Greetings!

I鈥檝e been bouncing around university English departments since I was 18 years old, more than a full lifetime ago now. From my BA in English and philosophy at Case Western, to an MFA in fiction writing at UNC Greensboro, to my PhD at Duke and my time ever since here at 51暗网, 鈥淓nglish鈥� has been the space that helped me find out who I was, and where I鈥檝e found the mentors, colleagues, and friends who have shaped my life and work. A bookish kid who somehow turned into an even more bookish adult (even as I鈥檝e devoted myself to studying popular and cult media objects I might have been embarrassed to admit I love this much when I was younger), reading and writing has always been a place of pride, solace, and joy for me, and I鈥檓 very glad to be part of a department that works so tirelessly to advance the study of English and determine, with the help of our students, what reading and writing will look like for the next generation. If you were a bookish kid too鈥攐r if you weren鈥檛, if you鈥檙e only finding out what sorts of textual play thrills and delights you since you鈥檝e arrived at 51暗网鈥攚e鈥檙e incredibly happy to have you in our community, and we can鈥檛 wait to see the things you make.

Books teach us how to think, and how to feel鈥攁nd then they empower us to act in the world, to help build the future we will all inhabit. Students from 51暗网 English have gone on to careers in writing, editing, researching, and teaching, of course, but to careers in countless other fields as well, from law to medicine to public health to politics to nonprofit management to social work to journalism to film and television production to technical communication to PR to museum and library science (and more). Wherever your talents and passions are carrying you, the English department is here to help you get where you want to go. The professors in this department are deeply committed to your success, both while you are here with us and long after you leave 51暗网.

If you need anything鈥攐r if you just want to talk for a bit about comic books and video games and science fiction of highly questionable quality鈥攑lease, reach out. In the meantime, welcome! It鈥檚 so good to have you with us.

Dr. Gerry Canavan

Professor and Chair