UNA English Department

This week the English Department hosted its 2nd annual Creative Writing Summer Camp, led by Professor Jason McCall and GA Katelee Smith. Below, Students pose with copies of their creative work. Congrats to All on a great camp!

UNA School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Professor Katie Owens-Murphy discusses her work with the Restorative Justice Lab on UNA Talks: What Higher Education Offers Incarcerated Students

What Higher Education Offers Incarcerated Students (featuring Dr. Katie Owens-Murphy) Today, we take a closer look at one of our most outreach-oriented programs. Dr. Katie Owens-Murphy serves as UNA's "Inside-Out" coordinator, working directly...

Congratulations to Lindsay White, an English Major, who won an Isabel Sparks President’s Award of $200 at the Sigma Tau Delta 2026 convention:

3rd Place, Critical Essays: American/Multicultural Literature

Her paper and presentation was titled “‘Far from These Red Hills’: Distance, Disability, and Religious Ableism in Flannery O’Connor’s ‘Good Country People’”.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Rachael Falu, Lindsay presented the paper at the Sigma Tau Delta 2026 convention, held in New Orleans from March 29- April 1, 2026. Sigma Tau Delta is an International English Honor Society.

One of our groups in EN 222: American Literature II was able to bring a mock version of part of their final multigenre project! They created a "Heads Up" adjacent game based on characterization and symbolism from The Great Gatsby. The class had so much fun testing the game out today!
Student creators: Ruthie Windsor, LaShaya Jackson, William Ryals, and Emily Vandiver.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day to our very own Leo Jones!! The English Department is so thankful for all of your hard work and dedication! 💜💜💜

✍️✨ Got a story to tell this summer? We’ve got the perfect place for it.

Join UNA’s FREE Creative Writing Summer Camp for ages 13–18 and spend your week crafting poems, stories, and ideas that actually feel like you. Led by awesome professors, packed with hands-on activities, and yep… FREE lunch every day 🍕📚

📅 June 1–5
⏰ 10 AM – 2 PM
📍 University of North Alabama

Spots are limited, so don’t wait—your next chapter starts here.

👉 Register by 05/15!

Funding from Women of Influence help makes this camp accessible for the community.

✍️✨ Got a story to tell this summer? We’ve got the perfect place for it.

Join UNA’s FREE Creative Writing Summer Camp for ages 13–18 and spend your week crafting poems, stories, and ideas that actually feel like you. Led by awesome professors, packed with hands-on activities, and yep… FREE lunch every day 🍕📚

📅 June 1–5
⏰ 10 AM – 2 PM
📍 University of North Alabama

Spots are limited, so don’t wait—your next chapter starts here.

👉 Register by 05/15!

Join us next Thursday, April 23rd to learn more about our Restorative Justice Inside-Out program!!

Professor Daryl Brown and the Lights & Shadows staff attended the Southern Literary Festival this weekend in Chattanooga, TN

We had the best time with @thesouthernliteraryfestival at UT Chattanooga. The Lights & Shadows staff comes home after a weekend of much work, new and old friendships, and many, many reinvigorating writing ideas! We love discussing our craft!!! We are profoundly thankful to the UNA sponsors who made this experience possible. See y’all again next year!