The New York Times  bestselling author, and Fitchburg State University Alum,  R.A. Salvatore  '81, '91 is on campus this week as our first ever "Writer in Residence."  Yesterday, his first day on campus, he taught/spoke with English Studies   Professor Benjamin Railton 's Intro to Science Fiction & Fantasy class. Today, he spent the morning with   Game Design Professor Les Nelken, whose  game design   students are currently working on their capstone projects, in the IdeaLab located off-campus. Students presented their game design projects and received invaluable feedback from Salvatore.

Topics: Game Design, Communications/Media, English Studies

English Studies Professor Katharine Covino's Literature for Young Adults course students, who read Fitchburg State University alumni Robert Cormier’s canonical novel The Chocolate War. and who dug deeper into the story by working collaboratively with their classmates in the Robert E. Cormier Archive gave their final presentations in Thompson Hall.

Topics: English Studies

Fitchburg State University hosted a dozen Fitchburg High School juniors during their February vacation for a writing retreat on campus.

The students included members of the Fitchburg High Honors Academy, through which they gain special access to their hometown university and its resources.

Topics: Community, English Studies

Students in English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy's Honors Seminar Literature discussed their work on the topic of Afro/Africanfuturism at the Student Literature Fair: An Exploration of Afro/Africanfuturism in the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library. University Librarians selected a winner of the Fair, with an additional Visitors' Choice award.

Topics: Student Experience, Events, Programs and Majors, English Studies

Members of the faculty looked at the historical factors that have led to what has been called the Second October War in Israel and Gaza, while exploring how the crisis fits into other contexts, in Ellis White Lecture Hall yesterday afternoon. Professor Joshua Spero moderated a panel discussion, which also included Michael Hoberman (English Studies),Eric Budd (Economics, History and Political Science), Yasser Derwiche Djazaerly (Humanities), Benjamin Lieberman (Economics, History and Political Science), R. Brad Bannon (Humanities) and Wafa Unus (English Studies)

Topics: Our Faculty, Information Session, Humanities, Economics, History, and Political Science, English Studies

In honor of Veterans Day 2023, Fitchburg State University's English Studies Department, in collaboration with its flagship literary journal Route 2, presented "Watch My Six: A Veteran Storytelling Event," in the Falcon Hub in Hammond Hall.

Topics: Student Experience, Events, Community, English Studies

Our English Studies faculty recently invited Interested students to join them, and  English Studies majors and minors  to mix and mingle in the Miller Oval. 

Topics: Student Experience, Events, Information Session, English Studies

John Hughes, an internationally-renowned composer, musician, and educator, held a kora performance yesterday afternoon in the Hammond Main Lounge. The kora is long-necked harp/lute of the Malinke people of western Africa. The instrument’s body is composed of a long hardwood neck that passes through a calabash gourd resonator, itself covered by a leather soundboard. Hughes also visiting two classes earlier in the day - Medieval Africa and World Music.

Topics: Community, Humanities, Music Programs, English Studies

Communications Media Professor Kyle Moody moderated & joined fellow faculty members  from the Digital Media Innovation major; Communications Media Professor J.J. Sylvia IV, English Studies Professor Elisabet Takehana, Humanities Professor Amy McGlothlin, and English Studies Professor Benjamin Railton. All took part in a panel discussion sharing their research and teaching interests, and how those interests are assisting students in their professional and academic pursuits. 

Topics: Programs and Majors, Humanities, Communications/Media, English Studies, Digital Media Innovation

Students in  English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy's Storytelling and Oral Tradition class have spent the last few weeks recording their podcasts for Perseverantia: Fitchburg State University Podcast Network. The network features the voices, experiences, and educational and extra-curricular life of the university community. Learn about the network here, listen here.

Topics: Student Experience, Community, English Studies