EML Congratulates its Spring 2020 Graduating Class

We are proud to announce our Spring 2020 graduating class!

Master of Applied Arts in Written Communication, Writing Studies
-Elisabeth Alkier

Bachelor of Arts, English
-Clarissa Jean Blakely
-Jordan E. Chambers
-Jay Robert Fude
-Lora Kay Kroush
-Jilian Jiumei Whitehead

Bachelor of Arts, Modern Languages
-Eduardo Rafael Cruz
-Kalyn Elizabeth Smith

Bachelor of Science in Education, English
-Katelyn Marie Maley

Bachelor of Science in Education, Spanish
-Alex Wesley Menendez

We celebrate your accomplishments. Tell us of the many more that you achieve!

EML 2020 Outstanding Graduates

Congratulations to the EML outstanding graduates and award recipients for 2019-2020. Thank you to everyone for joining our ceremony on Zoom.

Certificate of Recognition for serving as Editor-in-Chief of Reach, MWSU's literary and arts journal: Lora Kroush

Outstanding Graduate in Creative Writing and Publishing: Caitlin Dillon

Outstanding Graduate in Spanish: Kalyn Smith

Outstanding Graduate in French: Jazmin Rivera

Outstanding Graduate in Technical Communication: Jay Fude  

Outstanding Graduate in Literary Studies: Jordan Chambers

Outstanding Graduate in English Education: Kate Maley   

Robert J. Greef Award for MWSU's Outstanding English Education Graduate: Tiffany Rice    

Certificate of Post-Baccalaureate English Teacher Certification: Michael Cullinane   

Outstanding Graduate Student: Elisabeth Alkier

 

 

Cadden Publishes Book on Young Adult Literature

Dr. Mike Cadden, professor of English, is one of the editors of a collection of essays in the Modern Language Association series "Options in Teaching," Teaching Young Adult Literature.

"The essays in this volume suggest ways high school and college instructors can incorporate YA texts into courses in literature, education, library science, and general education."

 The volume will be available in the summer of 2020.

Dr. Kunkel Shares Orignial Poem for The Story Center

Griffon Weekly Reports:

"The Story Center, an entity of Kansas City’s Mid-Continent Public Library system, invited Missouri Western assistant professor Dr. Marianne Kunkel to write an original poem for April, National Poetry Month. Dr. Kunkel’s poem, titled “Wonder,” was featured on Wednesday, April 15, on The Story Center’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Dr. Kunkel was one of five poets invited to participate. You can see the poem on The Story Center’s Facebook page here."

Congratulations, Marianne!

Alkier Defends MAA Project

Today Ms. Elisabeth Alkier defended her capstone portfolio: "The Teacher as Writer: Mentor Texts and Shared Experiences in the Writing Classroom." The work provides research behind, pedagogical rationale for, and course plans exhibiting the theory of imitation and use of mentor texts in the teaching of writing in the middle school.

The occasion introduced a first in our pandemic age: a zoom defense. Elisabeth met with her committee (Dr. Susan Martens, Dr. Mike Cadden, Ms. Dawn Terrick) to answer questions and explain her work. In virtual attendance were also Dr. Michael Charlton (EML's graduate director) and Dr. Susan Bashinski (MWSU dean of the graduate school).

Congratulations to Elisabeth for completing her Master of Applied Arts in Written Communication with a focus in writing studies!

Pictured are from upper left and clockwise, Dr. Susan Martens, Ms. Elisabeth Alkier, Ms. Dawn Terrick, and Dr. Mike Cadden

Spanish Faculty Reach Out to Public Schools

On March 3rd, Drs. Rocío Moirón and Daniel Gilden accompanied six MWSU Modern Language students to Spring Garden Middle School in St. Joseph for the entire morning.  "The idea was to promote the study of foreign languages and bilingualism by partnering with the Spanish classes and especially the ESOL classes where many of the students speak Spanish at home, as well as indigenous languages from Central America," Dr. Gilden explained."  We shared ideas about languages, college readiness, and got to know each other a little better.  MWSU had a wonderful opportunity to put their language skills in practice with native speakers!"

The two faculty also spent a day promoting languages at Park Hill School in Kansas City on Feb. 18th.  

Rae Segbawu at Spring Garden Middle School

Jamesha Hill at Spring Garden Middle School

Martens publishes in Louisiana Literature

Dr. Susan Martens’ nonfiction essay, “Ashes on the Water,” was recently published in vol. 36 of the literary journal Louisiana Literature. 

The essay was composed during last year’s New Orleans Writing Marathon Retreat where she served as a retreat leader at the invitation of the Southeastern Louisiana Writing Project.

Congratulations, Dr. Martens!