Contact Information

Location:       MILLER HALL, Office 202 
Chairperson:   Dr. Patrice Gray ~ 978-665-3266
                      pgray@fitchburgstate.edu

Department Office(s): 
  Miller Hall, 1st Floor, Office 102
     Jean Varchol ~ 978-665-3393
     jvarchol@fitchburgstate.edu
  Miller Hall, 2nd Floor, Office 202
     Diane Lucas ~ 978-665-3267
     dlucas@fitchburgstate.edu

SUMMARY

The English Studies Department offers concentrations in Literature, Teacher Education, Theater and Professional Writing. Core courses in British, American, and World literatures form a basis for the literature program, and students also have the opportunity to study literature in translation, ancient to contemporary. Courses in literature, writing, speech and theater allow students to develop writing and public speaking skills, powers of perception and analysis, critical thinking, judgment and creativity. The English Studies major provides a solid foundation for a number of careers that value critical thinking and writing and the articulate, well-read person.

Students planning to teach will have many fine models to emulate and will gain a solid grounding both in literature and in secondary school teaching methods. For practical teaching experience, students will be placed with some of the best high school teachers in the region, many of them graduates of our Bachelor’s or Master’s level programs.

Each semester, English Studies majors have the opportunity to perform full-scale theatrical productions, produced and directed by our theater faculty and occasional guest directors. Students have performed in theater festivals in the U.S. and internationally, and have also won acting and production prizes in national competitions.  Students interested in professional writing have the choice of many writing courses—journalism, technical writing or creative writing—and are encouraged to submit independent work to Route 2, our literary magazine, or to the campus newspaper, The Point. Students are also able to gain professional experience through internships.

Faculty

English Studies faculty share a love of language and literature. Whether students are interested in medieval literature, Victorian novelists, folklore, beat poets, 21st century drama, or publishing their poetry online, they will find someone to share their excitement and broaden their vision. All full-time faculty hold terminal degrees in their fields and have earned scholarly distinction, including awards and fellowships. They are published authors of novels, poetry, critical works, and magazine and newspaper feature articles. Some hold positions as editors, textbook consultants and officers of regional and national organizations. Our theater faculty act and direct in Boston, New York and local communities.

• Alberghene, Janice - African American literature, children' literature
• Budz, Judith - American literature, professional writing
• Chisunka, Chola  -African literature, world literature
• Consalvo, Annamary -Secondary education, classroom literacy
• Edwards, Steven -Professional writing, fiction & non-fiction
• Gim, Lisa -British literature, Shakespeare
• Gray, Patrice - creative non-fiction writing, short story
• Hoberman, Michael -American literature, Jewish American literature 
• Kelly, Nancy -Secondary education, women's studies
• Mabee, Frank -British literature, romanticism
• Martyniuk, Irene -British studies, postcolonial, professional writing
• Moser, Joseph -Film studies, culture studies
• Murray, Thomas -American literature , feature writing
• Nastasee-Carder-Speech communication
• Railton, Benjamin -American studies, Ethnic literature
• Schmidt, Doris -Journalism, writing for the web
• Takehana, Elise -Creative writing, rhetoric, media studies
• Tracy, Kisha -British literature, medieval  and renaissance
• Williams, Ian -Poetry writing, American literatures

FACILITIES

Historic Miller Hall, once a women’s dormitory, is home to the English Studies department. Theater productions take place in Wallace Theater for Performing Arts. Across campus, all common spaces and classroom buildings employ a wireless network that supports student use of laptops. Many classrooms are equipped with latest instructional  technologies that enhance teaching and learning.

Admissions Office: 978-665-3144 or admissions@fitchburgstate.edu