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Dear Alumni and Friends,
Recently, while doing some decluttering in my house, I found an old high school textbook called Reflections in Literature. Around the same time, I reviewed a book in which the author described literature “as a form of reflective thinking.” While we teach and practice many kinds of thinking in the Department of English—analytical, critical, integrative, systematic among them—providing space for reflection continues to be core to our mission.
As department chair, I see reflective thinking in action on a daily basis, and not just in books. In one recent week, for instance, I heard visiting writer and MFA alum Yona Harvey reflect on the sonnet form as a creative practice and the student cast and crew in Lord Denney’s Players reflect on how performing Shakespeare changed their understanding of language, audience and community. I also listened to a graduate student reflect on her research methods and a transfer student talk about how his English courses had made him see that there is more than one way to see the world. These are moments I cherish.
This issue of the newsletter highlights other examples of reflective thinking in action. Our story about the department’s implementation of the new General Education curriculum, for instance, describes the “bookend” courses that encourage students to reflect on their learning as well as the design process that faculty used in creating new courses. The story about Matthew Moore’s play What I Didn’t Say highlights the ways in which reflecting on chronic illness through playwriting can help bridge communication gaps among patients, caregivers and physicians. The roundup on current faculty and alumni studying and writing about Appalachia describes how reflecting on place can lead to new insights.
This issue’s alumni spotlight features reflections from three alums about how the English major has affected their lives and careers. We are so grateful to them and others of you who have shared your English story and encourage others to do so.
I wish all of you happy and healthy holidays. May this season of celebration bring you joy as well as time for rest and reflection.
Susan Williams
Professor and Chair
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