Participating in the Personally Speaking Series — While reading the current issue of Exchange, I experienced a brief moment of disbelief when I started reading Susan Jetton’s article titled “Personally Speaking Series: Authors Series Uncovers Stories Behind the Books.” In the first sentence, Susan writes that the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is about to “kick off the 10th season” of the Personally Speaking Series. For a second, I felt certain that Susan must have made a mistake about this 10th season business since it seems to me that the Personally Speaking Series just started a few years ago. However, Susan was right. Dean Nancy Gutierrez started the series ten years ago. In launching this series, she set out to create a forum for CLAS authors not only to talk about their recently published books but also to share the stories behind the writing of these books.
I am pleased to report that members of the English Department have participated in this series throughout its ten-year history. During the first season of the series, Tony Jackson gave a presentation based on his book The Technology of the Novel: Writing and Narrative in British Fiction. Since then Aimee Parkison gave a presentation on The Innocent Party, Paula Connolly talked about Slavery in American Children’s Literature, 1790-2010, Jeffrey Leak presented on Visible Man: The Life of Henry Dumas, Alan Rauch discussed Dolphin, and Paula Eckard spoke about Thomas Wolfe and Lost Children in Southern Literature. During last year’s season, two members of the English Department participated in the series. Janaka Lewis gave a presentation about Freedom Narratives of African American Women: A Study of 19th-Century Writings, and Bryn Chancellor talked about her novel, Sycamore.The English Department will again be represented during the upcoming season of the Personally Speaking Series. Jennifer Munroe will give a presentation on Shakespeare and Ecofeminist Theory, which she co-wrote with Rebecca Laroche. The exact date of Jen’s presentation is not yet set, but it will be in the spring 2020 semester.
Although I still find it hard to believe that the Personally Speaking Series is marking its 10th anniversary, I am proud that so many members of the English Department have participated in this innovative series over the years.
Thank You, Sarah Minslow — Last Friday was Sarah Minslow’s last day as our English Department advisor. Sarah has done an excellent job as our advisor, and I know that we will all miss her. I also know that we all wish her the very best as she starts her new position as a tenure-track assistant professor at California State University, Los Angeles.
Upcoming Events and Deadlines — Here is information about upcoming events and deadlines:
August 12— Final grades for the second summer session courses are due by noon on Monday, August 12.
Quirky Quiz Question — Sarah Minslow is a native of North Carolina, but she actually holds citizenship in two countries. What is the name of the other country she is a citizen of in addition to being a citizen of the United States?
Last week’s answer: Morocco
Casablanca is set in a country located in north Africa. What is the name of this country?
