News
Professor Bryant Mangum Retires
August 29, 2022
Revered professor Bryant Mangum retires after 50 years of teaching at VCU . . .
International Symposium on Indigenous Media and Literature Co-Lead by HRC
July 26, 2022
VCU's Humanities Research Center co-organized the event, an opportunity for scholars to discuss Indigenous publications and print culture as part of the center’s ongoing initiative, “On Native Ground.”
Devon Walker-Figueroa Wins 25th Annual Levis Reading Prize
July 29, 2022
Devon Walker-Figueroa is the winner of the 2022 Levis Reading Prize for her poetry collection Philomath. The prize is awarded annually for the best debut or second book of poetry published in the previous calendar year and chosen by the MFA in Creative Writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University. . .
Dawnie Walton Wins the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award
July 1, 2022
Dawnie Walton has won the 2022 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, which honors an outstanding debut novel published during the preceding calendar year. . .
Dr. Terry Oggel Retiring September 1
June 22, 2022
After thirty-four years of service at VCU, L. Terry Oggel will retire on September 1. A seasoned administrator, dedicated teacher of American literature, and committed Mark Twain scholar, Terry led our department during a formative period and helped shape us into the highly productive group we are today.
Juneteenth: A Reading list
June 15, 2022
VCU News asked faculty, including the English Department's very own Shermaine Jones and Shelli Fowler, to suggest books that help readers understand and celebrate Juneteenth . . .
SJ Sindu and Geoff Bouvier to Join MFA Faculty
June 30, 2022
The Department of English is pleased to announce that Professors SJ Sindu and Geoff Bouvier will be joining our faculty this fall.
Meet Winston! Alum and recent student worker
June 22, 2022
Winston graduated this spring from VCU arts with a major in Communication Arts with a concentration in VFX. They worked in the department of English since they were a freshman and took on a number of special projects like the custom illustrated author stickers.
Dr. Catherine Ingrassia Publishes New Book on Captivity in Literature
June 3, 2022
Domestic Captivity and the British Subject, 1660-1750 was published by University of Virginia Press in June, 2022.
Announcing the Retirement of Dr. Bryant Mangum
May 20, 2022
A. Bryant Mangum will retire on September 1 after fifty years of service at VCU.
Sophia Lanctot Named 2022 Outstanding English Major
May 16, 2022
Undergraduate student, Sophia Lanctot was named the department's spring 2022 Outstanding English Major. She gave a commencement address to her peers at the spring ceremony.
Congratulations to Our Spring 2022 Distinguished English Majors
April 27, 2022
Six English majors have successfully presented their final Distinguished English Major presentations...
Dr. Michael Ra-Shon Hall Publishes Freedom Beyond Confinement
March 10, 2022
Freedom Beyond Confinement was published by Clemson University Press.
Introducing Raegan Ballard | Black History in the Making Recipient 2022
February 24, 2022
Raegan Ballard is a senior English major completing her Distinguished English Major research presentation this semester and the 2022 Black History in the Making Award.
Friday Feature | Nicole Milanovic
February 18, 2022
Nicole Milanovic is a senior English major who was featured for her writing submission.
Introducing Fabiana! | Social Media Manager & Creative Writing Minor
February 10, 2022
Fabiana is a junior majoring in mass communications and minoring in creative writing. She is one of the Department of English's social media managers!
Meet Alicia! | English Major & Social Media Manager
February 4, 2022
Alicia is a junior English major and Professional Writing and Editing minor. She is a transfer student and loving RVA! She is a manager for the department's social media account and working on the copy-edit team for Blackbird.
MFA Alum Feature Update: Starting Over
January 17, 2022
Recently, VCU News has begun a feature series about Virginia Commonwealth University students, graduates, faculty and staff who have boldly chosen to change something in their lives — whether a new profession, area of study or something else entirely . . .
Cristina Stanciu, English Professor and Director of the Humanities Research Center, helps launch Native writer/artist residency program
December 6, 2021
Grad’s War Novel Highlights the Complicated Relationship Between the U.S. Military and the Afghan People
November 10, 2021
Navy veteran and VCU alum Matt Cricchio served in Afghanistan. His debut novel, “Security Day,” will “change how you think about American conflict overseas...
Interview with Jenna Johnson, Editor of Luster
November 5, 2021
Jenna Johnson is an Executive Editor at Farrar, Straus and Giroux where she worked with author Raven Leilani on her debut novel, Luster.
Our Fall 2021 Incoming MA class
August 17, 2021
Please welcome our Fall 2021 incoming MA class . . .
Welcome Our Fall 2021 Incoming MATX/PhD Class
August 16, 2021
Please welcome our Fall 2021 incoming MATX/PhD class...
Leila Chatti Wins 24th Annual Levis Reading Prize
August 10, 2021
Leila Chatti is the winner of the 2021 Levis Reading Prize for her poetry collection Deluge. The prize is awarded annually for the best first or second book of poetry published in the previous calendar year and chosen by the Department of English and its MFA in Creative Writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University . . .
New Class to Shed Light on Indigenous Boarding Schools
August 5, 2021
Cristina Stanciu, an associate professor of English and current director of the Humanities Research Center will shed light on indigenous boarding schools in her new course, ENGL 358: The Literature of Indigenous Boarding Schools starting this fall. . .
Raven Leilani Wins VCU Cabell First Novelist Award
July 6, 2021
Raven Leilani has won the 2021 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, which honors an outstanding debut novel published during the preceding calendar year. Her winning book, Luster, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, tells the story of Edie, a 23-year-old Black woman and aspiring artist, who after losing her job finds herself living with her much older lover, his enigmatic wife and their adopted daughter. . .
Why Be an English Major? What Is the Value of An English Major? Our Professors Share Their Thoughts!
May 26, 2021
In a series of videos, the faculty in the Department of English share their thoughts on why studying English is valuable.
Professor David Latané to Retire
May 6, 2021
After thirty-seven years of service, Professor of English David E. Latané will retire from VCU effective September 1.
Retirement of Professor Richard Fine
May 6, 2021
Richard A. Fine, Professor of English, will retire from VCU on September 1 after 42 years.
Congratulations to Our Spring 2021 Distinguished English Majors
May 5, 2021
Six English majors have successfully presented their final Distinguished English Major presentations...
Announcing the Retirement of Margret Schluer
May 5, 2021
After more than thirty years of exemplary service to the Department of English, Margret Schluer, Business and Human Resources Manager, has decided to retire.
Fond Farewell to Dale Smith
April 16, 2021
Dale Smith, the department's coordinator of undergraduate advising, is leaving the department after ten years of service.
Ollie Carter | 2021 Black History in the Making Recipient
April 26, 2021
Ollie Carter will be completing their M.A. in English coursework in the Spring of 2021. They received the Black History in the Making Award for 2021...
The Black History in the Making Awards
April 5, 2021
Congratulations go out to this year’s recipients of Black History in the Making Awards, which features five students from our department . . .
Let's Talk Conspiracies?
March 29, 2021
Conspiracy theories have always been a part of American discourse . . .
M Kamara | 2021 Black History in the Making Recipient
March 17, 2021
M Kamara is a 22-year-old poet-writer-scholar and fourth-year English major, minoring in Creative Writing who will be graduating in December 2021. She is the 2021 Department of English recipient of the Black History in the Making Award...
MFA Alum's Novel Longlisted for the PEN/Faulkner Award
February 17, 2021
MFA program alum Brian Castleberry is an author and creative writing and literature assistant professor at the College of William & Mary. . .
Writing Our Way Out - The Podcast - Season 2
February 9, 2021
Season 2 of Writing Our Way Out: The Podcast is now available . . .
Announcing the 2021 Writing Awards
February 2, 2021
VCU English Professor Edits New Collection of Nine Classic Oscar Wilde Short Stories
January 4, 2021
Professor and Oscar Wilde biographer and scholar Nicholas Frankel has edited a new collection of short stories by Wilde . . .
Q&A with Michelle Goshen, 2020 Cabell First Novelist Fellow
October 14, 2020
Michelle Goshen is the 2020 Cabell First Novelist Fellow and in her third year in the M.F.A. program with a dual-genre concentration in fiction and poetry.
Q&A with Michelle Dotter, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief at Dzanc Books, Prior to 2020 Cabell First Novelist Award
October 7, 2020
Michelle Dotter is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Dzanc Books. Dzanc Books published John Englehardt's novel, Bloomland, which won the 2020 Cabell First Novelist Award.
Q&A with Colin Bailes, 2020 Levis Reading Prize Coordinator
September 24, 2020
Colin Bailes is the 2020 Levis Reading Prize coordinator and in his third year in the M.F.A. program for poetry.
Current MATX PhD Making a Difference (and the News)
December 23, 2020
First year MATX PhD, Aurora Higgs, has been working hard both in and outside of the classroom, helping her neighbors during the pandemic . . .
Special Event Featuring MATX Doctoral Student
August 26, 2020
MATX doctoral student Robb Crocker will be featured in a special live virtual event...
Welcome our Fall 2020 Incoming MATX/PhD Class
August 12, 2020
Please welcome our Fall 2020 incoming MATX/PhD class...
Welcome our Fall 2020 Incoming MFA Class
August 11, 2020
Please welcome our Fall 2020 incoming MFA class...
Welcome our Fall 2020 Incoming MA Class
August 10, 2020
Please welcome our Fall 2020 incoming MA class...
Ilya Kaminsky Wins 23rd Annual Levis Reading Prize
August 3, 2020
Ilya Kaminsky is the winner of the 2020 Levis Reading Prize for his poetry collection, Deaf Republic...
VCU MFA Alumna and Professor Collaborate to Share Extended Interviews From the Making of Their Levis Documentary in New Book
July 31, 2020
When Michele Poulos and Professor Gregory Donovan teamed up to film the documentary, A Late Style of Fire: Larry Levis, American Poet, they shot hours of interviews with some of the most influential, revered poets in the United States...
Alumna’s Acclaimed Debut Novel Began as an Idea in VCU's MFA Novel Workshop
July 13, 2020
MFA grad, Rachel Beanland, finds it surreal that the book she began working on in a novel writing workshop at Virginia Commonwealth University is now in publication...
John Englehardt Wins the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award
June 29, 2020
John Englehardt has won the 2020 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, which honors an outstanding debut novel published during the preceding calendar year. His winning book, Bloomland, published by Dzanc Books, deftly tells the aftermath story of a shooting at a fictional southern university, following three characters and the larger community over two decades, and is told in a provocative, implicating second-person style point of view...
MATX PhD, with English Professor, Put Together a Podcast: Writing Our Way Out
June 15, 2020
Current MATX PhD student, Robb Crocker, a former journalist who earned two journalism degrees from VCU is helping produce a podcast inspired by Professor David Coogan’s book, Writing Our Way Out: Memoirs from Jail...
VCU English Graduate Student, a Teacher at Richmond’s John Marshall High School, Digs into the School’s Past
June 8, 2020
When it came time to choosing a final research project for her master’s degree in English, Sara MacRae found inspiration in her job as a teacher at John Marshall High School...
Alumna Spotlight: Crystal Giannini
April 24, 2020
Crystal Giannini received her B.A. in English in May of 2017. Crystal is currently teaching English 9, 10, and 11 at Dinwiddie High School where she loves being able to introduce texts to students in fun and engaging ways!
Alumna Spotlight: Gretchen Gales
April 17, 2020
Gretchen Gales graduated with a B.A. in English and a minor in Creative Writing from VCU in December 2016. Gretchen is currently the executive editor of Quail Bell Magazine and a high school English teacher.
Mimi Winick, Ph.D., Named Research Associate for Harvard's Women's Studies in Religion Program
April 16, 2020
Mimi Winick, Ph.D., who was recently named a research associate for Harvard's Women's Studies in Religion Program for the 2020-21 academic year.
VCU English Goes Virtual
April 2, 2020
Like many of our colleagues, VCU English Professor Nicholas Frankel had limited experience with online learning prior to the COVID-19 crisis...
Student Spotlight: Jessica Sims
March 23, 2020
Jessica Sims is a senior English major and the recipient of the Black History in the Making Award for 2020. She’s a non-traditional student who loves reading, writing poetry and other forms of creative writing, loves music, enjoys trying her hand at photography, and loves “being the best single mom to a vivacious 9-year old that I can be.” She’s considering getting her masters so that she can be a teacher at the secondary level, but says “I will have to see what the future holds for me!”
Professor Adin Lears Named a Society for the Humanities Fellow
March 5, 2020
Congratulations go out to Adin Lears, Ph.D., an assistant professor of English at Virginia Commonwealth University, who has been named a fellow at the Society for the Humanities at Cornell University for the 2020-21 academic year...
Gregory Donovan and Alumna Michelle Poulos to Publish Book on Local Poetry Legend Larry Levis
March 2, 2020
The Richmond and Qatar-based independent press Diode Editions is proud to announce the publication of Prismatics: Larry Levis & Contemporary American Poetry...
Student Spotlight: Chloe Grant
February 21, 2020
Chloe is a junior English major, creative writing minor at VCU. She currently works in the nonprofit world, advocating for childhood literacy and foster care/adoption. She plans to be a high school English teacher upon graduating.
Kathy Graber Awarded UNT Rilke Prize
February 17, 2020
Kathleen Graber's The River Twice (Princeton University Press) has won the 2020 UNT Rilke Prize...
Student Spotlight: Caitlin Wilson
February 7, 2020
Caitlin Wilson is the 2019-2020 lead associate editor of Blackbird: an online journal for literature and the arts and in her second year of the M.F.A. program for poetry.
The Power of an English Degree: Jim O’Connor (B.A. ’93/H&S)
February 5, 2020
“My literature classes prepared me for the business world more than anything. I draw from my English degree all the time. I’m absolutely convinced my liberal arts background has been a great point of leverage for me...”
Alumna Spotlight: Rachel Murphy-Weast
January 31, 2020
Rachel graduated from VCU in December 2017 with her B.A. in English and double minors in business and nonprofit management.
Interview with Editor Jenna Johnson, Prior to the 2019 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award
November 6, 2019
Jenna Johnson is an Executive Editor at Farrar, Straus and Giroux. While attending the 2019 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award event, she will participate on a panel about the process of publishing a debut novel, alongside her client Ling Ma, whose novel Severance won this year’s award.
First Cohort of Distinguished English Majors Presented Their Research
December 11, 2019
Three undergraduate students presented the culmination of their two-semester creative and scholarly research projects...
Faculty Feature: Adin Lears
November 22, 2019
Adin Lears is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English and started at VCU in the fall of 2018. She teaches classes on medieval literature, Chaucer, and much more.
Faculty Feature: Matteo Pangallo
November 15, 2019
Matteo Pangallo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English and started at VCU in the fall of 2017. He teaches classes on Shakespeare, early modern drama, book history, and theater history.
M.F.A. Alumna Spotlight: Patricia A. Smith
November 12, 2019
Patricia (Patty) Smith is the author of The Year of Needy Girls (Kaylie Jones Books, 2017). She received her M.F.A. at VCU in 2001 and teaches American literature and creative writing at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School in Petersburg, VA.
Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Ph.D., to Give Lecture “Lost Titles, Hidden Histories”
November 6, 2019
Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Ph.D., will give a special guest lecture.
Alum Spotlight: Natalie Marie Salsbury
November 1, 2019
Natalie Marie Salsbury graduated with a B.A. in English and a minor in Creative Writing from VCU in December 2018. She is the Administrative Specialist in the Dean's Office of College of Humanities and Sciences.
Interview with Literary Agent Jin Auh, Prior to the 2019 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award Event
October 30, 2019
Jin Auh is a literary agent at The Wylie Agency. While attending the 2019 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award event, she will participate on a panel about the process of publishing a debut novel, alongside her client Ling Ma, whose novel Severance (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) won this year’s award.
M.F.A. Alumnus Profile: Dale Brumfield
October 18, 2019
Dale Brumfield graduated from VCU with a B.F.A. in painting and printmaking in 1981 and graduated from the VCU M.F.A. program in Creative Writing in 2015. His tenth book has just been released.
College of Humanities and Sciences Student Emergency Fund
September 30, 2019
Interview with 2019 Cabell First Novelist Award Fellow, April Sopkin
September 20, 2019
April Sopkin is the 2019 Cabell First Novelist Award Fellow and in her third year of the M.F.A. program for fiction.
Joshua Eckhardt's Book Sheds New Light on Poet and Preacher John Donne
September 19, 2019
Joshua Eckhardt has authored a new book that examines the religious texts and books that surrounded the poems, sermons, and inscriptions of poet and preacher John Donne...
New Podcast 'Writing Our Way Out' Launches
September 18, 2019
Profile of the 2019 Levis Reading Prize Coordinator, AJ White
September 18, 2019
AJ White is the 2019 Levis Reading Prize coordinator and in his third year in the M.F.A. program for poetry.
Kathleen Graber Publishes Acclaimed New Poetry Collection
September 16, 2019
Kathleen Graber, associate professor in the Department of English, has published a new collection of poems, The River Twice, (Princeton University Press, 2019)...
Announcing the 2019 VCU Student Book-Collecting Contest
September 5, 2019
All VCU students, undergraduate and graduate, are invited to submit to the VCU Student Book-Collecting Contest...
Sonja Livingston’s New Essay Collection Explores Her Journey with Catholicism
September 5, 2019
Sonja Livingston has authored a new collection of essays, The Virgin of Prince Street: Expeditions into Devotion (University of Nebraska Press)...
In Memoriam: Paule Marshall
August 16, 2019
Welcome Our Incoming Fall 2019 MATX Class
August 14, 2019
Welcome Our Incoming Fall 2019 MFA Class
August 13, 2019
Welcome Our Fall 2019 Incoming MA Class
August 12, 2019
Recent Faculty Publications
July 30, 2019
22nd Annual Levis Reading Prize
July 9, 2019
Jenny Xie is the winner of the 2019 Levis Reading Prize...
2019 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award
July 2, 2019
Ling Ma has won the 2019 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award...
Glynis Boyd Hughes — A Successful Return
April 15, 2019
VCU English Professor Receives Prestigious Fellowship
April 12, 2019
Undergraduate Course Fair
March 26, 2019
VCU English Major is Helping the VMFA
March 20, 2019
English Professor Receives Fulbright Award
March 7, 2019
2019 VCU Distinguished Visiting Writer Yiyun Li Welcomed
January 31, 2019
Acclaimed author, Yiyun Li, who teaches creative writing at Princeton University, is VCU’s 2019 Distinguished Visiting Writer...
Faculty Recognition: Seed Award Recipients for 2019
February 25, 2019
Faculty Recognition: Assistant Professor Mary Caton Lingold Named Co-winner of the 2017 Richard Beale Davis Prize for Best Essay
February 21, 2019
Student Spotlight...
January 7, 2019
VCU News' latest student spotlight feature focuses on VCU English major, Glynis Boyd Hughes . . .
David Wojahn Wins 21st Annual Library of Virginia Literary Award for Poetry
October 22, 2018
The Library of Virginia on Saturday announced the winners of the 21st annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards...
Alumnus Author Seeks To Deliver ‘That Bruce Lee Punch’ With His Debut Collection
October 8, 2018
VCU English alum, X.C. Atkins, has just published his debut collection of short stories. Grace Street Alley and Other Stories ...
Welcome Our Fall 2018 Incoming MA Class
August 19, 2018
Please welcome our Fall 2018 incoming MA in English class...
Welcome Our Incoming Fall 2018 MFA Class
August 19, 2018
Please welcome our Fall 2018 incoming MFA in Creative Writing class...
Welcome Our Incoming Fall 2018 MATX Class
August 19, 2018
Please welcome our Fall 2018 incoming PhD in Media, Art and Text class...
Kaveh Akbar Wins 21st Annual Levis Reading Prize
July 13, 2018
Kaveh Akbar is the winner of the 2018 Levis Reading Prize for his poetry collection Calling a Wolf a Wolf...
VCU English Alum Featured on PBS
May 28, 2018
PBS News Hour recently featured VCU English alum and prize-winning author Kevin Powers as a part of its Memorial Day coverage...
Alumna’s Novel, Featured in O, The Oprah Magazine
May 25, 2018
VCU MFA graduate Michele Young-Stone's latest novel, Lost in the Beehive follows a young woman growing up in the 1960s...
