What do students do with a major in English? Find out below what our former students are doing after graduation from Keene State College. Our students have shown that the degree in English provides an intellectual background and readily transferable skills for a wide range of personal and professional endeavors.
If you are a graduate of Keene State who majored in English, or minored in English or writing, please share your story with the department chair, Dr. William Stroup, at wstroup@keene.edu.
English Majors
Peter Beachamp (BA in English 2006) is currently a member of AmeriCorps at Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts in Worcester, Massachusetts, where his work involves assisting with legal aid to low income residents of Worcester County on issues such as housing, domestic violence, food stamp, and civil liberty disputes. Peter's plans include applying to law school.
Ethan Ash (BA in English, minor in writing and Economics 2005) is enrolled in a Master of Fine Arts program at St. Mary’s College of California. Ethan writes that he attributes most of his early success at St. Mary’s to being pushed, challenged and encouraged in his courses at Keene State College.
Lilly Goldberg (BA Indepedently Designed Major in English and Art History & Writing Minor 2005) spent her post-graduation summer as an intern in the education department at The Wadsworth Atheneum Art Museum in Hartford , Connecticut, where she created educational material for school and family groups. Lilly will be spending the summer of 2006 as an intern at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. As an Education Intern under the Youth Programs supervisor, her projects will include coordinating the summer film festival and revamping the family guide for the museum's permanent collection. In the fall, Lilly will be at the University of Manchester where she will begin a masters degree program in Art Gallery and Museum Studies.
Eric Dusseault (BA English) is currently a Residence Director at the Massachusetts College of the Liberal Arts. Before taking his current position, Eric earned a M.A. in administration from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and worked as an Area Coordinator at the College of Art in Baltimore, Md.
Ben Cammett (BA English & Writing Minor 2004) is currently a documentation specialist at GlaxoSmithKline. He is currently in the Duke University Certificate in Technical Communication Program and is planning to continue his graduate studies in the Master of Science in Technical Communication at North Carolina State.
Josh Lawrason (BA English 2004) has completed a Masters in Secondary Ed with a focus in Aesthetical Education and is teaching 9th and 10th grade English at Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, Colorado. Josh is teaching courses in writing and American literature and reports that teaching Faulkner (As I Lay Dying) was a struggle, but that the students loved it when he read Vardaman's sections out loud), and that his students created and designed Holden Caulfield action figures in a unit on The Catcher in the Rye.
Paul Visser (BA English 2003) is enrolled in a Masters of Arts in Teaching program at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. He has been awarded a graduate assistantship and is proud to report a 4.0 GPA last semester while holding down two part time jobs. He plans to get double certified so that he will be able to teach elementary and middle grades.
Lara Scott (BA English 2002 & BS in Elementary Education) worked for one year in Baltimore, Maryland, in the Mercy Volunteer Corps where she ran an after school program for 1st-6th graders in inner city Baltimore. She then enrolled in The University of Vermont where she received a Masters Degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration. She is currently working at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, in the Residential Life department. Lara reports that the study of English has been a huge help in her professional life—in the after school program literacy program, editing grant proposals, and in graduate school. In her current work at Champlain College, Lara types memos, e-mails, and proposals daily and is grateful for her ability to express her ideas and present them in an organized way. She is also grateful for the diversity of courses she took in the English department at Keene State College. Her literature and theory courses, in particular, have been very helpful to her as a higher education professional who spends a lot of time challenging students in areas of diversity and social justice. Lara writes, “I do not think I'd feel as confident in expressing my ideas and thoughts if I had not been part of the English department. Written expression of my thoughts, summarizing conversations and meetings, and writing proposals all happen almost every day (personally and professionally) for me and I am very grateful to have English in my background to help."
Drew Forbes (BA English 2001) is currently working for Group Creativity Project (GCP). GCP is a group founded and run by David Shepard. (David is improvisation creator-subject of part of the book "Compass.") Drew is currently involved in work on an improvisational format that deals with the end of oil.
Susan C Ashman (BA English & Women's Studies Minor 2001) is the Head Start Coordinator at Action for Children in Chicago, IL. She is also the managing editor of Tuffy Feminist Zine. Susan has had her writing published in Curve Magazine and will be having another article published in Curve this spring. Susan is a self-described “radical performance artist and guerilla activist” with xxx-esoterica, the Lickity Split Radicals, and Gender Force in Chicago. This group has performed all over the country and was a featured act at the Sundance Independent Film Festival. Susan is currently considering a return to school to pursue an MA in Gender Studies.
Collie Fulford (BA English 2002) is a doctoral student in English at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she teaches, tutors, and mentors for the Writing Program. Finding ways to make work and play overlap has been one of Collie’s lifelong aims, and she attributes some of her success in making the transition to graduate school to her English professors at Keene State: Nona Fienberg’s use of invention and performance in her Shakespeare classes made Antony and Cleopatra feel alive; Bill Doreski’s attention to poetic structures as something to try, not just to analyze, made theory engaging; Mark Long’s invitation to work out ideas in multiple genres dissolved her assumption about what academic writing could be; Kirsti Sandy’s encouragement to analyze all kinds of texts—comics, tarot cards, scholarly essays—expanded her concept of what academic writing could be about; and Sally Joyce’s explication of trickster figures has somehow snuck into Collie’s teaching persona. Collie is spending the 2006-07 academic year Collie as the assistant to the director of the Center for Writing at Keene State College.
Audra Ramos (BA English & writing minor 2002) has been certified in Massage Therapy and has recently applied to the Journalism program at Qunnipiac in Hamden, Connecticut.
Molly Dunne (BA English 2001) spent four years teaching middle school language arts and history at St. Kevin School in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She currently teaches at St. Mary's School in Melrose, Massachusett, where she teaches 7th and 8th grade history and 7th grade Religion. She is currently completing the requirements for her Masters in Education at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Molly writes that her background in English from Keene has been immensely important in her work as a teacher. She has taught non-English speaking students how to read and write, has taught poetry, and has used her research writing skills to teach her students how to write an essay. She credits the English faculty with helping her become a person who loves read and write, and inspiring her to share that passion with her students.
Heather Pamula (B.A. English 2001) lives in New York City where she has worked as a professional actor, in advertising and sales at HGTV, and in PR at Magnet. She is currently working in Private Equity as an Assistant Financial Analyst. Heather continues to participate in writers’ forums and attends readings and networking functions. This participation led to her current work as an out-of-house editor and she is also working on a novel of her own. Heather reports spending hours on the subway re-reading formerly “required” books for pleasure.
Brian A. Bilodeau (BA English with secondary education teacher certification, 2000) spent three years after graduation as an English teacher in Vermont and Massachusetts. Brian then moved to Chicago to pursue a second degree in interior design at Harrington College of Design. He will finish his degree in December 2005 and has already had his work displayed in the 2005 Oak Park-River Forest ASID Showcase House. Recently, Brian had the opportunity to utilize both of his degrees when he edited the introduction to a book on theoretical structures called Visionary Chicago Architecture. Brian currently designs furniture and installations for a high-end glass and mirror manufacturer in Chicago.
Stephen Chupaska (BA English 1999) is a reporter and columnist for the New London Times, a weekly newspaper in New London, Connecticut, where he also writes as a pop music correspondent for theday.com. After graduating from Keene State College, Steve spent two years pursuing a Master’s degree in American Literature at San Diego State University. He then worked in public radio and freelancing for alternative newsweeklies in San Diego, California. Since taking his position at the New London Times, Steve covered Kelo v. City of New London, the landmark eminent domain case that was heard before the Supreme Court. Steve has also written about politics, including statewide and municipal elections. Another part of his beat is the vibrant underground music and arts scene in New London. Steve continues to be much happier receiving payment, rather than a B-minus, for his written work. Check out Steve’s blog at http://www.theday.com/.
Thea Durling (BA English 1998) is employed in the Fitchburg, Massachusetts Public School system as a math/ESL inclusion teacher for three years. Since graduation, Thea has taught English as a Foreign Language in Ecuador and English as a Second Language in the United States. She received an MEd in English as a Second Language from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2001 and an MEd in Math for Secondary Level 5-8 at Cambridge College in 2004. She continues to teach ESL as a volunteer.
Henry E. Lee, Jr (BA English, BS Computer Science 1998) is a Senior Systems Analyst for Pequot Capital Management, Inc. After graduation, Henry worked as an entry- and senior-level computer programmer and then started his own business in computer programming consulting. He then worked full-time position as a Senior Programmer with Credit Suisse First Boston before accepting his current position at Pequot Capital. Although English has never been a requirement in the field of computer science, Henry reports that his English degree has set him apart from many of his peers and co-workers who struggle with the reading and writing requirements of their jobs. He has used his English skills, in particular, in e-mail communication, writing marketing text, and in countless other ways to make him “a more complete and valuable asset” to the firms for which he has worked.
Megan Anne Todd (BA English and Individualized Major in Language, Reading, and Culture of the Americas 1997) is enrolled in a new PhD program at ASU entitled Theatre and Performance of the Americas, with a concentration area in dance. Before enrolling in the PhD program, Megan completed a Master’s in Exercise and Wellness. Megan is especially grateful for her work with Dr. Dizard, whose teaching permeates and informs Megan’s work today.
Danielle Atherton (BA English & Holocaust studies minor) is completing a MA in English Literature at the University of Sheffield . Danielle is planning to enter the PhD program to complete a study of post Holocaust genocide narratives. She hopes to do field work in Cambodia and is interested in studying oral narratives.
Scott Cohen (BA English 1996) completed his M.A. at The Pennsylvania State University and his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia. He is currently an assistant professor of twentieth-century British and postcolonial literatures at Stonehill College. Scott teaches courses in Postcolonial cultural studies, world Anglophone literatures, transnational and international modernism, and the history and theory of the novel. His research interests include materialism and theories of space, gender and sexuality, globalization and urban culture, aesthetics and theories of values, and advertising and empire. Many of these interests inform his current book project In the Crosscurrents of Empire: A Moving Geography of Global British Fiction; the study considers the importance of real and imagined movement and mobility in the formation of modernist aesthetics and British imperial policy.
Laird Christensen (BA English 1991) is associate professor of English and Environmental Studies at Green Mountain College, an environmental liberal arts college in Poultney, Vermont. After completing his undergraduate work at Keene State College, Laird earned an MA in English Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, followed by a PhD in English Literature at the University of Oregon. His essays and poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals, including Wild Earth, Whole Terrain, and the Utne Reader. He is currently editing two books on environmental education, including one—Teaching North American Environmental Literature—that is co-edited by current KSC professor, Mark Long. At Green Mountain College, where Laird has taught since 2000, he chairs the Department of English, Philosophy, and Communications, and directs the Environmental Studies graduate program.
Tom Morgan (BA English 1990) is currently Sales Liaison at Overture.com, a Yahoo!-owned search engine. After graduating from KSC Tom, who blames Professor Mallon for his love of literature, moved to NYC to "be a writer." He waited tables in the Village for a couple of years while renting an apartment in Jersey City with his brother and his girlfriend (both KSC alumni). He currently resides on the West Coast in, of all places, Arcadia , California —home of Seabiscuit. Tom has a literary agent who is currently shopping around his completed novel manuscript, North of Here, his “answer to David Lynch's Blue Velvet.” Tom is outlining another novel and working on some screenplays with a writing partner. And last but not least, he is also completing a stage play about D.H. Lawrence. (Tom sends his thanks to Dr. Antrim, his academic advisor who introduced him to Lawrence in two seminars!)
Joseph Fulliero (BA Safety Studies, Minor in English) continued his studies at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, where he is pursuing a Master's degree in the Work Environment with a concentration in Industrial Hygiene. He is currently completing the requirements for the degree and has just recently gained employment as an Industrial Hygiene Consultant. Joseph reports that a minor in English has helped him in his job (almost every job he has applied for requires strong written and verbal communication skills, his graduate-level work, and his life as a reader. After finishing his Master's degree, and working for several years, Joseph plans to continue his education by pursuing a degree in law. Joseph anticipates that his background in English will help with the complexities of the legal profession he hopes to enter.
Kevin White is completing an MFA in poetry writing at New England College.
Ethan Ash (BA in English, minor in writing and Economics 2005) is enrolled in a Master of Fine Arts program at St. Mary’s College of California.
Rebecca Spiegel (BS Sociology & writing minor) is currently at Plymouth State University working on a Master's in School Counseling.
Ben Cammett (BA English, Writing Minor 2004) is currently a documentation specialist at GlaxoSmithKline. He is currently in the Duke University Certificate in Technical Communication Program and is planning to continue his graduate studies in the Master of Science in Technical Communication at North Carolina State.
Sylvia Xanthopolous (BS Management & writing minor) co-owns and runs Keene 's Pizza Palace with her brother, Lazo. She is still writing and working on sending out her work for publication.
Christine Walker (BS Computer Science, writing minor) is currentlyenrolled in a Master's program in Bioinformatics at Northeastern University . Bioinformatics combines biology and computer science to map out the human genome and potentially create new pharmaceutical products.
General Studies in English and Writing
Danielle Richey (BA Political Science 2003) took numerous American Studies and writing courses in the English department. Danielle is currently enrolled at Penn State 's Dickinson School of Law on a full academic scholarship. She is also working for a law professor who is also an ACLU attorney on a racial profiling case. Danielle recalls spending hours preparing her citations to be sure it was perfect and reports that this care has paid off in following the citation form for legal documents and briefs. Having Dr. Sandy stress the importance of citations has made a difference in law school and in communicating with judges. She says that students need to know that the expectation for careful research and citations does not go away. And once you are in the habit of perfecting citations it will make your writing that much more effective when writing for professors and employers.
Rachel Bailey (BS in Elementary Education and Geography 2003) completed a Masters in Geography from Texas State University-San Marcos and is currently a 1 st year teacher at Hudson Memorial School in Hudson, NH, where she teaches 7 th grade Social Studies and Language Arts. Rachel intended to major in English at KSC, and it was her coursework in English that helped her get her current position. She encourages all students to take additional courses outside of their major, especially if they are going into education, as teaching more than one subject is common. A liberal arts curriculum will help future teachers meet the requirements put into place by No Child Left Behind.