Chair: Kent Baxter
Notes compiled by: Kate Haake
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Announcements
Creative Writing major Sunshine “Sunny” Williams is the winner of the 2017 Outstanding Graduating Senior Award at CSUN. A proud survivor of cancer, rape, and divorce, Sunny is an accomplished leader across the campus, representing the Creative Writing Program, the English Department, and the College of Humanities. While maintaining Summa Cum Laude standing and Dean’s List ranking, she has served as Associated Students Senator for the College of Humanities, Northridge Creative Writing Circle President, African Studies Journal Lead Editor, Northridge Review Managing Editor, Pathways Career Center writer, Golden Key member, and Sigma Tau Delta member. One of her short stories was co-winner of the LiveWrite contest at Roar Shack, a city wide reading series hosted by 826LA. In addition, Sunny was recently accepted into MA programs in Literature at the University of Texas, Dallas, and the University of Limerick in Ireland. Congratulations, Sunny!
The graduating MA students from English 698 held the first half of their final reading on Wednesday, May 10. If you missed it, it’s not to late to catch the second half, which will take place tomorrow, Friday, May 12, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in JR 319.
On Sunday, May 14, Los Angeles’ New Short Fiction Series will celebrate the work of Kirk Sever and Kristin Kaz as part of its Emerging Voices Group Show. One story by each writer will be performed by a professional actor at the Federal Bar in North Hollywood, 5303 Lankershim Blvd. Doors open 6:00 p.m. in the showroom for pre-show dinner and drinks. Advance ticket purchase, $10/$15, includes a rose for Mom; tickets at the door, $20.
Wings will be holding their 2017 reading on Wednesday, May 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., in ST 703. Come for all, or part, of the time to help make selections for the 24th edition of Wings, featuring the best of student writing. Coffee, pastries, and lunch will be served, and questions may be addressed to Editors Allie Turner or Gabby Almendarez at wingscsun@gmail.edu.
Reminders
Don’t forget our year-end celebrations and festivities! The Honors Convocation will be Saturday, May 13, at 6:00 p.m. The College of Humanities graduation ceremony (for both undergraduate and graduate students) will be Saturday, May 20, at 6:00 p.m. The English Department MA Hooding Ceremony will be on Saturday, May 20, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Orange Grove Bistro, followed by the English Student Recognition and Awards Reception, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. We–and your students–hope to see you there.
Opportunities
If past is prequel, two English interns, Mayra Zaragoza (Fall 2016) and Stell Park (Spring 2017), are proud to have been part of the recent publication of the newest multi-genre anthology from Tia Chucha Press. The book is titled, The Wandering Song: Central American Writing in the United States, and both interns worked closely on it. Tia Chucha Press was founded by Luis J. Rodriguez, the 2014-2016 official Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, and will be looking for more interns in Fall 2017. Interested students should contact Kim Wells at kimberly.wells@csun.edu.
Achievements
Kimberly Teaman Carroll has been accepted for the prestigious (and highly competitive) Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive program. Well done, Kimberly!
Noreen Lace published a short memoir, “Memorial Day Death Watch,” in FishFood Magazine in April. She is also the proud recipient of a Polished Apple Award.
On Thursday, April 27, Linda Vader Overman participated in “Professor Panel Night,” an event hosted by the sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi. Personally invited by students, Linda and other professors, provided advice on and techniques for preparing for finals and other measures of academic success.
And you finished another academic year! Congratulations to all of you, and have a wonderful summer!