Millikin English Department Alumni Profiles

We are glad to feature many of our MU English alumni on this web page.

Katie Malcolm
2002

Ph.D. student in Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Katie Malcolm

Where are you now?

I'm currently a Ph.D. student in Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I'm teaching six credits of composition classes, and am involved in the design and implementation of a pilot course for at-risk writers in our composition program.

Why was being a writing major at Millikin a good choice for you?

The writing major was so useful for me as a writer who had no idea what I wanted to do with my writing. Getting to dabble in creative writing of all kinds (from haiku to creative non-fiction), in publishing, and in writing theory helped me decide what I enjoyed doing the most, and it also helped me pull the experiences in all of these areas together into one solid focus for my career.

Your favorite English class or activity at Millikin?

I loved every haiku class with Dr. Brooks, and Dr. DeJoy's Applied Writing Theory class brought me to where I am today.

How English studies made a difference in your life?

English studies has challenged me to live my life in critically reflective ways, and for this reason, to never tire of learning. I'll never in one lifetime be able to read all the books that I'll want to, even though I'm getting paid to do so; this, for me, is what keeps life interesting.

Recommend a good book?

For anyone interested in teaching writing, I'd currently recommend: bell hooks' Teaching to Transgress, Roz Ivanic's Writing and Identity, Gee, Hull and Lankshear's The New Work Order, and Nancy DeJoy's Process This!

Advice for current English students?

Carefully look at the relationship between what you're reading and writing about and what's happening around you and in your own life. Learning to see the relationship between reading, writing, and what I was learning and teaching myself (inside *and* outside of school) helped me find a place for my life in English studies that I'm constantly challenged by, and that I never lose interest in.

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John D. Adams
1997

Freelance Writer
Stafford, VA

John D. Adams

Where are you now?

After working as the Editorial Director for the Textile Rental Services Association for a number of years, I left the job to pursue a freelance writing and editing career. For the past three years I have published more than 40 articles in major national interior design publications. I continue this work today, living on 5 beautiful acres in rural Virginia and I love it! My partner, George, and I recently celebrated our 5th anniversary. We are in the process of moving to Alexandria, VA.

What was best about English studies at Millikin?

I was very involved in a number of organizations at Millikin, which helped shape my interpersonal and leadership skills. I was Vice President of Sigma Tau Delta, President of the Gay and Lesbian Association, Editor of "Collage", and an in-office assistant for Nancy DeJoy. I loved all of these challenges and was especially fond of Dr. Mihm's courses, Dr. Pacholski's Literature of the Holocaust course, Dr. Guillory's critical writing course, and Dr. Brooks' creative writing course.

Why was being a writing major at Millikin a good choice for you?

Unlike many larger universities, Millikin's smaller size enables its faculty to really take a personal interest in student's academic goals. I made many friends among both students and staff at Millikin and believe I learned much more thanks to personalized, individual attention of the faculty.

What difference has English studies made in your life?

English studies at Millikin have carried through into my life. My world is writing and editing, and I honed my skills thanks to my studies at Millikin. I opened up to new and exciting forms of expression and think often of my time at Millikin and the wonderful academics with whom I was priveledged to study.

I can recommend several good books:

"The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay"
"Wonder Boys"
"The Professor and the Madman"
"Under The Tuscan Sun"
"Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell"

Advice for current English students?

My advice for current English students is to "go for it". Millikin's English faculty WANT you to express yourself! Learn all you can from these folks. You will carry their advice, wisdom and experiences with you throughout your life! Keep writing!

Dr. Jenny Spinner
1992

Assistant Professor
of English
St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia

Dr. Jenny Spinner

What are you doing now?

I'm Assistant Professor of English at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia.

What were your favorite courses at Millikin?

Oh, I was a real Terry Shepherd groupie so I liked just about any class she taught. But I also enjoyed American Literature with Brian Mihm. He taught me to read carefully. Honestly, I still have nightmares sometimes in which I'm trying to remember the color of some girl's bow in some story on page 367 of the Norton Anthology of American Literature.

One of my best memories, though, is traveling to Indiana University with my still dearest friend Emily Dunlap Loach. We were doing research on Sylvia Plath, a writer introduced to us by Dr. Shepherd. One of us opened an archival box at the library and there, inside, was Plath's pony tail! Emily and I went on to graduate school together at Penn State and we actually built a shrine to Plath in our apartment.

How English studies at Millikin made a difference in your life?

I loved the faculty. I loved that they were smart, and energetic, and that they pushed me to excel. They were my earliest models for teaching. And I loved my peer group, equally smart and energetic. We learned a lot, but we had a great time, too. Sadly, one of us abandoned the faith and got an MBA, but I'll let him tell his own story.

What's recent news in your life?

I have a two-year-old and this is my first year as a full-time professor. Remembering to brush my hair in the morning is an accomplishment. I did just record a commentary for NPR's All Things Considered, which I do on ocassion. That's fun. I never thought I would enjoy radio, but it's a perfect medium for the short lyrical essay.

Recommended reading of a favorite book?

I imagine if you asked a doctor, "what's your favorite organ?", you would get a response similar to the one I'm about to give: I love them all. (Honestly, I have a terrible time answering such questions.) I'll name essayists, as a place to start. Anne Fadiman is one of my favorites, especially her collection Ex Libris. For tried and true, though, I'd have to say Virginia Woolf. I recently re-read her Common Reader essays and I was blown away by her rich prose. I read a lot of contemporary poetry, though, too, and my favorite poet right now is Mark Doty. That man can work an image.

Suggestions for current and future English majors at Millikin?

Get involved. And then, just when you think you're too involved, get involved some more. By the time I left Millikin, I had experience as a journalist, as a literary magazine editor, as a TV reporter, as a PR writer, and as a scholar. I knew what I didn't want to do (TV, PR) and what I did (write, teach, research).

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Emily Dunlap Loach
1993

full time mom
Richmond, VA

Emily Dunlap Loach

What are you doing now?

I gave birth to my first baby--Charles Tucker Loach--on June 26, 2004. In February of this year, I was also selected as Salesperson of the Year at Style Weekly and 2nd runner up for that honor at our parent company, Landmark Communications (they also own the Weather Channel)!

Right this minute [fall 2004] I am enjoying some valuable and limited free time while my 3 1/2 month old sleeps! I decided to resign my position as a senior account executive in advertising for Style Weekly magazine after Charlie was born. Instead of being Salesperson of the Year for my company as I was last year, I wanted to concentrate this year on enjoying every minute with my little boy.

What was a favorite class in English or favorite English department expereince?

I enjoyed serving on the selection committee for Collage submissions--seeing all of the varied talents coming out of the English Department.

My most memorable class was Dr. Shepherd's Women Writers class that I took in the fall of my sophomore year. I was introduced to Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath and, subsequently, did some original research at Indiana University's Lilly Library on Plath's early writing career. I also met one of my dearest friends in that class, Jenny Spinner.

I enjoyed the cross-disciplinary studies that our department encouraged, such as Art & Philosophy with Dr. Jacobs. I loved studying the interplay of literature, art, and history and continued this course of study at The Pennsylvania State University with a Masters in Literature.

How has English studies made a difference in your life?

I doubt I would have attended a summer semester at Oxford University had I not had the encouragement and support of Millikin's English Department. Friends that I made there at Oxford brought me to Richmond, Virginia, after graduate school...and it is here that I met my husband and chose to raise my family.

Recommended books:

A Secret History by Donna Tartt and anything by Joan Didion (especially A Book of Common Prayer).

Suggestions for undergraduate English majors?

Enjoy being a big fish in a little pond--explore all of your different talents in this environment. Take related classes in different departments to broaden your knowledge of how literature and writing are truly a part of everything you will do!

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Traci Jensen
1999

Urbana, IL
Health Alliance
Medical Plans

publications design

Traci Jensen

What are you doing now?

I do layout and graphic design work for Health Alliance. I am also the editor of the monthly employee newsletter, which involves writing and editing stories, and overseeing staff.

What encouraging words would you offer other students in your field who are considering attending Millikin?

Follow your heart and listen to your professors. Millikin is a great place to explore yourself in a nurturing environment. Millikin is a great place to get a broad, in-depth understanding of all areas related to your field, without having to pick and hone in on one minor specialty.

Why was Millikin a good choice for you?

Because Millikin is so small, I received many opportunities that I wouldn't have otherwise at a larger school. I also deeply appreciate my professors, who took the time to get to know me personally and encouraged me to explore myself while offering me the guidance I needed. The fact that Millikin allows you to explore yourself in a nurturing environment is one of Millikin's hallmarks.

What types of experiences at Millikin prepared you for your current career?

My journalism classes taught me the writing and editing skills I use today. My communications classes broadened my mind and made me more aware of other viewpoints, and my art classes gave me the technical design skills I use today. My experiences with the Decaturian allowed me to tie all of those things into one real-life, hands-on application and gave me valuable experiences that I draw from daily.

Nanette E. Wargo
1995

Champaign, IL
Fire Service Institute

Nannette Wargo

M.S. in Secondary Education, Indiana University Northwest (2002)

M.S. in Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (May 2003)

What are you doing now?

I currently work as a Research Assistant at the Illinois Fire Service Institute Library, which is a specialized library for firefighters and information services personnel. My current project involves the creation and implementation of a controlled vocabulary to improve subject access to materials within our library and across fire and emergency services libraries throughout the U.S.

I'm also a graduate student at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. My specializations are reference and user services, information literacy education, and cataloging. I serve as the president of the American Library Association Student Chapter, and I am also the master's student liaison to the GSLIS faculty.

What encouraging words would you offer other students in your field who are considering attending Millikin?

Take advantage of everything that Millikin has to offer! Get as much leadership experience as you can, and don't be afraid to try something new, whether it's registering for a class that sounds interesting or spending an evening enjoying a student performance or exhibit.

What types of experiences at Millikin prepared you for your current career?

I knew that I'd be able to explore all of my varied interests at Millikin. The class sizes were small, so I received individual attention from faculty, which really helped me discover where my interests were. The facilities were excellent, and they've improved significantly since I've graduated.

What types of experiences at Millikin prepared you for your current career?

I gained a good deal of leadership experience in various student organizations, including the Sigma Tau Delta English honorary, and my position as editor-in-chief of Collage gave me experience in editing and production that later proved useful. One of my most valuable experiences at Millikin--and the experience that has lead me most directly to my current career--was my job as a circulation clerk at Staley Library. It took me a few years to realize that I really enjoyed library work, but I now realize I've made the right decision.

Stacy J. Welsh
1996

Druid Hills
Presbyterian Church
Atlanta, GA

youth minister

Stacey Welsh

MA, British and American Literatures
Washington University

What are you doing now?

I am currently a full-time student at Columbia Theological Seminary in the Masters of Divinity program, pursuing a vocation as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). I work part-time as the Youth Director at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

What encouraging words would you offer other students in your field who are considering attending Millikin?

I was an English major at Millikin, and I am currently pursuing my second graduate degree. I am continually grateful for the depth and breadth of the education that I received at Millikin. I learned to think critically and articulate my thoughts lucidly both verbally and in print. The faculty at Millikin were and continue to be invested in me as a student, and I found that each member of the faculty took time to get to know me and to work in concert with me to make sure that I was getting the most out of my education.

Why was Millikin a good choice for you?

Millikin's curriculum combined the best possible elements of theory and practice for me. I learned to think and write clearly, to develop independent research, to present my research to the scholarly community, and to apply that research to practice. Millikin instilled in me a committment to lifelong learning in an atmosphere that encouraged me to learn through service to the community, through engagement in the life of the university, and through theoretical research.

What types of experiences at Millikin prepared you for your current career?

I worked as the editor of Collage, as a resident assistant, as a tutor in English and Humanities, and as an assistant to two of the professors in the Engish department while I was a student at Millikin. These experiences prepared me for my first career in publishing. After completing my first graduate degree, I worked as a developmental editor for a health sciences publisher in St. Louis, Missouri for 4 years.

My research in the honors program and as part of the SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows) program prepared me for the scholarly pursuits necessary in my graduate school experiences.

I am currently preparing for a vocation as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). I felt called to ordained ministry from adolescence, but had resisted the call because I feared public speaking. While I was at Millikin, several of the professors in the English department and in the Honors program worked with me to overcome this fear as I prepared to present my honors thesis. Last summer, when I again felt called to ministry, I no longer had the excuse of fear, and am currently pursuing my call to ordained ministry.

Amanda Fields
1999

Iowa State University
M.A. English 2001

University of Minnesota
pursuing M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction

Amanda Fields

What are you doing now?

I am pursuing an M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction and teaching creative writing and literature at the University of Minnesota, as well as writing articles for Oxford UP and Scribner's.

What encouraging words would you offer other students in your field who are considering attending Millikin?

The smaller size will help you seek out like-minded individuals. It is also a joy to be in an environment with so many musical theatre and theatre majors; very good artistic vibe.

Why was Millikin a good choice for you?

Dr. Nancy DeJoy and Rosemarie King are two of the most intelligent and active professors I have encountered, and they set me on the right track. In addition, the size of the school and the many opportunities for financial aid made Millikin an excellent choice.

What types of experiences at Millikin prepared you for your current career?

excellent courses in women's literature, connecting with other students as I discovered creative writing

Lidonna Beer
2000

Loveland, CO
Assistant Editor
Group Publishing

Lidonna Beer

What are you doing now?

I'm the assistant editor of magazines for Group Publishing, a Christian publishing company that creates resources for church leaders. I also perform with the Loveland Concert Band and serve on its board.

What encouraging words would you offer other students in your field who are considering attending Millikin?

Millikin offers the English degree you're looking for. Personalization of your coursework is easy and the results are outstanding. Millikin offered hands-on experience that is harder to find at large universities. Because of my close work with professors and work opportunities on campus, I've been able to find the career I wanted.

What types of experiences at Millikin prepared you for your current career?

Besides challenging and up-to-date courses, Millikin had several on-campus jobs that helped me decide that the publishing field was for me. Being able to get my degree and stay involved with my other passion, music, made me a confident and multitalented graduate.

Dr. Julie O'Reilly
1993

Assistant Professor of Communication and Theatre Arts
Heidelberg College

Julie D. (Stevenson) O'Reilly

Julie D. O'Reilly (maiden name Julie Stevenson) graduated from Millikin University in 1993 with a double major in writing and communication. She completed her Ph.D. in Communication from Bowling Green State University in May 2005. Julie is now Assistant Professor of Communication and Theatre Arts at Heidelberg College where she is teaching public speaking, intro to journalism, and a journalism workshop. I'm also advisor for the student newspaper.

Why English?

As a writing major (I actually had a double major in writing and communication), I enjoyed the variety of writing classes that Millikin offered . . . I took classes in business and professional writing, magazine writing, creative writing, newswriting, etc. Having such a diverse writing background has helped me succeed in both the corporate world and in academia.

Best English class?

I took a literature class my senior year called "Literary Insiders and Outsiders" — the central question of the class was "What makes a classic a classic?" Or as the professor (Dr. Steve Davenport) put it, "If the Scarlet Letter falls in the forest and no one is there to read it, is it still a classic?" We read an eclectic array of works in that class from a beatnik novel and poetry to Gone With the Wind to The Color Purple to Wuthering Heights. It was a great class to encourage critical thinking.

Doing now?

I am currently a Ph.D. student in American Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University, where my primary concentration is popular culture (which Bowling Green is known for) and my secondary concentration is communication studies. I am in the third year of the program. I have completed coursework and have taken (and just PASSED— yeh!) my comprehensive exams. Next I will be writing my dissertation . . .

How English studies made a difference?

As I noted in my response to an earlier question, I think the versatility of my writing skills (which were developed through coursework at Millikin) has been an advantage for me in whichever job or graduate program I have been/am in.

Recent accomplishments or news?

I will be presenting papers at three upcoming conferences (Northeast Modern Language Association, Popular Culture Association, and Slayage—it's a Buffy thing); I also have had two papers accepted for publication in anthologies (The Superhero Reader: An Introduction to Comic Books and the Superhero Genre and Monsters and Metaphors: Essays on Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

Recommended good book?

I would recommend reading all of Jane Austen's novels, and then I would recommend reading all of Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen's Mysteries, in which Barron depicts Austen as an amateur sleuth (and captures Austen's tone and writing style well).

Advice for current English students?

Don't stop reading for fun! Even though coursework doesn't allow for a lot of "extracurricular" reading, try to keep at least one "fun book" on hand to balance out the required ones.

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Dana Williams
MU 1998

President
Joda Productions

OsX Training
Editing & Marketing
Public Relations

Dana Williams

Dana Williams graduated from Millikin University in 1998 with a double major in Writing and Communication.

Before moving to Champaign-Urbana, Williams lived in Virginia just outside of Washington D.C. working for the Arlington County Government as a communications specialist. She managed a national campaign that focused on Arlington’s role as the first to respond with an Incident Command at the Pentagon Attack. The campaign garnered hits with media such as NBC News with Brian Williams, The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, CNN, and The Early Show. She also managed media relations and marketing content for Arlington’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Resources. Williams also served as a communications and publications coordinator for The Freedom Forum and Newseum. "[It] is a $750 million First Ammendment foundation supporting free press, free speech, and (don’t laugh) free spirit." She was also a technical editor for a small government consulting firm in Washington D.C, editing government regulations, exemptions, and reports.

Why English?

When I was looking at colleges I realized that I should probably do something in life that came easily. I had been doing yearbook since I was 13 and was chosen by my teachers to be editor-in-chief three times, so I decided writing always worked well for me. Not really wanting to be a newspaper journalist, I thought the Millikin writing program would introduce me to different kinds of publishing experiences. I was right. But I also ended up loving working for the Decaturian.

Best class?

If you’re asking which class played the most critical role in preparing me for working it was the portfolio class. Arranging my work to show others and seeing what others had done was very helpful for job interviews and when selecting jobs to apply for.

If you’re asking me which one had the most influence on me, it was Feminist Writing. Suddenly, there were so many female voices in a class that weren’t reflected in other English courses. I started finding pieces of the person I wanted to become in that class.

If you’re asking me which class kicked my ass and made me see the big picture of English studies, it was Writing Theory. Everyone else whined horribly in that class, but I was thrilled. Ever since, I’ve been a theory junkie. But for some reason, I never had the interest to run off and get a degree in rhetoric.

What am I doing now?

I am Assistant Advisor to the Dec at Millikin, and teaching journalism courses as an adjunct faculty member. I am also the president of Joda Productions. We do computer training, specializing in OS X and OS X server, nationwide. We also do editing, marketing, and public relations consulting for clients in the Champaign-Urbana area.

What difference did English studies make in your life?

English studies was just always a part of who I was. I wrote poetry at age seven. I wrote short stories and all the way through elementary school. I started editing and layout and design in middle school. I worked at a library for five years so I could surround myself with computers, periodicals, texts, and popular culture. For me, English studies didn’t start at Millikin—it’s always been with me.