claimed that he had \u201ctoo much love for art and literature\u201d to tell a censored story of the wife he adored above all things. A deeply introspective night concluded with Butler\u2019s assertion that he \u201cdoesn\u2019t care what the repercussions of truth are,\u201d urging the audience to express their own truths in their writing.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ghost-stories-in-the-great-hall-an-afternoon-of-frights-flash-fiction-and-folklore\">Ghost Stories in the Great Hall: An Afternoon of Frights, Flash Fiction, and Folklore<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3430\" height=\"1847\" style=\"object-position: 54.645666666667% 33.068%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-Halloween.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24651\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-Halloween.jpg 3430w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-Halloween-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-Halloween-1024x551.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-Halloween-768x414.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-Halloween-1536x827.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-Halloween-2048x1103.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3430px) 100vw, 3430px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Faculty, students, alumni, and friends gathered in Withey Chapel to share their spooky creative writing pieces.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1848\" height=\"1848\" style=\"object-position: 60.7375% 30.41875%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-EBoard.jpg\" alt=\"Members of the Sig Tau Executive Board, (left to right) Veronique Manfredini, Kaitlin McGuire, Michael Corbett, Gwyneth Finn\" class=\"wp-image-24654\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-EBoard.jpg 1848w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-EBoard-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-EBoard-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-EBoard-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-EBoard-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Sig-Tau-EBoard-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1848px) 100vw, 1848px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Members of the Sig Tau Executive Board, (left to right) Veronique Manfredini, Kaitlin McGuire, Michael Corbett, Gwyneth Finn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>On Oct. 29, Sigma Tau Delta hosted its annual Ghost Stories in the Great Hall reading in the Walt Withey Chapel, welcoming members, faculty, students, and guests for an afternoon of spooky storytelling. The event was organized by the chapter\u2019s executive board in collaboration with Beth Sara Swanson, faculty advisor and lecturer. Chapter president Gwyneth Finn opened the program with welcoming remarks, followed by a reading from adjunct faculty member Matthew Wedlock, whose award-winning piece, \u201cThe House Lager,\u201d won a ghost story contest sponsored by the Asbury Book Cooperative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Current and prospective Sigma Tau Delta members, faculty, and recent alumni shared original poetry, flash fiction, and excerpts from favorite ghostly tales. Refreshments and tarot card readings helped set the atmosphere, contributing to an engaging and festive event. With a strong turnout and a full slate of readings filling the 3 p.m.\u20134 p.m. time slot, the afternoon was full of great readings and good company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default 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=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"24638\" style=\"object-position: 58.61% 20.035%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Swanson-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Swanson-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Swanson-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Swanson-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Swanson-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Swanson-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Swanson.jpg 1848w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Beth Sara Swanson, faculty advisor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" data-id=\"24641\" style=\"object-position: 50.39% 17.72%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Gwen-Finn.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Gwen-Finn.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Gwen-Finn-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Gwen-Finn-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Gwen-Finn-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gwyneth Finn, Sigma Tau Delta president<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"24642\" style=\"object-position: 69.8025% 28.615%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Wedlock-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Wedlock-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Wedlock-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Wedlock-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Wedlock-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Wedlock-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Wedlock.jpg 1848w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adjunct Professor Matthew Wedlock sharing his award winning piece<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" data-id=\"24645\" style=\"object-position: 46.715% 20.625%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Zadotti.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24645\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Zadotti.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Zadotti-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Zadotti-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Zadotti-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adjunct Professor Rob Zadotti<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"24647\" style=\"object-position: 46.46% 20.745%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Ljajka-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Ljajka-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Ljajka-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Ljajka-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Ljajka-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Ljajka-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Ljajka.jpg 1848w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Amanda Ljajka, undergraduate student<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"24650\" style=\"object-position: 48.82% 18.59%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/DeFelice-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/DeFelice-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/DeFelice-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/DeFelice-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/DeFelice-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/DeFelice-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/DeFelice.jpg 1848w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lauren DeFelice, alumna<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"congratulations-to-the-winners-of-the-fall-2025-graduate-creative-writing-awards-for-prose-and-poetry\">Congratulations to the Winners of the Fall 2025 Graduate Creative Writing Awards for Prose and Poetry<\/h2>\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><strong>Prose:<\/strong> Alicia Notorio for &#8220;The Young Boy Goes on an Adventure&#8221;, judged by Michael Kardus who said the following of Notorio\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The piece that rose above the rest, for me, was \u201cThe Young Boy Goes on an Adventure.\u201d This is labeled \u201cPart I,\u201d so I assume it\u2019s part of a larger story or novel; even so, it stood on its own as the heartbreaking story of a boy who needs his tragic narrative to be, instead, a tale of adventure and intrigue. Much of the story\u2019s power comes from the writer\u2019s deft handling of close point-of-view and the friction between five-year-old Nico\u2019s version of his own story and the reader\u2019s fuller understanding that this isn&#8217;t an \u201cadventure\u201d at all but a story of desperation, drug addiction, and damaging parenting. \u201cIt\u2019s so cool!\u201d Nico thinks, hurrying after his mother on a grimy 7<sup>th<\/sup> Avenue\u2014but we suspect that at some deeper level, Nico already knows that everything is far from cool. Each exclamation mark in this story is a frantic shout for Nico to believe the lies he\u2019s learning to tell himself.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" style=\"object-position: 54.11% 47.86%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/zdu6up1t-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24662 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/zdu6up1t-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/zdu6up1t-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/zdu6up1t-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/zdu6up1t-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/zdu6up1t.jpg 1172w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/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><strong>Poetry:<\/strong> Zafira Demiri for her collection of poems judged by Liza Duncan who said the following of Demiri\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These clear-eyed poems deftly explore hunger and appetite, pleasure and sensuality. The speaker\u2019s experience of bodily hunger coincides with a more abstract longing to understand the world and to be understood. Here the physical and metaphysical realms collide: \u201cI never imagined God with fingerprints,\/\/but right now, gazing at this vibrating mirror\/I see the swirling &amp; ridges of identity imprinted.\u201d Elements of the tangible world are presented in surprising ways: the speaker washes tangerine pith from their cuticles, pinches a dried maple leaf from the soles of their shoes. Within the speaker\u2019s insatiety is a quiet yet celebratory determination to find one\u2019s place in the material world and all that lies beyond it. \u201c[M]y veins\u2026drink it up,\/turn more green with\/\/life,\u201d the speaker asserts. \u201cI will not wilt\/tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" style=\"object-position: 47.58% 32.44%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Anna-Huber-Portrait_20220412_AD_191.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24659 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Anna-Huber-Portrait_20220412_AD_191.jpg 512w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Anna-Huber-Portrait_20220412_AD_191-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/Anna-Huber-Portrait_20220412_AD_191-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ma-and-mfa-manuscripts-defended\">M.A. and M.F.A. Manuscripts Defended<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Liza Gordon, <em>Wet Wings<\/em>. Fall 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter Malave, <em>Man of the House<\/em>. Fall 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Carlee Migliorsi, \u201cAsbury Park Uprising: Race, Riot, and Revenue.\u201d Fall 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gabriella Petrillo, <em>Sabato<\/em>. Fall 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Julie Temple, <em>The Treks of Jessica Taylor<\/em><em>: <\/em><em>The Talisman<\/em>. Fall 2025<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faculty-news\">Faculty News<\/h2>\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>Kristin Bluemel, Ph.D., published a book chapter, \u201cAnimals at the Hearth: E.H. Shepard and Fantasies of Rural Living.\u201d in &#8220;The 1920s: A Decade of Modern British Fiction&#8221;. Eds. Leigh Wilson, Nick Hubble, and Philip Tew. The Decades Series. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2025. 253-83.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bluemel appeared at the Modernist Studies Association: Infrastructures in Boston, Massachusetts, in October, where she made three distinct contributions to the conference, serving as a roundtable moderator, organizing and moderating a seminar, and presenting a panel paper.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"731\" style=\"object-position: 52.735% 47.29%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/bluemel.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24623 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/bluemel.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/bluemel-295x300.jpg 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/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>Mihaela Moscaliuc, Ph.D., was awarded a Pushcart Prize for her poem \u201cApril 2020\u201d which appears in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Pushcart-Prize-Best-Small-Presses\/dp\/B0DY34X645\"><em>2026 Pushcart Prize L<\/em><\/a>. Her poem \u201cWhile Digging for Worms\u201d was published in the fall issue of <em>The Progressive.<\/em> Moscaliuc is currently on leave and traveling, having been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. She recently participated in VI Encuentro Internacional de Poes\u00eda Esteros, a poetry festival in Montevideo, Uruguay, and took part in the XXXII Encuentro Nacional e International de Mujeres Poetas de Ceret\u00e9 (32nd edition of the festival\/meeting of national and international women poets) in Colombia.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"729\" style=\"object-position: 48.83% 40.945%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/moscaliuc.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24626 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/moscaliuc.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/moscaliuc-296x300.jpg 296w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/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>Stanley Blair, Ph.D., presented his paper titled, &#8220;&#8216;Peculiar, Quiet Circumstances&#8217;: Dan Rice as Writer.&#8221; at the Mid-Atlantic Popular American Culture Association conference in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blair also partnered with the Township of Ocean Historical Museum to develop a museum internship program, recently approved, with ten internships available exclusively to Monmouth students. The internships draw mainly on humanities skill sets. The pilot intern, senior Justine Bouton, is featured in this newsletter.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"664\" style=\"object-position: 54.055% 40.02%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/blair.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24627 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/blair.jpg 512w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/blair-231x300.jpg 231w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/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>Sue Starke, Ph.D., saw the publication of her article entitled, &#8220;Malfont\u2019s Tongue: Poetic Injustice at the Court of Mercilla (FQ V.v.11)&#8221; in the July 2025 issue of <em>The Spenser Review<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"733\" style=\"object-position: 51.915% 40.645%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/stark.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24630 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/stark.jpg 799w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/stark-300x275.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/stark-768x705.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><\/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>Congratulations to Adjunct Professor John Vurro, whose essay, \u201cGuardians\u201d, was listed in &#8220;The Best American Essays of 2025&#8221; (2025). HarperCollins.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"879\" height=\"879\" style=\"object-position: 50.41% 43.215%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/vurro.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24633 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/vurro.jpg 879w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/vurro-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/vurro-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/vurro-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 879px) 100vw, 879px\" \/><\/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>Adjunct Professor Emma Varga presented her paper titled, \u201cRefiguration: Complicating the \u2018Master Trope.\u2019\u201d at the Mid-Atlantic Popular American Culture Association conference in November.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1022\" height=\"1024\" style=\"object-position: 50.31% 45.01%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/varga-1022x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24632 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/varga-1022x1024.jpg 1022w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/varga-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/varga-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/varga-768x769.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/varga.jpg 1246w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1022px) 100vw, 1022px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"department-student-and-alumni-achievements\">Department Student and Alumni Achievements<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-image-fill-element\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 15%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>Recent graduate, Ashley Zingillioglu \u201825, has been featured in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/now\/\">Monmouth Now<\/a>, the Fall\/Winter 2025 edition of <em>Monmouth Magazine<\/em>, and <em>Penn GSE News <\/em>(December 9, 2025). Now a student in University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education\u2019s Learning Sciences and Technologies program, Zingillioglu is continuing a project that began as her undergraduate thesis at Monmouth University by refining and scaling \u201cTalking with Friends\u201d, an interactive social story platform that supports communication skills for students with autism through research-based and emerging AI approaches.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/IMG_0062-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24657 size-full\" style=\"object-position:54% 24%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/IMG_0062-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/IMG_0062-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/IMG_0062-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/IMG_0062-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/IMG_0062-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:2rem\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduate students, Zafira Demiri and Anna Huber presented their work, \u201cI Have No Criticism and I Must Theorize: Literary and Rhetorical Concerns about AI in Science Fiction\u201d at the Mid-Atlantic Popular American Culture conference in November.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"congratulations-graduates-and-new-sigma-tau-delta-members\">Congratulations Graduates and New Sigma Tau Delta Members<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"new-fall-2025-inductees\">New Fall 2025 Inductees<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Justine Bouton <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ana Heloisa Carvalho<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Julianna Chesla <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jacqueline Collo <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eleanor Curatolo <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Amanda Ljajka <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Aedan Lorfink <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Amy Margiatto <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jevon Melvin <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Juno Snider<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>J.P. Snyder<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"january-2025-graduates\">January 2025 Graduates<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Justine Bouton <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Liza Gordon <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nayeli Herdoiza <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anna Huber <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Peter Malave <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Carlee Migliorisi<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7th-annual-toni-morrison-day\">7th Annual Toni Morrison Day<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Feb. 20, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Toni Morrison was a literary giant whose novels reshaped American literature by centering Black life with lyrical power, moral clarity, and unflinching truth. Across generations, her work has served as both mirror and guide\u2014shaping the voices of contemporary writers, anchoring classrooms and community conversations, and offering new readers language for inherited memory and identity. Her legacy endures as both a canon and a call: to read deeply, write bravely, and carry forward stories that refuse to be forgotten.<\/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\/toni-morrison-day\/\">Program Updates and Full Contest Rules<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"434\" style=\"object-position: 47.295% 40.63%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_33.png\" alt=\"Headshot of Toni Morrison\" class=\"wp-image-24600 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_33.png 461w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_33-300x282.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"spring-visiting-writers-event\">Spring Visiting Writers Event<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Date:<\/strong> Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026<br><strong>Time:<\/strong> 4:30 &#8211; 6 p.m.<br><strong>Location:<\/strong> The Great Hall, Room 104 (Julian Abele Room)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Monmouth University Visiting Writers Series, in partnership with The Intercultural Center, welcomes author Joseph Earl Thomas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Joseph Earl Thomas is the author of the memoir &#8220;Sink&#8221; and the novel &#8220;God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer&#8221;, winner of the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. His work has been published in <em>The Paris Review<\/em>,<em> The Verge<\/em>,<em> Harper\u2019s<\/em>,<em> VQR<\/em>,<em> The Yale Review<\/em>, and elsewhere. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame\u2019s M.F.A. program, he also earned his Ph.D. in English at the University of Pennsylvania. He teaches writing at Sarah Lawrence College and courses in Black studies, poetics, literature, and video games at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research.<\/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-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"505\" height=\"392\" data-id=\"24611\" style=\"object-position: 44.335% 35.73%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_39.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24611\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_39.jpeg 505w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_39-300x233.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 505px) 100vw, 505px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"212\" height=\"315\" data-id=\"24614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_40.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_40.jpeg 212w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/549\/2026\/01\/image_40-202x300.jpeg 202w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:2rem\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Volume XV, Issue I Note from the Chair If you are a student, faculty member, alum, or friend of Monmouth University and you have not been living under a rock, you have undoubtedly heard the great news about the University\u2019s having recently been reaccredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. What you may [&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-24528","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24528","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=24528"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24686,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/department-of-english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24528\/revisions\/24686"}],"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=24528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}