Middle Georgia State Department of English

10/08/2026

Please join us for ESO’s Annual Mystery Theater, Thursday, October 22nd at 6pm in the Math Auditorium on the Macon campus. This event is open to the public. Tickets are $5 or more donated to Macon Periods Easier: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/eso-gives-sweet-catastrophe

Show your donation at the door for admission. Macon Periods Easier does so much for our community, and we'd like to help them continue to do so, so please consider donating and getting a one-night only, student written, directed, and "acted" show in return! We hope to see you there!

09/17/2026

The Belle of Amherst, a play about the life of poet Emily Dickinson, will be playing on Macon campus tomorrow, Friday, September 18, in the SOAL theatre, 7 pm. Don’t miss this exciting production directed by Dr. John Iverson and starring Dr. Mary Christian, Associate Professor of English, as Dickinson!

09/08/2026

Join us at the Macon Campus Writing Center for Grammarpalooza on Wednesday, September 16 from 12:30-2:30!!

08/24/2026

Welcome back to Engagement Party, the newsletter companion to the pop culture podcast hosted by BFFs Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro. This week, the A-Team dug into RushTok and the creeping influence of Southern culture. (Click here to watch or listen!) I asked an expert why so many people enjoy cospl...

07/30/2026

Theatre at MGA on the Cochran Campus presents "The Belle of Amherst" by William Luce, a captivating one-woman play about the life of legendary American poet Emily Dickinson. The production features Dr. Mary Christian, associate professor of English, performing in the title role and is directed by Dr. John Iverson, theater instructor. 🎭

This should be a compelling evening of live theater celebrating Dickinson's brilliant and enigmatic life. Free & open to the public!
Questions: [email protected]

07/28/2026

Way to go, Amy!

The Bibb County educator credits a janitor’s words 25 years ago as a driving force throughout her career: “He told me, ‘You’re a good teacher. One day we’re going to see you recognized as the teacher of the year.’”

07/24/2026

Congratulations to Amy Gitschlag, Bibb County School District's Teacher of the Year! Amy completed MGA's Graduate Certificate in Teaching College Writing, which credentials instructors to teach college composition, in 2024. More information on this program can be found at https://www.mga.edu/arts-letters/english/graduate-programs/teaching-college-writing-gradute-certificate.php Way to go, Amy!

Amy Gitschlag was named Teacher of the Year for Bibb County School District, recognizing her 26-year dedication to education.

05/05/2026

Congratulations to English major Scarlett Grush!

Finding Greatness: Scarlett Grush, an English major & pre-law student, delivered a standout performance at the recent Regents Cup debate competition, hosted by the University System of Georgia. She went undefeated in the preliminary rounds, earned “Top Speaker” honors, & took home a $1,000 scholarship. ⭐

Read her profile: https://www.mga.edu/news/2026/05/middle-georgia-state-university-finding-greatness-scarlett-grush.php

05/01/2026

Nine years ago today, we celebrated the retirement of Dr. Thom Harrison, Professor of English.

Dr. Harrison loved, and published on, John Keats's "To Autumn," which ends:

Where are the songs of spring? Ay, Where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

(Pictured here with his fellow twittering swallows.)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CagDDXdCv/

05/01/2026

Eight student contributors to this year’s issue of Knighted: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Undergraduate Research presented their work at the journal’s release reception on April 30. Congratulations to Sabrina Tingle, Alexis Monroy, Jada Aldana, Shauna Ayers, Reema Bhaskar, Nicolas Hodges, Sarah Ruuth, and Abbi Adams on their outstanding presentations!