Studying Abroad — Last week I received a report about our English majors who are studying abroad during this academic year. The report includes a listing of the countries where our majors have gone to study. These countries include Australia, Brazil, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. What stands out in this report is the large number of our students who went to London over the spring break as part of our Shakespeare in England course (ENGL 4050/5050). Andrew Hartley is the faculty member in charge of this class. I recently asked Andrew about the course, and he provided me with the following information:
“Fourteen students (mainly English and theatre majors) spent a week in London and Stratford, a packed trip which included six theatre productions and visits to such landmarks as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Hampton Court. One of the highlights was a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament by Baroness Josie Farrington, a sitting peer in the House of Lords, including observing Question Time and being admitted to the thirteenth century undercroft chapel which is not generally open to the public. In Stratford the group got to relax in the pub with the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Productions we had seen (Love’s Labour’s Lost, Much Ado About Nothing, and a stunning staging of Dekker’s Shoemaker’s Holiday). We had performance workshops there and at the Globe, and the students learned the delights of pasties, pints of bitter, and some of the best Indian food in the world! They were a wonderful group: punctual, amiable and enthusiastic throughout.”
I have talked with several of the students who went on this trip, and they describe it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As these students know, the experience of studying abroad is often a highlight in our students’ college years. I know that for my son (who turns 22 today) the experience of studying architecture in Barcelona last fall proved to be a wonderful and very memorable semester. I encourage all of us to help make this experience a reality for more of our students.
Seuss-a-Thon — This past Saturday the fourth annual Seuss-a-Thon took place at Park Road Books, and it was a great success. Co-sponsored by the English Department and Park Road Books, the Seuss-a-Thon is tied to the National Education Association’s Read Across America event. I am very pleased with the English Department’s enthusiastic 
support of this event. Numerous faculty and staff members participated, including Valerie Bright, Sarah Minslow, Meg Morgan, Tiffany Morin, Anita Moss, Jen Munroe, Alan Rauch, and Angie Williams. The participants also included a number of our current students, including Angelica Chakraborty, Shannon Homesley, Amanda Loeffert, Julia Morris, Joye Palmer, and Nancy Partridge. Tiffany Morin and the English Learning Community ran a crafts table where children created all sorts of Dr. Seuss-related art projects. Two faculty members from the College of Education—Heather Coffey and Adriana Medina— also participated. For more information about the Seuss-a-Thon, please click on the following link: https://exchange.uncc.edu/2015-seuss-a-thon-to-feature-favorite-author-books/
Kudos— As you know, I like to use my Monday Missives to share news about recent accomplishments by members of our department. Here is the latest news:
Paula Connolly recently published an article titled “Reframing History: Insider/Outsider Paradigms in Ten Books about Slavery” in Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures, 6.2 (Winter 2014): 134-147.
Adam Padgett, a graduate of our M.A. program, has been accepted into the Composition and Rhetoric PhD Program at the University of South Carolina. He’ll start there in the fall with an assistantship, tuition waiver, and stipend.
Ralf Thiede recently published a review of Hugh Crago’s Entranced by Story: Brain, Tale and Teller, from Infancy to Old Age. His review appeared the Children’s Literature Association Quarterly, 40.1 (Spring 2015): 85-88.
Heather Vorhies recently learned that her paper “Doing Business Over There: Misunderstanding Early Nineteenth Century Women’s Writing in the Place of Business” has been accepted for presentation at the Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference to be held at Arizona State University, October 28-31, 2015.
Upcoming Events and Deadlines— Here are some dates to keep in mind:
March 16 — In collaboration with Women’s and Gender Studies and Africana Studies, the Early African American Women Writers class (ENG 3050) will host Dr. Trimiko Melancon, author of Unbought and Unbossed: Transgressive Black Women, Sexuality, and Representation and co-editor of Black Female Sexualities, on Monday, March 16 at 5 pm in Fretwell 206 for a talk on Black Women, Sexuality, and Culture. Books will be available at 4:30. This event is open to interested faculty, students, and the public.
March 24 — The English Major Day will take place on March 24. The event will include three workshops and a keynote address by Micah Nathan. Here is a link to the schedule: http://english.uncc.edu/sites/english.uncc.edu/files/media/English_Majors_Days_2015_R.pdf
On March 24 — Paula Connolly will give the fourth and final presentation in this year’s Personally Speaking Series. The event will take place at the Atkins Library and will begin at 6:30 p.m. She will speak about her book Slavery in American Children’s Literature, 1790-2010.
Quirky Quiz Question — This semester Andrew Hartley is teaching the Shakespeare in England course. As many of you know, Andrew is the Robinson Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare. Andrew is the second professor to hold this position. Does anybody remember the name of the first person to hold this position?
Last week’s answer: Beth Gargano and Susan Gardner