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Important Dates

Advising Office Open House: Tuesday, May 5
Last day of instruction: Wednesday, May 6
Final exams: May 8-14
English & Creative Writing Convocation: Saturday, May 16

Resource of the Week: Convocation & Ticketing Info

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 between May 4 and 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).

Last Open House of the Year!

New English Department Internships

Go to english.illinois.edu/jobs to learn more, or read on!

Social Media Internships, Ninth Letter (AY 2026-2027)

For the 26-27 academic year, Ninth Letter, the literary magazine produced by the Creative Writing Program, is looking to hire two Social Media Interns (one Social Media Management and one Social Media Content Creator) from any major in the English Department. This is a great opportunity for students to apply their love of writing and literature while gaining valuable media-writing experience.

Eligibility: Undergraduate in the Department of English with at least Sophomore standing for AY26-27

Position Responsibilities (both positions will have some overlap):

• Develop creative thematic post series for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bluesky
• Design and produce engaging multimedia content (graphics, stories, short videos), memes, and captions for the literary community
• Attend weekly meetings for brainstorming, task assignments, and collaboration
• Collaborate with editors to adapt published content for different social media platforms
• Conduct and publish interviews with former Ninth Letter contributors and current staff
• Assist in creating content calendars that highlight print issues, online publications, submission calls, and events
• Help design and maintain brand voice, tone, and visual identity, remaining cohesive across platforms
• Interact with followers, contributors, and the literary community through comments, messages, and shares

Average hours worked per week: 5 (about 75 hours each semester)
Position Wage: $15/hour
Position Starts: August 22

Recommended Skills and Experience:

• Concise and catchy writing
• Writing for social media
• Develop and follow-through on creative ideas
• Tailor message and style to genre and audience
• Visual design
• Work independently
• Interpersonal communication
• Collaboration
• Reliability
• Word, Adobe Express or Creative Suite, photo & video editing
• Photography, video, and editing skills a plus

To Apply: Submit a resume and cover letter, which should also indicate your preferred position, or if you would like to be considered for both. Application materials can be addressed to Liz Harms, Sr. Managing Editor of Ninth Letter, and sent as email attachments to ejharms2@illinois.edu by no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6.

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Social Media Management Internship, Department of English (2026-2027)

For the 26-27 academic year, the Department of English is looking to hire a Social Media Management Intern from any major in the English Department. This is a great opportunity for students to apply their love of writing and literature while gaining valuable media-writing experience.

Eligibility: Undergraduate in the Department of English with at least Sophomore standing for AY26-27

Position Responsibilities:
● Develop creative thematic post series for Facebook and Instagram
● Promote, attend, and create social media posts about department events when safety allows
● Design flyers, memes, and other posts for informing and entertaining students
● Develop creative semester-long multimodal projects
● Attend weekly meetings for brainstorming, task assignments, and collaboration
● Edit videos and design flyers or posts
● Collaborate with Advising Office in creating content
● Conduct and publish interviews with faculty, alumni, students, and visiting speakers

Average hours worked per week: 5 (about 75 hours over a semester)
Position Wage: $15/hour.
Position Starts: Aug. 16

Recommended Skills and Experience:
● Concise and catchy writing
● Writing for social media
● Develop and follow-through on creative ideas
● Tailor message and style to genre and audience
● Visual design
● Work independently
● Interpersonal communication
● Collaboration
● Reliability
● Word, Publisher, Adobe, photo & video editing
● Photography, video, and editing skills a plus

To Apply: Please use the online application form to submit a resume, cover letter, and 2-3 samples of work, which can be writing, social media graphics, or other creative works or class materials. Application materials can be addressed to Felipe De La Guerra, Communications Coordinator, Department of English. Applications should be submitted no later than 5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 6. Please email fdlg@illinois.edu with any questions.

ATLAS Internships for Summer and Fall!

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.

Sustainability Exhibition

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.

Two Great Fall Workshops

• 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!

Signed up for the English & Creative Writing Convocation and need extra tickets? Be sure to get your request in by Monday, April 20! Email englishadvising@illinois.edu with the TOTAL number of tickets you require. Thanks!

Resource of the Week: Art on Campus

As busy as you all are right now, you may still want to take a break now and then and enjoy some of the amazing art galleries and museums we have on this campus. Check out this site for a list of spaces to visit. In addition to their permanent collections these galleries often display work by our own students and faculty.

Montage Launch

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.

VOICE: Graduate Student Reading

Apr 22, 2026   7:00 pm  
Gallery Art Bar | 119 W Main St, Urbana, IL 61801

Join us for a reading of creative work my MFA students from the Department of English. This month’s reading will feature Steven Bergmark, Morgan O’Sullivan, and William O’Brien.

Undergraduate Research Week

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff, and Campus Partners,

We are excited to announce and share the final program of events for 2026 Undergraduate Research Week, now available at: https://go.illinois.edu/URWProgram.

This year’s program features a wide range of events taking place across campus, including the full schedule for the flagship event of the week, the Undergraduate Research Symposium, which will take place all day (9 AM – 5 PM) on Thursday, April 30, in the Illini Union (stop by Rooms ABC, South Lounge to pick up a printed program). We are also pleased to share that this year’s Symposium has reached another record high, with more than 1,400 undergraduate student presenters.

All events are free and open to the public, and no registration is required to attend.

Fulbright Workshops

Experiential Learning Abroad

EcoRep Undergrad Position

The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) is recruiting several EcoReps for AY 2026-2027 to promote sustainability on campus and serve as a resource to connect students to different campus sustainability initiatives. Any rising sophomore, junior, or senior interested in sustainability outreach is encouraged to apply, no matter the major! EcoReps will be expected to work 4-5 hours per week throughout the school year and will receive an hourly wage of $15. EcoReps will benefit from building leadership skills and getting involved in a variety of campus sustainability initiatives. Students will enjoy participating in a community of students who are passionate about sustainability.

For a list of responsibilities and desired skills see the posting on the Virtual Job Board.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter to Miriam Keep, Sustainability Programs Coordinator at iSEE, at keep2@illinois.edu. The cover letter should describe your prior experience related to sustainability and/or peer outreach, and explain your motivation for pursuing a role in outreach for campus sustainability. The position is also posted on the Virtual Job Board.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged!

TRIO Upward Bound Is Hiring

TRIO Upward Bound College Prep Academy is searching for compassionate, outcomes-oriented, student-centered, and innovative individuals for several positions during our summer program.  APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL ALL POSITIONS ARE FILLED. 

TRIO Upward Bound is a college preparatory program housed within the Michael L. Jeffries, Sr. Center for Access and Academic Success on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. Our goal is to generate the skills and motivation necessary for high school completion, post-secondary enrollment, and completion.

Positions available: 
—Teachers (Must have a completed BA/BS)
–Summer Residential Program Assistant Dayshift and Evening shifts (UG/GRAD)- LIVE-IN RESIDENCE HALL- Still available

Anticipated dates:

Staff training dates: May 18-22, 2026
Staff program dates: June 27- July 31, 2026
Program dates: June 28-July 31, 2026

For more information, please e-mail trioupwardbound@illinois.edu or call TRIO Upward Bound at (217) 333-1889.

Screenwriting is Back!

Back by popular demand this fall is this great screenwriting workshop!

CW 202, Section D
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.

• 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!

Career Talk on Publishing with W. W. Norton & Co.

Calling all English majors and recent grads! Are you looking to pursue a career in publishing? Join members of the Norton Literature team over Zoom this Friday (4/3) at 3PM ET for a “Careers in College Publishing” talk. Learn how a degree in English can help you achieve an exciting career in college publishing.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/eaJphAWq

Upcoming Performances

Join What You Will and the Penny Dreadful Players this weekend as they perform original plays in support of The Odyssey Project at the annual joint Charity Show on April 3rd and 4th in the Illini Union Room 314 at 7 PM.

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.

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.

Certificate in HR

The School of Labor and Employment Relations is excited to share that we are offering an undergraduate Certificate in Human Resources.  The certificate, open to all undergrad majors, offers students the opportunity to enhance their current major of study and show future employers and graduate programs that they have the people management and workplace skills needed to succeed in the classroom and in industry. Courses in the certificate include an introduction to human resource management, as well as more specialized courses on HR career development, HR leadership and organizational development, and the role of HR in society.

Students need to complete three courses (9 credit hours) including Introduction to HR and then choose two of the three remaining course options. 

Student can learn more on this website and are welcome to reach out to Brian Neighbors at bneig2@illinois.edu with any questions.

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.

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/

Pre-Health Advising Application Prep Series

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).  

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 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:

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!

POT B courses begin: Monday, March 23
Deadline to add a POT B course: Friday, March 27
Deadline to Submit Junior Quinn Award Application: Friday, March 27
Registration time tickets viewable on Self-Service: Monday, March 30
Registration begins: Monday, April 6

Resource of the Week: SLEEP!

Even though many of you will have reading to catch up on over the break, we hope you’re getting some much deserved R&R. We hope you can sleep well, recover from the first half of the semester, and come back refreshed. Check out these tips for effective sleep practices.

New Internship and Job Postings

Administrative and Archival Internship

The Alvin H. Baum Family Fund strives to better the lives of those who live and work predominantly in the Chicagoland area. Through innovative grants and collaborations, the Fund helps ignite new ideas and promote solutions to ensure healthier, more equitable, and peaceful communities.

The focus of this internship will be organizing and preserving the files documenting the Baum Fund’s history with each organization we support. There may be other administrative duties assigned from time to time.

The ideal candidate will be a current undergraduate interested in philanthropy and the not-for-profit world. The intern must be available to work onsite in Deerfield, IL.

Successful candidates will also demonstrate:

-Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
-A high level of organization and professionalism
-Critical thinking skills and good judgement
-Humility and gratitude
-Strong writing skills
-Interest in and curiosity about a career in some element of nonprofit management (fundraising, operations, collaboration, grant-writing, outreach, etc.)

The position pays $18/hr. All work will be conducted onsite at our office in Deerfield, Illinois, about a mile west of downtown Deerfield/the Deerfield Metra station. We expect the intern to work about 30 hours per week, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Thursday. While the approximate dates of work are June 1 – August 6, we are somewhat flexible with start/end dates with the ideal amount of time worked being approximately 10 weeks.

Additional benefits of the role include the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the nonprofit ecosystem and the work of creating meaningful social change through philanthropy.

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.

Celebration of Storytelling Conference – All Students Welcome!

Looking for a Second 8-Week (POT B) Course? Check These Out!

Student Success Series: Food Budgeting and AI

When: March 24th from 12:00-1:00pm
Keeping meals both affordable and enjoyable can be tricky, but we don’t need to take on these responsibilities alone! This workshop is designed to cover the basics of how to incorporate AI into food budgeting practices, including meal planning, grocery lists, and more. It covers several tools designed specifically for the purpose of food budgeting and meal planning, as well as discussing how to design clear, specific prompts for general AI chatbots like ChatGPT to assist with these tasks.  

Why Scientists and Scholars Should Communicate Through the Media, Despite the Risks

Who: Laura Helmuth (Slate, Scientific American, Washington Post)
When: Tuesday, March 24th at 5:30pm
Where: Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum

Universities, public health organizations, federal science agencies, and publishers have become targets of political forces that are threatened by the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. New restrictions on funding, collaborations, and inclusion are disrupting crucial research and limiting who is allowed to pursue it. The power imbalance is severe right now, and individuals and institutions are at risk of losing grants, students, jobs, and opportunities. Helmuth will argue for a way out through building support for academic freedom, long-term research, honest assessments of history, and life-saving public health policies. Experts who share their knowledge with journalists or communicate directly through mass media face risks but can make a difference. We’ll cover best practices, practical advice, and possible outcomes of doing so, and how people in different fields of expertise can support one another’s overlapping missions.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Laura Helmuth is a journalist, freelance editor, writer, and consultant who formerly served as editor in chief of Scientific American, where you can still read her many features. She previously worked as an editor for the Washington Post, National Geographic, Slate, Smithsonian and Science. A former president of the National Association of Science Writers, Helmuth is currently a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s standing committee on advancing science communication and an advisory board member for SciLine and The Transmitter. She has a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley, and recently won a Friend of Darwin Award from the National Center for Science Education. Her current writing can also be found at Slate and The Last Word on Nothing.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• Sawyer Seminar Website
• Sawyer Seminar Instagram
• Email sawyerseminar@illinois.edu 

Fulbright For Artists

When: Wednesday, March 25th from 3-5pm
Where: Krannert Art Museum, Room 62 (500 E Peabody Drive)
Register: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/689459119

The National & International Scholarships Program and the Graduate College Office of External Fellowships will kick off the Fulbright application season with a workshop focused on Fulbright opportunities in: 

• Architecture (building and landscape) 
• Creative Writing (fiction, non-fiction, playwriting, poetry, and screenwriting) 
• Music (composition, performance, and world music) 
• Performing Arts (dance, performance art, and theater arts) 
• Visual Arts (animation, photography, illustration, filmmaking, etc.)

The session will feature Melissa Terrall, pianist and former Fulbrighter, who studied Mexican piano repertoire at Mexico City’s National Conservatory; Dani Nutting, flutist and former Fulbrighter to Bulgaria and Assistant Director of the National and International Scholarships Program, who advises undergraduate and alumni applicants; and Dana N. Johnson, former Fulbrighter to Serbia and Director of External Fellowships in the Graduate College, who advises graduate student applicants.

Advanced undergraduates, graduate students (including MFA candidates), alumni, and other interested members of the campus community are invited to attend. Presenters will share insights into pursuing a Fulbright as an artist and preparing a strong application. Topics include identifying a strong affiliation, meeting language expectations, assembling a compelling portfolio, and crafting persuasive narrative statements. 

Participants will also learn about the campus application process and how to make effective use of advising services offered by the National & International Scholarships Program and the Graduate College Office of External Fellowships.

Questions about the event may be directed to: topscholars@illinois.edu. 

Scholarships Information Sessions

Junior Quinn Award

The Junior Quinn Award recognizes achievement and potential in Creative Writing majors or minors with junior class standing by awarding one or more recipients with financial support to attend a writing workshop or conference. This year’s prize will be issued as a scholarship of $1000.

We recognize that it is not always easy to determine eligibility. If you are not technically a Junior this academic year but plan to graduate no earlier than December 2026 and no later than December 2027, you may be eligible. If you have any questions about your eligibility, check with our wonderful Undergraduate Advisors at englishadvising@illinois.edu. You may apply for the Junior Quinn only once. If you have eligibility questions, email John Dudek, Associate Director of Creative Writing, at jdudek4@illinois.edu. If you are eligible, we want to see a sample of your unpublished prose OR poetry:

· Prose submissions can be either fiction or creative nonfiction. Limit your submission to 1-2 pieces, no more than 15 pages total.

· Poetry submissions should contain 3-5 poems, no more than 7 pages total.

The first page of your submission (not included in page count) should be a statement of purpose explaining how attending a writing conference or other professional development opportunity would impact your writing. This statement should be no more than 250 words. A few conferences you might consider are listed below. Though feel free to find other opportunities that interest you more!
· AWP Conference
· Juniper Summer Writing Institute
· Kenyon Review Writers’ Workshop
· Port Townsend Writer’s Conference

Submit your statement of purpose and creative work in one file (.docx only) to John Dudek at jdudek4@illinois.edu by noon, March 27. To make sure your submission does not get lost, the subject line of the email should be ALL CAPS and either JUNIOR QUINN POETRY or JUNIOR QUINN PROSE. The body of this email should include: Your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and UIN.

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!