2016 Graduate Program News
Jarrod Ingles' Teaching Praised
Third-year PhD student Jarrod Ingles' freshman writing course has been singled out for acclaim by one of the Admissions Office's group of student bloggers. "The hour-long, bi-weekly lectures and discussions in Morey 502 were the highlight of my semester as I hung onto every word that emerged from one of the smartest men I have ever met," writes Adit Ganguly of the experience. To read the full blog entry (and see a photo of Jarrod intrepidly leading 15 freshmen on a hike in Mendon Ponds Park), click here: https://enrollment.rochester.edu/blog/a-review-of-the-mandatory-freshman-writing-course/
Erin Palombi to Work at Library of Congress' Audio-Visual Conservation Center
Erin Palombi (Selznick MA 2016) has been hired by the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center - part of the Library of Congress, and home to the world's leading collection of films, television programs, and radio broadcasts. In her role as a Library Processing Technician, Erin will work with moving-image artifacts as they move through the Center's detailed inventorying and inspection process. Congratulations to Erin as she begins her new career! 
Jenny Boyar Awarded Postdoctoral Fellowship
Congratulations to Jenny Boyar, who has been selected to serve as a postdoctoral fellow in the UR's Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program. Starting this fall, Jenny will be teaching two sections of a composition course of her own design, entitled "Narratives of and as Medicine," to first-year students.
Matt Bayne Awarded Gilman Prize
Congratulations to Matt Bayne! Matt is the winner of this year's William H. Gilman Memorial Prize, awarded annually by the department to an "outstanding PhD candidate in English or American Literature."
Hardeep Sidhu Joins Faculty at Worcester State
Congratulations to Hardeep Sidhu, who will enter a tenure-track position at Worcester State University this fall. Last month, Hardeep defended his dissertation, entitled Pulp Historiography: American Historical Fiction in the Twenty-First Century. The dissertation examines the work of Michael Chabon, Junot Diaz, and Mat Johnson, as well as a group of recent war films that the project identifies as “Orientalist Westerns.”
Congratulations, Graduates!
May 14th marked a festive day full of graduate-student commencement ceremonies: at 9am our newly-minted PhDs -- Carly Chasin, Ali McGhee, and Nikolaus Wasmoen -- collected their diplomas on the stage of Kodak Hall, followed, at noon, by the five MA students who chose to walk this year (three in English Literature and two in the Selznick program): Rachel Betts, Spencer Churchill, Andrew Goter, Erin Miller, and Claire Muggia. Congratulations to all!
Michelle Dinh Joins UW's PhD Program
Michelle Dinh (MA 2015) is delighted to report that she will be entering the University of Washington's PhD program in English this fall. Michelle writes that UW was her "dream school," not least because of its rich resources in science-fiction studies -- an interest she was able to foster here at Rochester while taking Rosemary Kegl's graduate seminar on Utopian literature. Congratulations, Michelle!
Emily Kohlhase Receives Julietta Wolf-Foster Award
Congratulations to Emily Kohlhase, who, in winning this year's Julietta Wolf-Foster Award, has been recognized as an outstanding Writing Consultant within the college's Writing, Teaching, and Argument Program. Recipients of the award are chosen based on student nominations.
Anastasia Nikolis Wins Curtis Award
The University Dean of Graduate Studies has named Anastasia Nikolis as one of this year's recipients of the Edward Peck Curtis Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student. The award honors her exceptional work with students in the Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program. Congratulations, Anastasia!
Geoff Bender Appointed to Tenure-Track Position at SUNY Cortland
After serving for the past year as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the English Department at SUNY Cortland, Geoffrey Bender (PhD 2012) will be joining the tenure-track faculty in the fall.
Kate Norako to Join Faculty at UW
Congratulations to Kate Norako (PhD 2012), who will enter a tenure-track position in the University of Washington's English Department this fall. For the past two years, Kate has held a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University, teaching in their "Thinking Matters" program. She is currently at work on a book entitled Imagining the Crusades in Late Medieval England, as well as a forthcoming critical edition of the Old Norse Magnussona Saga.
Joe Vogel Featured in New Spike Lee Documentary
Joe Vogel (PhD 2014), Assistant Professor of English at Merrimack College, appears as a featured commentator in Spike Lee's new Showtime documentary, Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall. The film examines the creation and lasting impact of Jackson's first adult solo album. A teaser (in which Joe is speaking!) can be viewed here: http://www.sho.com/sho/video/titles/43917/iconic-yell-michael-jacksons-off-the-wall-spot.