Tag Archives: alumni

EAPSU

EAPSU REFLECTION from Alumni blue Guckert

EAPSU REFLECTION

by blue Guckert

The English Association of Pennsylvania State Universities (EAPSU) conference came to Millersville University on Friday October 18th and Saturday October 18th 2024 and was a uniform success. Special thanks to professors Dr. Nicole Pfannenstiel and Dr. Emily Baldys and graduate assistant Becca Betty and the Millersville University student volunteers for organizing the incredible event. The theme of the conference was Inclusive Stories, Writing for Change and the program was kicked off with a behind the curtains peek at writers and illustrators Ari Pluchinsky and Sam Bowen’s craft and method exploring their webcomic called Woodlands and a graphic novel called Goldfinch. Sam Bowen invited us along for an illuminating journey of their creative process highlighting touchstones and challenges moving from initial idea to getting something, sometimes anything, onto the page. The crisp and loaded, seventy-five minute presentation included a Q &A and creative exercises and fostered an air of community that became a palpable source of energy that fueled the two-day event. The three Friday afternoon panels ran concurrently and were chaired by Millersville University’s own Dr. Caleb Corkery and Dr. Emily Baldys and Dr. Nancy K. Pearson from West Chester University. 

Friday evening’s Keynote Speaker, which gave off the atmospheric warmth of a fireside conversation between author and poet Kate Baer and Dr. Baldys was hosted on the wide yet intimate McComsey 260 auditorium stage. Kate Baer is a 3x New York Times bestselling author of What Kind Of Woman, I Hope This Finds You Well, & And Yet. Her work has also been published in The New Yorker, Literary Hub, Huffington Post and The New York Times. After a brief introduction and rousing case for the humanities from Dr. Ieva Zake, Dean College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Kate Baer and Dr. Baldys engaged in a sprawling dialogue about Kate’s work, her divine and not so divine inspirations, sometimes born out of love and joy and family and sometimes born out of toxic masculine cruelty. Kate Baer’s acerbic wit and laser tuned intellect were on full display giving little doubt as to why she has become such a successful writer. The keynote conversation was followed by an open mic at Lancaster city’s own Pocket Books bookstore.

Saturday’s schedule was full with 4 concurrent sessions covering topics from Creative Searches for Connection and Identity to Feminism and Literature through a roundtable focused on the Engage for Change Journal and presentations and discussions on Critical Media Analysis through a Disability Studies lens. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the latter two discussions as both an observer and presenter respectively. The Engage for Change discussion facilitated by Dr. Kerrie Farkas was a full conference circle moment for me as the community aspect of the conference, as initiated by  Ari Pluchinsky and Sam Bowen’s author talk and workshop, was punctuated by a group of students and faculty being vulnerable together talking earnestly about mental health challenges. This conversation was less about targeted solutions and more a showcase for solidarity. A low-key secondary theme of the conference on full display as a focus on the process and journey and community rather than any singular result. But also, as a result the conference as a whole was wildly successful and I was grateful to have been a wee part of it. 

 

Newsletter Articles, Publications

M.J. Zeller — The Edelion: Deliverance

Within the past year, Millersville alum Matt Zeller published a novel he began working on during his time at MU entitled The Edelion: Deliverance. This is the first book in a series of four.

From the back flap:

The underworld of society is not for the faint of heart. Nobles spit on you, the city watch beats you, and the general public treats you like a disease. To live in this cold and dark life, one must fight for survival every day. Many turn to theft by means of cruelty and murder, but there are some that approach this career through cunning, guile, and skill. It is through this lifestyle that we find a young boy known only as Harth, striving to make a life for himself and gain fame and fortune under the infamous banner of the Thieves Guild.

Upon passing the first test, Harth is instructed to find his way to the City of Thieves; however, he discovers a world far more dangerous than he could have ever imagined. Along his journey to the City of Thieves, evil creatures and minions of a long-forgotten power lurk in the shadows, tracking his movements for reasons unknown to him. It all seems coincidental to Harth, but the fluctuations of a sleeping magic within him suggest otherwise. Harth is left frightened and confused as his injuries pile up and his courage wanes, but the not-so-random people he meets along the way keep him pushing forward. Despite all the near-death situations, Harth finds his way to the City of Thieves to secure his place among the most infamous thieves in the world. But are his adventures complete? His goals met? Or have they only just begun now that a once-slumbering evil creeps back into the land, hungry for destruction?

Matt worked closely with Dr. Tim Miller on the early drafts of the novel when he was an undergraduate student.  We are so very proud of the publications that emerge from the creativity of Millersville students.

Millersville students get published! If you’ve recently found yourself a published author, let us know by contacting Rachel Hicks with your story.

Newsletter Articles

Alumna Profile: Sherri Weaver

Sherri Weaver
Sherri Weaver

Sherri Weaver graduated from Millersville University in 2009 with a Bachelors of Science in Education (BSE) in English. While at Millersville, Sherri took every opportunity to make sure she was getting the kind of education she wanted.  As a BSE student, teaching placements began sophomore year, something Sherri was very thankful for; she now sees the value in getting into the classroom as soon as possible. She first student taught at Lincoln Middle School working with 6th graders. While in her own classroom at Millersville, the classes were theory heavy, so from her schoolwork alone it would be hard to determine if teaching was the right career path; the sophomore placements eased much of that anxiety. Sherri also student taught at Lampeter-Strasburg, working with seniors in AP English and then taught 8th grade at Hand Middle School.

After receiving her undergrad degree, Sherri earned her first teaching job working with AP seniors at a charter school in York. Unfortunately, after Sherri worked there for 5 years, the school lost its charter. This taught Sherri about educational finance and handling of money in a charter; she eventually wrote her master’s thesis on charter school reform. After moving from that school, Sherri worked at Wheatland Middle School for eight months teaching 7th graders before moving to McCaskey East High School where she currently teaches.

To Sherri, the college experience is about getting the education you want. That might mean taking the more challenging classes on purpose and putting in the time and energy to succeed. Sherri found the upper-level college classes imperative to teach any upper level high school classes successfully. Similarly, because Sherri knew where she wanted to teach, in an urban environment, she fought for the placements and jobs that would fit her ideal working environment. That meant changing placements when she was assigned to non-urban areas and working with the university to make her plans possible.

One thing Sherri knows from being a student teacher herself and working with Professional Development Schools (PDS) and new student teachers is that it is important to have self-awareness and the ability to reflect on the people you will be working with. It’s okay to be picky to get the best experience out of student teaching.

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Alumna Profile: Lea Scott

I currently work as a 9-12 school counselor at a Career and Technical Education (CTE) school in Chester County, PA.  After graduating from the ‘Ville in 2005, I took a teaching job at the same school, instructing grades 9-12 in World Literature, British Literature, and American Literature.  I finished my Master’s in secondary counseling at West Chester University in December of 2012 and took on a counseling job in July of 2013.

I consistently reference my English roots and my office is filled with YA novels and undergraduate texts as well!  Reading is still one of my very favorite hobbies.

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Alumna Profile: Nicole Quaste

Nicole Quaste
Nicole Quaste

I attended Millersville as an English major from 2009–2013. I then went onto grad school at Villanova and completed my Masters in English Literature with a Certificate in Communications in May.

I currently work a Yardley, PA-based company called FXExpress Publications, Inc. as an assistant editor for travel publications Global Traveler, Trazee Travel and Wherever Family.

I’m grateful to Millersville every day and miss it dearly.