English Major Spotlight: Morgan Hamernik

Year: Senior

Hometown: Eagan, MN

Why did you choose to major in English?

I came to the U of M as a neuroscience major but quickly realized I didn't want to go to medical school or work in a hospital. I had always loved reading. On a whim, I signed up for Professor John Watkins' Shakespeare course to explore my options a bit. After reading Macbeth and discussing it in class, my mind was made up to switch! I fell in love with discussion-based classes and digging into texts.  

Are you pursuing any majors, minors, internships, or interests outside your English major? How do you feel they enhance your study of English and/or your career plans?

I am pursuing a minor in public health and the Certificate in Editing and Publishing. I have been able to merge my interests in English and public health through research. I am currently writing my honors thesis about representations of disease in contemporary novels! As for the certificate, the required internship component really helps you gain real-world experience that you can bring to a job application. The courses are designed to help you understand the breadth of opportunity in editing and publishing—I have learned so much about the industry and where I can see myself fitting in. 

What is a favorite book you read for an English class?

Jeannette Winterson's Sexing the Cherry. I read it for my ENGL 3004W: “Historical Survey of British Literatures II” course! If you are a fan of magical realism, I would highly recommend it.