Cormac McCarthy’s Personal Library Inspires Future Scholars
Take a look at this video featuring our own Bill Hardwig where we learn about one of the newest additions to our library archives.
2026-2027 Scholarship Winners
Please join in the English Department in celebrating our undergraduate scholarship winners for 2026–2027. Emma Crooks is a senior Publishing major from Knoxville, Tennessee and recipient of the 2026 Bill Larsen Cinema Scholarship. Emma is an officer in UT’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the national English honors society, and enjoys reading, playing guitar, and volunteering at church. Bristol native Brianna […]
Be Relentless: An Interview with Jerri Green
English alumna Jerri Green (ʼ99) sits down with Meghan Pinkston (Class of 2027) to discuss how her time at UT taught her the skills she needed to navigate her career as a lawyer, Chief Public Defender, Memphis City Councilwoman, and, now, gubernatorial candidate. Meghan Pinkston: Why did you originally decide to major in English? Jerri Green: From an early age, I […]
Literature Builds Empathy: An Interview with Executive Director of A Step Ahead Foundation of East Tennessee (ASAFET) Taylor Phipps
English alumna Taylor Phipps (ʼ09) sits down with Meghan Pinkston (Class of 2027) to discuss how her time at UT taught her the skills she needed to build her career in nonprofit work and serve as the Executive Director of A Step Ahead Foundation of East Tennessee. Meghan Pinkston: When you chose to major in English, did you know you […]
UT Department of English Roundtable on Careers in Nonprofits
University of Tennessee English alumni Taylor Phipps and Chrystal Armstrong Brown join Dr. Erin Smith for a roundtable discussion on careers in nonprofits including types of nonprofit jobs, internships in the nonprofit space, how to prepare for the job market, and more. This online discussion took place on Tuesday, March 26th, please enjoy the video below. […]
English is Expansive: An Interview with Bijou Executive Director Courtney Bergmeier
English alumna Courtney Bergmeier (ʼ10) sits down with Meghan Pinkston (Class of 2027) to discuss how her time at UT taught her the skills she needed to build her career in entertainment and, eventually, become the Executive Director of the Bijou Theater. Meghan Pinkston: Why did you choose to major in English? Courtney Bergmeier: English was not my first […]
New Scholarships Available for English 491/591: Summer Theater Festivals in Ireland and England
The English Department is proud to announce additional scholarships for our Summer 2026 English 491/591 courses. The class takes place July 13th to August 3rd. Applications are due Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 at 5 p.m. Dr. James E. Gill English Drama Travel Fund Scholarships Hodges Better English Fund Scholarships Criteria for Candidates: Full-time enrollment as […]
Skillset from English Leads to Local Politics: An Interview with Karyn Adams
English alumna Karyn Adams (ʼ94) sits down with Meghan Pinkston (Class of 2027) to discuss how her time at UT taught her the skills she needed to build a career in business, politics, and more. Meghan Pinkston: When did you decide that you wanted to pursue a degree in English? What informed that decision? Karyn Adams: Writing is what I have always […]
From English to Singer-Songwriter: Ellie Holcomb
English alumna Ellie Holcomb (’05) is an award-winning singer and songwriter who has performed and toured solo as well as with her husband and their band, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. She is also the author of multiple books. She recently talked to Professor Stan Garner about her experiences as an English major at UT […]
UT Department of English Roundtable on Careers in Tech
University of Tennessee English alumni Leah Rang, Kyle Gray, and Dylan Platz joined Erin Smith for a roundtable discussion on careers in tech, including types of tech jobs, internships in tech, how to prepare for the job market, and more. This online discussion took place on Tuesday, September 30th, from 5:00–6:00 p.m. EST on Zoom. […]
Applications Now Open for Summer 2026 English 491/591- Theatre Festivals in England and Ireland
English 491/591 is a three-week off-campus drama course offered during second Summer Session. The course carries three hours of credit at the 400 (undergraduate) level or the 500 (graduate) level. This year’s 491/591 will take place from July 13th to August 3rd. At the course’s beginning and end, students will get to experience Europe’s great summer […]
2025-2026 Scholarship Winners
Please join in the English Department in celebrating our undergraduate scholarship winners for 2025–2026. Nathaniel Adams is a senior Creative Writing major and recipient of the Charles and Frances Mangam Merit Scholarship. The Old Hickory, Tennessee native enjoys bike riding and hiking, in addition to playing video games and watching movies in his spare time. […]
Making the Story Real: A Day of Discovery at the Stokely Conference
On May 28, 2025, the University of Tennessee’s Department of English welcomed 16 middle and high school teachers from Anderson, Blount, and Knox counties to its annual Stokely Conference on Teaching Writing. This year’s theme, “Making the Story Real: Supporting Literary and Rhetorical Research through Archives and Multimodal Composition,” brought together local educators dedicated to […]
Why UT Chancellor Donde Plowman Majored in English
Chancellor Plowman recently spoke to UT English about majoring in English as an undergraduate, how English majors have the skills employers need and desire, and the importance of pursuing your passions and developing your strengths.
Ziona Kocher and Madeline Crozier Sutton to Assume New Jobs in Fall 2025
In Fall 2025, Dr. Ziona Kocher (UTK 2022) will be returning to their home state of Florida to take on a coveted tenure-track professorship at Florida Atlantic University. Like most English Literature scholars, Kocher found the path to tenure-trackdom fiercely competitive, but today they credit their scholarship and mentorship within the UTK’s English Department with […]
The Business of Creative Writing: An Interview with Mal Alder
English alumna Mal Alder (’13) sits down with Erin Cantrell (’25) to discuss her business, Alderwood Creative, and how her time at UT taught her the skills she needed to own and found her own business. Erin Cantrell: What inspired you to start Alderwood Creative, and how did you take the first step? Mal Alder: […]
UT English to Hold Roundtable on Careers in Business
University of Tennessee English alumni Amanda Henneghan, Mal Alder, and Kara Orellana joined Dr. Erin Elizabeth Smith for a roundtable discussion on how their English degrees helped them in their future careers in business. This online discussion took take place on Wednesday, March 5th from 5:00-6:00 PM EST on Zoom. Amanda Henneghan is a native […]
University of Tennessee English Department Hosts Regency Ball February 15th & 16th, 2025
What: Regency Ball featuring When: Saturday, February 15, 2025, 7-10 pm (Evening Ball); Sunday, February 16, 2025, 3pm-5pm (Matinee Ball) Where: Hoskins Hall, 1401 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996 Tickets (available here): Other details:
UT English Roundtable on Careers in Education
University of Tennessee English alumni Karyn Adams, John Luke Bell, and Skikila Arniece Smith joined Dr. Erin Elizabeth Smith for a roundtable discussion on how their English degrees helped them in their future careers in education, including in areas of teaching, curriculum development, and higher ed strategies and consulting. This online discussion took place on […]
Change in Perspective Leads to Publishing Career: An Interview with Sierra Swanson
English alumna Sierra Swanson (’20) sits down with Erin Cantrell (’25) to discuss her work in publishing in NYC and how her time at UT taught her the skills she needed to thrive. Erin Cantrell: How was the transition from an undergraduate student in Knoxville to someone working their way up in the publishing world? […]
English Major to Special Correspondent: Amien Essif and Finding Stories in the Chaos of Information
English Alum Amien Essif discusses how English prepared him for a career in journalism through telling human stories. Erin Cantrell: What was your career path from an undergraduate student in Knoxville to becoming Special Correspondent with Deutsche Welle? Amien Essif: After I graduated from UTK, I spent the summer of 2012 writing a cover story […]
Applications Now Open for Summer 2025 English 491/591- Theatre Festivals in England and Ireland
English 491/591 is a three-week off-campus drama course offered during second Summer Session. The course carries three hours of credit at the 400 (undergraduate) level or the 500 (graduate) level. This year’s 491/591 will take place from July 14th to August 4th. At the course’s beginning and end, students will get to experience Europe’s great summer […]
News and Views May 2024
As we look back on this momentous year from across the fence of summer, we have much to celebrate, as well as a few wistful memories. We bid a happy retirement to five of our long-time colleagues at a year-end celebration: Lance Dean, Laurie Knox, Mary Papke, Rob Stillman, and Richard Yost. PhD and soon-to-be […]
Interdisciplinary Interpretations — Stephen Hay
by Randall Brown Stephen Hay, from Greeneville, Tennessee, built a standout Vol experience double majoring in English and religious studies and minoring in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Program. He has maintained a steady pace with this mix of studies, delivering substantial scholarship to close out his senior year. “I am currently working on my […]
Meet and Greet with Playwright and Actor Ian Kelly
Knoxville, TN: On Wednesday April 24th from 12PM-1PM, writer and actor Ian Kelly will join students and faculty for a Q&A session on the life of a professional writer in the world of theater and film. Ian Kelly is a multi-award-winning author and actor, a New York Times bestselling historical biographer, and a screenwriter and […]
Autumn Hall Interviews Toni Morrison Scholars for Early American Literature Podcast
Interview EARLY AMERICAN PODCAST Autumn Hall, a junior English major focusing on literature and creative writing, interviewed Professors Riché Richardson, Angelyn Mitchell, Michelle Hite, and Dana Williams for the Early American Podcast to discuss their work on Toni Morrison’s A Mercy. Take a listen!
Maria Edgeworth Letters Enter the Digital Age
Dr. Hilary Havens along with colleagues at Wake Forest, Texas A&M, and Xavier University of Louisiana are collaborating on a comprehensive open-access digital archive of Maria Edgeworth’s letters. Edgeworth was an Anglo-Irish Regency author who is best known for her novels and children’s literature. Through the help of volunteers and experts from multiple libraries, over […]
Regency Ball Dances the Night Away
On Saturday, February 17th, well dressed lords and ladies descended on Hoskins Library for an immersive experience that would have wowed even the stoic Mr. Darcy. In collaboration between the University of Tennessee English Department and First Take Co., Hoskins Library was transformed into a ballroom filled with some of Austen’s most beloved characters, dancing, […]
3 English Alumni Honored in 40 Under 40 Class of 2024
We are delighted to celebrate three alumni from English at this year’s 40 under 40 luncheon. The Volunteer 40 Under 40 recognizes forty alumni under the age of 40 who have excelled personally and professionally since completing their degree at UT Knoxville.
A Scruffy Star on the Literary Map — Cormac McCarthy’s Knoxville
Brooks Clark, UTK MFA 2016, delves into the connection between Cormac McCarthy and Knoxville through his literary works in the Fall 2023 issue of the Torchbearer. Clark speaks with Bill Hardwig following McCarthy’s death to discuss Knoxville’s recent embrace of one of its native sons.
Summer Theater Festivals in Ireland and England, English 491/591
English 491/591 is a three-week off-campus drama course offered during second Summer Session. The course carries three hours of credit at the 400 (undergraduate) level or the 500 (graduate) level. This year’s 491/591 will take place from July 15th to August 5th. At the course’s beginning and end, students will get to experience Europe’s great summer […]
Blessed are the Pets? Mary Dzon Discusses Francis of Assisi and the History of Saints and Pet Blessings
Published: October 3, 2023 8:31am EDT Mary Dzon, University of Tennessee Each year, if you happen to be in New York around Oct. 4, you may catch sight of something unusual: a whole menagerie of animals being welcomed into the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, from spaniels and parrots to even the occasional camel or cow. Since […]
You Will Be Forever Changed by the Writers You Meet
Cormac McCarthy’s death focused attention on writing at UT. But a host of writers past and present mean there is more to Knoxville’s flourishing literary scene than McCarthy’s legacy. Written by Titus Chalk Cormac McCarthy’s death in June 2023 returned Knoxville to book-lovers’ minds. At the time of his death, the author of Suttree, No […]
UTK English Department Remembers Cormac McCarthy
Bill Hardwig, University of Tennessee Cormac McCarthy, who died on June 13, 2023, at the age of 89, is often characterized rather narrowly as a Southern writer, or perhaps a Southern Gothic writer. McCarthy did lean heavily on his Tennessee upbringing in his first four novels, and he set many others in the deserts of the Southwest U.S. However, as a […]
Sauskojus wins Humanities Without Walls and UTHC Fellowships
English PhD candidate Kelly Sauskojus, from the Rhetoric, Writing, and Linguistics division, has been recognized with two prestigious fellowships. She is the winner of a UT Humanities Center Graduate Fellowship for the 2023-2024 year. That fellowship comes with a graduate stipend, a complete release from teaching, and the support of the UTHC community of fellows. […]