Our Mission

Mission Statement

The English Department offers its students the opportunity to study and work with texts that have shaped, and been shaped by, the English language. We offer a diverse spectrum of classes ranging from antiquity to the twenty-first century and covering a wide variety of topics in literature, media, composition, and language studies. Our courses encompass and explore multiple cultural traditions, allowing our graduates to cultivate skills in critical thinking, creative expression, close reading, persuasive writing, and effective speaking.

These skills, developed through the study of literature, writing, linguistics, critical theory, and visual media, prepare our graduates to pursue a variety of careers in law, business, government, professional writing, publishing, and education. Students wishing to further develop their skills should consider our Graduate Programs.

The department provides small, student-centered classes, innovative educational methods, and close faculty-student interaction. Our faculty members have earned numerous awards for excellence in teaching, research, and writing; they are nationally and internationally recognized in creative and critical fields. Our students have amassed an enviable record of placement in graduate programs and professional positions.

We invite you to explore our site and welcome your questions or comments.

Lysa Rivera, Chair

Kelly Magee, Associate Chair

Learning Community Pledge

The English department fosters a learning community characterized by mutual respect and entirely free of harassment.  Harassment is any improper and unwelcome conduct that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offense or humiliation to another person. Harassment may take the form of words, gestures or actions which tend to alarm, abuse, demean, intimidate, belittle, humiliate or embarrass another or which create intimidating, hostile or offensive learning and classroom environments. If a student experiences harassment, whether sexual in nature or any other form, s/he should report the event as soon as possible to a faculty member, the department chair, and/or the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance.