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Summer/Fall 2014
Written and produced by students in FSUs Department of English
Profiles of the
English
Department
Read all about us
The veterans: Associate Professor
Andrew Epstein (pg 4), and
Professor Ralph Berry (pg 8)
The newcomers: Assistant Professors
Skip Horack (pg 10), John Mac Kilgore
(pg 12), and Trinyan Mariano (pg 13)
The former students, now successful
alums (pgs 6, 16, 18, and 19)
21
Table of contents
Summer/Fall 2014
write with a mixture of sadness and celebration, only a day after the December 2014 death
of Fred Standley, who was at the very center
of this department for half a century, from the
day he arrived as an assistant professor in 1963 to
his last class on Banned Books in 2013. It is no
exaggeration to observe that Fred is a key part of the
foundation of nearly every achievement so well narrated
in this issue, from the literature classes of Andrew Epstein, John Mac Kilgore, and Trinyan Mariano, through
the achievements of our writers such as Adam Johnson,
Skip Horack, and Kerry James Evans, to the editorial
scholarship of David Gants and Meg Brown and the fine
works of our undergraduate writers. It is especially appropriate that this issue spotlights the FSU Study Abroad
program in Valencia, because Fred was a great champion
of international education, teaching many summer terms
in our London program. Similarly, Im glad to point the
way to the article on Jerrilyn McGregorys course on Human Rights, because Fred was a visionary for the department and the university in his serious commitment to
diversity in the curriculum and among the faculty and
student body. Finally, it is fitting that this issue profiles
the work of Ralph Berry, department chair from 200612, because Freds decade as chair from 1973 to 1982
was a transformative period for the department. Every
subsequent chair benefited from Freds unwavering support and generous help. The department bears his mark
in every feature.
Two longtime professors use their study and research
of creative writing and literature to inform and inspire
students on how to find personal connections with the
written word.
Andrew Epstein 4
By Katy Bryan-Beachler
Ralph Berry 8
By Sarah Morin
Adam Johnson 6
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and creative writing alum
continues his hectic pace of life.
By Alana Schindel
Lauren Gibaldi Mathur
16
With her first publication on the horizon, an English literature
alumnas enthusiasm for reading and writing is insipring.
By Kaitlyn Athans
Kerry James Evans 18
Recent PhD
By Kristina Kurzweil
Jaclyn Emerick 19
English alumna finds a way to fit her creative writing degree
into an editors position with SELF magazine.
By Kalie Marsch
Department in action
Study abroad? Si! 14
International Programs offers English students an
opportunity to spend summer months in Spain and beyond.
By Nadia Mehriary
Academic journal bound to succeed 20
Associate professor David Gants and recent English PhD
graduate Meaghan Brown lead the way for the PBSA.
By Sarah Page
Human rights course, with a twist
21
Professor Jerrilyn McGregory hooks students with a pop
culture theme but then digs deep into causes of social injustice.
By Austin Koontz
A different train of thought
22
Immersion writing course inspires one graduate student to
ride the rails for a literary experience.
By Teddi Koppelberger
Choosing wisely 23
Students on the editing, writing, and media fill their
schedules with electives that complement their core studies.
By Michelle Collins
The Last Word undergoes changes 24
A student-run publication gets a new name and a new focus
under the direction of several English majors.
By Nick Gunter
Summer/Fall 2014
13
14
22
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Summer/Fall 2014
poetry
Summer/Fall 2014
school up until high school that really encouraged us to write creatively, so I was
reading and writing poems when I was pretty
little, Epstein says. I got really into it.
As he continued through school, his love
for English and creative writing became
more and more apparent. When he reached
college, he didnt yet know what career he
would choose, but he was certain that it
would involve literature and writing.
Even though Epstein chose not to pursue
a creative writing route academically, he kept
writing his own poetry. He found that he
was most interested in writing and thinking
critically about poetry, and finding symbiotic
themes with the entire process.
in English before attending Columbia University and receiving a masters degree and
a Ph.D. in literature. He began teaching at
FSU in the fall of 2001, attracted by the universitys large English department and Tallahassees strong literary scene. He was also
excited about the opportunity to be at a research university where he would be able to
balance teaching and research.
Epstein currently teaches undergraduate
and graduate courses at FSU, including classes in modern poetry, post-modern and contemporary poetry, and 20th-century American novels. He stimulates student interest in
poetry by debunking the typical, entry-level
understanding of poetry that most students
possess upon entering college.
Young people tend to think that poetry is
either something kind of flowery and sentimental that you write in your notebook when
youre a brooding teenager, or something really hard and forbidding and obscure that
only the teacher would understand, he says.
believes that it played a major role in preparing him for the two years of coursework that
would follow.
He holds high academic standards that I
think his students strive to meet. I know I
did, Blais says.
Epsteins teaching style inspired Blais to
register for another class on modernist poetics Epstein was teaching in a different semester. Epstein eventually joined Blaiss dissertation committee, and Blais says that he
proved to be instrumental in helping him
come up with the reading lists for his preliminary exams.
Dr. Epstein is a leading scholar in his field
with one critical book out with Oxford University Press and another on the way, but he
is not the type of person who will coast on
these accomplishments, Blais says. He is a
great teacher who demands a lot from his students, and hes one of the best professors the
English Department and the university has.
Epstein encourages students interested in
poetry to get involved with it in activities outside of class as well. He encourages students
to attend the departments Reading Series,
which takes place Tuesdays at The Warehouse, a bar and pool
hall just off campus
that also houses a
reading space for faculty members, wellknown authors, and
college students.
Its free, its a lot
of fun, and theres
no better thing than
seeing live writers in
person when they
are passionate about
what theyre doing,
Epstein says.
Epstein has also
published his own
book, Beautiful Enemies: Friendship and
Postwar American Poetry, which focuses on
poets such as Frank
SCROLL, SCRIBE & SCREEN
friends with his former professor and colleague. In turn, Butler speaks fondly of
Johnson as a student.
In the three years I taught Adam in Louisiana, I was particularly struck by his ravenous engagement with life experience, Butler
says, adding how impressed he was by his
emerging talent in his writing workshops at
McNeese. It was his avid exploration of everything from cockfighting to zydeco music
that spoke to me of his nascent genius.
Johnson took six workshops in MSUs
Master of Fine Arts program, which emphasizes fiction writing. Butler was the lone faculty member facilitating the workshops.
The post-Pulitzer
Prize life:
Adam Johnson,
a busy man
By Alana Schindel
Summer/Fall 2014
through the FSU English departments creative writing program. Mildly mysterious
and fantastically talented alumnus is tough
to catch. The majority of his time is spent
taking care of his kids, yet hes still crafting
new material and finding time to travel it
seems Johnson is much more than an inspired mind, but has much less time to sit
and unwind.
Before Johnson completed
his Ph.D. studies, he earned
his bachelors degree in journalism at Arizona State University in 1992 and received
his masters in creative writing at McNeese
State University in Louisiana until 1996.
While at the latter school, Johnson studied
with Professor Robert Olen Butler, who won
the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1993 and who
now teaches creative writing at FSU.
Ive been lucky to have great, great mentors it was mentors like [Butler] who got
me to a place like FSU, Johnson says about
the holder of a Frances Eppes Professorship, one of the the most esteemed honors a
professor can receive at Florida State.
Johnson says he is grateful for Butlers
insight and guidance, and he remains good
Summer/Fall 2014
An adjustment
of thinking
Professor Ralph Berrys process of education
changed when he recognized the power of words,
and he passes on this value through is teaching
By Sarah Morin
rofessor Ralph Berrys career
in higher education can serve
as a prime example of the way
that without change, there is
very little progress.
As an undergraduate at Furman University, he turned his interest from philosophy
and psychology to literature and writing.
This newly found direction led him to graduate school at the University of Iowa, where
he earned both an M.F.A. and his Ph.D.
When he came to Florida States Department of English in 1985 to teach twentiethcentury literature, critical theory, and creative
writing, he aimed to help students change
the way they see literature and to help them
understand how the meanings of written
words can connect to their lives.
In an even bigger shift, when he served as
chair for the department from 2006 to 2012,
his initiation of a new track for English majors boosted the number of students seeking
a better understanding of how the different
pieces of English fit together..
A turning point
Berrys small, simple office in an out-ofthe-way corner of the Williams Building
has a burst of color streaming from a large
metal bookshelf that is tightly packed with
books of fiction. His warm smile and calm
presence are what you first notice when you
enter the office and meet him. His words are
polished, and you immediately sense wisdom, even in casual conversation.
Deeper into a discussion about his own
experiences with literature, it is clear that he
is well read in the classics that have contrib8
Summer/Fall 2014
Berry thinks that reading is a skill that few class he said something along the lines of a
Creating that major was a team effort,
people have because they fail to recognize good thesis is one that makes you wonder if bringing together ideas from many different
the obvious. Berrys ideas and perspectives you can even defend it.
people throughout the department, he says.
have influenced his teaching style and helped
McCauley says that because of Berrys I consider it one of my principal achievecreate new mindsets as he moved on to be- teaching, she has been able to smoothly ments as chair.
come a professor himself.
develop as a writer and as a more-engaged
English Professor Helen Burke says
He tries to demonstrate his ability to im- student. She points out that all students are that Berry devoted just as much energy to
prove and encourage his students under- given the confidence to participate in his strengthening the entire department.
discussion-based classroom settings.
Dr. Berry has been a strong and tireless
standing of English in his courses.
His class talks are pretty much open to advocate for English at the college and uniBerry says that he aims to deepen his
students understanding of what words anyone his comments and input will guide versity level, she says. Like everyone else
in the department, I am gratemean. As an instructor, he
ful to Dr. Berry for all his hard
As a student, knowing that the professor
makes an effort to engage
work as chair.
his students in discussions
values your opinions is encouraging.
Berry continues to teach
that reveal the fundamental
Katharine McCauley, junior English major the importance of changing
importance of learning to
students outlooks on readnot only read, but also to
read well, and he is willing to adapt to his the discussion, but the rest is pretty much left ing and writing, and in fall 2014, he found
up to the students, she says, admitting that himself teaching in London, experiencing a
students needs.
Im always adjusting to my students re- at first she did not feel comfortable sharing change of scenery. He encourages students
sponses, he says. Im very concerned about her ideas in class. McCauley credits Berry for to study abroad if they have the opportunity.
I lived for a year in France, and living in
trying to make my ideas both understandable helping her change. He will take the time
and interesting to them. When my students to listen and he appreciates your interpreta- another country always changes your life,
dont seem as engaged as I want them to be tions. As a student, knowing that the profes- he says. Living abroad refreshes ones perspective, providing experiences one never
or simply arent improving in their writing, sor values your opinions is encouraging.
The impact that Berry has made on the forgets.
then I always think I am doing something
department goes beyond the classroom. He
This is one more creative stage in his cawrong and need to alter my approach.
served as department chair from 2006 to reer, one that is enhanced by the two books
2012, and one of his goals was to strengthen he is currently working on: one focuses on
Changing students perspectives
The adjustments that Berry makes aid the a curriculum that could intertwine the differ- criticism of modern fiction and philosophy,
Berry says, and the other novel is about a
growth of the departments students, says ent aspects of literature and writing.
voice trapped inside a box.
Katharine McCauley, a third-year English
Berry is enthusiastic when he talks about
major on the literature track. She was a stu- A new track emerges at FSU
The idea that Berry shared with other how writing can help anyone gain personal
dent in two of Berrys classes, Modern British and Modern American Literature, and faculty to merge rhetoric, literature, and cre- insights: writing is understanding ourMcCauley encourages students who are inter- ative writing into an all-encompassing major selves, he says, and this understanding can
ested in a professor who will challenge their initiated the creation of the departments create a relationship with an audience.
A conversation or a class with Berry can
initial point of view to sign up for his courses. editing, writing, and media track. The initiaProfessor Berry has really forced me to tive paid off: the number of English majors show an individual that writing, learning, and
think outside the box, when it comes to cre- at FSU increased by 15 percent from 2008 understanding ourselves are constant processes of change.
ating a thesis, McCauley says. One day in to 2012.
Summer/Fall 2014
reative writers never know what path they will travel to discover their inspiration.
They may travel the world, wandering from state to state
or even from country to country. They may work for international non-profit organizations or for the government, attempting to
learn more about the world around them. A person may even leave
his Louisiana hometown to receive degrees in creative writing and
law, only to realize how talented they could be after a few years of
diligent work.
Skip Horack is a writer of southern life and, more importantly,
human life, and he has wound his way through many paths, only to
end up exactly where he started developing his writing: Florida State
University.
Florida State Universitys Department of English hired Horack
in March 2014 as an assistant professor in the
creative writing program, and Horack is enthused
about the opportunity, especially the location.
A lot of my early writing was done in Tallahassee, and that part of the world has certainly
inspired a lot of my fiction, he says. I cant wait
to get settled in and start working again.
Horack is a Louisiana native and his decision
to attend FSU for his undergraduate studies was
heavily influenced by the combination of both
the unfamiliar and the familiar, he says. He was
able to explore new horizons at FSU, especially
in regards to the creative writing program the
university offers. Unlike his brief stint as a journalism major at the University of Colorado, he
says, FSU allowed him to fully pursue his dream
of writing fiction.
During the mid 1990s, when he was looking for
colleges that offered strong creative writing programs, Horack had a decidedly short list to work
10 Summer/Fall 2014
Summer/Fall 2014 11
Respectfully
noted
Assistant Professor Trinyan Mariano creates
a two-way path to learning in her classroom
By Brenna Beightol
T
An enthusiast for literature and history
John Mac Kilgore brings his
keen appreciation for teaching,
research to the department
By Alyssa Rios
ture: Terror and the Uncanny from Brockden Brown to Lovecraft, which, as the title
suggests, is about American literature of
the bizarre, the uncanny, the horrific. The
course, he says, seeks to illuminate this literature through critical theories of the political,
psychological, and historical dimensions of
fantasy and horror. The second course is a
graduate seminar called Affect Theory and
Antebellum American Literature, which is
right up his alley (he specializes in American
Literature before 1900). The course is about
philosophies of emotion and affect, sometimes called affect studies, and explores
literature as a means to structure and narrate
and script feelings in response to social and
political realities.
When I teach my undergraduates, the
main task is making older histories relatable
See KILGORE, page 27
Questions? Mariano
has them. This pad
shows notes she took
during a class debate
about Native Son.
Summer/Fall 2014 13
By Nadia Mehriary
in January 2013.
I thank International Programs and specifically Ceil Bare, director of program management, who thought it was a good idea
and worked with Jack and me to help make
it happen, Hellstrom says. Studying abroad
isnt for everyone, but there are a lot of students who would like to study abroad and do
something in their program, and thats why
Im really excited about it.
Bare was equally excited when Hellstrom
approached her with the proposal.
We believe that studying abroad and the
EWM track is a perfect fit, Bare says. Our
EWM study-abroad students will have experiences in Valencia that will not only expand
their view of the world, but will also have a
positive impact on their academic and professional work for years to come. We are looking
forward to a long and successful partnership
with the English department through the offering of this wonderful program.
Nicole Meneses, a senior on the EWM
track, was excited when she found about the
opportunity. Meneses was born in Quito, Ecuador, and lived there until she was 7 years
old. She says her experiences there instilled
her with wanderlust.
Every vacation or trip abroad comes with its own personal experiences
and highlights, says Meneses, who participated in the summer 2014 Valencia
program. I always learn so much more and leave wanting more.
Luckily, the EWM study-abroad program was created just in time for Meneses to enroll before her graduation from FSU.
Throughout the five weeks in Valencia, students are able to participate in
the Spain Broad Curriculums social and cultural calendar events with other
study-abroad students. In addition, Hellstrom wants students in her classes
to visit Spanish media outlets such as newspaper offices or television stations, take a tour of the Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia, and hear guest
speakers talk about their media and public relations experiences in Valencia.
The students stay with other broad curriculum students during their time
in Valencia, an advantage Hellstrom says allows them to interact with likeminded students outside of their program. Classes through the Valenicia
program are offered Monday through Thursday, and Hellstroms classes are
taught either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, giving students plenty of time for trips to nearby cities such as Madrid or Barcelona.
The EWM study-abroad program offers four courses, two of which are
mandatory for the students who sign up. As an alternative to one of the
courses, a student may sign up for an internship with Hellstroms approval.
In all, students are required to take at least six credit hours with a cap at nine
hours. The classes, though open to all majors, were created specifically with
EWM students in mind.
Hellstrom says keeping the classes open to all majors could attract students who might be interested in learning and writing about Spain. The program also will help the rising number of Spanish-speaking Florida students
strengthen their language
skills in an environment
The biggest concern about
where they can immerse
my trip was loving it too
themselves in Spanish culmuch and never wanting to
ture.
It is possible that the
come home.
program
could attract
Nicole Meneses
more students, but that
wasnt my first goal my first goal was to give EWM students a really nice
opportunity to study abroad and still have courses that count in their program, Hellstrom says.
Hellstrom says the two required courses in Valencia Editing Workshop
(known as the newsletter class) and Editing for Print and Social Media will
help students compile their final project: an article and page design that will
be included in a magazine-style publication that they can present to potential
employers or submit with applications to graduate schools. The two remaining classes, which are not required for EWM students but can be counted as
electives, are an art history class and a humanities class.
In a way, its kind of really cool because in the workshop class we focus
on creating a publication from idea to actual publication, Hellstrom says.
In the other class, we talk about editing the role of an editor and so on.
So in the end, we edit some of the stories that students are writing. The two
classes overlap nicely.
Meneses, who signed up for both classes taught by Hellstrom, says she prepared for her trip mentally, academically, and financially. Mentally, she made
sure to stay focused on her other studies and responsibilities to avoid becoming distracted before she left for Valencia. Academically, she planned her
schedule semesters ahead of time to figure out which and how many classes
to take during her time in Valencia. Financially, Meneses says she saved for
months and figured out a payment plan with her parents.
I [did] a great deal of research about Valencia, trips I [was] interested
in taking, and financial and academic preparation I should take for a study
See STUDY ABROAD, page 29
Summer/Fall 2014 15
By Kaitlyn Athans
Mathur flips through a scrapbook members of The Nerdfighters Club created for
her. On the one year anniversary of the club, members threw a surprise party for
Mathur where they meet once a month at the Alafaya Branch Library.
reading, passion for writing, and her eagerness to teach.
When Im writing, I
think of how I want to
make my teens at the
library proud. I know
the books they hate, the
characters they love, and
what doesnt feel real to
them. I want to make
sure my characters feel
real to teens.
-Lauren Gibaldi Mathur
Laurens enthusiasm is contagious, says
Danielle King, manager of Alafaya Branch
Library and Mathurs supervisor. When
someone interacts with Lauren, they are going to have a memorable and positive experience. Lauren works to inspire others to greatness by cultivating opportunities to learn, deSCROLL, SCRIBE & SCREEN
Summer/Fall 2014 17
Jaclyn Emerick :
By Kalie Marsch
As
combat engineer.
There, he woke up
promptly at 3 a.m.
every day, went to
the armory at Fort
Leonard Wood,
a military base in
Missouri, suited up
and guarded a gate
from 4 a.m. until 1
p.m. Immediately afterward, he performed
personal training session from 2 until 4 p.m.
He explains the standard layout of the
base, with similar buildings and soldiers in
matching uniforms, and recalls the familiar sounds: the racket of drill sergeants, the
marching recruits, the rhetoric at the PX, and
the symphony of taps at the end of the day.
In many ways, living on a military base
made me look closer at the people who wear
the uniform, and believe me, there
If I look at a wall, I cant see all are many ways to wear the uniform,
the wires behind the wall, all the Evans says.
After leaving the armory each eveplumbing, but I know they are
ning, he attended night classes. The
more he studied, the more he realized
there. Theres more language,
that he needed to be committed to
more artful language, theres
his studies. He took school seriously,
and this focus, in turn, caused him to
more depth of meaning in the
take poetry seriously.
world because of poetry.
Evans describes his experience at
Fort
Leonard Wood as significant
Kerry James Evans
and life-changing, one that led him
Im just one poet in a sea of poets and on his career path. During this time of selfId like to know, at the very least, who I discovery, he finally gained the confidence
am in this arena and what can I add to the to believe that he had something special that
conversation, he says. I dont want to be needed to be shared with others.
white noise.
Im still trying to understand what my time
Following in his fathers footsteps, Ev- in the military meant to me, especially with
ans began his undergraduate career while my father currently serving in Afghanistan,
simultaneously serving in the Army as a Evans says.
18 Summer/Fall 2014
Summer/Fall 2014 19
A
Delicate
Balance
David Gants and Meaghan Brown juggle work, research, and
editing for The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America
By Sarah Page
zombies?
Summer/Fall 2014 21
A train ride
into the field
of immersion
writing
Relevant Electives
as an EWM Major
By Teddi Koppelberger
By Michelle Collins
Summer/Fall 2014 23
Florida State
English students
have the
Last Word
Summer/Fall 2014 25
Use your
imagination
only on the
future,
never the
present or
the past.
Adam Johnson
An agent
for success
Warren Frazier
represents the
departments
two Pulitzer
Prize winners
26 Summer/Fall 2014
fter Adam Johnsons 2013 success, the FSU English department now boasts two Pulitzer
Prize winners. Coincidentally,
literary agent Warren Frazier represents both
writers.
As an unannounced but welcomed guest,
Professor Robert Olen Butler, who won the
Pulitzer Prize in 1993, accompanied Frazier
to his March 2014 Q&A session in the Williams Building. During his talk, Frazier emphasized the importance of choosing quality
writers rather than signing numerous writers.
Butler, Johnson, and Frazier all share that
idea about writing: it is about the quality of
the content, not the money or fame.
Genuinely happy to see his agent and friend
at the talk with FSU faculty members and students, Butler encouraged the audience to ask
questions. A fiction fan at his core, Frazier
says he became an agent because he always
loved reading fiction. As it turns out, he has
quite an eye for gifted writing, now having
two Pulitzer winners in his Rolodex.
Butler won for his short story collection, A
Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, one of his
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six short-story collections. He also has written 14 novels and one non-fiction how-to
book. In 2001, Butler was honored with the
National Fiction Award for his short story,
Fair Warning, published first in Francis Ford
Coppolas literary magazine Zeotrope: AllStory. Butler eventually adapted Fair Warning into a novel. In 2013, Butler received the
F. Scott Fitzgerald Award for Outstanding
Achievement in American Literature.
Summer/Fall 2014 27
this country.
So, in that sense, Id like to see every student have that experience, because it changes
you, Hellstrom says. It helps you understand world events better whenever you
see these people holding up signs with bad
views on America, you can understand. It
also makes you appreciate your own county
more in some ways.
After more than three years of planning,
proposing, re-proposing, and finalizing the
EWMs study-abroad program in Valencia, Hellstrom now sees a concept that she
helped develop coming to life. From her
own past experiences, she knows that some
students embrace every minute of being
abroad, while others are more apprehensive.
Thats what she describes as one of her favorite parts of the experience, however: seeing how people react to it.
Thats the thing you never know how
its going to hit you, Hellstrom says. From
a student standpoint, especially if its your
first time, you never know.
Even when youre there, you know there
are moments that are exhilarating, but there
are hard moments, too, when you may be
homesick. Yet you learn things you learn
things about yourself, the students there with
you, and you learn things about other countries and your own country.
For more information about the EWM studyabroad program in Valencia, visit the International
Programs website: international.fsu.edu/Types/
College/Spain/Editing.aspx.
Summer/Fall 2014 29
Mathur performed in the FSU Flying High Circuis during all four years of her undergraduate career.
history of text technologies, renaissance literature, and descriptive and analytical bibliography. He keeps a tight schedule in order
to balance his academic responsibilities, journal duties, and his own research.
Brown, whose research as a Ph.D. candidate dealt with early modern print methods
in England, is currently working the Folger
Library as a data curator, a position that involves projects focused on textual encoding
and other digital humanities initiatives. She
still devotes some of her extra time to working on with the journal.
Both editors review article submissions
and work together to choose which will be
selected for publication, but have individual
responsibilities as well. Gants deals largely
with administrative work and communication within the society as well as communicating with the printer and allocating funds.
Brown focuses on formatting the layout of
the journal. Both are involved in the extensive process of line editing articles.
Its like Whack-A-Mole no matter how
many times you look at it, you can always
find something else, Brown says.
The time from when an author submits an
article for review until it is published can take
at least six months, often longer. Each article
undergoes a rigorous process of peer reviewing and several rounds of editing before
it is ready for publication. Although PBSA is
published quarterly, the journal keeps Brown
and Gants busy year-round.
Its a seven-days-a-week job, Gants says,
adding that he recently found himself working on the journal during a trip he took to
London for research. I was sitting on the
airplane editing a manuscript when I couldve
been watching reruns of CSI!
Brown equates the steady stream of editorial duties to a video game.
You know how in video games, when you
leave a character too long they start dancing?
Well, if we sit down for too long, we start
editing. Its the default, she says.
Summer/Fall 2014 33
EWM student Lauren Painter initially on compelling media trends, including parthought it might be an inconvenience to ticipatory fan culture, serialized narratives in
complete an internship for her degree, but television, and relationships between media
says she quickly realized the value her experi- and popular culture. Social media platforms
ence held.
such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and
Internships are becoming the new job Foursquare are discussed in the class as merequirementsif you dont have internship dia through which corporations and news
experience, youre lost among the other ap- sources are marketing their programs and
plicants, Painter says.
gaining popularity with their audiences.
After completion of her internship with
EWM senior Alexa Adair took Edwardss
Uloop Student News Network, Painter is course in the spring of 2013 and appreciates
now a strong advocate for the idea that stu- how relevant the class was to the focus of
dents have to search for internships that are her major.
relevant to their specific career choices.
Im most interested in the media aspect
Internships show that youre dedicated, of EWM and I want to continue working in
committed and determined on top of having social media, Adair says. This class gave
priceless experience, she
says. The internship re- I decided to take digital graphic dequirement pushed me to
actually find one and stick sign because in an industry such as onto it. It assured me that line publishing, theyre looking for not
what Im doing is what I only someone who can write their own
want to do in the near fuarticles, but someone who can code
ture.
Another
valuable them and design enticing images for
course included in the
list of courses that PIC them, as well.
Shawn Binder
offers is Digital Graphic
Design. Adjunct instruca senior on the EWM track
tor Ron Fowler teaches
this course, and it has proven to be a benefi- me leverage above my competitors because I
cial one to EWM students. This class allows learned more about social media rather than
students to become familiar with the Adobe just whats on the surface.
Creative Suite, including Photoshop, InDeThe class analyzed several case studies,
sign, and Illustrator. It ensures that students such as the documentary Catfish and its spilearn the important principles of good visual noff MTV show, to compare television covdesign while maintaining originality in their erage to documentaries. Music videos, adverwork.
tisements, and certain TV episodes were also
I decided to take digital graphic design screened in class to convey the ideas of genbecause in an industry such as online pub- der and sexuality, convergence culture, and
lishing, theyre looking for not only someone feminisms role in the media.
who can write their own articles, but someWhile learning about yoga and fine wine
one who can code them and design enticing sounds tempting and can be enjoyable, stuimages for them, as well, says Shawn Bind- dents are increasingly enrolling in courses
er, a senior on the EWM track.
that are relevant to their area of study, espeAn increasing number of EWM students cially because they have to pay for the credit
are now taking these PIC classes in order to hours regardless.
build up their technical skills in the media
Before branching out and taking a not-sopart of the major.
common elective, however, Herron advises
I feel more confident in my job search seniors to research the course material and to
knowing that I have these design skills on my make sure it will count toward their degree.
resume, Binder says.
The biggest mistake I see students make
For students who want a more compre- when choosing an elective is the lack of rehensive perspective on media issues, English search, she says. Make sure its the correct
Associate Professor Leigh Edwards teaches level course and its a class you genuinely
Media Studies, a course that explores audi- want to take.
ence studies, semiotics, cultural studies, femiFor EWM students, plenty of options
nist studies, and more. The class also focuses meet those conditions.
SCROLL, SCRIBE & SCREEN
Summer/Fall 2014 35
About the
contributors
Kaitlyn Athans
Athans is as an English major (EWM) with a minor in business.
Originally from Lakeland, Florida, Athans plans to stay in the
South after graduating Summer 2014. Athans hopes to become
a writer in the healthcare field promoting health and wellness.
In her free time, she enjoys volunteering for Relay For Life and
exploring the outdoors.
Brenna Beightol
Beightol is a 2014 English major (EWM) graduate with a minor
in French. Like many, her dream is to live in Paris, blogging
about the world and everything she sees. Though originally
from South Florida she moved to Bradenton and struggles
when asked where are you from? For now she is waiting
to find her post-graduate city and to learn and grow in it. She
loves cookie dough, sailing, has a vast array of fish, and hopes
one day to have a cat.
Katy Bryan-Beachler
Bryan-Beachler is an English major (EWM) with minors in
psychology and film studies. After graduating in fall 2014,
she will pursue a career as a literary scout in film to adapt
novels into films. Raised on a farm inMyakka City, Florida,
she enjoys working with animals and singing country music
in her spare time.
Michelle Collins
Collins, a spring 2014 graduate,grew up in Orlando, Florida,
before attending FSU. During her collegiate years as an English
major (EWM), Collins worked with Uloop Student News
Network, CLUTCH Magazine, Orlando Style Magazine, and
enjoyed doing a bit of freelance writing. She is a fan of all
things British, is obsessed withgolden retrievers,and is an
avocadoadvocate.She now lives in NYC and works at Womans
World Magazine.
Nick Gunter
Gunter is from Pensacola, Florida. He isan English major
(EWM) with a minor in psychology. He will be graduating at
the end of summer 2014.Nick spends much of his free time
being active,taking part in hobbies such assurfing, biking, and
skating. He hopes to make a career out of his love for the
outdoors and his ability to write and edit.
36 Summer/Fall 2014
Teddi Koppelberger
Koppelberger is a junior English major (EWM)
from St. Augustine, Florida After graduating in the
fall of 2015 she hopes to work as an editor for
a publishing house. She enjoys traveling, spending
time in the sun, and running with her dogs.
Kristina Kurzweil
Kurzweil is a junior, majoring in English (creative
writing) and minoring in art history. She is originally
from Miami, and she plans to spend her postgraduation days writing near the ocean, with hopes
of publishing her works for the world to enjoy. Her
ultimate goal in life is to always be surrounded by
compassionate love and genuine happiness.
Kalie Marsch
Marsch is an English major (EWM) with a minor in
communications. She aspires to work in magazine
publishing and editing in the future, and lives for
New York Fashion Week.She loves New York
City and plans to move there after she graduates
in August 2014.
Mari Maxwell
Maxwell is an English major (creative writing) with
a minor in communications. Upon graduating in
the fall of 2014, she hopes to find a job at a book
publishing company as an editorial assistant. Born
and raised in Florida, Mari has a deep desire to
travel abroad, and to live in a different state, while continuing
her passion for books.
Nadia Mehriary
Born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, Mehriary is an English
major (EWM) with a minor in communication. After taking
the three-year route that allowed her to complete her bachelors
at FSU in spring 2014, Mehriary plans to spend her fourth
year in Tallahassee working. She is currently a junior account
coordinator and proofreader at The Zimmerman Agency, and
is working on graduate school applications for fall of 2015.
Catherine Miranda
Miranda is a senior English major (EWM) from Fort
Lauderdale,Florida. After graduating from FSU in summer
in the lifting arena. For her senior year, she was an editing
intern for the FSU Card Archive. Her dream is to become a
copywriter.
Sarah Page
Page is a double major in English (EWM) and humanities.
After graduating in the fall of 2014, she plans to continue on to
graduate schooleither to continue her English studies or study
film or media production. A native of Tampa, Sarah enjoys
spending time at the beach, watching movies, and writing.
Alana Schindel
Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and raised in Redmond,
Washington, Schindel is an English major (EWM) with minors
in communications and film. After graduating in summer 2014,
she hopes to plan and execute an international childrens book
tour and work on a couple short stories while on the road. She
enjoys playing soccer and tennis, writing, and traveling.
Alyssa Rios
Rios is an English major (EWM) with a minor in
communications. She was involved with the FSU Weightlifting
Club for a couple of years, inspiring other women to join men
Summer/Fall 2014 37
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38 Summer/Fall 2014