Faculty Shout-out by Professor Steve Rachman:
“Olivia was an excellent student in my Literature and Medicine class. She produced interesting essays, one comparing Margaret Atwood to Bocaccio’s Decameron and another that wrote very movingly and thoughtfully about Susan Gubar, Henrietta Lacks, and Frida Kahlo discussing the intersection of medicine, art, disease, and suffering. She also created a game based TV doctor shows. She is very creative and thoughtful. I wish her all the best for the future.”
How would you describe your time as an English or Film Studies major at MSU?
My time as an English major has been really rewarding – I’ve done research projects and essays with faculty members directly, and have enjoyed the small class sizes!
Which classes, instructors, or experiences particularly stand out for you and why? How did they prepare you for the next phase of your life?
I’ve had a lot of instructors that have shown me different parts of research and analysis; but the one that has been most fruitful was my experience with Dr. Bradley Deane in my 19th Century British Literature course. Looking at empire through many different lenses (such as through Jane Eyre and King Solomon’s Mines) was eye-opening. He encouraged me to take my time to pursue the Honors Research and decide what I’d like to study – a tough thing for a writer who is sometimes too eager to finish a semester-long project!
What advice would you give future English or Film Studies majors, based on your experiences in the department?
If there’s one thing I can say, it would be to pursue one-on-one meetings with your professor, even if it’s through a specific essay. It’s so easy to go through the motions: read the book, write on it, receive feedback, and the cycle starts over. Develop a relationship with your professors and ask them questions about your work! It’ll make you a better student.
What coursework-related projects were/are you working on this year, and what interests or excites you about them? (capstone courses, honors thesis, independent studies, etc.)
Last semester (the fall 2023 semester) I worked on an Honors Research on 19th-Century British Literature, which I self-entitled “Developing The Damsel? The Convergence of Adventure Fiction and the New Woman”. I researched the intersection between 19th-century empire (Adventure Fiction) and the idea of the New Woman in the different literature of the time.
What are your hopes and aspirations, post-graduation?
If I’m going to be honest, there’s so much I could do post-graduation with my English major; but I’m hoping that my love for communication and other modalities (such as photography) can make itself combine into a job that I enjoy! That’s my answer, as of now!