Featured Faculty

Our English literature and creative writing faculty describe their recent research and publications.

Close up color head and shoulders photo of Associate Professor Douglas Kearney

Douglas Kearney Wins Two Book Prizes

Creative Writing professor receives recognition for 2022 collection Optic Subwoof.

To left, head and shoulders of person with dark hair to shoulders and light skin, wearing lavender-rimmed glasses and black shirt; to right, book cover with inverted umbrella in British flag stripes with text The English Experience Julie Schumacher

Julie Schumacher Publishes Final Book in Campus Trilogy

Dear Committee Members, winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, kicked off the comic series in 2015.

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Remembering Tom Clayton

The Regents Professor was a beloved, decorated teacher and influential scholar across five decades at the U.

On left, person with dark hair to shoulders, light skin, wearing blue shirt; on right, book cover abstract color background and large white letters: The Return of Faraz Ali, Aamina Ahmad

Aamina Ahmad Recognized for Debut Novel

The Return of Faraz Ali has won three awards for the assistant professor.

V.V. Ganeshananthan and her book, "Brotherless Night"

Brotherless Night: A Tamil Family Faces the Beginning of the Sri Lankan Civil War

Associate Professor V.V. Ganeshananthan discusses how her new novel, Brotherless Night, explores a complex period of Sri Lankan history through an intimate lens.

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Daigre and Goldberg Win Teaching Honors

University and CLA awards go to English instructors for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education.

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Brian Goldberg recognized by U for teaching

Professor wins Morse-Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education!

On left, person with dark hair to shoulders, light brown skin, wearing blue shirt; on right, illustration of woman in white dress in front of ruins, with yellow text at top and bottom: Brotherless Night, V. V. Ganeshananthan

V. V. Ganeshananthan awarded CLA research support

The professor will work on a multi-genre project related to the Sri Lankan civil war.

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Prof Megan Giddings Named McKnight Land-Grant Professor

The assistant professor, one of only ten University of Minnesota awardees, receives support in writing her third novel.

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Meet Assistant Professor Jessica Horvath Williams

The scholar of nineteenth-century culture and disability studies is helping to create a TV show featuring disabled artists in Minnesota.

On left, person with dark hair to shoulders, light brow skin, wearing striped shirt; on right, book cover abstract color background and large white letters: The Women Could Fly, Megan Giddings

Meet Assistant Professor Megan Giddings

The novelist talked about her latest book on Late Night with Seth Meyers in September!

Meet Assistant Professor Aamina Ahmad

The novelist made the New York Times' "100 Notable Books of 2022" with her debut.

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Professors Ganeshananthan and Todd Promoted

Creative Writing professors recognized for publications, teaching, and service.

Two book covers side by side, both with white type over abstract color backgrounds. Text of first: The Return of Farzaz Ali, Aamina Ahmad. Text of second: The Women Could Fly, Megan Giddings

New Novels From New Faculty

Aamina Ahmad and Megan Giddings join English this fall as professors of fiction writing; both have new novels out this year.

Douglas Kearney Awarded Griffin International Poetry Prize

The professor's poetry collection Sho is "the crowning achievement of Kearney’s body of work to date," according to the judges' citation.

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Remembering Professor Charlie Sugnet

The dynamic professor's curiosity and commitment to students made him a beloved teacher, inventive administrator, and unconventional scholar.

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Ray González: Illuminating the Latinx Literary Landscape

The acclaimed poet, anthology editor, and mentor retires this spring.

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Michael Hancher: 50 Years of Service at the U

The retiring professor describes the impact of technology on teaching and writing.

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New Professors in English

Novelists Aamina Ahmad and Megan Giddings and 19th-century literature scholar Jessica Horvath Williams join the faculty!

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Nabil Matar on Early Modern Capitivity Narratives

The professor of English looks at Mediterranean slavery through Arab eyes.