English Department at Marian University

"Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn't carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life."
— Stephen King

What are you all reading these days?

The Muriel Press - Marian University Coming Soon from the Muriel Press “Nothing wasted, no extra – this is how Raki Kopernik constructs The Memory House. Every sentence a small satisfaction to read; some lines punch and others pull readers into the dust and sweetness of what is remembered/misremembered/passed down. Part document, p...

Community Voices: Laura Jean Baker (2019-02-20) Raised by therapists; married to a defense attorney, Laura Jean Baker writes where mental health, crime, and family intersect. She earned her M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Michigan, where she was a Colby Fellow for graduate study. Three days after giving birth to her first baby,

Congrats to our Marian English grads! We will miss you!

Elizabeth Nunez to read at Marian on April 28th. Dr. Nunez is a Marian graduate and highly recognized author. Would love to see all English students and any alumni who can make it!

http://aalbc.com/authors/author.php?author_name=Elizabeth+Nunez

Elizabeth Nunez, author, professor, cofounder of the National Black Writers Conference Elizabeth Nunez’s Author Profile on the African American Literature Book Club

That 'Useless' Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech's Hottest Ticket Stop thinking of Silicon Valley as an engineer's paradise. There's far more work for liberal arts majors -- who know how to sell and humanize.

The Charles Dickens Cinematic Universe Begins in New BBC TV Series It is a good day to be English literature nerds! Because the BBC is currently filming Dickensian, a 20-episode TV series where all of Charles Dickens’ characters essentially live together in Victorian London, including Oliver Twist, Fagin, Ebeneezer Scrooge, Miss Havisham from Great Expectations, an…

The History of “Loving” to Read - The New Yorker For a long time, people didn’t love literature. They read with their heads, not their hearts.

Employment numbers are just as promising for English majors as many other majors out there.

The Best Argument for Studying English? The Employment Numbers Only people who don't understand statistics would question the value of an English degree.

Which Banned Book Are You? Banned Books Week is September 21st through the 27th. Celebrate the freedom to read. Stand up against censorship. Take our quiz to find out which banned book you are, and exhibit the right to read!

Don't forget to sign up your teams for the trivia contest on Monday, Sept. 29! We need a couple of more teams. Don't worry, the questions range from really easy to pretty difficult.

Check out Prof. Christina Kubasta's profile!

Name: Christina Kubasta

What is your educational background?
MFA (poetry), University of Notre Dame; BA (English, Writing Concentration, Minor in Studio Art) Wells College, Aurora NY.

Why did you choose this field?
I was sure quite early that I wanted to major in English and write. But I credit my specific interests (in poetry and modern and contemporary American literature) to the combination of a wonderful professor and a registrar error.
During my first semester of college, I was accidentally allowed to enroll in a 300-level class, “Modern and Contemporary American Poetry.” The professor, Prof. Bruce Bennett, called me to a meeting to discuss whether I could handle the class; he allowed me to remain enrolled and I loved it. We developed an incredibly meaningful student-professor relationship. He became my advisor, and continuing today is a great mentor for me. My recent book was published by a press he recommended. He has introduced me to so many talented writers and editors, recommended me for prizes and fellowships, and remains an engaged and insightful reader of my work.

Hobbies/Favorite Pastimes/Unique talent
When not reading for class & teaching, I read for pleasure. I also enjoy walking my St. Bernard/Mastiff mix Ursula and gardening. In general, I enjoy things that are quiet, contemplative and solitary.

Title/Position:
Assistant Professor of English; Chair of the Culture, Media and Gender Studies Department; Co-Director of the Honors Program

Department:
English & CMG

What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy: To convey my enthusiasm for ideas, reading and writing through my classes and interactions with students; to be open to new ideas, new ways of reading, new interpretations. I try to do this by experimenting with texts (for most literature classes, I pick a few new texts that I haven’t taught before), and new methods of delivering content. In general, I want to be transparent with students –if I don’t know the answer, or am conflicted about an idea or a character, or am persuaded by a student’s suggestion or criticism, I try to be honest about that. I would argue recognizing the “not-knowing” is what’s important.

Are you involved in overseeing any on-campus clubs or organizations?
Faculty advisor for SPECTRUM, the LGBTQA student group.
Co-facilitate the Spring Play (with Prof. Fairchild)

What is the most inspiring aspect of Marian?
My students and my colleagues inspire me every day. Because we are a small school, with small classes, we are able to interact in meaningful ways.

Why should a student choose to come to Marian? To choose this program of study?
What you do with your education matters –how it helps to provide skills, leads to a meaningful career, and all that. But a college education, and a major in English, should do much more than this too. Reading literature and thinking about how those expressions of our human experience can comfort, guide and instruct us is part of the continuing value of my education. It’s why we turn to poetry in the darkest moments of our lives, as well as our happiest; it’s why we mark formal occasions with quotations and words.
The language we use –whether we’re describing a situation, or arguing for a particular solution –matters. The difference of a single word can have great ramifications. As a writer and a student of language, I am continually astonished with the power of this tool. As a former English major, and now teacher, I hope to equip students with this ultimate tool. Language shapes our realities; we can use it to remake the world. The politicians understand this power; we as citizens should too.

What advice would you give to students about the importance of earning a college degree? What advice would you give to students of Marian University (current or prospective) about the value of receiving a Marian University education?
Look for a place and people who will nurture you as a whole person. Small classes, small student-faculty ratios, interdisciplinary classes, and strong liberal arts core means you are not just a number in a lecture hall, or an advisee who needs to tick off classes toward a degree. You are more than your future career; you are more than a composite GPA on a transcript. Find a place that recognizes that and will encourage you to be more than that.