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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND LETTERS
Dr. Sharon Colley’s outstanding work with the Writ-
Department of English ing Center in Macon typically results in approximately
The English Department at Middle Georgia State three hundred tutorial sessions per semester where
University is home to impressive majors and alumni, students from all disciplines receive assistance with
strong academic programs, and outstanding faculty. writing assignments. Dr. Shane Trayers and Dr. Benita
Muth contribute their leadership to the English Stud-
The English Department’s academic offerings in- ies Organization, which annually sponsors numerous
clude the B.A. in English, the minor in professional extracurricular activities for students.
writing, the graduate certificate in technical writing
and digital communication, and the newly approved The English Department has produced successful
Master of Arts in technical and professional writing. graduates, including three attorneys, three students
pursuing a Ph.D. in English, teachers in secondary
In 2018-2019 the department celebrated the first education (regionally, nationally, and abroad), col-
three graduates of the graduate certificate in techni- lege-level instructors, librarians, editors, bookstore
cal writing and digital communication, the first four managers, professional writers, tutors, translators,
graduates earning the minor in professional writing, and business managers, to name just a few.
and fifteen excellent senior capstone projects led by
Dr. Chip Rogers and Dr. Chris Cairney. For the second In terms of faculty achievement, English facul-
time in three years, Macon English capstone students ty members have been busy with projects of their
participated in the LEAP Initiative (Liberal Education own this year. Dr. Monica Miller was named Gover-
and America’s Promise) at the top-tier “signature” nor’s Teaching Fellow for 2018-2019. Ms. Lou Bell was
level. selected as a Core Teaching Fellow and went on to
serve as mentor for fellow English faculty member Dr.
Dr. Monica Miller led her students in Advanced Keith Hamon; both participated in the LEAP initiative
Professional Writing to partner with Macon’s Tubman in designing a project for their courses. Dr. Lorraine
Museum, engaging in a semester-long research proj- Dubuisson started the ongoing Knight Writers camp,
ect that culminated in two substantial “white papers” which brings local high school English students to our
offering recommendations for improving accessi- campus for a day of fun and informative writing activ-
bility and efficiency and raising the museum’s pub- ities to help prepare them for college.
lic profile. Dr. Cairney regularly takes English senior
capstone students to the South Atlantic Modern Lan- Dr. Amy Berke, Chair of English, and Chris Cairney,
guage Association meetings to facilitate their partici- Assistant Chair of English, were tapped to serve as
pation in the Undergraduate Research Forum. English Provost Fellows this year. Dr. Crystal O’Leary-David-
majors annually present papers at MGA’s Undergrad- son piloted a section of American Literature in which
uate Conference, co-organized by Dr. Shane Trayers reading and coursework supported students direct-
and supported by many English faculty members. ly in their engagement with Reacting to the Past, a
38 mga.edu | finding greatness
