Trinity Western University English Department

We are so pleased to announce that Ariel Little, who completed her M.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities at Trinity Western University, has today successfully defended her doctoral dissertation at the University of British Columbia: “Semi-Permeable Selves: Hygienic Discourse and the Biopolitics of Girls’ Health, 1870 – 1920.” We know that great things lie ahead for Dr. Little!

Ariel Little - Department of English Language and Literatures Ariel Little is a PhD Candidate specializing in transatlantic discourses of health and girlhood between 1870-1920. Her dissertation specifically addresses how hygienic health formed a significant model of girlhood in this period. Her work investigates how the discourse of hygienic girlhood served as...

TWU English professors, Dr. David Anonby and Dr. Laura Van D**e, travelled to the Los Angeles area to present papers at the Conference on Christianity and Literature held at California Baptist University in May 2026. Dr. Anonby presented on Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, while Dr. Van D**e presented on the contemporary English poet Martin Shaw.

This week, English professor Dr. Holly Faith Nelson presented a paper on Margaret Cavendish and Northrop Frye at a University of Toronto colloquium entitled "Northrop Frye's Renaissance" (May 7, 2026). The colloquium was co-organized by our department alumnus Bret van den Brink, who is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of English at the University of Toronto. Both presented on a panel with Professor James Nohrnberg (University of Virginia) whose dissertation was supervised by Frye.

Congratulations to our 2026 graduates! 🎓🎉

If you are in the Langley area this evening, you are invited to attend the launch party for TWU’s literary journal [spaces]: March 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Lower Caf (Douglas Centre). This event is one of the highlights of the academic year—it is wonderful to hear students present their work and to celebrate their creativity.