English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy welcomed fellow English Studies Professor DeMisty D. Bellinger-Delfeld and Lori Steckervetz of the The Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library to her Storytelling and Oral Tradition class this morning to share their unique stories with students. 

English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy welcomed  Fitchburg Historical Society Director  Susan Navarre to her Storytelling and Oral Tradition class this morning. Navarre gave a brief history of Fitchburg and offered topics of interest students may be able to use for a class project. 

Students in English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy's Storytelling and Oral Tradition class gathered in the The Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library Archives where University Archivist Asher Jackson discussed what a university archives are, and how to research in this unique space. 

As part of our yearlong Community Read of Sonia Purnell's A Woman of No Importance:  The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II, faculty, students, staff and community members gathered in the  Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library for a discussion of the book and a presentation on prosthetics. The subject of the book, Virginia Hall, whom in 1942 the Gestapo sent out an urgent transmission regarding: “She is the most dangerous of all Allied spies. We must find and destroy her.” had a prosthetic leg. Prior to English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy leading the discussion, Clinical Manager Max Nigrosh MSOP, CP of Hanger Clinic discussed the history of, and demonstrated various types of prosthetics. 

A panel of Emily Stark (Director of Disability Services), Dr. Danette Day (Education), Dr. Kat McLellan (Director of Academic Coaching and Tutoring Center), Shannah Sallah (Student Affairs, Veteran Services), Tanya Crowley (Director of Alumni and Family Relations), Nicole Salerno (Assistant Director of Study Abroad), Sandy Yu (International Student Coordinator), Dr. Elizabeth Swartz (Director of TRIO Student Support Services) visited English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy's Storytelling and Oral Tradition class to take part in an interview project for the course.

Students from English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy's The Global Middle Ages course presented posters focusing on their research work as "medievalist for a semester" in the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library. Additionally, medieval-themed zines from Dr. Tracy's British Literature I: Adventure and Transformation were on display. The work will remain on display through Friday, December 20th, stop by and vote for your favorite - a Viewer's Choice Award will be presented at the end of the exhibit.

Student teams in English Studies Professor Dr. Katharine Covino's First-Year Experience (FYE) course each created a Public Service Announcement (PSA) which were judged, with a PSA about bussing issues coming out on top. Fitchburg Mayor Samantha Squailia visited the class to sign and give certificates to the winning team. Their efforts paid off as Mayor Squailia has already made improvements, and promised a bus stop shelter is ready to be installed on campus.

English Studies Professor Dr. Kisha Tracy's British Literature I class delivered their Medieval Zines to Dr. Heather Urbanski's Writing I class, and Dr. Collin Syfert's Current Events and Service Learning - who had guest speaker Communications Media Professor Kyle Moody presenting to the class. Each student created a zine - a small circulation publication of of minority interest, usually reproduced via photocopier, as part of the course. After distribution, Dr. Kisha Tracy made sure to invite everyone to next week's Global Middle Ages Literature Fair.

This afternoon, Provost Patricia Marshall welcomed those gathered in the President's Hall for  English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy's presentation of  the Harrod Lecture: “Decolonizing the Study of Disability in the Middle Ages” After an introduction by Chair of the English Studies Department Aruna Krishnamurthy Professor Tracy discussed the expanding scope of medieval disability studies into the global world.

 Our Summer Institute for Journalism Education wrapped up today with presentations by English Studies Professor Collin Syfert Web Editor Mike Elfland (Worcester Telegram & Gazette), Editor John Osborn (The Harvard Press), and Communications Media Professor Kyle Moody.