Kansas State English Department

09/04/2026

"I can now confidently live my librarian life by day and my writer life by night. Grateful doesn't even begin to cover it": Heather Etelamaki (BA ’12, MA ’15) shares her experience of the M.A. degree in English at K-State --

Heather Etelamaki (BA ’12, MA ’15) When I started in the English graduate program for creative writing in 2013, I knew I wanted to be a writer and also have a career separate from writi…

09/02/2026

Save the date! Poetry reading and artist talk by Lisa Olstein on Thurs Sept 10, 5:30pm, at the Beach Museum of Art. More information at https://events.k-state.edu/event/artist-talk-poetry-reading-lisa-olstein --

09/02/2026

"But why failure? Why should this be a useful or interesting means to gain entrance to these poems?": D. Kimball Smith offers insight through his new book _Strategies of Failure in the Early Modern Sonnet_ --

Cover for D. Kimball Smith’s recent book Strategies of Failure in the Early Modern Sonnet (Routledge, 2026) Too many years ago I was speaking to a colleague about a book I was thinking about …

08/28/2026

Area of study? Favorite literary character? Best source of joy this summer? Meet the new grad students joining us this year!

Our new graduate students come from across Kansas, the Midwest, and the world. We’re so glad they’re here. Name: Ellie DonohoeHometown: Tipton, IowaAlma mater: Wartburg CollegePlea…

08/26/2026

Enjoy a preview of upcoming events this fall -- join us!

From “Kansas Fall Color Parade” (Photo: Dr. Megan Kennelly) The Fall 2026 semester is underway — and we’re looking forward to some great events ahead! This semester, several of our even…

08/22/2026

Many thanks to SAGE for co-sponsoring our annual Welcome Back Party for faculty and graduate students -- and thanks to the College of Architecture, Planning, and Design for sharing the Ekdahl Room as our location for the event!

08/22/2026

We had a great time welcoming some of our 14 new English majors to the department and K-State during today's K-State College of Arts and Sciences Welcome -- and our thanks to seniors Jaidyn, Kate, and Emma for offering expert English major advice!

08/12/2026

Good morning from the ECS Building and to our new GTAs and term instructors who join us for the first full day of orientation -- welcome!

08/07/2026

Congratulations to Faezeh Rostami (MA '26) on a successful defense of her MA project on _Black Mirror_ -- and thanks to faculty mentors Cameron Leader-Picone, Phil Nel, and Karin Westman!

07/28/2026

Congratulations to Kenan Orhan (BA '14)! His debut novel, _The Renovation_, is long-listed for the 2026 Booker Prize. Read more at https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-renovation --

The Renovation is a heartbreaking portrait of one family caught in the tides of history, grappling with grief, exile, politics and the painful absurdity of love