English Department
What We Do
The English Department at Utica University helps students develop an understanding of the relationship between English and the diverse cultural traditions around the world through the study of literature, the history and structure of the English language, and various aspects of writing.
Office Location
112 DePerno Hall
Utica University offers a major in English, and minors in creative writing, English language, and literature. Students can also take classes toward fulfilling the requirements of the education program, while earning their degree in English.
Programs
Major:
English majors study the great heritage of the English-speaking peoples in a comprehensive and varied program that includes literature, the history and structure of the English language, and various aspects of writing. The English Department at Utica University helps students develop an understanding of the relationship between English and the diverse cultural traditions around the world through the study of literature, the history and structure of the English language, and various aspects of writing. Students gain cultural understanding, communication skills, and experience in scholarship, and are therefore prepared to teach, do graduate work, or enter any occupation that requires critical thinking, good writing, and a broad perspective.
The Utica University English major is distinctive in the flexibility it offers students. The major is designed to provide a broad base of study in English language literature as well as an opportunity to learn about language and world literature. Students may then extend and deepen their experience with English studies by using their elective options to explore writing, literature, or language in more detail.
The Literature Society was formed as the Harold Frederic English Society in the fall semester of 1999 to offer students both inside and outside the English major the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the literary and creative life of the University. It was originally named in honor of the Utica native and noted nineteenth-century American novelist who chronicled the city's religious and ethnic groups at the turn of the century in his acclaimed novel The Damnation of Theron Ware. Dr. Ane Ribeiro Costa, assistant professor of English, is the club's faculty advisor.
In the past, the Society has hosted at Halloween a "Scary Poetry Reading" in which members of the club, the University community read their favorite frightening verse by authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Browning. The Society was also influential raising funds to buy books for the Breakfast Reading Club, a reading program for young children at Kernan Elementary School in West Utica.
The Literature Society hosts creative writing workshops, open mics, and does community service around literacy. Meetings are bi-weekly.
Those interested in participating should contact Professor Ane Ribeiro Costa at anribeir@utica.edu.
Sigma Tau Delta, founded in 1924, is the international English honors society. There are more than 870 active chapters worldwide, and roughly 9,000 new members are selected to be inducted every year.
At Utica University, the English faculty members select Utica's newest inductees, who are awarded their membership during the Spring party. In addition to being selected by the faculty, members must also have taken at least two upper-level English courses, and have earned a 3.0 grade point average or higher.
Membership Requirements
For induction into the Utica University chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honors society, the English Department's criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Completion of two college courses in English language or literature beyond freshman courses (i.e., beyond those at the 100-level).
- A minimum 3.5 GPA in English and Literature courses, and a 3.0 GPA overall.
- Completion of 3 semesters of college course work, 2 at Utica University.
- Good character demonstrated through consistent adherence to the principles of academic honesty and professional behavior as defined in the Utica University Student Code of Conduct.
To learn more about Sigma Tau Delta, please visit http://www.english.org/sigmatd/
About Ampersand
Ampersand is published annually each spring semester by an all student staff that changes yearly. Faculty advisor, Dr. Kelly Minerva helps oversee meetings and publication of Ampersand. The magazine contains original art, poetry, short stories, and personal essays by students, recent alumni, staff, and faculty at Utica University. The editorial staff ask for submissions from the Utica University community every fall semester. The staff reviews submissions and chooses what makes it to publication through multiple readings and discussions. Submitters are notified via email if their work has been accepted for publication. Submissions can be sent to amerpsand@utica.edu. Students interested in working on the magazine can contact Dr. Minerva: kaminerv@utica.edu.
Current Issue
Ampersand 2024
Editorial Staff: Elijah Wilson, Editor in Chief; Troy Fluks; Isabella Dienhoffer; Norah Spencer; Jillian Szeliga; with additional support from Isa Hudziak and Amanda Moyer
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kelly Minerva
Vogel Award Judge: Crystal Odelle, author of Trans Studies (2025) and chapbooks editor at Newfound
Back Issues
Ampersand 2023
Editorial Staff: Isa Hudziak, Jasmine Sonia, Selma Dizdarević
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Gary Leising
Vogel Award Judge: Kristin Czarnecki, Gallery Coordinator at the Rockport Art Association & Museum in Rockport, MA, and author of The First Kristin: The Story of a Naming and Encounters with Inscriptions: a Memoir
Ampersand 2022
Editorial Staff: Isabella Hudziak and Anabella Rossi
Faculty Advisor 2022: Dr. Kelly Minerva
Faculty Advisor 2022-2023: Dr. Gary Leising
Vogel Award Judge: Molly McCaffrey, award-winning author of You Belong to Us (memoir), How to Survive Graduate School & Other Disasters, and The Chaperone (forthcoming in 2023)
Issue Contributors: Dylan Bennett-Thompson, Elizabeth Elow, Isa Hudziak, Alma Jasencic, Kayden L., Megan Nolan, Olivia Nole-Malpezzi, Danae Rivera, Kim Robson, Anabella Rossi, Haley Simon, Jasmine Sonia, Leola Beck, Hollie David, Gabriella Hudziak, Dr. Jeff Miller, C.B. Buckwild, and Conor Hennessy
Ampersand 2021
Editorial Staff: Gabriella Hudziak, Isabella Hudziak, Anabella Rossi
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Gary Leising
Vogel Award Judge: Sara Burge, Missouri State University, Poetry Editor for Moon City Review
Issue Contributors: Kaitlyn Egan, Elizabeth Elow, Rebekah Hedeen, Gabriella Hudziak, Isabella Hudziak, Dr. Jeff Miller, Megan Nolan, Kyle Riecker, Danae Rivera, Anabella Rossi, Emmalyn Ylaya
Ampersand 2020
Editorial Staff: Skylar Harwick, Hallie Hoffman, Gabriella Hudziak, Zhane McKnight, Alexis Orr
Layout: Kyle Riecker
Faculty Advisor: Suzanne Richardson
Vogel Award Judge: Dasan Ahanu, UNC - Chapel Hill, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Black Poetry Theatre, Durham, NC
Issue Contributors: Frank Bianco, Kylie Burger, Nichole Delaney, Patrick Donnelly, Daniela Hannah, Olivia Harwick, Skylar Harwick, Abbie Hei, Gabriella Hudziak, Alma Jasencic, Emily Joss, Dr. Jeff Miller, Brittney L. Nowack, Alexis Orr, Chris Restivo, Danae Rivera, Liam Rodgers, Kaitlyn Tambasco, Emmalyn Ylaya
Ampersand 2014
Editorial Staff: David Eves, Taylor, Banovic, Corrie Clements, Courteney Klepfer, Calie Taranto, Lynsie Ferguson
Cover Art: Kyle D. Riecker
Vogel Award Judge: Melissa Johnson, Virginia Commonwealth University
Issue Contributors: Rose Zaloom, Corrie Clements, Michael Cottle, Kimberly Hughes, Sean Feener, Brian Mazurowski, Calie Taranto, Breana Griffin, Jade Jenkins, David Eves, Lynsie Ferguson, Raheem Lawrence, Courney Fol, Nicolle Szalkowski, Alaina LaMarco, Laura Haggerty, Natalie Berkheimer
Vogel Award Winners: Sean Feener, David Eves, Rose Zaloom, Nicolle Szalkowski
Ampersand 2013
Editorial Staff: Jenn Strife, Steph Bailey, Brandy Miller, Ashley Dunham
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Lis Orr
Cover Art: John Paul Gardner
Vogel Award Judge: Casandra Lopez, North Seattle College
Contributors: John Paul Gardner, April McHugh, Erica Ciko, S.A. Feener, Christina F. Bono, Jenn Strife, Anthony Gorrea, Amanda Marsh, Julie Wittemore, Rose Zaloom, Brandy Miller, Dana Sherman, Steph Bailey, Matty Kriston Campos
The Professor Harry F. and Mary Ruth Jackson Lunch Hour Series presents musical and literary programs each semester. All programs are free of charge and are open to students, faculty, staff, and the public. It is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
Sponsored by the Utica University Social Cultural Committee, programs begin at 12:30 p.m.
- Musical performances are held in the Library Concourse.
- Literary readings are held in MacFarlane Auditorium in DePerno Hall, unless otherwise noted.
Learn more:
A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in the previous year by a resident of upstate New York. The winner will also give a reading and teach a master class at Utica University.
Interviews and discussions with writers, poets, and creatives of all sorts, bringing ideas to life with their words!
Ida C. Millett Scholarship
This scholarship was established by James T. Millett, M.S., John F. Millett, D.D.S., and Robert W. Millett, Ph.D. in honor of their mother, Ida C. Millett. Candidates must have declared a major and/or minor area of study from the academic discipline of English. To be eligible for consideration, candidates must have attained a 3.0 or higher average in a minimum of six courses in their major and/or minor.
The Grace and Arthur Perlmutter Scholarship Fund
Established in honor of his parents, Grace and Arthur Perlmutter, the fund shall be awarded upon the recommendation of the chair of the English department and in consultation with Mr. Walter M. Perlmutter ’50 or his designee(s), to a student who is majoring in English and has a strong interest or aptitude in either creative writing or American literature or both. The recipient of the fund must be a second, third, or fourth year student, must have a demonstrated financial need, and must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
Joseph Vogel Award for Poetry and Joseph Vogel Award for Fiction
Established by the late author Joseph Vogel, these awards are given to students for outstanding work in poetry and in fiction. Winners are published in Ampersand. Each year a guest judge outside of Utica University is chosen.
The faculty of the English department publishes The Spectator on a semi-annual basis. We write on annual events, publish faculty writing, and showcase student awards. We welcome submissions from alumni/alumnae.
Contact Us
Kelly A. Minerva
Kelly A. Minerva
English Department Chair
(315) 792-2305
English Department Faculty & Staff
- Professor of English
- Dean-Humanities/Social Science and Professor of English
- Assistant Professor of English
- Distinguished Professor of English
- Associate Professor of English
- Associate Professor of English
- Professor of English
- Assistant Professor of English
- Associate Professor of English
- Adjunct Lecturer of English
- Adjunct Lecturer of English
- Adjunct Lecturer of English
- Adjunct Instructor of English
- Adjunct Instructor of English
Resources for English Majors and Writers
What's the next step? Where do you take things from here? The English Department at Utica University is here to help you along the way, with resources to guide you through choices about graduate school, publishing, and more.
Are you looking to submit your writing or research for publication? Below is a list of national journals that accept creative and critical works from undergraduate student writers and researchers. Be sure to check the submission guidelines to see if your work will fit the journal's mission.
The Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review
PUR accepts undergraduate research, of at least 10 pages, from a variety of disciplines on a rolling basis. Their mission is very simply to advance undergraduate scholarship. Check them out here!
The Blue Route
The Blue Route: A National Literary Journal for Undergraduate Writes publishes poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction. Each submission is read and discussed "blindly" (as in the writer's name and gender is removed from the work) in order to evaluate the writing fairly. Contributors are awarded $25 for accepted work. Check them out here!
Young Scholars In Writing
Young Scholars in Writing: Undergraduate Research in Writing and Rhetoric believes that undergraduates should have opportunities to share their research on writing and rhetoric with a wide audience, and invites all undergraduate researchers to submit their work! They publish "research and theoretical articles from undergraduates on writing, writers, rhetoric, discourse, language, and related topics." Check them out here!
The Oswald Review
The Oswald Review publishes undergraduate student research and criticism in the field of English. Submissions should be between 10-25 pages long, and a faculty member's endorsement is required. Published annually, the deadline is always March 31st. Check them out here!
Queen City Writers
QCW publishes undergraduate writing that wrestles with issues related to reading, writing, teaching, and popular culture. They have six submissions categories that include book reviews, research essays, short responses to already published works in QCR, or interviews with other undergraduate writers. They also have a category dedicated entirely to first-year college writers called "Storming the Gate." Check them out here!
Outrageous Fortune
The first online literary journal created by and for undergraduate students. They publish fiction, poetry, non-fiction essays, short stories, plays, photography/art work, and chapters of novels. They do not accept sexual imagery or allusions to exploitation. Check them out here!
MA versus PhD
What are the pros and cons to pursuing a Master's or PhD?
Checklist
Although program requirements do vary, below is a basic list and description of graduate application requirements.
Timeline
Give yourself time. Start thinking about and researching grad school opportunities early - - approximately one year prior to graduation.
The GRE
Almost all graduate programs in English require students to take a standardized test, called the GRE, in order to be considered for admission.
Budgeting
Unfortunately, applying to graduate school is not cheap. Do not be surprised by the application items that will quickly add up.
Professors Richardson and Selvick are always looking for new bloggers!
If you would like to write a book review, cover a campus event, submit photographs, offer advice to incoming or transfer students, or have other ideas for UC English Corner contributions, please reach out to their contact information below.
Stephanie Selvick:smselvic@utica.edu
Suzanne Richardson: srrichar@utica.edu
The Basics
A Curriculum Vitae is a document that lists your education and professional accomplishments, typically with an academic audience in mind (so, for instance, when you are applying to graduate schools). A Resume is a document that lists your education and work experience, typically with a professional audience in mind.
Length
The biggest difference between these documents is length. A resume is often limited to one page, and can easily be scanned during a brief interview. A CV, in contrast, can run 3-4 pages at minimum.
Content
Since a CV is geared toward academics, your education, publications, awards, and honors will be most highlighted. This is then followed by relevent professional experiences, such as working as an academic tutor or in the writing center. It might then list groups that you are a member of, as well as references.
A resume will emphasize the most relevant work and internship experiences that you have that pertain to the job for which you are applying. You will often list your education, skills, job and internship experience, and sometimes references.
Tips
Keep a running list of your collegiate accomplishments. Did you give a reading on or off campus? Was your writing accepted for publication in Ampersand or elsewhere? Do you hold leadership positions in relevant student or community organizations? All of these scholastic accomplishments can be used to emphasize your readiness for a job in a related field, internship, or graduate school.
Examples
To scan through some great examples, look at Purdue OWL.
I would like to see logins and resources for:
For a general list of frequently used logins, you can also visit our logins page.