English / Philosophy Department at Auburn University at Montgomery

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On June 5, Dr. Seth Reno delivered a keynote address titled "Alabama Banjo: A New History of America's Instrument" for Jefferson State Community College's annual UWRITE Conference. His talk drew from his current book project, exploring the history of Alabama banjo players, songs, and related topics from the early 19th century to the present. Dr. Reno demonstrated the clawhammer style of banjo playing on a traditional five-string banjo and a handcrafted gourd banjo created by Fairhope-based Emily Ellis, the only commercial female banjo maker in the United States.

Here's a link to the New York Times obituary for professor emeritus Alan Gribben.

Alan Gribben, Twain Scholar Who Excised Slur From ‘Huck Finn,’ Dies at 84 He made it his mission to track down every book Mark Twain owned — and to fix what he saw as flaws that kept schools from teaching the author’s most famous works.

Our first print edition of Thirteen Bridges Review has been published, featuring the editors' selection of the best work they've published online over the last few years.

Led by Kent Quaney, the editorial team includes poetry editor Joyce Kelley, creative nonfiction editor Stephanie Dugger, and associate editors Michelle Aitken and Jason Shifferd. In addition, MLA student Tyson Wilson served as assistant managing editor and Dr. Quaney's research assistant. We'd also like to thank Dr. Heather Witcher for her support of this project.

Copies are available on Amazon.

Thirteen Bridges Review A selection of the best poetry and prose featured in online.

We are mourning the loss of Professor Emeritus and former department head Dr. Alan Gribben, an internationally recognized expert on Mark Twain and long a valued member of our community.

As part of their Capstone projects this semester, Iris Guin, John Van Luchene, Ian Glass, and Noel Warrior presented at AUM’s Research Day on April 24. Projects ranged from analyses of The String of Pearls and J***y to a poetry chapbook.

Students in Dr. Joyce Kelley's Children's Literature class wrote and illustrated their own picture books for the course, and on Tuesday they read them to children at AUM's Early Learning Center.

At Honors Days last week, Iris Guin, our department's outstanding student for 2026, was also recognized as the Chancellor's Scholar for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Congratulations, Iris!

Our department has had a very busy academic year! Check out what our students and faculty have done here:

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