Major: English Education
Minor: Psychology
Faculty Shout-out by Professor Danielle Filipiak:
“Maddie produced deeply reflective projects in ENG 408 that took seriously the work of critical literacy: asking thoughtful questions, pushing our thinking, and showing up with contagious enthusiasm that brought light to our classroom space. She also served as a willing critical friend to her peers, offering thoughtful feedback and encouragement where needed, and consistently challenged herself as a learner. “
How would you describe your time as an English or Film Studies major at MSU?
A lot of hard work, many essays, even more projects, but overall an absolute blast. I have loved all the class discussions!
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 absolutely loved my Young Adult Literature class with Professor Mary Juzwik! First off, just because I love reading in general, but it also really prepared me to critically analyze the books we teach in our classes.
What advice would you give future English or Film Studies majors, based on your experiences in the department?
Don’t be too hard on yourself! One bad essay grade is not the end of the world. Professors are going to push you at times, but that doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It means they see your potential and want to push you into the greatness they know you have.
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.)
I am incredibly proud of my capstone class project in ENG 408 with Professor Kristy Stewart! We were given complete freedom for our final research projects and I went into a deep dive about examining the affordances and limitations of assigning personal writing through a trauma informed pedagogy lens. It was so much fun and really prepared me to think about how we assign personal writing while being mindful of students. I ended up creating a podcast over an hour long! I am highly interested in merging the field of psychology and education, so it was so fun to be able to do that through this project.
What are your hopes and aspirations, post-graduation?
Get a teaching job!! I am so excited to get into my own classroom and start my teaching journey.