UMD English
@umdenglish.bsky.social
Department of English at the University of Maryland. We teach students how to think critically, communicate clearly and create fearlessly.
Literary & Cultural Studies | Language, Writing & Rhetoric | Creative Writing | Media Studies | english.umd.edu
Literary & Cultural Studies | Language, Writing & Rhetoric | Creative Writing | Media Studies | english.umd.edu
Jason Schneiderman ’98 was awarded the 2026 Pegasus Award for Poetry Criticism from the Poetry Foundation for his book “Nothingism: Poetry at the End of Print Culture,” which explores poetry and its relationship to contemporary culture and technology.
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/jason-s...
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/jason-s...
October 7, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Jason Schneiderman ’98 was awarded the 2026 Pegasus Award for Poetry Criticism from the Poetry Foundation for his book “Nothingism: Poetry at the End of Print Culture,” which explores poetry and its relationship to contemporary culture and technology.
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/jason-s...
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/jason-s...
Associate Professor Vessela Valiavitcharska has been awarded a fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, New Jersey, for the 2026–27 academic year. Learn more: english.umd.edu/news/english...
September 2, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Associate Professor Vessela Valiavitcharska has been awarded a fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, New Jersey, for the 2026–27 academic year. Learn more: english.umd.edu/news/english...
Five English majors had the chance to do good this summer with support from the Daniella Odutola Memorial Internship Fund which provides $1,000 scholarships to help students pursue summer internships. Meet this year's recipients: english.umd.edu/news/daniell...
August 27, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Five English majors had the chance to do good this summer with support from the Daniella Odutola Memorial Internship Fund which provides $1,000 scholarships to help students pursue summer internships. Meet this year's recipients: english.umd.edu/news/daniell...
Meet Department of English Chair Lee Konstantinou. As he begins this new role, he's focused on strengthening the support that allows faculty, staff and students to do their best work while guiding the department through the opportunities and challenges ahead.
July 24, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Meet Department of English Chair Lee Konstantinou. As he begins this new role, he's focused on strengthening the support that allows faculty, staff and students to do their best work while guiding the department through the opportunities and challenges ahead.
In 2004, a young English major approached Professor Michael Olmert with an unusual request: Would he write the foreword to a self-published poetry chapbook?
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/newly-r...
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/newly-r...
July 16, 2026 at 2:57 PM
In 2004, a young English major approached Professor Michael Olmert with an unusual request: Would he write the foreword to a self-published poetry chapbook?
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/newly-r...
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/newly-r...
Congratulations to Professor Barry Pearson on the release of “Classic Blues” from Smithsonian Folkways! This collection brings together legendary blues artists to celebrate the rich legacy and enduring influence of the blues. The collection also features extensive liner notes by Pearson.
July 7, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Congratulations to Professor Barry Pearson on the release of “Classic Blues” from Smithsonian Folkways! This collection brings together legendary blues artists to celebrate the rich legacy and enduring influence of the blues. The collection also features extensive liner notes by Pearson.
A new Forbes analysis of LinkedIn data ranked English among the most versatile college majors, with a 69% versatility score, highlighting graduates' ability to build careers across a wide range of industries. Learn more: www.forbes.com/sites/courtn...
June 30, 2026 at 6:28 PM
A new Forbes analysis of LinkedIn data ranked English among the most versatile college majors, with a 69% versatility score, highlighting graduates' ability to build careers across a wide range of industries. Learn more: www.forbes.com/sites/courtn...
Reposted by UMD English
Spend an evening with bestselling author Lisa See on June 16 at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, presented by @peoplesbooktakoma.com
RSVP: withfriends.co/event/279062...
Students attend free:
withfriends.co/event/279698...
RSVP: withfriends.co/event/279062...
Students attend free:
withfriends.co/event/279698...
6/16 - Lisa See for Daughters of the Sun and Moon by People's Book
Get tickets and support People's Book by becoming a member
withfriends.co
May 29, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Spend an evening with bestselling author Lisa See on June 16 at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, presented by @peoplesbooktakoma.com
RSVP: withfriends.co/event/279062...
Students attend free:
withfriends.co/event/279698...
RSVP: withfriends.co/event/279062...
Students attend free:
withfriends.co/event/279698...
Distinguished Professor Mary Helen Washington reflects on the legacy of Paule Marshall in an interview with Yale University Press. Read the interview: yalebooks.yale.edu/2026/06/05/p...
June 11, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Distinguished Professor Mary Helen Washington reflects on the legacy of Paule Marshall in an interview with Yale University Press. Read the interview: yalebooks.yale.edu/2026/06/05/p...
Spend an evening with bestselling author Lisa See on June 16 at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, presented by @peoplesbooktakoma.com
RSVP: withfriends.co/event/279062...
Students attend free:
withfriends.co/event/279698...
RSVP: withfriends.co/event/279062...
Students attend free:
withfriends.co/event/279698...
6/16 - Lisa See for Daughters of the Sun and Moon by People's Book
Get tickets and support People's Book by becoming a member
withfriends.co
May 29, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Spend an evening with bestselling author Lisa See on June 16 at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, presented by @peoplesbooktakoma.com
RSVP: withfriends.co/event/279062...
Students attend free:
withfriends.co/event/279698...
RSVP: withfriends.co/event/279062...
Students attend free:
withfriends.co/event/279698...
Earlier this month, we celebrated the faculty who make our department thrive!
May 28, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Earlier this month, we celebrated the faculty who make our department thrive!
If you missed the ARHU commencement ceremonies last week, don't worry! You can view photos and watch the livestream, which includes the speech from undergraduate commencement speaker and English alum Jason Reynolds '05. arhu.umd.edu/arhu-commenc...
May 27, 2026 at 5:08 PM
If you missed the ARHU commencement ceremonies last week, don't worry! You can view photos and watch the livestream, which includes the speech from undergraduate commencement speaker and English alum Jason Reynolds '05. arhu.umd.edu/arhu-commenc...
Of the many students graduating this week, Sydney Alexandria Mitchell ’26 leaves behind a world shaped by storytelling and community. Read more about Mitchell: english.umd.edu/news/sydney-...
May 21, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Of the many students graduating this week, Sydney Alexandria Mitchell ’26 leaves behind a world shaped by storytelling and community. Read more about Mitchell: english.umd.edu/news/sydney-...
English major Noora Ghahremani ’26 has been named the University Medalist. Learn more about her accomplishments: today.umd.edu/a-close-obse...
May 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM
English major Noora Ghahremani ’26 has been named the University Medalist. Learn more about her accomplishments: today.umd.edu/a-close-obse...
From centuries-old math practice books to early Shakespeare play advertisements, Jessica Reed ’26 is getting hands-on experience with rare materials at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Read more: english.umd.edu/news/english...
May 13, 2026 at 6:14 PM
From centuries-old math practice books to early Shakespeare play advertisements, Jessica Reed ’26 is getting hands-on experience with rare materials at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Read more: english.umd.edu/news/english...
Last week’s final Writers Here and Now of the semester celebrated our MFA graduates. Congratulations to Elizabeth Bryant ’26, Arielle Heiman ’26, Taína ’26, Annie Przypyszny ’26, and January Santoso ’26
We’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see where your writing takes you next.
We’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see where your writing takes you next.
May 5, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Last week’s final Writers Here and Now of the semester celebrated our MFA graduates. Congratulations to Elizabeth Bryant ’26, Arielle Heiman ’26, Taína ’26, Annie Przypyszny ’26, and January Santoso ’26
We’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see where your writing takes you next.
We’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see where your writing takes you next.
Please join us tomorrow (April 15) at noon for the annual Vambery Lecture from Professor of English and Comparative Literature Gerard Passannante. The lecture is titled "The Puritan and the Gambler." Learn more english.umd.edu/events/vambe...
April 14, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Please join us tomorrow (April 15) at noon for the annual Vambery Lecture from Professor of English and Comparative Literature Gerard Passannante. The lecture is titled "The Puritan and the Gambler." Learn more english.umd.edu/events/vambe...
This week, Creative Writing alum joined us for Writers Here and Now. Clare Banks M.F.A ’02, Megan Howell M.F.A. ’20, L. S. McKee M.F.A. ’05, and Flora Qian M.F.A. ’16 joined students Somto Ihezue ’27 and Annie Przypyszny ’26 for a Q&A followed by a reading from each of their recent works.
April 10, 2026 at 8:31 PM
This week, Creative Writing alum joined us for Writers Here and Now. Clare Banks M.F.A ’02, Megan Howell M.F.A. ’20, L. S. McKee M.F.A. ’05, and Flora Qian M.F.A. ’16 joined students Somto Ihezue ’27 and Annie Przypyszny ’26 for a Q&A followed by a reading from each of their recent works.
This week, we celebrated the book launch for John Drabinski. Special thank you to Michael Sawyer for guiding the conversation and to the John B. Slaughter Endowment Series and the Center for Literary and Comparative Studies for sponsoring.
April 9, 2026 at 8:33 PM
This week, we celebrated the book launch for John Drabinski. Special thank you to Michael Sawyer for guiding the conversation and to the John B. Slaughter Endowment Series and the Center for Literary and Comparative Studies for sponsoring.
Congratulations to Sarah Rupprecht ’28, an English major with a minor in business, who has been awarded the Jack Godfrey Memorial Scholarship. This merit-based award provides financial support to an undergraduate who demonstrates a strong passion for learning and creative writing at UMD.
April 3, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Congratulations to Sarah Rupprecht ’28, an English major with a minor in business, who has been awarded the Jack Godfrey Memorial Scholarship. This merit-based award provides financial support to an undergraduate who demonstrates a strong passion for learning and creative writing at UMD.
In Adam Lloyd’s “Business Writing” course, students create work for real companies. In Fall 2025, students partnered with Ferretly, a social media screening firm, to write blog posts on AI ethics, responsible screening and industry-specific concerns.
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/profess...
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/profess...
April 2, 2026 at 7:44 PM
In Adam Lloyd’s “Business Writing” course, students create work for real companies. In Fall 2025, students partnered with Ferretly, a social media screening firm, to write blog posts on AI ethics, responsible screening and industry-specific concerns.
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/profess...
Read more: english.umd.edu/news/profess...
Last week, graduate students gathered in Tawes for the 19th Annual Graduate English Organization’s Conference titled “Epistemologies & Pathways to Knowledge.”
March 31, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Last week, graduate students gathered in Tawes for the 19th Annual Graduate English Organization’s Conference titled “Epistemologies & Pathways to Knowledge.”
Professor Kellie Robertson has been elected President of the New Chaucer Society and will step into the role in July 2026 at the biennial congress in Freiburg, Germany. The New Chaucer Society is an international organization dedicated to advancing the study of medieval culture.
March 25, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Professor Kellie Robertson has been elected President of the New Chaucer Society and will step into the role in July 2026 at the biennial congress in Freiburg, Germany. The New Chaucer Society is an international organization dedicated to advancing the study of medieval culture.
Earlier this week, Canadian-American journalist and author Vauhini Vara joined us for the second session of the Ways to Meet AI series sponsored by UMD Arts for All and The Studio for Literary Technology. Vara read from her book "Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age."
March 12, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Earlier this week, Canadian-American journalist and author Vauhini Vara joined us for the second session of the Ways to Meet AI series sponsored by UMD Arts for All and The Studio for Literary Technology. Vara read from her book "Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age."
Bhanu Kapil joins us for the next lecture in the Bebe Koch Petrou Lecture Series. Kapil is an award-winning writer and will present her talk titled “Notes on the Perimeter.”
english.umd.edu/events/bebe-koch-petrou-lecture-writing-environmental-humanities-bhanu-kapil
english.umd.edu/events/bebe-koch-petrou-lecture-writing-environmental-humanities-bhanu-kapil
March 11, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Bhanu Kapil joins us for the next lecture in the Bebe Koch Petrou Lecture Series. Kapil is an award-winning writer and will present her talk titled “Notes on the Perimeter.”
english.umd.edu/events/bebe-koch-petrou-lecture-writing-environmental-humanities-bhanu-kapil
english.umd.edu/events/bebe-koch-petrou-lecture-writing-environmental-humanities-bhanu-kapil