Literature and Language Department at ETSU

Congratulations to our colleagues Matthew Fehskens for his promotion to the rank of Professor and David Korfhagen for his promotion to the rank of Associate Professor and his being granted tenure!

An interview with our colleague, Jesse Graves, from SALVATION SOUTH: https://www.salvationsouth.com/jesse-graves-cosmic-appalachian-boogie/?utm_source=Salvation+South&utm_campaign=9ba8aedbc7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_04_17_03_24&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_89069cb37b-9ba8aedbc7-606410247&mc_cid=9ba8aedbc7&mc_eid=79956443e8&fbclid=IwdGRjcARPpGtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe5vp04d0E5dNICOTLwkvfm_tqeCAGCYf7b40f5taKiFPb6nafpTD0trPUR1g_aem_5ACw36pKrL79auG9KYHk9Q

Appalachian Poet Jesse Graves: Family, Roots & Poetry | Salvation South From a hundred-year house in Sharps Chapel, Tennessee, to packed poetry nights at The Down Home in Johnson City, Jesse Graves has quietly become one of Appalachia’s defining contemporary voices.

Congratulations to senior English Major Rebekah Saulsbury! What an amazing accomplishment!

Here is some terrific news about our colleague, Fulbright Scholar Theresa McGarry: https://news.kln.ac.lk/index.php/faculties-others/humanities/2454-professor-theresa-mcgarry-from-east-tennessee-state-university-visits-university-of-kelaniya?fbclid=IwY2xjawNlp1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE2YVdFQzNLNTRUQmNHSHc4AR4Cy_gLEew19NAnpgKgJBswtdcla9YxPz5pnwXjj-6PbwB7nTbrzdSoZthzIA_aem_Njt0cFv5g5wcnNRCBvKlGg

Professor Theresa McGarry from East Tennessee State University Visits University of Kelaniya The University of Kelaniya welcomed Professor Theresa McGarry, a distinguished academic from the Department of Literature and Language, East Tennessee Stat...

Delighted to see this interview of our colleague, Valencia Robin Grice, on the release of her new poetry volume, LOST CITIES:

"The Emotional Truth of an Experience:" An Interview with Valencia Robin - Chicago Review of Books A conversation with Valencia Robin on her new poetry collection, "Lost Cities"

Join us for Deaf Awareness Week! Scan the QR code to view all the activities we have planned for this event.

Congratulations to Kelsey Alannah Solomon (MA 2016) on this recognition of her engagement with Appalachian representation in higher education--

Gov. Bill Lee has appointed Kelsey Solomon, associate professor of English to a
two-year term on the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Read more: https://ws.edu/news/2025/solomon_to_serve_on_tbr.aspx.

While some minor tweaks are still underway after the Burleson Hall renovation, the construction of its new external stairway and the completion of additional sidewalks and landscaping of the small plaza to our immediate north are complete.

ETSU linguist named Fulbright Scholar Dr. Theresa McGarry, director of ETSU’s TESOL program, has been named a Fulbright Scholar and will study Colloquial Sinhala as part of an immersive project in Sri Lanka.