Finding Humanity in Prison
While the bachelor’s degree looks great on paper to the parole board, the humanities courses have taught incarcerated individuals to reflect on their past and write their own story for their future.
Read MoreTag: Department of English
Children’s literature scholar opens her boundaries, builds a community
If the story of Hope Vang’s academic life so far was told as a children’s fairytale, you could imagine a narrator starting the brightly colored book with a wondrous voiceover introduction…
Read MoreUnique Crowdfunding Campaign Leads to Creative Writing Endowed Scholarship
Each October over the five-year campaign, three writers would take their turns publishing 15 new pieces in 15 days, staggered throughout the month, as members of the Creative Writing Alumni Chapter promoted their work on the FresnoWriters.com project website.
Read MoreHmong American Ink and Stories marks fifth anniversary of literary journal
“Although creative expression within Hmong history and culture is evident in our oral stories, oral poetry, textile art and the playing of various bamboo instruments… one will quickly discover that, even in this category, there are no novels, plays, or collections of poems, essays or short stories.” ~ Burlee Vang
Read MoreYoung Writers’ Conference experience opens up ‘the world of creative writing’
Katie Xiong, an English major who currently studies creative writing as an undergraduate at Fresno State, will now experience her first Young Writers’ Conference on campus.
Read More2024 Young Writers’ Conference spotlights alumni author
Singh Dhillon describes himself as “a Punjabi boy at heart” and said that his keynote address for the Fresno audience will include a reading from Sunny G’s opening chapter solely because it ends with the words “Fres-Yes.”
Read MoreDean’s Medalist: Hermelinda Hernandez Monjaras – Department of English
Hermelinda Hernandez Monjaras is a graduate student receiving her MFA in creative writing, poetry. She is a graduate Dean’s Medal nominee from the Department of English.
Read MoreDean’s Medalist Honorable Mention: Luis Granados Torres – Department of English
Luis Granados Torres is a graduate student receiving his M.A. in English literature. He is a graduate Dean’s Medal nominee from the Department of English.
Read MoreStudent of Distinction: Natalie Vasquez – Department of English
Natalie Vasquez is an undergraduate student receiving her B.A. in English studies and a minor in Chicano/Latino studies. She is the Dean’s Medal nominee from the Department of English.
Read MoreKudos to Fresno Writers — Fall 2023
Kudos to #FresnoWriters is an ongoing series on the Fresno State MFA blog, celebrating the professional accomplishments of students, alumni, and faculty in Fresno State’s Department of English and Creative Writing Program.
Read MoreSandra Cisneros headlines English Department spring literary lineup
Fresno State’s Department of English welcomes seven accomplished authors and scholars this spring for campus visits, including the pathbreaking artist Sandra Cisneros, winner of the Poetry Foundation’s 2022 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize.
Read MoreProfessor Emeritus Stanley Poss passes away at 96
Dr. Stanley Poss, a Fresno State professor emeritus of English, passed away on Dec. 14, 2023, in Fresno. He was 96.
Read MoreProfessor Emerita Judith Rosenthal passes away at 78
Dr. Judith A. Rosenthal, a feminist literary scholar and Fresno State professor emerita of English, passed away from pancreatic cancer on Dec. 25, 2023. She was 78.
Read MoreEnglish symposium navigates, reconstructs environment
Author, translator, and Stanford University professor Roanne L. Kantor will deliver the keynote address for Fresno State’s seventh annual Students of English Studies Association symposium.
Read MoreCreative Writing Program hosts trio of October author readings
Fresno State’s Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing will host three author readings in the month of October — one featuring the program’s faculty authors, one a celebration of contemporary queer literature, and one welcoming back to campus an alumni author with three new poetry collections being published this fall.
Read MoreNew Faces: Juan Carlos Mantilla
The College of Arts and Humanities welcomes new faculty Juan Carlos Mantilla to the Department of English. Dr. Mantilla is an Ecuadorian scholar of the art histories and comparative literatures of early modernity.
Read MoreOnce a Young Writers’ Conference attendee, creative writing major now part of editorial board
For high school students like De La Torre, the English Department’s biggest annual event marks a series of firsts: the first time stepping onto a college campus, the first time attending a writing conference and for some, the first time seeing their writing published.
Read MoreAlumni novelist headlines 2023 Young Writers’ Conference
Fresno State’s English Department will host its 43rd annual Young Writers’ Conference, welcoming alumni author Ethan Chatagnier back to campus for the keynote address.
Read MoreMialise Carney and Lucca Lorenzi named Arts and Humanities 2023 Dean’s Medalist
Mialise Carney and Lucca Lorenzi were named the 2023 Dean’s Medalist for the College of Arts and Humanities during the Arts in Motion ceremony on Saturday, April 15, in the Concert Hall.
Read MoreStudent of Distinction: Mia De La Cerda
“At Fresno State, I, for the first time in my life, felt accepted and found a sense of belonging. I was encouraged to write poetry about the experience of farm laborers, tell the story of my grandparents and delve into topics that have been underrepresented.”
Read MoreGraduate Dean’s Medalist: Mialise Carney
“I grew up silenced and sheltered from society, but through education, community and art, I’ve discovered a place in a world I didn’t believe had space for me.”
Read MoreStudent of Distinction: Lindsay Norton
“My ultimate goal is to earn a Ph.D., eventually teaching at a university while contributing to the emerging field of Indigenous-focused environmental humanities.”
Read MoreThree creative writing alumni publish debut books in 2022
Three alumni authors from Fresno State’s Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing published their debut books in 2022.
Read MoreIn Memoriam: Professor Emerita Toni Wein, Ph.D.
Toni Wein, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, English Department (2002-2018) was born on April 20, 1952, in Detroit, MI and, after a bout with brain cancer, passed away on December 17, 2022, in Portland, OR.
Read MoreNew Faces: Sean A. Gordon
The College of Arts and Humanities welcomes new faculty Dr. Sean A. Gordon to the Department of English. He earned a Ph.D. in English and American Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he recently defended his dissertation, “On Being Dispersed: The Poetics of Dehiscence from ‘We the People’ to Abolition.”
Read MoreEnglish professor Mai Der Vang named finalist for Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Author and Fresno State professor Mai Der Vang was honored May 9 as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, for her groundbreaking book of documentary poetry, “Yellow Rain.”
Read MoreYoung Writers’ Conference welcomes graphic memoirist to campus
The conference will feature an awards ceremony, keynote speaker Kristen Radtke, and writing workshops led by Master of Fine Arts graduate students. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, inside the Satellite Student Union.
Read MoreKudos to Fresno Writers — Fall 2021
Kudos to #FresnoWriters is an ongoing series on the Fresno State MFA blog, celebrating the professional accomplishments of students, alumni, and faculty in Fresno State’s Creative Writing Program and the Department of English.
Read MoreIn memoriam: Dr. Robert O’Neil
Dr. Robert O’Neil, a Fresno State professor emeritus of English, passed away Oct. 22. He was 93.
Read MoreCreative writers find inspiration at Stonewall exhibit
Nine of Prof. Brynn Saito’s creative writing students enjoyed an impromptu afternoon of awe, history, and inspiration last week when they visited the acclaimed Stonewall Uprising art exhibit. Here is their reaction…
Read MoreNew Faces: René M. Rodríguez-Astacio
The College of Arts and Humanities welcomes new faculty Dr. René M. Rodríguez-Astacio to the Department of English.
Read MoreMFA Creative Writing Program Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Not even a global pandemic can keep the Department of English’s highest degree program from celebrating 25 years of alumni accomplishments
Read MoreFresno State Alumna Named Fifth Fresno Poet Laureate
Fresno State alumna Megan Anderson Bohigian has been named the City of Fresno’s fifth poet laureate, serving as the city’s literary ambassador.
Read MoreCreative writing and art deeply shape these six English graduates
With future professional goals that include teaching, traveling, community organizing, publishing their own books, and more, the power of writing and literature is alive and well in these 2020 graduates of the Fresno State English Department.
Read MoreYoung Writers’ Conference is a labor of love
March 25, 2020, was supposed to be a monumental day for Fresno State’s Department of English, as it was set to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its annual Young Writers’ Conference. But due to public health precautions for COVID-19, long-time conference coordinator Tanya Nichols had to do what so many artists have done during the pandemic — improvise.
Read MoreGraduate Dean’s Medalist | Anthony Cody, Department of English, MFA Creative Writing Program
“I am an anomaly. And because I am an anomaly, I will continue to create forward, give to poetry, make poems, explore the experimental, nurture spaces for communities on the margins, and foster the truths and anomalies in others through mentoring, workshops, and universities.”
Read MoreStandard Bearer | Liliana Perez Rodriguez, Department of English
“I felt situated between two worlds, two worlds that I could not entirely identify with; yet, two worlds that I considered home. Over time, I started to see this double consciousness as an advantage rather than a setback, as my bilingual and bicultural experiences have granted me a critical lens through which to look at the world.”
Read MoreRiley Thomas, Department of English, M.A. Student of Distinction
“Riley is an exceptional mixture of talent, creativity, life experience, and management ability. ” – Dr. Ashley Foster
Read MoreKudos to Fresno writers: October/November 2019
Kudos to #FresnoWriters is a regular series on the Fresno State MFA blog, celebrating the professional accomplishments of students, alumni, and faculty in the Creative Writing Program and the Department of English at Fresno State.
Read MoreEnglish alumni gather for multiethnic literature conference anniversary
For the 10th annual conference, the English Department reunited with alumni who were part of the UCMLA journey, as either presenters or organizers or both, by inviting them back to campus for an anniversary reception, and an alumni roundtable and discussion.
Read MoreMartin Paul, Fresno State Professor Emeritus, dies at 82
Dr. Martin Paul, a professor emeritus of English at Fresno State and a self-taught specialist on poetry in translation, died in Sarasota, Florida on April 1 at the age of 82.
Read MoreNew international recognition, publications for English faculty
Three Department of English faculty have new publications, and another has been selected to serve on a prestigious international academic delegation.
Read MoreAward-winning authors and internationally known spoken word performer coming to WordFest
WordFest 2019 will feature craft talks and a performance from authors Steven Sanchez, Yazmin Monet Watkins and Li-young Lee on Saturday, Feb. 23.
Read MoreStudents collaborate to publish a children’s book which teaches environmental responsibility
College of Arts and Humanities undergrads Kelsi Stieler, Kaylee Gutierrez, and Kristin Bonillas have utilized their talents and collaborated to write, illustrate and publish a children’s book. “The Tree Tales” book, which is available on Amazon, centers around the importance of environmental conservation and teaches kids what they can do to help. “A large part […]
Read MoreAuthors and scholars to visit English Department conferences
Six distinguished authors will headline three scholarly and creative conferences presented by Fresno State’s Department of English this spring.
Read MoreUniversity honors late poet with tree, bench, writing prize
~ By Jefferson Beavers, communications specialist, Department of English, reprinted from FresnoStateNews.com Faculty, students and community friends of the Department of English at Fresno State held a dedication ceremony Dec. 9 for a memorial tree and bench on campus in honor of the late poet and alumna Mireyda “Mia” Barraza Martinez. Barraza Martinez (pictured) died […]
Read MoreThis month in the Arts and Humanities — a November review
As we approach the end of the semester, we look back at what has been another eventful month in the College of Arts and Humanities. Here are the top 5 stories from the month of November.
Read MoreMeet the Rhetoric & Writing Studies faculty of the English Department
The Fresno State faculty who are teaching in the Rhetoric & Writing Studies program in the Department of English are working to change the conversation about writing on campus, in the community, and beyond. This fall, we introduce you to these professors and tell you about the ways in which their research, teaching, and service to both the university and to the discipline intersect.
Read MoreFeatured Supporters: The Fisher family
The Fisher family transformed loss into legacy, endowing memorial scholarships for music and creative writing students in honor of their loved ones.
Read MoreMeet the Rhetoric & Writing Studies faculty: Dr. Magda Gilewicz
The Fresno State faculty who are teaching in the Rhetoric & Writing Studies program in the Department of English are working to change the conversation about writing on campus, in the community, and beyond. In our final installment, meet Dr. Magda Gilewicz, a professor of English who came to Fresno State in 1990.
Read MoreMeet the Rhetoric & Writing Studies faculty: Dr. Reva Sias
The Fresno State faculty who are teaching in the Rhetoric & Writing Studies program in the Department of English are working to change the conversation about writing on campus, in the community, and beyond. In our fourth installment, meet Dr. Reva Sias, an assistant professor of English who came to Fresno State in 2016.
Read MoreMeet the Rhetoric & Writing Studies faculty: Dr. Tom McNamara
The Fresno State faculty who are teaching in the Rhetoric & Writing Studies program in the Department of English are working to change the conversation about writing on campus, in the community, and beyond. In our fourth installment, meet Dr. Tom McNamara, an assistant professor of English who came to Fresno State in 2016.
Read MoreMeet the Rhetoric & Writing Studies faculty: Dr. Virginia Crisco
The Fresno State faculty who are teaching in the Rhetoric & Writing Studies program in the Department of English are working to change the conversation about writing on campus, in the community, and beyond. In our third installment, meet Dr. Virginia Crisco, an associate professor of English who came to Fresno State in 2005.
Read MoreMeet the Rhetoric & Writing Studies faculty: Dr. Bo Wang
The Fresno State faculty who are teaching in the Rhetoric & Writing Studies program in the Department of English are working to change the conversation about writing on campus, in the community, and beyond.
Read MoreMeet the Rhetoric & Writing Studies faculty: Dr. Rubén Casas
The Fresno State faculty who are teaching in the Rhetoric & Writing Studies program in the Department of English are working to change the conversation about writing on campus, in the community, and beyond. This fall, we will introduce you to these professors and tell you about the ways in which their research, teaching and service — to both the university and to the discipline — intersect.
Read MoreNEW FACES: Two new professors join the Department of English
Dr. J. Ashley Foster and Dr. Alexander Adkins Jaramillo both join the Department of English as new faculty members.
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The College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State 