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Important Dates

Final exams: May 8-14
English & Creative Writing Convocation: Saturday, May 16
Grades available to view in Self-Service: Saturday, May 23

Resource of the Week: Finding Instructor Information Amid the Canvas Outage

If you are having trouble finding contact information for your instructor because of the Canvas outage, you can use the following resources to find instructor names and/or contact information:

English & Creative Writing Convocation Information and Ticket Pick-Up

Are you graduating this May or August and planning to participate in a ceremony? Check out the English Department Convocation site and the Commencement website for information, useful links, and contact information.

Those of you who are registered for the English & Creative Writing Convocation ceremony should have received our recent email about ticket collection, reproduced here:

Ticketing Information
Please complete a short exit survey about your experiences in the department BEFORE you pick up your tickets. Only the aggregate results will be distributed to the department for assessment purposes; individual participants will not be identified. Each undergraduate who completes the survey before May 14 (and chooses to share their netID) will be entered into a random prize drawing, and five lucky winners will be chosen to receive a $10 gift card. If you are a double major, you may complete both surveys but will only be entered into the drawing once.

Senior Exit Survey for Creative Writing Majors

Senior Exit Survey for English Majors

Pick up your tickets in Room 200 of the English Building now until May 14 (hours for pick-up are 9 to noon and 1 to 4). Please budget at least 10 minutes for the pick-up because you will need to fill out your reader card at the same time (this card ensures that your name is read correctly as you cross the stage).

If you are out of town or cannot come to the office in person for any reason, then your guests may pick up their tickets at the Will Call booth in Smith Hall when they arrive for the ceremony (doors open at 4pm). In that case you will fill out your reader card when you check in for the ceremony at 4pm but we will be reaching out ahead of time to get clarification about pronunciation of your name (we give our readers an annotated guide ahead of time to minimize the chance of mistakes).

Finals Free Group Fitness Week

ESA Newsletter: April 2026

Illinois Student Council Academic Advisor Feedback Survey

Courses to Consider for Fall 2026

EPSY 218: College Student Mental Health
Social & Behavioral Science Gen Ed
Interested in understanding why mental health challenges are so common during the college years and what science tells us about them? Curious how stress, relationships, identity, and culture shape psychological wellbeing? Join us next semester and register for EPSY 218: College Student Mental Health. We will explore topics such as anxiety, depression, substance use, relationships, and resilience in college students through the lens of behavioral science. You’ll learn how researchers study mental health and, importantly, how to apply that knowledge, whether it’s recognizing patterns in yourself or others, understanding when and how to seek help, or making informed decisions that support wellbeing in everyday life.

DTX 180: Exercising Empathy
Social & Behavioral Science Gen Ed
Emphasizes the role that empathy can play in everything we do. Understanding empathy throughout our lives enables us to live a full and intentional life. How do we become compassionate people? When we approach trying to solve problems in our world, how do we ensure that we consider others, their perspectives and their needs? This course will provide students with a foundational understanding of empathy and engage them in empathic practices such as observation, interaction, and perspective taking. This course builds one of the most essential career skills: understanding people. Practical, relevant, and impactful across any field.

DTX 495: Special Topics in Design Thinking – Student-Centered App Design
Student-Centered App Design is an 8-week, project-based course that focuses on using Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles to examine the needs of students at the University of Illinois and reimagine a student-centered app experience. During this course, you will work in teams to identify opportunities, brainstorm ideas, create wireframes, test prototypes, and refine your app concepts. By the end of the course, you will develop a more thorough understanding of HCD methodologies and gain iterative experience in app design, preparing you for future projects in the field. Students from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to enroll, as no prior programming or design experience is required

CW 202: Topics in Creative Writing, Section R – Screenwriting Workshop
Back by popular demand this fall is this great screenwriting workshop! Explore the art of visual storytelling for the silver screen. This course guides you through traditional screenwriting techniques while applying the fundamentals of narrative to the craft of the short film script. You will develop an original concept, participate in collaborative workshops, and learn how to pitch your project to meet industry standards. By the end of the semester, you will have a completed script and a plan for festival submission.

CW 208: Creative Nonfiction Workshop
Introduction to a variety of types of nonfiction prose, including the personal essay, memoir, literary journalism, and historical writing. Relocated! This may now be more convenient so take another look and see if it works in your schedule.

ATLAS Internships for Summer and Fall!

Part-Time Job on Campus: Social Media Student Worker

The Communications Office at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is seeking a social media student worker to assist in writing, editing and posting social media posts to promote Beckman research and events. The intern will work with communications team members to create and implement social media strategies, brainstorm engaging campaigns for our various audiences develop and post content and collect analytics. A major part of this position will be to build up the Beckman Institute’s presence on BlueSky and Threads.
If you’re a detail-oriented and thoughtful communicator who wants to use your talents in various mediums, this will be a great employment opportunity for you. 

Primary duties:

• Draft content for social media, including reels, stories and posts for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky and Threads.
• Maintain social media engagement on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, and build up the Beckman Institute’s social media presence on BlueSky and Threads.
• Collect and compile social media analytics that generate insights to improve our social media strategy.
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferred skills:

• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills.
• Knowledge of the different social media platforms and the audiences they cater to.
• Experience with/interest in graphic design platforms such as Adobe Creative Suite and Canva.
• Experience managing professional social media accounts (preferably for an organization or institution).
• Capable of generating creative, innovative and engaging ideas to enhance social media content.
• Well-organized and detail oriented.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently toward set goals and deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively, thoughtfully and efficiently with team members.

Hours
This is a paid position requiring 10 hours of work per week at $15/hour, with a set schedule that can be flexible to accommodate coursework. The work will often require in-person presence to document events and engage with researchers, as well as attend in-person meetings, but hours are flexible. The position begins no later than summer 2026 (preferably June, though the start date is flexible) with the possible opportunity for renewal into the fall 2026 semester. While this is a student worker position, it can be converted into an internship.

To apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and two to three samples of professional social media posts (preferably illustrating how to engage with audiences on different platforms) to Alejandra Pires at pires2@illinois.edu. The deadline is 11:59 PM on May 15.

Part-Time Job on Campus: Student Science Writer

The Communications Office at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is seeking a student writer to cover news, research and announcements for the Beckman website and other media as necessary. 

Job description
The primary duties for the student science writer position include:

• Writing news stories, press releases and features about peer-reviewed research, grant awards, Beckman faculty members and additional topics as assigned, with the goal of making complex scientific concepts understandable to lay audiences. (65%)
• Collaborating with editorial team to proofread, edit and rewrite content. (10%)
• Conducting interviews with faculty members and asking questions to understand the main ideas and significance of their work. (5%)
• Assisting with story promotion, including uploading stories to Sitefinity, Beckman’s web content management platform, as well as drafting social media copy. (5%)
• Acquiring a working knowledge of Associated Press style, Beckman’s style guide and editorial best practices. (5%)
• Identifying and pitching relevant, recent and compelling content using databases like PubMed. (5%)
• Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Skills
The ideal candidate is a reliable, proficient writer who adheres closely to deadlines, values accuracy and detail and maintains professionalism when acting on behalf of the Beckman Institute Communications Office. Candidates should be motivated, organized, able to work independently and comfortable managing multiple assignments simultaneously. Candidates must be able to arrange, conduct and record interviews with Beckman Institute students, faculty members and staff so as write articles about their research. Clear and effective communication with colleagues and supervisors is a must.

Hours
This position begins in summer 2026, preferably in June, with a possible option to continue through fall 2026. This is a paid, mostly remote, position requiring 10 hours of work per week and in-person check-ins every other week. Work schedules are flexible and may vary depending on story assignments. Deadlines are flexible to fit the worker’s schedule.

To apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume, a cover letter, and two to three personally generated (non-AI) writing samples to Alejandra Pires at pires2@illinois.edu. (Scientific manuscripts and long seminar papers are not acceptable writing samples.) Apply by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 15.

• Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
• Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
• Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Sharing News

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other triumph to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!

Resource of the Week: Summer Financial Aid Application

Taking summer courses and looking for summer financial aid? The application for summer 2026 is now available: https://secure.osfa.illinois.edu/ApplyApp/

To be eligible for summer financial aid, you must be registered to take at least 6 credit hours of summer coursework. The application is due by Friday, June 12, 2026.

Drop-In Tutoring at the Jeffries Center!

Free Weekend Films: “Wuthering Heights“

When: Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 at 7:00pm
Where: Illini Union Pine Lounge

Enjoy a free viewing of “Wuthering Heights” courtesy of the Illini Union Board! The Quad Shop will be open before the movie for you to enjoy your favorite movie candy, popcorn, and drinks.

Climaginaries & Environmental Futures: A Student Sustainability Exhibition

Business Minor Mixer

Back by popular demand, the Gies Business Minor (GBM) is hosting another GBM Mixer this spring on Monday, May 4^th, 2026 from 6-8 pm in the Business Instructional Facility (BIF). There will have GBM faculty with in attendance, refreshments, giveaways, information about the GBM and the Business Fundamental Microcredential and the opportunity to meet the new GBM Ambassadors! No RSVP or registration is needed.

Part-Time Job on Campus: Social Media Student Worker

The Communications Office at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is seeking a social media student worker to assist in writing, editing and posting social media posts to promote Beckman research and events. The intern will work with communications team members to create and implement social media strategies, brainstorm engaging campaigns for our various audiences develop and post content and collect analytics. A major part of this position will be to build up the Beckman Institute’s presence on BlueSky and Threads.
If you’re a detail-oriented and thoughtful communicator who wants to use your talents in various mediums, this will be a great employment opportunity for you. 

Primary duties:

• Draft content for social media, including reels, stories and posts for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky and Threads.
• Maintain social media engagement on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, and build up the Beckman Institute’s social media presence on BlueSky and Threads.
• Collect and compile social media analytics that generate insights to improve our social media strategy.
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferred skills:

• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills.
• Knowledge of the different social media platforms and the audiences they cater to.
• Experience with/interest in graphic design platforms such as Adobe Creative Suite and Canva.
• Experience managing professional social media accounts (preferably for an organization or institution).
• Capable of generating creative, innovative and engaging ideas to enhance social media content.
• Well-organized and detail oriented.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently toward set goals and deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively, thoughtfully and efficiently with team members.

Hours
This is a paid position requiring 10 hours of work per week at $15/hour, with a set schedule that can be flexible to accommodate coursework. The work will often require in-person presence to document events and engage with researchers, as well as attend in-person meetings, but hours are flexible. The position begins no later than summer 2026 (preferably June, though the start date is flexible) with the possible opportunity for renewal into the fall 2026 semester. While this is a student worker position, it can be converted into an internship.

To apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and two to three samples of professional social media posts (preferably illustrating how to engage with audiences on different platforms) to Alejandra Pires at pires2@illinois.edu. The deadline is 11:59 PM on May 15.

Part-Time Job on Campus: Student Science Writer

The Communications Office at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is seeking a student writer to cover news, research and announcements for the Beckman website and other media as necessary. 

Job description
The primary duties for the student science writer position include:

• Writing news stories, press releases and features about peer-reviewed research, grant awards, Beckman faculty members and additional topics as assigned, with the goal of making complex scientific concepts understandable to lay audiences. (65%)
• Collaborating with editorial team to proofread, edit and rewrite content. (10%)
• Conducting interviews with faculty members and asking questions to understand the main ideas and significance of their work. (5%)
• Assisting with story promotion, including uploading stories to Sitefinity, Beckman’s web content management platform, as well as drafting social media copy. (5%)
• Acquiring a working knowledge of Associated Press style, Beckman’s style guide and editorial best practices. (5%)
• Identifying and pitching relevant, recent and compelling content using databases like PubMed. (5%)
• Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Skills
The ideal candidate is a reliable, proficient writer who adheres closely to deadlines, values accuracy and detail and maintains professionalism when acting on behalf of the Beckman Institute Communications Office. Candidates should be motivated, organized, able to work independently and comfortable managing multiple assignments simultaneously. Candidates must be able to arrange, conduct and record interviews with Beckman Institute students, faculty members and staff so as write articles about their research. Clear and effective communication with colleagues and supervisors is a must.

Hours
This position begins in summer 2026, preferably in June, with a possible option to continue through fall 2026. This is a paid, mostly remote, position requiring 10 hours of work per week and in-person check-ins every other week. Work schedules are flexible and may vary depending on story assignments. Deadlines are flexible to fit the worker’s schedule.

To apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume, a cover letter, and two to three personally generated (non-AI) writing samples to Alejandra Pires at pires2@illinois.edu. (Scientific manuscripts and long seminar papers are not acceptable writing samples.) Apply by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 15.

ENGL 206: Enlightenment Literature & Culture
While many of you are probably familiar with key texts and figures of the American Enlightenment, this course focuses on the European, and especially, the British Enlightenment, which preceded the founding of the United States. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europe witnessed unprecedented social, economic, political, and cultural changes that collectively produced a giant leap toward the world we inhabit today. It was an age of revolution and newfound faith in the rights of the individual, though these rights were by no means extended to all. It was an age of reason, of tremendous advances in science and technology, though reason was by no means the only altar at which so-called enlightened individuals worshipped: God and sentiment remained powerful forces throughout the long eighteenth century. We will consider how the individualistic mindset that is associated with the Enlightenment was developed by some of the most significant texts of the period, and how it challenged traditional understandings of duty and humanity’s place in the world.

ENGL 360: Environmental Writing
Equips students to write about the environment for various audiences, with a focus on specific current efforts to promote sustainability on the Urbana-Champaign campus. We will practice effective techniques for each stage of the writing process-from defining topics, to gathering information, to crafting active, engaging prose. Readings will include models of effective environmental writing and “how to” pieces by experts. Research will include visits to campus sites and student-conducted interviews with subjects.

ENGL 378: Fairy Tales & Gender Formation
Discusses how femininity and gender formation are related through fairy tales. As children grow they are taught the difference between male and female roles. One of the main ways this instruction takes place is through the pleasurable media of fairy tales in books, poems, and more recently, films. Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Beauty and the Best, and the Little Mermaid, among others, will be examined to understand how sexual identity is constructed differently in different cultures, and how issues such as rape and incest are addressed within the narratives. The readings explore the ways that fairy tales work to express psychological reactions to maturation while conditioning both characters and readers to adopt specific social roles in adulthood.

• Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
• Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
• Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Sharing News

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other triumph to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!

Poetry Reading with Rita Dove

When: Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30pm
Where: Alice Campbell Alumni Center, 601 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana
Free and open to the public

April is National Poetry Month, and the you’re invited to join us for a reading and book signing with award-winning poet Rita Dove! Dove served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 1993 to 1995. Winner of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize in poetry and the 2023 honorary National Book Award, she also received the 1996 National Humanities Medal and the 2011 National Medal of Arts. With support from the Robert J. and Katherin Carr Visiting Author Series and Department of English. More at go.illinois.edu/ritadove

Please note, there will also be a lunchtime event for undergraduate students (any major) at BNAACC: Food for the Soul/Inside Scoop with Rita Dove.

Much Ado About Nothing Performance

Later this month, What You Will presents their spring play Much Ado About Nothing on April 17th and 18th in Illini Union Room 210 at 7:30 PM. Be sure to come out (and invite your friends!) to support this hardworking cast and crew for a dramatic night of Regency gossip.

2026 Creative Writing Award Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Creative Writing Awards!

Undergraduate Winners:
Lama Ghrayeb
Sabrina Longo
Erica Such
Bennett Hernandez
Sauryam Shrestha
Molly Cooper Willis
Sophia Beem

Undergraduate Honorable Mentions:
Noah Meyerhoff
Joy Dudley

Undergraduate Finalists:
Owen Anderson, Drake Facchinello, Charles Kaffer, Abigail Obradovic, Ani Skiles, Bill Waltz, Charlie Booth, Rowan Homan, Rosette Pavkov, Julia Spainhour, Kiya Williams, and Jayla Woodard

Graduate Winners:
Morgan O’Sullivan
Hollis Druhet
Andrea Giugni
Tyler Moore
Garrett Stack
Mason McVeigh

Graduate Honorable Mention:
Jess Quintero

Unfinished Revolutions: Living Stories of American Rights Exhibit

Where: Spurlock Museum
When: March 14-November 8, 2026

Unfinished Revolutions: Living Stories of American Rights explores the bold promises of liberty, equality, and justice the United States was founded on. But the path toward fulfilling those ideals has been anything but straightforward. Our exhibit theme of unfinished revolutions explores the ongoing struggle to define and expand the meaning of freedom in America. From the Revolutionary era to today, individuals and communities have challenged injustice and demanded change—through protest and litigation, war and grassroots organizing, formal politics and everyday resistance.

This exhibit is multivocal. The objects vary, and the people interpreting and reflecting on them are diverse in view, experience, expertise, and background. These ideas will weave through the text created by many different contributors, interpreting objects from Spurlock’s collections and across campus.

PR Internship with Walker Sands

PR interns are responsible for developing media lists, conceptualizing and executing pitches, coordinating media opportunities, writing press releases and other deliverables, preparing media briefing materials, conducting research, and drafting speaking and awards submissions, among other tasks. For more information see this page.

Key Details

• This is a 12-week paid, 40-hour per week internship that will begin on May 26, 2026.
• Candidates for this internship must be eligible for full-time employment upon completion of the program. Students who will remain enrolled in a full-time academic program in the semester immediately following the internship (e.g., college sophomores or juniors continuing their undergraduate education) are not eligible to apply. While full-time employment at Walker Sands is not guaranteed for interns, offers may be extended based on individual performance and the availability of open roles at the agency.
• All PR internship candidate finalists must complete a writing test.

Registration time is upon us again! Time tickets (which tell you when you can start registering for summer and/or fall) will be available for you to view this Monday, March 30th. Summer and Fall 2026 courses are now available to view on Course Explorer.

Continuing students are not required to meet with us (unless they are on academic warning) but we certainly recommend that you check in one way or another; email is fine for quick questions or confirmation of your plans, but longer conversations are best had in real time either in person or over zoom.  To schedule an appointment please call 217-333-4346 during the hours 8:30am-noon or 1:00-4:00pm. Remember that we are very busy during the registration period so please don’t wait until your time ticket opens up and then send an email demanding an immediate reply. Plan ahead!

How to Request an English Honors Seminar

If you would like to sign up for an English honors course in the fall, please email the English Advising Office at englishadvising@illinois.edu (include your full name and UIN) and let us know which seminar you hope to take this fall, including the title/topic and the CRN.  You’ll find descriptions of the courses and the CRN in Course Explorer.  Please allow one week to get a response. Once you have been granted permission to take the course, you must still go into the registration system and add it to your schedule.  We cannot actually enroll you in the class; we are simply giving you the override that will allow you to enroll yourself! 

Eligibility rests on the following: a GPA of at least 3.33 in the major and overall, and prior completion of at least three ENGL courses, of which one must be ENGL 200 and another must be ENGL 301 or 350.  Most students begin honors coursework in their junior year, but eligible sophomores may request permission.  For more details about the honors program check our English department website: https://english.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/honors-research/honors-research. 

If you would like to take two seminars at the same time, then you may, but you must receive approval for the first before you can request a second.  If you are approaching graduation and need a particular seminar in order to complete the honors program, please get your request in right away! Permission is granted on a first-come, first-served basis, although we do reserve the right to prioritize students closer to graduation.

How to Connect with LAS Career Services

• Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
• Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
• Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Sharing News

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other triumph to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!

Resource of the Week: The Major Requirements Cheat Sheet

Looking for a course to satisfy a specific time period requirement? Wondering which non-workshop creative writing courses are being offered next semester? Want to find a course that will complete your Difference & Diaspora requirement? Use the Major Requirements Cheat Sheet to see which courses satisfy certain major requirements each semester!

You can find the Major Requirements Cheat Sheet along with other helpful coursework planning materials on the department website.

Carr Visiting Author Series Alumni Reading

Featuring Matthew Gavin Frank & Jessica Tanck

Thursday, April 2 | 4:30
Illini Union Bookstore Author’s Corner 

A reading by alumni of the creative writing program, Jessica Tanck and Matthew Gavin Frank. This event is made possible by the Robert J. and Katherin Carr visiting author series. 

Jessica Tanck is the author of Winter Here (UGA Press, 2024), winner of the 2022 Georgia Poetry Prize. She holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she completed a B.A. in English Literature – Creative Writing and Comparative Literature and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing – Poetry. Her work appears or is forthcoming in The Adroit Journal, Alaska Quarterly Review, Beloit Poetry Journal, Blackbird, Colorado Review, DIAGRAM, Gulf Coast, Kenyon Review, The Los Angeles Review, Meridian, New England Review, New Ohio Review, Ninth Letter, Waxwing, and others. Jess was born in Chicago, IL, but grew up in Sheboygan, WI, on the shores of Lake Michigan. https://www.jessicatanck.com/winter-here

Matthew Gavin Frank’s new nonfiction book, SUBMERSED: Wonder, Obsession, and Murder in the World of Amateur Submarines, will be published June 3, 2025 by Pantheon Books.  His previous nonfiction book, Flight of the Diamond Smugglers (about, among other things, the ways in which carrier pigeons were used by diamond smuggling rings in coastal South Africa) was published in 2021 by W.W. Norton: Liveright. It was selected as one of NPR’s Best Books of 2021 and as a finalist for the 2021 Heartland Booksellers Award in Nonfiction. He is also the author of the nonfiction books, The Mad Feast: An Ecstatic Tour Through America’s Food (W.W. Norton: Liveright, 2015), Preparing the Ghost: An Essay Concerning the Giant Squid and Its First Photographer (W.W. Norton: Liveright, 2014), Pot Farm (The University of Nebraska Press, 2012), and Barolo (The University of Nebraska Press, 2010); the poetry books, The Morrow Plots (Black Lawrence Press, 2013), Warranty in Zulu (Barrow Street Press, 2010), and Sagittarius Agitprop (Black Lawrence Press, 2009). https://www.matthewgfrank.com/

Schedule a Pre-Registration Advising Appointment

Registration time is upon us again! Time tickets (which tell you when you can start registering for summer and/or fall) will be available for you to view this Monday, March 30th. Summer and Fall 2026 courses are now available to view on Course Explorer.

Continuing students are not required to meet with us (unless they are on academic warning) but we certainly recommend that you check in one way or another; email is fine for quick questions or confirmation of your plans, but longer conversations are best had in real time either in person or over zoom.  To schedule an appointment please call 217-333-4346 during the hours 8:30am-noon or 1:00-4:00pm. Remember that we are very busy during the registration period so please don’t wait until your time ticket opens up and then send an email demanding an immediate reply. Plan ahead!

How to Request an English Honors Seminar

If you would like to sign up for an English honors course in the fall, please email the English Advising Office at englishadvising@illinois.edu (include your full name and UIN) and let us know which seminar you hope to take this fall, including the title/topic and the CRN.  You’ll find descriptions of the courses and the CRN in Course Explorer.  Please allow one week to get a response. Once you have been granted permission to take the course, you must still go into the registration system and add it to your schedule.  We cannot actually enroll you in the class; we are simply giving you the override that will allow you to enroll yourself! 

Eligibility rests on the following: a GPA of at least 3.33 in the major and overall, and prior completion of at least three ENGL courses, of which one must be ENGL 200 and another must be ENGL 301 or 350.  Most students begin honors coursework in their junior year, but eligible sophomores may request permission.  For more details about the honors program check our English department website: https://english.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/honors-research/honors-research. 

If you would like to take two seminars at the same time, then you may, but you must receive approval for the first before you can request a second.  If you are approaching graduation and need a particular seminar in order to complete the honors program, please get your request in right away! Permission is granted on a first-come, first-served basis, although we do reserve the right to prioritize students closer to graduation.

Clothing Swap!

Interested in refreshing your wardrobe? The University Library is hosting a clothing swap event! Students who received tickets after donating clothing at earlier drop-off times can swap them for new (to you) clothing from 2-4pm in the Main Library, room 106, on April 2nd. From 4-5pm, any student is welcome to come and see if they can find anything for their wardrobe; no tickets are required.

Come find some new treasures! We hope to see you there!

LAS International Programs – Hiring Interns

LAS International Programs is looking for motivated, creative, and globally minded students to join our team as paid undergraduate interns.

Open Positions:
Marketing & Outreach Intern
• Operational Support Intern
• Administrative Communications Intern

These roles are perfect for students who want hands-on experience in global education, student engagement, program coordination, and professional communications while making a real impact on campus. Application deadline: Friday, April 10 at 11:59 PM

Ready to grow your skills and support international education? Apply now: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/2060714700?referrer=https://shibboleth.illinois.edu/

Help Improve Student Mental Health Resources on Campus

The Mental Health Early Action on Campus team is conducting a short survey to better understand how students are using mental health and wellness apps and how they feel about trust, privacy, and accessibility when using these tools. Your feedback will help guide how the university communicates about and supports digital mental health resources for students.

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and will be open from March 23 through April 3. Take the survey here: https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3UvRRWEI9chVnhk

Knit & Sit

Where: Krannert Art Museum, 500 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign
When: Saturday, March 28 from 1-3pm

Do you weave, crochet, knit, felt, or embroider? Krannert Art Museum invites you to Knit & Sit! Bring your project and join us for a weaver’s circle in the galleries. All ages and experience levels are welcome! 

First-time knitter? A limited amount of yarn and needles will be available—and anyone wanting to learn can receive a simple knitting lesson. Everyone will get a chance to explore the art on view. 

Presented in conjunction with the Memorias de la Mujer Lotina: Arpilleras, Women, and Coal in Chile exhibition (on view through Sep 5).

Free and open to everyone!

Pre-Health Advising Application Prep Series

Practice Social Justice in Community Service

How might community service and volunteering subtly (and not-so-subtly) promote inequity? Join We CU and Diversity & Social Justice Education on Wednesday, April 1, at 5:30 PM at the College of Education, Room 10 (O’Leary Center) for a workshop on practicing social justice in community service. 

Join Michelle Naese and Sang Lee from Diversity & Social Justice Education as we discuss how systemic forms of oppression come up in our lives and in our service work. We will also talk about how we can critically examine biases and center the voices and experiences of the communities we are serving. This training will also help you develop strategies for promoting social justice in your volunteer and service work. 

The workshop includes interactive activities, and we will have time at the end for questions. Dinner will be provided. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Register here.

Don’t hesitate to contact us at we-cu@illinois.edu if you have any questions!

Fulbright Information Sessions and Writing Workshops

Are your students interested in research, teaching, or graduate study abroad? The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards 2,000 scholarships annually for students to conduct research, teach English, or pursue graduate study in 140 countries, for one academic year. 

Current juniors, seniors, and recent alumni in all academic disciplines, who are U.S. citizens, are eligible to apply. 

The selection committee rates candidates based on academic/professional qualifications; language skills; knowledge of the host country; maturity, motivation, and capacity to adapt to a different cultural environment; and ability to represent the U.S. abroad.

The priority deadline for undergraduates and recent alumni is June 15, 2026.
The required campus deadline is August 24, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. (noon).  

Humanities Gateway Internship

Part-Time Job with Champaign County Forest Preserves

As an education support specialist you would assist with implementation and evaluation of cultural/historical education programming for people of all abilities and backgrounds served by the Museum of the Grand Prairie within the Museum and Education Department of Champaign County Forest Preserves (CCFP). See this page for full details and application link.

The Jeffries Center Spring 2026 Workshop Series

The English Department has a study abroad exchange agreement with the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. They are offering online information sessions for students interested in finding out more about spending a semester or year abroad at UEA:

Monday, March 30 – 17:00 BST – Register here
Thursday April 9 – 8:00 BST – Register here

How to Connect with LAS Career Services

• Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
• Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
• Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
• Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Sharing News

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other triumph to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!