KU Department of English

09/03/2026

Professor Sean Kamperman and his ENGL 381: Writing for Nonprofits students working with Bert Nash this fall!

This fall, KU Department of English students in ENGL 381: Writing for Nonprofits will put their classroom learning into action by developing real-world communication strategies, donor-facing materials, and awareness campaign concepts for nonprofit work.

We are excited that the BNC Community Engagement team will serve as the course case study, giving students a meaningful opportunity to learn from our mission while offering fresh ideas and creative insights that can support and strengthen BNC’s community impact.

09/03/2026

The Department is excited to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown to KU.

Join us for the John F. Eberhardt Memorial Lecture, “Love Poems No Matter What!” on Monday, September 28 at 7 p.m. at the Hall Center Conference Hall.
Brown is the author of The Tradition, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, and a professor and director of the Creative Writing Program at Emory University.
The Raven Book Store will be on site selling books.

This event is co-sponsored by KU English and the Hall Center for the Humanities.
Learn more at the link in our bio.

09/03/2026

Congratulations to alum Rebekah Taussig, PhD! Taussig co-wrote the adapted screenplay for Being Heumann, a film based on the true story of Judith Huemann's fight for accessibility laws and equal rights. The film is premiering as the opening film at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10th, in select theaters November 6, and streaming November 13 on Apple TV.

You can find more information about Being Heumann along with a trailer here:

09/02/2026

Interested in studying abroad? 📚🌴

There is still time to apply for the winter 2027 Costa Rica Travel Writing study abroad program! The deadline is September 13th.

To apply or learn more about the program, visit the following link:
https://studyabroad.ku.edu/travel-writing-and-costa-rica

09/01/2026

doctoral candidate Abisola Akínsìkù is featured in KU News for her research on gender and power dynamics in New Nollywood Epics.

Her article "Power Dynamics: Women in New Nollywood Epics" uses feminism as a conceptual lens to interrogate how female characters are portrayed in this burgeoning industry. The article also appears in the journal African Studies.

To read more about Akínsìkù's research visit the following link:
https://news.ku.edu/news/article/nollywood-film-industry-still-tethered-to-patriarchal-stereotypes-despite-progress-of-female-characters-expert-says

08/31/2026

professor Darren Canady has been featured in the 2026 issue of Guide to Lawrence for Locals & Visitors! Professor Canady's interview features his favorite places to go and things to do in Lawrence. This article, along with the entirety of the guide, can be found at the following link:

https://issuu.com/sunflower_publishing/docs/guide_to_lawrence_for_locals_visitors_2026/48

(Professor Canady's interview can be found on page 47)

08/31/2026

LOCATION HAS CHANGED!! Due to the heat, tomorrow's English Majors Welcome is moving indoors to Watson 3 West. Same time, same trivia, now with air conditioning!

Welcome back majors! Mark your calendars for our Majors Welcome event on Tuesday 9/1. Drop by Watson 3 West in Watson Library for some treats and community with fellow English majors, faculty, and staff (+swag giveaways!) This event is open to current or prospective English majors. We hope to see you there!

08/28/2026

REMINDER!! The English Majors Welcome event is on Tuesday!

Welcome back majors. Mark your calendars for our Majors Welcome Event on Tuesday 9/1. Drop by Stauffer-Flint Lawn for some treats and community with fellow English majors, faculty and staff (+swag giveaways!)

08/25/2026

The Linguistics Department at KU is hosting an event highlighting research concerning West Africa. Graduate students of any discipline are invited to submit their research for a chance to share their work with their colleagues!

To learn more about the event, scan the QR code or visit the following link:
https://sites.google.com/view/kwsku2026/home

Any research abstracts should be submitted to [email protected]

08/18/2026

Welcome back, majors 🏫
We hope you had a restful summer and we look forward to another year of supporting you! Mark your calendars for our Majors Welcome event on Tuesday 9/1. Drop by Stauffer-Flint Lawn for some treats and community with fellow English majors, faculty, and staff (+ swag giveaways!)