Celebrating English Alumnus' Rare Gift
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MuchNews from the English DepartmentAdoSpring 2016 • Volume 8, Issue 2 Celebrating English Alumnus’ Rare Gift n April 14, 2016, the Gumberg library importance of rare books and the Oheld a special event in honor of the study of older literatures. Thanks re-opening of its rare books collection to Dr. Giannetti’s generous gift, reading room. Titled “Of Enduring Value: students at Duquesne will now be Rare Books at Duquesne University,” the able to view this early edition of exhibition brought together librarians, this significant and unusual poem professors, students, and local media in the Gumberg Library—that is, to admire and learn about some of once it has returned from “touring” Duquesne’s most interesting rare books, West Virginia with Shakespeare’s including the new gem of Duquesne’s First Folio. collection: a 1611 edition of Spenser’s The Faerie Queene. This rare and beautiful The event, organized by University book was donated by Dr. Robert M. Librarian Dr. Sara Baron, was Giannetti, an alumnus of the English also attended by Pittsburgh Department’s Ph.D. program. At the Post-Gazette reporter Marylynne event, the English Department’s Dr. Pitz, who published an excellent Danielle St. Hilaire provided the audience with some background write-up about the event: http://www.post-gazette.com/ on the poem, after which Dr. Giannetti gave a moving tribute, with news/education/2016/04/16/Duquesne-acquires-rare-work/ readings from the poem and from a piece of his own poetry, to the stories/201604160006 Doctoral Graduate Christine Cusick Receives Fellowship in Ireland uring my time as a Duquesne graduate Humanities and the Social Sciences is Connemara Dstudent, I had the privilege to work an international community that brings to celebrate with gifted teachers and scholars who together researchers who are committed a collection supported my interdisciplinary research to multi-disciplinary dialogue and that honors and who enacted for me the deep value conversation. I collaborated with a faculty the work of of a supportive research and teaching member from The Centre for Irish Studies cartographer community. I try to bring this ethos to my at NUI Galway, conducted archival and writer Tim work in the classroom and on the page. research at the James Hardiman Library, Robinson. One and enjoyed conversations with students of our primary As a part of my first sabbatical, I held the and scholars whose experiences enlivened aims of the honor of a Moore Institute Visiting Fellow and enriched my understanding of a collection at the National University of Galway, dynamic research area. was to create a study that bridges the an experience that recalls for me how chasm between academic and community fortunate I am to find my way to intellectual I was most grateful to the Institute for activism. For me, this gathering of poets, circles that value the social relevance of our hosting a launch for my newly released scholars, environmental educators, and work. coedited essay collection. In this gathering, community members was hope for what we faculty, students, and staff joined The Moore Institute for Research in the community members of Galway City and continued on pg. 2, see Fellowship IN THIS ISSUE: FOR QUESTIONS OR SUBMISSIONS, CONTACT: Alumni Updates ..................................... 2 Study Abroad ......................................... 6 Nora McBurney Faculty Updates .................................... 3 Visiting Speaker, Jean Lutes ............. 6 Administrative Assistant Awards and Achievements ................ 4 Visiting Speaker, Bill Deasy ............... 7 English Department Department News ................................. 5 Theater Performances ........................ 7 [email protected] | 412.396.6420 /duqenglish Fellowship, continued from pg. 1 might aim to more thoughtfully achieve as Given the current challenges that academia page in the same way that I carry my time at teachers, researchers, and human animals faces, I know that opportunities such as my Duquesne with me in every working hour. of the natural world. My time at NUI Galway experience abroad are rare. I feel blessed was brought to a close with a public lecture by this time and hope that I can carry its on my research. fruit into my classroom and onto the blank AlumniUpdates Careers in Academia Panel Katie Calano (M.A. 2015) accepted an English teaching position at n April 8 the Duquesne English Department brought four Upper St. Clair School District after teaching at Grove City High Otalented alumni back to campus to celebrate their successes School for 5 years. and discuss the transition from Ph.D. student to career academic. Emily Rutter (Ph.D. 2014), Assistant Professor of English (Diverse Cara Cilano (Ph.D. 2000) accepted the position of English Literatures) at Ball State University, Elizabeth Savage (Ph.D. 1998), Department Chair at Michigan State University in East Lansing. Professor of 19th and 20th century American literature at Fairmont State University, Jeff Stoyanoff (Ph.D. 2015), Assistant Professor Shayne Confer (Ph.D. 2009) accepted the position of Acting Chair of medieval literature at Spring Hill College, and Kristianne Kalata of the English Department at Union College in Barbourville, KY. Vaccaro (Ph.D. 2008), Associate Professor of Victorian literature at He was also elected Vice President of the Kentucky Philological Association. Robert Craven (M.A. 2015) accepted a graduate teaching fellowship at the University of Oregon English Ph.D. program for Fall 2016. He will study ecocriticism. Justin Kishbaugh (Ph.D. 2014) accepted a position as the Legal Writing Consultant at Roger Williams University in Providence, RI. Laurie McMillian (Ph.D. 2004) accepted the position of Department of English and Modern Language Studies Chair at Pace University in Pleasantville, NY. Emily Rutter (Ph.D. 2014) presented “‘Straighten Up and Fly Right’: A Contrafactual Reading of Percival Everett’s Suder and Bernard Malamud’s The Natural” at The Sultans of Swing Conference: 100 Years of Baseball, Jazz, and Short Fiction (Wright L-R, Dr. Jeff Stoyanoff, Dr. Kristianne Kalata Vaccaro, State University, April 2016). A full-length article with the same Dr. Elizabeth Savage, Dr. Emily Rutter. title is forthcoming in Aethlon: The Journal of the Sport Literature. Westminster College provided a holistic view of life in the academy Elizabeth Savage (Ph.D. 1998) had a new chapbook just released by and discussed best practices for graduate students and early career Dancing Girl Press titled Parallax. In March, her poem “Pacific” faculty. A dynamic discussion revealed that the alumni were won this year’s Denise Levertov Prize. Also very happily, Fairmont grateful for the dedicated mentorship of Duquesne faculty and the State University named her the 2016 recipient of the William A. lively community fostered by the English Graduate Organization. Boram Award for Teaching Excellence. Alumni also advised students to practice time management in Jeff Stoyanoff (Ph.D. 2015) presented a paper, “Brothers anticipation of the demands on full-time faculty, and discussed Cannot be Lovers: Romance and Making the Private Public in how service can both enrich the academic experience and take Chaucer’s Knight’s Tale,” at the MLA Convention in Austin in time away from scholarly and pedagogical pursuits. When asked January 2016. Jeff also presented “The York Last Judgment: The what they wish they had done more of while at Duquesne, alumni Pavement as Unnatural Space” at the Forty-Second Annual encouraged students to pursue innovative programs. Dr. Rutter Sewanee Medieval Colloquium on a panel that he organized, spoke highly of her experience in the Learning Communities, noting “Reading Natural and Unnatural Space” in April 2016. the positive impact these interdisciplinary programs had on her job candidacy, and Dr. Stoyanoff observed that teaching UCOR 102 Matthew Vickless (Ph.D. 2015) accepted a position in December allowed him to design innovative literature classes on subjects/ 2015 as a board member for the non-profit Central Penn College themes of his choosing. A reception following the panel provided Education Foundation. He was unanimously nominated by the an opportunity for networking and celebration. We are grateful to current trustees who were impressed by his student-centered Drs. Rutter, Savage, Stoyanoff, and Vaccaro for their attendance and teaching philosophy and approach to first-generation students. excellent advice, and pleased that the event gave us an opportunity Matthew will work with the other trustees over his term to help to reflect on the smart and supportive community of which we are provide education and scholarship opportunities to deserving a part. Central Penn College students. 2 Much Ado FacultyUpdates Faith Barrett presented “The Penfield Literature in Hearn’s Chita: Memory of Ph.D.s: Not Just Extra: Editing War Poems in an Amateur Last Isle” for the Society of Novel Studies Print Newspaper” for the Civil War caucus Conference 2016 in Pittsburgh, PA in May. for Academia at the Midwest MLA in Columbus, OH Dr. Mirmotahari is CETR’s Gaultier Fellow last November. She also presented “‘Like for 2016-2017 academic year. lthough it might sound surprising, Garnet, and Douglass, and Delany too’: Aan M.A. or Ph.D. in English can Constituting the Abolitionist Community Jim Purdy was awarded the Faculty Award prepare you well for jobs outside of in the Scrapbooks of Amos Gerry Berman” for Excellence in Teaching by the McAnulty the university. This was the message of for