Last November, The University of Alabama played host to the “Shakespeare and American Integration” a symposium linking two topics that, at first glance, may seem dissimilar through an unlikely musical commonality. I had the opportunity to sit down with Professor Sharon O’Dair, director of the Hudson Strode Program and organizer of the symposium, for an enlightening discussion of the event. Could you briefly describe the symposium? “Shakespeare and American Integration” began a discussion that we hope will continue about how […]

Read More from Such Sweet Shakespeare: UA’s Shakespeare and American Integration Symposium

Sally Rodgers, a graduate student from Tuscon, Arizona, pursuing her MFA in Poetry discusses her time here at UA. Through her work with the university’s Writers in the Schools program she is able to share her passion for English with the children of the Tuscaloosa community. During her undergraduate career, Sally switched majors from Linguistics to Philosophy, before beginning her MFA program in English and Creative Writing. Sally really enjoys working with children in helping them to expand their writing […]

Read More from Sally Rodgers: MFA Candidate

The Rude Mechanicals combines the famous workings of Shakespeare with the warm and open summer evenings of The Park at Manderson Landing to create a one of a kind live show for Tuscaloosa residents. The Rude Mechanicals were formed in 2003, by then directing graduate student Andre LaSalle and Tuscaloosa News journalist Mark Hughes Cobb who both shared the same passions for writing and Shakespeare. They set out with the intention of only producing one show that summer, A Midsummer […]

Read More from Shakespeare in Our Backyard

A video promoting the Department of English was in production last spring. The video is the first of its kind for our department and features testimonies from several undergraduate students who are currently majoring in English and studying in the department. Before the video’s production last spring, I sat down with Peyton Moss, Everett Secor, Leslie Leonard, Elizabeth Kierman, and Katherine Grandy to discuss what we can expect from the video. View the video here or on the Department of […]

Read More from Department of English Promotional Video

Dr. Tricia McElroy is Associate Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences. English student Meegan Gildehaus interviewed the newly appointed Associate Dean to learn about her journey to this position and plans for the future. I met Dr. McElroy in an office heavily decorated with drawings and photos of a smiling little girl. There is a large window overlooking a courtyard that is attractive when there is no construction. Now it resembles more of […]

Read More from Dr. Tricia McElroy: Associate Dean of Humanities

Dr. Hank Lazer was an administrator here at The University of Alabama until his retirement on the first of January, 2014. Before retiring he had worked as a professor and in various departments of the administration since 1977, a total of 37 years. He is a published poet, currently with eighteen books of poetry, and he often travels around the country and to other countries performing live readings. An interesting aspect of this performance, which he began factoring into his […]

Read More from Jazz, Poetry, and Progress with Dr. Hank Lazer

Kevin Waltman is an Instructor of English at The University of Alabama. He lives in Coker with his wife, Jessica. They have a daughter named Calla, and a dog named Henry. He is the author of several young adult novels, most recently Next in 2013, with its sequel Slump due to appear in late 2014. He has published short fiction with The Emerson Review and others. He heads the writing fair every year, with the help of the English 102 […]

Read More from Kevin Waltman: Composition Writing Fair

Three years ago, Dr. Karen Hollingsworth Gardiner, the Director of The First-Year Writing Program at UA, created themed 102 English classes. Dr. Gardiner has contributed much of her time to UA’s First Year Writing Program and to creating enjoyable and enriching experience for freshmen. Her efforts earned her The University of Alabama’s Outstanding Professional Award in May of 2012. How did you come up with the idea of themed 102 English Classes? The College of Arts and Sciences had developed […]

Read More from Dr. Karen Gardiner: Themed English 102

Author of In These Times the Home Is a Tired Place and winner of the Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction, Jessica Hollander grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and received her BA from the University of Michigan. She holds an MFA from The University of Alabama. Her stories have appeared in over fifty journals, including The Cincinnati Review, The Journal, Quarterly West, and Web Conjunctions, and she will be anthologized in The Lineup: 25 Provocative Women Writers. She […]

Read More from Jessica Hollander: English Instructor

Jennie Gropp Hess, the former editor of Black Warrior Review, joined The Georgia Review staff as managing editor in the summer of 2012. At The Georgia Review she oversees production of the journal and participates in editorial planning and decision-making.  She holds an MFA in creative writing from The University of Alabama and a BA in English literature and creative writing from the University of Montana.  Her work has led her to extensive travel abroad. Good afternoon, thanks for taking the time to answer my […]

Read More from Jennie Gropp Hess: Poet, Teacher, Travel Enthusiast