All posts by Rachel Hicks

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Spring 2020 Courses: Exploring Technology through Film

Check out this series on upcoming spring 2020 courses! Remember to check in with your adviser for TAP numbers before your registration date. 

This spring, Professor Tanya Rawal is teaching a course on Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. at the Ware Center about the relationships between film, technology and society as they developed during the twentieth century.

Course Attributes:

  • 200-level
  • G1 – Arts & Humanities
  • W – Writing Component
  • Prerequisites: COMM 100 or 100H and ENGL 311 or 312 or 313 or 316 (the Advanced Writing prereq can be waivedby Dr. Craven)
  • Must have off campus transportation (free bus from campus!)

Brave New Worlds: Exploring Technology through Film

The ‘message’ of any medium or technology is the change of scale or pace or pattern that it introduces into human affairs. – Marshall McCluhan

From the use of the multiplane camera in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the ‘synergy between science, technology, and society’ in The Stepford Wives (1975) – this class provides students with a platform to understand technology in various social and political terms. With scholarly readings from different disciplines—history, sociology, philosophy, media studies, anthropology, for example—this course will introduce students to the range of questions about technology, society, and politics. This course will also provide students with the knowledge and tools necessary to critically examine the development and integration of film, technology, and society.

Overall, this course seeks to help students better understand the world in which they live, the broader implications of their major course of study, and the complex social, ethical, and moral concerns presented by film and technology. Our goal will be to:

  1. understand the various perspectives on the co-construction of society and technology;
  2. recognize that technology represents a complex set of practices, norms, and values that both reflect and shape our beliefs about personhood, class, gender, race, time, space, labor, politics, and so on; and
  3. examine how factors stemming from broader socio-economy, legal, and political contexts seep into representations and applications of technology in film.
Conferences

Presenting at Boundless: Learning in Ticket to Ride

Elizabeth Duchesneau, a freshman English BSE major, presented at the first Boundless Conference held at the Ware Center featuring the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Read more about her experiences below!

Elizabeth Duchesneau presents at Boundless.

On October 11th, Millersville University hosted the very first Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Conference: Boundless. I’m a freshman, so I had never been to a research presentation conference. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew what my topic was and that I wanted to share all the hard work I had poured into my class with Dr. Pfannenstiel.

The first thing I noticed about the conference was that it was laid out as a giant group discussion of the arts and humanities, split into subcategories. Our class was involved in a discussion about learning in games. Because the conference was relatively small, everyone in the audience could add input along with each speaker, and each speaker could be confident that everyone who was there really wanted to be there to hear what they had to say.

The most important part of presenting my topic, Learning in Ticket to Ride, was figuring out how to engage the audience while also providing understanding of what I had learned. My classmates had some great suggestions about how to communicate ideas successfully, such as maintaining eye contact and speaking clearly and loudly. I also wanted to make sure the audience was open-minded towards the topic, especially since it may have been the first time some people had been hearing about it. I did this by giving explanations of various concepts my class knew well, but others may not have.

-Elizabeth Duchesneau

Conferences, Grad Students

Presenting at Boundless: American Lit & Superhero Comics

English graduate student Clark Fennimore presented at the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Conference: Boundless. Read more about his experiences below! 

Clark Fennimore at Boundless

In Mid-October, Millersville University hosted the Boundless Conference in cooperation with the other universities of the PA State System of Higher Education. It specifically involved the Humanities departments. Many panels included presentations by students from these universities, including our own. I was placed on one of the first panels to present. I presented with two other students on topics related to popular culture.

I spoke for about twenty minutes. My own presentation was about American literature from the 1920s and 30s that influenced the later development of superhero comics. Because it was based on research I did for a much more extensive paper in a class I took, I had to narrow down the topic. The paper itself had sections about characters as influences and about genre characteristics developed in the era. I limited my presentation to the characters. Most famous among the characters were Zorro and Tarzan.

This was a rewarding experience in public speaking. I consider it as a short introduction to the format of lecturing. I enjoyed it and hope to have much more experience of this type. I believe that conducting and presenting research are important skills worth practicing, particularly since I am in graduate school, studying English. I consider them important for people in any kind of graduate program. They increase professional credibility.

Something else worth mentioning about the conference is that I listened to many presentations on different topics. This shows great academic diversity within the humanities. There were topics from literature and history among other areas. A major theme of the conference was the interest of humanities in many areas of life. I am honored to have presented in a conference advocating unity within such an area of academics.

-Clark Fennimore

Special Activities, Student Activities

TIFF 2019

This September, a group of students interested in film traveled to Toronto, Canada for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with Dr. Craven. Lisa Crum, Edward Kirchoff, Abigail Breckbill, Andrew Ciardullo, Morgan Firestone, John Simpson, and Jacob Dickens traveled on a bus for eight hours to see a wide-variety of new films.

TIFF was founded in 1976 as an aggregate of other festival films and has since become “one of the most beloved cinematic events in the world, universally regarded as an ideal platform for filmmakers to launch their careers and to premiere their new work,” according to its website.

Lisa, Abigail, and Morgan sitting in a theater before a film screening. Photo credit: Abigail Breckbill

Abigail Breckbill, fifth year writing studies major, was one of the students on the trip. She wrote a quick blurb about how TIFF impacted her MU classes, what her favorite moments and films were, and how the trip will impact her future.

“I’m taking a film course this semester, so attending TIFF really felt like an extension of that class. It gave me a chance to be in a room with people from all over the world who love film. I also got to talk with many people (including Millersville peers) and hear what they appreciate about film. One of my favorite moments at TIFF was during a film which dealt with cancer and was incredibly heart-wrenching. Toward the end, the entirety of the auditorium was sniffling, and for me that was a very real, human moment in which we were all connected by something bigger. I love that film is able to do that for people, and I found that moment inspiring as someone who wants to create content for an audience to enjoy and be affected by.

Dancers standing before the dragon statue at the 2019 Toronto Dragon Festival. Photo credit: Andrew Ciardullo

“My favorite film was also the film that was hardest to watch. The Report was about the investigation into the CIA’s use of torture following 9/11. It was a very gripping story, especially knowing that it was based on true events. It also made the depictions of torture incredibly difficult to witness. At the end of the film, the panel presentation included Daniel Jones himself, the man who conducted much of the research. It was incredibly amazing to see a man who is a real-life hero.

“This trip was an opportunity for me to experience a community outside of my own country. I think it affected me long term in that it slightly added to my view of the world as a whole, and allowed me to experience film in a way I never had before. In the future I would love to go back, and I think I will continue to grow in my love of film as an art.”

John Simpson, a third-year media and broadcasting major, also wrote how TIFF impacted his college experience.

“The trip to the Toronto International Film Festival was an experience I will be forever grateful to have had. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, I always felt far removed from the film industry. Sometimes it feels like they people within the business don’t really exist, like they’re characters presented to us in media. So it was definitely an interesting experience to see these people in front of my eyes instead of an interview or up on the screen. Seeing directors and actors I admire in person was somehow fulfilling, like their existence was confirmed to me and the film-making dream is real. This feeling was particularly potent when watching Color out of Space at midnight. It was the world premiere of the film so most of the cast and crew were there at the screening, including Nicolas Cage who sat two rows behind us. Getting to be in the heart of the film industry was an electrifying experience that will stick with me forever.

Cast of the HG Lovecraft film Color out of Space, including Nicholas Cage (second from the left), give a panel presentation after the screening. Photo credit: Jill Craven

“The films I saw at the festival ranged from family drama, horror, science fiction, and more. The wonderful thing about TIFF was the diversity of films there. I watched so many different artistic voices up on the big screen and when the filmmakers were there, it made it an almost personal experience, like they were sharing their story with the audience. I did not like every film I saw, but I enjoyed being at all of the screenings. It was rare to see films of these types have fully packed theaters, but you could tell that all of the audience members truly love film and attending the festival. I was seeing movies that will most likely not be remembered in the grand scheme of 21st century cinema, but regardless, I am pleased with what I saw at the festival.

“As someone who loves cinema, this trip made me grateful I am attending Millersville University. In this area of PA there is not a whole lot of love given to independent and international cinema, so when this opportunity was given to students, I happily jumped aboard. Experiencing Toronto and TIFF is one of the highlights of my college experience so far and I am thankful to the University and Dr. Jill Craven for allowing this to happen. I think if someone is interested in film or international art, then this trip is a fantastic gateway to experience one of the largest annual events for film. I do hope that this opportunity will continue for years to come as it has made a positive impact on my attendance at Millersville, and I would like many more students to experience it as well.”

Jacob Dickens, another student who attended TIFF this past fall, wrote an article for The Snapper about his experiences. “For two weeks in the cool air of Toronto, Canada, some of the biggest names in American and foreign films gathered to show off their newest works. In total, I managed to catch about fourteen films during my trip there. I had made over 70 thousand steps in the four days the Millersville Study Abroad group was at the festival while walking back and forth between two theatres that were almost thirty minutes apart.” Read the full article here! 

Much thanks to Ieva Zake, Dean of Humanities and Social Science, and Vilas Prabhu, Provost, for making this trip possible.

Title image photo credit: Abigail Breckbill

Community Engagement, Literary Events, Resources, Special Activities, Student Activities

Millersville University Literary Festival

Dr. Sarah D’Stair

On Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8, Millersville University will host its annual Literary Festival. This year’s theme is “Writing in Community.”

The event will start on Thursday in McComsey’s Ford Atrium at 4 pm. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to attend and read at an open reading following featured faculty member Sarah D’Stair.

Meghan Kenny

At 7:30pm, Meghan Kenny will give her keynote address in Myers Auditorium. Meghan Kenny is the author of the short story collection Love Is No Small Thing (LSU Press, 2017) and the novel The Driest Season (W.W. Norton, 2018), which was an honorable mention for the 2019 PEN/HEMINGWAY Award. She lives in Lancaster.

On Friday the 8th, the Literary Festival will continue in the McNairy Library from 9am to 4pm. Individual sessions will take place in Room 100 where you can learn how to:

  • Write fiction and short stories
  • Write thrillers and suspense novels
  • Write free verse and traditional poetry
  • Find work in writing-related fields
  • Find what publishers want and get your work published
  • Write creative non-fiction and memoirs
  • Approach literature for translation

If you have any questions, contact Dr. Archibald or Dr. Jakubiak. Visit the Literary Festival website for the full event schedule and more information.

 

 

Grad Students

Having and Presenting a Research Regimen in Graduate School

Graduate student William Artz discusses how to utilize a research regimen in graduate school. Read more about his experiences below! 

If one is going to graduate school, especially in the humanities, it is never too early to begin thinking about, and developing, a research regimen. What does that mean? What does that entail? It is really less intimidating than one might, at first blush, think. There are two key points that I would like to make, and ideas that I have followed for some time. Those are: never follow a recipe; and never be condescended to. These have served me well.

All scholars in post-secondary educational institutions have a particular emphasis in their given field of study. This sounds very pedantic, elitist, and just plain scary. It really is not, because if you are in graduate school, you are one of those very scholars. Use every opportunity available to you, to talk with faculty about their academic work, and you will soon realize, not only the true nature of knowledge acquisition, but also, just how addictive advanced research can be.

Though I am currently working on the Master of Art’s degree in English, given my interests, and my thesis research, I align with comparative literature and cultural studies, more than any other aspect in the field of study known as English. At the graduate level, one is able to start focusing in on specific interests, in a particular discipline. To be a bit more explanatory, in English studies there are any number of subfields, from literature, composition and rhetoric, to creative writing, film, and digital media.

Always remember to never allow yourself to be underestimated. If there is anything about which you do not understand, ask. Aside from the vacuous platitude about no dumb questions, there are no dumb questions. You should never feel at all intimidated by any institution of learning. Should not be at all scary or off-putting. If it is, determine why, and then talk with faculty; trust me, they love to talk, especially about their academic work. As you advance in your own academic career and life, it will become second-nature to use every waking moment thinking about ideas for either research articles, or professional academic conferences. At the post-doctoral level, that shifts a bit, in that one adds in the need to write monographs, i.e. scholarly books. All of this is just part of the process, and no matter what your level, there are always any number of support systems available to you. Yet again, none of this information is beyond one’s level of aptitude.

This type of scholarly endeavor should, in essence, lead to either the thesis, or dissertation; guidance and advice from faculty, however, is not only a necessity, but a must. It sounds like I am repeating myself, but is worth repeating: Aside from one’s graduate adviser, any faculty member is interested in talking about their own research interests, as well as, finding ways of optimal navigation through the maze of academic scholarship. It is a process with which to become familiar, and to use to your advantage.

The other aspect of academic scholarship, is presenting that work to others, on campus through colloquia, workshops, roundtables, and Chautauqua-like discussions, as merely examples. It is never too early to start presenting one’s research endeavors, as responses, both good and bad, are all constructive, present as often as reasonable, until you complete the program. If you have an interest in doctoral work, believe me, you will quickly come to realize the value in this endeavor.

-William Artz

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Spring 2020 Courses: The Woman Writer and Her World

Check out this series on upcoming spring 2020 courses! Remember to check in with your adviser for TAP numbers before your registration date. 

This spring, Dr. Baldys is teaching a course on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:35-3:50pm about British women writers as they navigated the world of the “New Woman.”

Course Attributes:

  • 200-level
  • G1 – Arts & Humanities Area
  • W – Writing Component
  • WSTU – Women’s & Gender Studies Minor
  • Counts for British Literature Requirement
  • Prerequisites: ENGL 110 or 110H

The “New Women”: British Girls Who Ran the World

In Britain, the decades spanning the late nineteenth- and early-twentieth centuries were a pivotal time for women. Technological advances and the relaxation of conventions meant that women saw increased social opportunities: they could ride bicycles, work in department stores, wear bloomers, and even smoke in public! Yet many disapproved of the “New Woman,” and her modern ways gave rise to both caricature and controversy as the nation lurched toward the enactment of women’s suffrage in 1918. This course will explore the broad influence of the “New Woman” controversy as it played out in literature of the era. We’ll read works of poetry, prose, fiction, and drama written by and about “the girl of the period”—works that encouraged readers to re-examine conceptions of marriage, gender, sexuality, and social mobility, even as early feminists struggled to balance their claims against those of other marginalized groups, like the colonized, the lower-class, and the disabled.

Texts studied will include:

  • Henry James’s story “Daisy Miller,”
  • Virginia Woolf’s feminist manifesto A Room of One’s Own,
  • novelists Sarah Grand and Mona Caird,
  • suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, and
  • explorer Mary Kingsley, whose best-selling nonfiction work Travels in West Africa led many of her contemporaries to re-evaluate British imperialism,
  • along with the works of lesser-known poets, novelists, and suffragettes.

Please send any questions to Dr. Baldys at emily.baldys@millersville.edu.

Literary Events, Special Activities, Student Activities

2019 Harrisburg Book Festival Schedule

Check out the 2019 Harrisburg Book Festival at Midtown Scholar Bookstore! Listed are some of the major events at the festival. Are you interested in getting a ride from campus to the festival? Contact Rachel Hicks or Dr. Corkery.

Now in its seventh year, the Harrisburg Book Festival is proudly hosted by the Midtown Scholar Bookstore. Featuring an annual tent sale, award-winning authors, children’s illustrators, emerging novelists, acclaimed historians — surrounded by hundreds of thousands of books at one of the nation’s most celebrated independent bookstores — the Harrisburg Book Festival aims to amplify and celebrate diverse literature for all ages. All events are free and open to the public.

For the Love of Beer: Inside Pennsylvania Breweries

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3RD | 7PM

Pennsylvanians have enjoyed a long, rich love affair with beer. The state not only ranks first in the nation for the number of barrels produced but the breweries, beer, and their craftsmen all have interesting stories to tell. Author Alison Feeney examines Pennsylvania’s brewing history, geography, and cultural richness while highlighting over 100 of the states thriving craft breweries in her new book, For the Love of Beer: Pennsylvania Breweries. Moderated by Sara Bozich, join Feeney, Hannah Ison of Zero Day Brewery, and Jeff Musselman of the Millworks for a lively conversation on, you guessed it, beer.

Following the discussion, we’ll have a book signing and samples of beer from The Millworks and Zero Day Brewing Company.

Smart Talk Live with Eric Foner

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4TH | 9AM

From Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Eric Foner, a timely history of the constitutional changes that built equality into the nation’s foundation — and how those guarantees have been shaken over time. In The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution, Foner informs our understanding of the present as well as the past. Knowledge and vigilance are always necessary to secure our basic rights.

Eric Foner will be interviewed on-stage by WITF’s Scott LaMar for Smart Talk Live.

An Evening with Isha Sesay

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4TH | 7PM

In the early morning of April 14, 2014, the militant Islamic group Boko Haram violently burst into the small town of Chibok, Nigeria, and abducted 276 girls from their school dorm rooms. From poor families, these girls were determined to make better lives for themselves, but pursuing an education made them targets, resulting in one of the most high-profile abductions in modern history. In Beneath the Tamarind Tree, Isha Sesay tells this story as no one else can. With a soaring message of hope at its core, Isha Sesay will deliver the Keynote Address for the 2019 Harrisburg Book Festival, reminding us of the ever-present truth that progress for all of us hinges on unleashing the potential of women.

Storytime with Vashti Harrison!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5TH | 10AM

Join New York Times bestselling author & illustrator Vashti Harrison as she introduces young readers to trailblazing women who changed the world. Harrison will read from her two bestsellers: Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History and Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World. Afterwards, Harrison will conduct a drawing demo on the main stage for kids of all ages!

A book signing will follow the presentation. Copies of Little Leaders, Little Dreamers, Hair Love, Festival of Colors, and Cece Loves Science will be available for purchase.

Storytime with Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5TH | 11AM

In their debut picture book, author/illustrator team Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox introduce young readers to the comical, the studious, the oblivious Llama, a picture-book hero for the ages. Grab some cake and your dancing pants and prepare for Llama Destroys the World… because THE TIME FOR LLAMA IS NIGH! Join Stutzman and Fox as they read from their new picture book, Llama Destroys the World.

Cookbook Demo with Nisha Vora

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5TH | 12PM

With food and photos as vivid, joyous, and wholesome as the title of her popular cooking blog Rainbow Plant Life suggests, Nisha Vora shares nourishing recipes with her loyal followers daily. Now, in her debut cookbook, she makes healthy, delicious everyday cooking a snap with more than 90 nutritious (and colorful!) recipes you can make easily with the magic of an Instant Pot pressure cooker. Join Nisha for a recipe demonstration from her new cookbook: The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook: Wholesome, Indulgent Plant-Based Recipes. Afterwards, there will be a free tasting of two recipes from the cookbook, followed by a book signing.

Political Parody in the Age of Trump

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5TH | 2PM

For readers craving a humorous antidote to the sound and the fury of American politics, these clever parodies offer an escapist reprieve for those pining for the previous administration. In Hope Rides Again, Andrew Shaffer provides the highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Hope Never Dies. Obama and Biden reprise their roles as BFFs-turned-detectives as they chase Obama’s stolen cell phone through the streets of Chicago — and right into a vast conspiracy. And in MacTrump, bestselling authors Ian Doescher and Jacopo della Quercia fictionalize the events of the first two years of the Trump administration — in iambic pentameter. Will MacTrump be able to hold on to his throne? Only time will tell in this tragicomic tale of ambition, greed, and royal ineptitude — based on Sheakespeare’s Macbeth.

Emerging Voices, New Perspectives

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5TH | 4:30PM

From three new emerging voices in fiction — these page-turning debut novels show us the power and transcendence of storytelling. In She Would Be King, Wayetu Moore combines history and magical realism to reimagine the dramatic story of Liberia’s early years through three unforgettable characters. In The Farm, Joanne Ramos gives us a gripping, provocative, and heartbreaking narrative on immigration, motherhood, money, and merit. And in the bestselling The Incendiaries, R.O. Kwon delivers a powerful, darkly glittering novel of violence, love, faith, and loss — and what can befall those who lose what they love most.

An Evening with Stephen Chbosky

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5TH | 7PM

We can swallow our fear or let our fear swallow us. Twenty years ago, Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower made readers everywhere feel infinite. Now, Chbosky has returned with an epic work of literary horror, years in the making, whose grand scale and rich emotion redefine the genre. In Imaginary Friend, Chbosky takes us to Mill Grove, Pennsylvania — where seven year-old Christopher and his mother on the run. At first, it seems like the perfect place to finally settle down. Then Christopher vanishes. For six awful days, no one can find him. Until Christopher emerges from the woods at the edge of town, unharmed but not unchanged. He returns with a voice in his head only he can hear, with a mission only he can complete. Read it with the lights on.

Fiction, Fantasy, and the Mythic Journey

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6TH | 2PM

Internationally bestselling novelist Téa Obreht mesmerized readers with her timeless debut novel, The Tiger’s Wife. Weaving a brilliant latticework of family legend, loss, and love, Obreht, the youngest of The New Yorker’s twenty best American fiction writers under forty, spun a novel that established her as one of the most vibrant, original authors of her generation. Now, in her new novel, Inland, Obreht returns to subvert and reimagine the myths of the American West, making them entirely—and unforgettably—her own. Moderated by award-winning novelist Liz Moore, Obreht will discuss her award-winning novels and the spectacular triumphs of storytelling.

This event previously stated that Madeline Miller would make an appearance. Due to an unforeseen conflict, Madeline will not be able to make an appearance at this year’s festival. We look forward to hosting her in the spring 2020 for the paperback tour of Circe!

How To Be An Anti-Racist

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6TH | 5PM

From award-winning authors Ibram X. Kendi and Imani Perry comes a powerful conversation on racial justice in America, showing us how to understand and uproot racism in our society — and in ourselves. In Breathe, Perry explores the terror, grace, and beauty of coming of age as a black person in contemporary America. And in How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it. Moderated by award-winning author Keisha Blain, Kendi and Perry point us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other.

Official schedule can be found on the Harrisburg Book Festival website.

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Coffee with the English Department

Come visit Saxbys on October 7th to talk all things English with Dr. Craven, Dr. Corkery, and Stephanie Wenger! Coffee is on the English department. Dr. Craven, Chair of English; Dr. Corkery, Assistant Chair of English; and Stephanie, President of English Club, will be in Saxbys from Noon to 1:30pm.

  • Do you have questions about scheduling?
  • Are you wondering what you can do with an English degree?
  • Are you interested in getting more involved with the English Club?

Are you interested in going on a trip with the English department to the Harrisburg Book Festival at the Midtown Scholar? There will be vans to drive students to the event if enough people are interested. Contact Dr. Corkery if you want to take part.

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Alumni Profile: Susan Cherie Beam

“What can you do with an English degree?”

Growing up, this was a question I encountered often, especially since, as family legend would have it, I spent much of my time in two pursuits: either burying my nose in a book or, pen in hand, being lost while creating my own. There was never a question – my heart belonged to stories: reading them, watching them, telling them.

Susan Cherie Beam

Entering Millersville as an undergraduate, I was excited to study with dedicated scholars and cultivate a diverse skill set – which is exactly what I did. My critical thinking and writing skills – really, the way I viewed the world – were shaped by a variety of literature, writing, and journalism classes. I especially appreciated how classroom discussions and activities included situations I would potentially encounter in the professional field. For example, in Dr. Schneller’s technical writing class, our project was to craft a grant proposal to build a local recreational center, and it was a great experience (it was a project that I replicated years later, in my own college classroom).

I was also privileged to experience an internship through Millersville, gaining hands-on experience working for the Journal Register’s collection of weekly newspapers around Lancaster – an internship which eventually lead to a job offer after graduation in 2008.

As the field changed, I altered my course slightly, venturing into freelance journalism, eventually writing for a number of publications, including the York Daily Record and Lancaster County Woman, where I am still a senior member of the writing staff. Thanks to the confidence instilled in me by my Millersville education, I also was able to successfully undertake a variety of other writing projects, including grant writing, producing digital content, and copy editing.

Halloween 2012: Graduate Assistants Dress up as Characters from Paradise Lost – Nic Rose as Death, Susan Beam as Sin, Dr. Timothy Shea as God, and Lochran Fallon as Satan

In 2010, I returned to Millersville as an English graduate student because I knew the quality of the education I would receive there, and even as I was building a diverse professional profile, I was looking to expand into higher education. Again, I consider myself fortunate to be exposed to different kinds of literature, cultivating a broader understanding of world and how literature, film, and writing contribute to greater conversations. During my graduate degree, I was also privileged to work in the English office as a graduate assistant, honing my ability to teach through the guidance of experienced mentors – I consulted with students on writing assignments, discussed their experiences with literature, and even served as a Graduate Student Advisor to the re-launch of the then-named George Street Carnival. In the spring of 2012, I was delighted to defend my MA thesis and receive the distinction of Honors.

After finishing my MA, I began adjunct teaching at a number of area of institutions, including Harrisburg Area Community College, Baltimore City Community College, University of Baltimore, and York College, striving to emulate the strong guidance I received in my own education. In 2014, I opted to pursue my PhD and entered Temple University, where I am presently revising my dissertation focused on reading trauma in the literature of marginalized populations. While enhancing my academic profile, I have continued to build a professional writing profile, contributing my efforts to projects I believe in.

For me, the education I received at Millersville has been instrumental in helping me grow both personally and professionally. I cherish my experiences there and still use the lessons I learned to be more effective as a writer and instructor.

Thanks to Millersville and the MU English department, when faced with the question, “What can you do with an English degree?” I can answer confidently, “Everything.”

-Susan Cherie Beam