Department of English

Angelina DiFranco started dancing when she was just three years old and wearing a diaper under her leotard. “I was terrified of my dance teacher,” DiFranco joked. "No, she's great." She got her start at Starship Dance Studio in Guilford, Connecticut, about 90 miles from Lincoln Center in New York City. She knew she wanted to be a pro...

Alena Miskinis, a senior and triple major in the Kent State University Honors College, has passionately seized every opportunity she can to pursue her combined interests in the arts and science. With a diverse array of classes intensified by Honors courses, as well as projects, internships, and events to attend, Alena has changed what it m...

We recently celebrated all of our first-generation students and alumni during “I Am First” week, but we want to congratulate one particular alum who is a shining example of what a first-gen student can accomplish at Kent State University and beyond, with just the right amount of creativity and drive partnered with the guidance and encourag...

Olivia Eader is a second-year Kent State University Honors College student from Bellefontaine, Ohio. She is the first recipient of the Dr. Elizabeth Howard Memorial Honors Scholarship, the newly established fund for Honors students in memory of Elizabeth Howard, Ph.D., who was a prominent member of the Honors College community, as well as ...

The inaugural Jerry M. Lewis May 4 Lecture Series and Luncheon took place May 2 at the Kent Student Center Ballroom with Tammy Clewell, Ph.D., professor in Kent State University’s Department of English, as the featured speaker. Clewell’s presentation, titled “Remembering the Contested May 4 Memorializing Process,” discussed the ...

Elizabeth Howard, an award-winning instructor in the Honors College Freshman Honors Colloquium, passed away on April 10th, 2021. Dr. Howard’s contributions to the Honors College and Kent State University meant much to our students and colleagues over the years. In addition to teaching Freshman Honors Colloquium, she taught advanc...

Olivia Farina is a third-year honors student majoring in English with a professional writing concentration and a creative writing minor. Originally from Painesville, Ohio, Olivia has had many successes at Kent State, from tutoring in the Writing Commons to winning awards from the Department of English. Olivia’s latest achievement, internin...

Lindsey Sellman, a senior Honors College student majoring in journalism and minoring in creative writing, has spent her final year at Kent State as the Editor-in-Chief of Luna Negra magazine. Luna Negra is a student-led literary and arts magazine in Kent State’s Student Media department. Since 1956, the magazine has changed names and depar...

Dirk Remley has been with Kent State University since 1990.  Remley graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. He continued his studies at Bowling Green State University by earning his Masters of Arts in English Literature. He then completed his Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition from ...

Connor Lillis has always aspired to be a creative writer, but he thought that his writing would remain a part-time hobby. However, Connor’s Senior Honors Thesis has since helped Connor decide to pursue a career as a novelist after graduation. A senior Honors College student from Green, Ohio, Connor is graduating this spring with a major in...