Join us in Thomas Hall for the English department's annual STUDENT CONFERENCE ON LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE on Friday, April 12, 2013. 2013 Student Conference Program.
Welcome to the English department at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Here you will find information about undergraduate and graduate programs and courses, departmental faculty and staff, publications, and information about our students and activities.
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Our Mission
The English department at the University of Nebraska Kearney embraces a two-fold mission: a disciplinary mission and a liberal arts mission. First, it prepares English majors and minors to pursue careers in occupations related to English, to pursue advanced degrees in English through graduate study, and to pursue the teaching of English and Language arts at the middle, secondary, and college level. The department also seeks to provide a broad cultural background for the understanding and appreciation of literature, composition, and the English language; to improve communication skills; and to develop critical thinking.
Our Faculty
At UNK, students enjoy small classes where the professors know them by name. Our award-winning faculty are committed to excellence in teaching and publish actively in their specializations. Our lecturers all hold the MA or MFA as do most of our adjuncts. Our faculty are active in professional organizations regionally and nationally and are in demand as performers and speakers for community, state, regional, national, and international organizations who recognize their expertise. In 2006, our department received the Nebraska Center for the Book’s Jane Pope Geske Award for exceptional literary contributions.
Our Activities
Our department sponsors the Carillon, a student literary publication and offers the Exploration Lecture Series. Every spring, we sponsor our annual Student Conference on Language and Literature.
Contact Us
The English Department at the University of Nebraska at Kearney is located in Thomas Hall (near the southeast corner of campus). You can reach us by phone at (308) 865-8299 or by fax at (308) 865-8411.
Inquiries regarding undergraduate programs should be directed to Department Chair, Dr. Sam Umland (308) 865-8299. Those regarding the graduate program should be directed to the Director of English Graduate Studies, Martha Kruse (308) 865-8415.
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English major and UNK alumni Ryan Quincy has a new animated, adult television series premiering on IFC called "Out There." The series tells of the coming-of-age adventures of two midwestern friends. Quincy stars as the voice of the lead character, who is based on some of his own experiences growing up in Holdrege, Nebraska. It can be seen on Fridays at 9:30 CT. He began work for South Park as an animator, winning two Emmy awards. During his fourteen years there, he worked his way up to become an animation director and producer at South Park. The Kearney Hub has a feature on Ryan and his work, and the series also has an Out There Facebook page.
Sandra Anthony has just won the Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Grand Prize, a $2,500 cash award and a free trip to New York City to attend the Writer's Digest Conference East. Sandra received her B.A. in English Education 7-12 in 200, and an M.A. in Creative Writing in 2011. In addition, there will be a profile of her published in the May/June issue of Writer's Digest, and her story will be posted online at the Writer's Digest website.
Congratulations to Gary DOP ( MA from UNK) who was just awarded the GREAT PLAINS EMERGING WRITER PRIZE for 2013. Gary's poems have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and his essays have been heard on Public Radio's All Things Considered. He received his MFA from the joint UNK/UNO Program at the University of Nebraska. Gary is currently the Writer in Residence at North Central University as well as a screenwriting faculty member for the University of Minnesota’s MFA Program.
Congratulations to the nine Sigma Tau Delta students who have had papers accepted at the annual Sigma Tau Delta Convention: Shaye Champ-Mino, Kaitlyn Darveau, Alex Emery, Celeste Lempke, Lacey McPhillips, David Pearson, Charisa Ramsey, Aaron Rothenberger, and Justin Zyla. The students will be heading to Portland, Oregon, over spring break to present their critical and/or creative pieces. Faculty co-sponsors are Dr. Michelle Beissel Heath and Dr. Megan Hartman.
Rex's List
The Writer's Almanac
Nebraska Center for Writers