JMU English

The JMU Department of English - where students launch their intellectual curiosity through the written word.

08/10/2026

THIS THURSDAY: Come out for the exhibit opening of Celebrating Simms at Rocktown High School!

Led by Professor of English, Dr. Mollie Godfrey along with her colleague Dr. Sean McCarthy, the exhibit opening will feature speakers such as Harrisonburg Mayor, Deanna Reed and Harrisonburg City Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Michael Richards. This special 90-minute event will include remarks, discussion, and time to explore the exhibit!

Thurs. August 13th, 2026, from 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Rocktown High School
2970 E Kaylor Park Dr, Harrisonburg

Refreshments will be served.

05/27/2026

We are delighted to welcome our new Assistant Professor of English, Dr. Becca Klaver!

Dr. Klaver earned her Ph.D. at Rutgers University, and her research focuses on poetry writing, feminist poetics, and post-1945 avant garde literary movements.

She writes that she, “can’t wait to teach in JMU’s popular Creative Writing minor, which brings together students from different majors. In my experience, a room full of writers with a variety of interests and backgrounds leads to rich, lively conversations where perspectives interweave and creativity blooms.”

Want to work with Dr. Klaver? Then enroll in her ENG 392: Intro to Creative Writing – Poetry course for the Fall ’26 semester!

05/14/2026

Congrats to all the graduating today! 💜💛

Photo courtesy of James Madison University

05/12/2026

Congratulations to Ivy Ridenhour who has been named the 2025-26 Outstanding Student for English!

She notes that during her time as a JMU English student that she has “developed a more layered way of thinking. The theories we study don’t just apply to literature; they apply to life.”

Read more by clicking the link in our bio 💜⭐️

05/11/2026

Congratulations to Ivy Ridenhour, the 2026 Outstanding Student for English!

💜 What is your favorite JMU memory?
“My favorite memory at JMU was putting on a workshop of Meat Cube, a play I wrote, with the help of my classmates. It combined a lot of the things I care about, writing, theater, and storytelling with my friends.”

💛 What is the most important thing you learned during your time at JMU?
“The most important thing I learned at JMU was: if you don’t know what you want to do, start by finding the people you want to do things with.”

JMU English

05/08/2026

Congrats to the Iris team on a successful launch for their Spring 2026 issue!

Want to pick up your own copy of Iris? Copies can be found in Keezell Hall, Harrison Hall, Wilson Hall, Cleveland Hall, the Union and SSC.

05/07/2026

Congratulations to Angel Rona Estavillo, Second-Year Graduate Student, who has been offered and accepted a position in the Ph.D. program at the University of Connecticut!

05/06/2026

Happy last day of classes, Dukes! Good luck as you head into finals week!

Here are some last day of classes pictures:
1. Heidi Pennington and her TAs for ENG 236 standing in front of their big crazy white board
2. Mollie Godfrey and her ENG 359: Studies in African American Lit class

05/05/2026

Congratulations to Aiman Rahman, Second-Year Graduate Student, who has been offered and accepted a position in the Ph.D. program at Ohio University. Additionally, Aiman was granted the Earl C. and Margaret S. Shively Scholarship!

04/30/2026

Congratulations to the outstanding English students that were recognized at the 2025-26 English Awards and Senior Celebration that took place on April 19th!

We are proud of your accomplishments! ⭐️💜

Address

921 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA
22807

Telephone

+15405686170

Website

http://www.jmu.edu/english/, https://www.jmu.edu/news/english/2026/ivy-ridenhour.shtml

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when JMU English posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to JMU English:

Want your school to be the top-listed School/college in Harrisonburg?