News - Department of English

College Begins 2026-27 Academic Year with New Programs, People, and Possibilities

September 3, 2026

A new academic year brings new beginnings and Fall 2026 marks an especially significant moment for Michigan State University’s College of Arts and Letters. Students are returning to a college that has grown in scope, with new academic programs, newly housed majors, and expanded opportunities. The year also brings a new slate of performances, exhibitions, and other creative and academic experiences.

Faculty and Staff / News

College Welcomes 20 New Faculty and Staff Members

August 31, 2026

With the start of the Fall 2026 Semester, the College of Arts and Letters is welcoming 20 new faculty and staff members whose talents, experiences, and perspectives will contribute to the college’s teaching, research, creative activity, and student support. New faculty and staff members will be recognized during the College of Arts and Letters' 2026 Faculty and Staff Welcome Reception on Monday, Sept. 28.

Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / News

College Celebrates 29 Faculty Members Who Earned Promotions

August 24, 2026

This year, 29 faculty members within the College of Arts and Letters received promotions. Their achievements will be celebrated during the 2026-27 academic year at promotions ceremonies hosted by the Office of the Provost. This year’s group marks another milestone for the college as the first to include faculty from the School of Residential Community-Engaged Arts and Humanities (RCAH), which integrated with the College of Arts and Letters on July 1, 2026.

Community Outreach / English / Faculty / Faculty / Lansing-East Lansing Impact / Michigan Impact / News / Programs / Religious Studies

MSU Fellowship Helps Michigan Teachers Rethink Genocide Education

August 19, 2026

As artificial intelligence and social media reshape how students evaluate information, teaching about genocide and mass atrocities has grown more complex. Teachers in Michigan are required to spend at least…

Michigan Impact / News

Arts and Humanities in Action: How MSU’s College of Arts and Letters Is Shaping Michigan’s Future

August 4, 2026

The impact of Michigan State University's College of Arts and Letters extends far beyond campus. Across Michigan, students, faculty, and alumni are putting the arts and humanities to work through…

Faculty / Lansing-East Lansing Impact / Michigan Impact / News / Programs / Student

Ask the Expert: How Arts and Humanities Drive Michigan’s Economic Future

July 29, 2026

Higher education plays a key role in educating Michigan residents as well as supporting the state’s economy, workforce, and culture. Michigan’s 15 public universities generate nearly $45 billion in annual…

Alumni / English / News

From English Major to Big Ten Coach of the Year: The Arts and Humanities Behind Harry Jadun’s Success

July 9, 2026

For former Michigan State University Men’s Tennis Coach Harry Jadun, who led one of the most successful eras in Spartan Men’s Tennis history, the lessons that have shaped his career…

News

New Chapter: College Integration Strengthens Arts and Humanities at MSU

June 24, 2026

A new chapter at Michigan State University begins July 1, 2026, as the College of Arts & Letters and Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH) officially integrate, creating new opportunities for students, faculty, and the campus community while strengthening the arts and humanities at MSU. The integration brings together the broad academic programs and creative resources of the College of Arts & Letters with RCAH’s distinctive community-engaged residential education model.

News

MSU English Alum’s Play and Work of Theatre Faculty Distributed to PBS Stations Nationwide

June 17, 2026

When Sally: A Solo Play, written by Michigan State University Department of English alum and acclaimed playwright Sandra Seaton, premiered at Wharton Center for Performing Arts in February, audiences witnessed…

News

MSU Students Partner with Capital Area District Libraries to Enhance Summer Reading Challenge

June 4, 2026

As readers across the Ingham County area take part in the Capital Area District Libraries’ (CADL) Summer Reading Challenge, Michigan State University students are helping guide the way — one graphic novel at a time. During the Spring 2026 Semester, students in the Readings in Graphic Narratives (ENG 325) course taught by Julian C. Chambliss, Professor of English, partnered with the CADL to create a comics-focused display.