Faculty Shout-out by Professor Divya Victor:
“Perhaps it is their work as a geochemistry and petrology researcher that brings them to what the Objectivist poet George Oppen called “the mineral fact” of literary composition; perhaps it is their work as a wielder of rock drills and grip hoists that teaches them the coordination of “the soul, the eye, and the hand” which Walter Benjamin noticed in Paul Valéry’s words, the work of artisans; perhaps it is their years of experience as a ballet dancer and passion for choreography that lets them begin, as Adrienne Rich demanded, “not with a continent or a country or a house, but with the geography closest in—the body.” Whatever the experience and material skills they have actively pursued with diligence and commitment, they have integrated these into the very fabric of their literary practice. A memorable, inspiring student.”
How would you describe your time as an English or Film Studies major at MSU?
My time in the Creative Writing department has been fun, inspiring, and all around wonderful. I am so grateful that creative writing was a part of my college experience, and all the students and faculty members I met were amazing writers, mentors, and people.
Which classes, instructors, or experiences particularly stand out for you and why? How did they prepare you for the next phase of your life?
Every instructor I have had has been amazing. Dr. Victor, Dr. Silbergleid, Dr. Conrad, and Dr. Michaelsen have all been incredible professors that have helped me grow as a writer, critical thinker, and person. Dr. Victor’s poetry classes were a great reprieve during the pandemic, and I found a strong sense of community within them. Dr. Conrad’s non-fiction classes helped me hone my essay writing skills and discover new ways of writing outside my comfort zone. Dr. Silbergleid was an excellent mentor as I worked on a long-form project, and Dr. Michaelsen posed thought-provoking questions and guided his classes through challenging discussions on literary theory. All of these professors helped prepare me for the next stage in my life by encouraging consistent writing habits, showing me the importance of community building within the arts, and providing me with an excellent reading list.
What advice would you give future English or Film Studies majors, based on your experiences in the department?
Get involved! Attend Live Lit, attend the weekly guest speaker events, and attend your professors’ office hours. I would also recommend, for creative writing students, taking intro and advanced classes with the same professor if possible. I took intro and advanced poetry with Dr. Victor and intro and advanced non-fiction writing with Dr. Conrad and I think the continuity helped me develop as a writer.
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 year, I worked on a memoir in the capstone class. This year, I’ve switched gears and am working on an essay collection rooted in geological philosophy. This collection explores questions related to climate change and geological history in relation to and independent of the human. I am excited about this project because it gives me the opportunity to explore geology from a philosophical and artistic perspective, and it lets me muse on questions like Are rocks alive? Are we truly in the Anthropocene? And, when you decentralize the human narrative, what other stories become animated, powerful, and worthy of attention? I know this collection will be nerdy, but I also hope it is practical, offering a novel way of approaching the time we are in and providing suggestions for where we might want to go from here.
What are your hopes and aspirations, post-graduation?
The past few summers I’ve been doing conservation work in the White Mountains National Forest, and I hope to continue doing similar work in the future. I’ve found that physical labor is very rewarding and also provides an excellent environment for generating new ideas for writing projects. With outdoor work, and many manual labor jobs, there is an intrinsic balance between work and rest; you work your eight or ten hours, then you go home, and on weekends and evenings, you are truly separated from your labor. There are no emails to answer, no projects to finish on your laptop, no Slack to check. Furthermore, being immersed in the backcountry has always been where I’ve found the joy, contentment, and simplicity that creates space in my brain for writing. Ultimately, after graduation I hope to continue doing work that is meaningful and allows me to prioritize relationships, spend lots of time outdoors, and invest time in my creative pursuits.