Thursday’s Notes 57.9

Dear all,

         We have reached the end of the semester! I hope everyone takes the time to celebrate their personal/professional milestones, especially amidst our hectic end-of-the-semester deadlines. We should also applaud ourselves for all that we have accomplished as a community this semester! Thank you, everyone, and we will chat again in the fall.

Events

Come to the Department of English’s Annual Awards and Master’s Degree Hooding Ceremony this Friday!

Friday, May 2nd from 12-2 pm

Lake View Terrace Room, USU

Achievements

On Thursday, April 24th, Professor Irene Clark participated in an event titled “Sabbatical Symposium: Big Ideas, Fast.” Her presentation summarized the major themes in her book, which is titled, Writing, Imitation, and Performance: Insights from Neuroscience Research published by Routledge/ Taylor and Francis.

Professor Corri Ditch presented their article, “The Experience of an Embodied Metaphor-Based Positive Psychology Coaching Intervention for Transformation and Insight” at the 21st Annual Coaching & Mentoring Research Conference at Oxford Brooks University in the UK.

Professor John Gides published his book, Successful Rhetoric for Business and Professional Writing (2025). This is the third book in the Successful Rhetoric series published with Kendal-Hunt, following on the success of Successful Rhetoric for Academic Writing (2023) and Successful Rhetoric for Professional Writing (2020).  The book will be sold in 36 countries and translated into multiple languages.
 
On Friday, 4/25, Professor Kelan Koning presented Heart-Centered Teaching In Higher Ed: Social Emotional Learning, Trauma-Informed and Healing-Centered Instructional Practices for Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning (AEPL), an official assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English, as well as an officially recognized standing group of the Conference on College Composition and Communication.
 
Koning is also co-coordinating the 4th Annual LEARN Linguistic Justice Conference which will take place on Friday, June 13, 2025. Register for the conference
 
Professor Noreen Lace’s forthcoming novella, Earth to Bella, is set for release this summer. Drawing from the emotional depth and richly woven narratives found in earlier works like West End, this new story promises to continue her exploration of life’s complexities. Known for her poignant portrayals of the human experience, Lace offers readers another compelling addition to her literary repertoire. For more updates, visit her official website at noreenlace.com.
 
A monologue from Professor Rick Mitchell‘s most recent play will appear in The Best Men’s Stage Monologues 2025 (Smith & Kraus).
 
On Friday, May 9th, at 7:00 p.m., in JR-319, the Northridge Playwrights’ Workshop will present staged readings of new work by students from the Playwriting and Writing for Performance workshops. All are welcome! (For further information, please contact Dr. Rick Mitchell: rick.mitchell@csun.edu.
 

Professor Amber Norwood won an RSCA (Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities) grant for fall 2025! Professor Norwood will be using their course release to revise their zero-cost Business Communication eText Getting it Right 2.0. and its related animated videos. 

Professor Pat Swenson received the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Student Success Impact Award! The CSBS Impact Sophomore Scholarship is given to one sophomore student who has shown a significant improvement in GPA from their 1st to 3rd semester at CSUN. The student then nominates a faculty or staff member who has made a significant impact on their academic success. [Pat] and the student were honored at an award ceremony on April 24.