Welcome to the Millikin University English Department! Millikin offers three English majors—writing, literature, and English Education—each emphasizing an innovative contemporary approach of learning by reflective action. We celebrate student performance as writers, readers, and teachers of English—offering an educational journey through great works of the past, exploring intriguing writings of the present, and preparing students to write, edit, publish or teach in the future. See our
Majors page for details.
Latest News
HURF
Congratulations to Jessica Knackstedt on winning second place in the 2012 Humanities Undergraduate Research Fellowship competition.
Poe in the Pit
On Monday, October 24, from 8-9:30 pm, we hosted
Poe in the Pit, a collection of frightening readings complete with refreshments.
This year's event featured a
spooky story and poem contest. Entries were read during Poe in the Pit, and winners were decided by audience vote.
Literary Festival
The annual Millikin University Department of English Literary Festival was held on Millikin's campus Friday, November 4 and Saturday November 5, 2011. Check out the
Literary Festival web site for more information.
Winners of the annual high school poetry contest were:
1st: Katherine Staley Sharples “College” & “The Writer”
2nd: Samantha Jackson “My Grandpa Died Today”
3rd: Simone Sparks “After the Soliloquy”
Honorable Mention
Nicole Babich
Sadie Onken
Bethany Avery
Hannah Jenkins
Maiya Palmisano
Emily Rothrock
Alexis Ecoie
Megan Perez
Valerie Guempel
Bethany Kaffenberger
William Pripusich
Marisa Von Ruden
Elizabeth Choat
Alec Goss
Katherine Moss
Nat Kinzalow
Jenna Ribbing
Congratulations
A. D. Carson ('04) published his first novel, Cold, in May. Published by Mayhaven, the novel (and CD editions) uses prose, poetry, and hip-hop lyrics. The novel is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. For more information visit A. D.'s web site, and see interviews with him from The Herald & Review and Lincoln Land Review.
Honey Bennett ('10) was awarded an Americorp position at Parkland College.
Aubrey Cox ('11) received funding for the master's program in creative writing at Ball State University.
Kate Eagler ('11) was awarded an Americorp position here at Millikin.
Sam Sinkhorn ('09) on completing her master's degree at Ball State University and for her first edited book as project editor intern for Pearson Education.
Mackenzie VanBeest ('11) received funding for the master's program in literature at the University of Kansas.
Honors in English
Six 2011 Millikin English graduates achieved Honors in English. To achieve Honors in English, graduates must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and a GPA in all English courses of at least 3.7. Our Honors in English graduates were
L to R: Mackenzie VanBeest, Hilary Reinhart, Victoria Jones, Allison Horne, Kate Eagler, and Aubrie Cox
Congratulations to these fine students, and we wish you the very best in your future endeavors.
Sigma Tau Delta Initiates
January 2011 Sigma Tau Delta initiates included Megan Jackson, Caitlin Harriman, Tessa Spencer, Mackenzie VanBeest, and Kate Eagler. (not pictured: Rose Gaylen)
English Department Performance Learning 2010
The English Department continues to maintain its emphasis on performance learning, as exemplified by some of our activities from 2010. On October 22, ten Millikin English Education majors attended the Illinois Association of Teachers of English Fall Conference in Rockford, Illinois with Professor Michelle Jewett. The students were active participants in many of the sessions there. Dr. Carmella Braniger’s Critical Writing, Reading, & Research students wrote a variety of essays, ranging from close readings of texts to personal narratives on literacy and learning. Understanding the value of sharing their work with a larger audience, students created an online blog for posting their very best work. See it at: http://writinglives.tumblr.com . Dr. Robert Wells’ Fall News Writing 1 class interviewed colleagues and associates of retiring President Zemke, to get a portrait of his character from multiple perspectives, to provide anecdotes about what it was like to work with him, to gather favorite personal memories, and to discuss his legacy. The collected interviews were presented to President Zemke on the night of his farewell in Kirkland. An example of performance learning from Dr. Purna Banerjee’s EN 331 is the publication of three articles in the Decaturian. In addition a two-page full length feature is scheduled for publication in the 2011 Spring semester. Also, the students in this class collaborated with International Student Organization, to make scholarly and academic presentation on the importance of Bollywood in South Asian lives during the 2010 Diwali celebration. Fine Arts majors in this course availed themselves of this opportunity and performed original scores composed by them and inspired by Bollywood in front of about two hundred and fifty people. The whole class participated in organizing, choreographing, and executing a series of Bollywood inspired dances celebrating the youth culture of the world. At the end of the semester students documented their experience in individual reflections that were added to a hybridized public dossier (a cross between an anthology and a scrapbook). Finally, letterpress poetry broadsides by Blue Satellite, a Millikin student-run press operating as part of Dr. Stephen Frech’s Broadside Publishing course, enjoyed a featured exhibit for the month of October at Blue Connection in downtown Decatur.
Poe in the Pit Celebration
On Wednesday, October 27, the Millikin English Club/Sigma Tau Delta held their annual Poe in the Pit celebration in the Honors Lounge and lower patio of Staley Library. Over 40 students and faculty attended the event, which started at 7:00 P.M. Student read a selection of poems and short stories by the infamous American author Edgar Allan Poe, to help celebrate the season in a literary fashion. The tradition of reading and celebration of the works of Poe began over a decade ago, starting out as Poe in the Cemetery. It has been held on campus, as Poe in the Pit for four years now.
Students Attend IATE Conference
On October 22, ten MU students enrolled in the English Education program attended the Illinois Association of Teachers of English Fall Conference. This annual event took place in Rockford and allowed Millikin students to engage in professional development with other student teachers and English educators from around the state. Students attended workshops on topics such as writing instruction, young adult literature, Shakespeare, and improvisation in the classroom, and participated in a New Teacher Forum. Students also attended presentations by IATE 2010 Illinois Author of the Year, Tony Romano, and award winning young adult author Todd Stasser. The National Council of Teachers of English president, Carol Jago, gave the key note address.
Mystery Writer Alum Visits Millikin
On Friday, October 1, Millikin University alum Joelle Charbonneau visited Millikin and spoke to English majors about her first novel, "Skating Around the Law," which came out nationwide on September 28. The mystery novel was the result of the fifth full manuscript she had completed, and the first she has published. She spoke for about an hour, from 2:00 to 3:00, before heading over to the University Bookstore for a book signing event, answering questions about the writing process and especially focusing upon aspects and challenges of the publishing industry. As a Theater major, Charbonneau had no idea she would turn to fiction writing later in her career. She urged young creative writers to find a regular time to write every single day. For more inforatmion, see her website at www.joellecharbonneau.net.