English Department, Grand Valley State University

05/04/2026

Great info in the Lake Michigan Writing Project's latest newsletter about their Summer Institute! There's still time to apply to be a fellow for the Invitational Summer Institute. Have you previously attended? Sign up to attend sessions of the Advanced Institute!

More info can be found on the LMWP website: https://www.gvsu.edu/lmwp/

The latest edition of the Lake Michigan Writing Project newsletter is live on our website! The spring edition focuses on all of the great things the LMWP is doing this summer. Read more about our Summer Writing Camps, the Invitational Summer Institute, and the Advanced Institute. Visit our website to read more and sign up to participate!

https://www.gvsu.edu/lmwp/2026-spring-newsletter-33.htm

04/27/2026

Our friends at the Lake Michigan Writing Project still have spots available for their popular Summer Writing Camps. If you have a 3rd-12th grade aspiring writer in your life, this is a great opportunity for them to spend an exciting, fun-filled week writing with their peers.

Visit their website for more info or to sign up! https://www.gvsu.edu/lmwp/summer-writing-camps-2026-29.htm

We are pleased to announce the registration is now open for the 2026 Summer Writing Camp season! Once again, we'll be offering camps on GVSU's Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses in July. Our Write Your College Essay workshop returns for a week in August.

NEW FOR 2026 - a longer camp in Allendale! Join us from 9:00a-3:00p for a longer day of writing camp fun. 🎉

Visit our website for more information and to secure your spot! www.gvsu.edu/lmwp

04/24/2026

The Winter 2026 semester is coming to a close and excitement is building for today's English Capstone Conference! We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of our students as they present their research to faculty, friends and family in the Kirkhof Center.

ENG 495 students: we're wishing you the best of luck today! You've made it and you have so much to be proud of! 💙⚓

04/15/2026

Calling all English Education alumni! Please consider this your invitation to apply to be a Lake Michigan Writing Project Summer Institute Fellow! This is a great opportunity to improve your writing instruction with fellow teachers from around West Michigan.

The Summer Institute runs June 15-26, 2026. For more information or to apply, visit the LMWP website: https://www.gvsu.edu/lmwp/summer-institute-2026-27.htm

Time is running out to sign up for this summer’s institute! Share this with any teachers you think might be interested.

03/16/2026

Five Grand Valley faculty and staff and numerous alumni are participating in Legacy of Activism events this week to celebrate the life of Pauli Murray, a civil rights activist, legal scholar, poet, and priest. On Thursday, March 19, DL McKinney (Rainbow Resource Center) will join a panel discussion of Murray’s legacy after a screening of the documentary film My Name is Pauli Murray at 6 p.m. at the Spectrum Theater: 160 Fountain St NE.

On Saturday, March 21, Ayana Weekley (Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies) will give a lecture about Pauli Murray’s prolific writing career from 6:30 – 7:00 pm at Fountain Street Church as an introduction to the Michigan premier of the dramatic cantata Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray, sung by the Grand Rapids Women’s Chorus and guests from 7:30 – 9:00 pm in the sanctuary: 24 Fountain St. NE. The Grand Rapids Women’s Chorus is over a hundred singers, including several GVSU employees: Lindsay Ellis (English), Dana Munk (Sport Management), and Kel Nemetz (CLAS Dean’s Office). This event is free with donations accepted at the door.

Together, these faculty and staff will bring Pauli Murray’s enduring message of justice, equality, and resilience to life!

Pauli Murray's legal arguments influenced the desegregation of US schools, the Voting Rights Act, and the inclusion of women in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition, Pauli Murray coined the term "Jane Crow" to draw attention to the discrimination of black women that persisted after the Jim Crow laws in the South were overturned. Murray's legal writing, poetry, and sermons later in life established an understanding of intersectional identities. As an activist citizen throughout their life, Murray used letters to President and Eleanor Roosevelt, legal papers, poetry, and sermons to advocate for social justice. S/he wrote: "One person plus one typewriter constitutes a movement.” Come be inspired!

Upcoming Events/Tickets Sincerely Yours, Pauli MurrayAn American Dramatic Cantata March 21, 2026 Buy Livestream Pass Now! The highlight of our 30th season will be the Michigan premiere of a commission titled Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray on March 21, 2026 at Fountain Street Church. A gripping 10-mov...

03/05/2026

Professor Pengtong Qu's ENG 201 students led Zinser Elementary's students through a variety of literacy activities at Literacy Night! It was a great opportunity for these future teachers to work with students and make literacy fun. We're so grateful for the community partnerships that bring GVSU students and local elementary schools together.

12/05/2025

We've made it to our favorite day of the semester - English Capstone Conference Day! Best wishes to all of our ENG 495 students as they present at the conference today. 💙⚓

09/17/2025

Updates from the Study Abroad Fair! 👋

Don't miss the chance to chat with Professor Amy Masko about the opportunity to study abroad in Ghana!

Professor Colleen Brice is also on hand to answer questions about the chance to work with Dutch students in Maastricht, the Netherlands next summer.

Both programs are excellent opportunities for PCKET and Secondary English Education students.

Stop by the Grand River Room in Kirkhof until 3:00pm today to get all your questions answered. 🌍📚✈️ 🇬🇭 🇳🇱

09/17/2025

📢 Reminder! The Study Abroad Fair is TODAY! 📢

Be sure to stop by the Grand River Room in the Kirkhof Center (Room 2250) between 10a-3p for more information about some incredible opportunites to expand your worldview and learn about another culture. The English Department offers two study abroad opportunities for English Education students (PCKET and Secondary Education). Don't miss the chance to study in the Netherlands or in Ghana! 🗺️✈️📚

08/25/2025

Wishing you a great start to a new academic year, Lakers! ⚓💙

04/22/2025

Did you know... 🤔 William Shakespeare was born on April 23 and he also died on April 23?

Since tomorrow is April 23, Professor Rachel Anderson and Professor Dan Knapper decided to throw Shakespeare a birthday party! Stop by the second floor of Lake Huron Hall from 1p-3p for some cake to celebrate! It's a great excuse to take a break from the craziness of exam week 🎂 💙⚓