English Studies Department Professor Benjamin Railton presented “Recording Our Worst and Imagining Our Best: My Experiences with My Public Scholarly Podcast” in our Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) as part of the Fitchburg State Speakers Series. 

Collin Syvert of the English Studies Department and Professor Kevin McCarthy of the Communications Media Department hosted a screening of a new documentary "From Sea to Shining Sea." Afterwards, a guest panel spoke about the film. The panel included Professor Benjamin Railton, Director John de Graaf, and  Fitchburg Historical Society Director  Susan Navarre.

Students from English Studies Professor Katharine Covino's FYE course - "What Do We Owe Ourselves? & What Do WE Owe Each Other?" - completed a Day of Service at the Fitchburg State University Falcon Bazaar Food Pantry and Professional Clothing Closet. After a quick tour of the well stocked and organized Falcon Bazaar Food Pantry Graduate Assistant, Office of Student Engagement Caitlin Moriarty brought the students to the nearby Professional Clothing Closet where she needed some serious help. After some instructions, students organized clothing by size, color, and type, and some general "housekeeping."

Last week, the morning of our Homecoming Pep Rally, President Hodge visited English Studies Professor Heather Urbanski's Foundations of Professional Writing course for a Q&A with students. As President Hodge holds a Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Master's degrees in English and Women's Studies, she is uniquely qualified to address students questions and share how she and her executive cabinet handle communications at the university.

This morning, as part of the university's You FIT Here! Fitchburg Your Story program, Fitchburg State University School of Education and English Studies programs held a Teach-In at Abolitionist Park. Professors Danette Day, Kisha Tracy, and William Cortezia taught their Culturally Proficient Educator, Diversity in Education, and The Bible as Literature courses in Abolitionist Park.   

Part of our Summer Orientation 2025 allows our newest students to pick their adventure among the many choices are Fitchburg in the Arts, and taking part in a Service Project. 

Fitchburg in the Arts; Fine Art Program Professor Andrea Olmstead walked students through expectations while Director for our Creative Arts Therapies Amy McGlothlin and Director for our Creative Arts Enterprise Jonathan Harvey - with help from current students in our many bands and choirs - held an abridged percussion and singing clinic. English Studies Professor DeMisty Bellinger-Delfeld discussed our Creative Writing Programs.
Service Project; Students put together hygiene & laundry kits for our Falcon Bazaar.

Students in English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy's Honors Literature Seminar welcomed students from the Fitchburg High School Honors Academy for their presentations of their Afro/Africanfuturism workshop in the Ellis White Lecture Hall.

Yesterday afternoon, the English Studies Department  held their annual English Studies Student Celebration & Recognition ceremony in the Miller Oval. Professors Katharine Covino and Diego Ubiera welcomed students, faculty, and staff to the event where  Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society students, creative writing award winners, and graduates were all recognized. 

English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy welcomed Local Storyteller, Teacher, and Alum Todd Goodwin to her Storytelling and Oral Tradition class this morning. After regaling the class with some harmonica playing, a song, and lighting the imaginary campfire, Mr. Goodwin told stories involving his father's dream car, a 1941 Studebaker.

The English Studies Department  held their annual High School Writing Awards and Creative Writing Awards Ceremony this afternoon in Presidents Hall. President Hodge welcomed attendees and spoke of the importance of creative writing as a tool for communication. First place winner, or their designees read their award winning pieces. All top prize and honorable mention writing award winners from area high schools were recognized.  Some of the first place high school winners' writing along with Fitchburg State student writing appear in the latest volume of Route Two literary publication.