English Department

Syble Heffernan is an aspiring global citizen.

Having been an exchange student in Brazil, the junior English and international studies major dreams of exploring other cultures and landscapes. And she isn’t waiting.

Two recent Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates have received the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.

Alison Greenfield of Murray, Neb., and Sam Trofholz of Columbus, Neb., have been awarded the Fulbright Scholarship, the flagship international education exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government.

“Early in my years as an academic advisor, I began to see a pattern among bright, first-year students who took a class with Scott Stanfield,” recalled Patty Hawk.

Nebraska Wesleyan University senior Luke Gregerson admits he’s watched his share of the Travel Channel.

“From music to television to food, I spent a lot of time in awe watching the Travel Channel and getting as much Asian media as I could,” said the English and music major from Omaha. “Later on in school, I was able to learn more about Japan in a historical sense, often focusing around music and poetry, and my interest in the country only continued to grow from there.”

“The moment I walked into my first Chinese class, I knew that it was a language I wanted to stick with,” recalled Nebraska Wesleyan University sophomore Terri Seier.

Now Seier is stepping into a Chinese class in Taiwan, thanks to a Freeman-ASIA Award she received in December.

The Freeman-ASIA Award is a national award that provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduates who want to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia.

Nebraska Wesleyan University professor Gerise Herndon has conducted extensive research on Rwandan genocide survivors and through that research she’s learned the role of art in their healing.

Herndon will share her research and experiences during the Faculty Scholarship Presentation on Wednesday, January 24 at 6 p.m. The annual presentation highlights the scholarship of NWU faculty.

A Nebraska Wesleyan University English professor and Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities has been recognized by her peers for generously devoting time and energy to mentoring faculty.

In December, Sandy McBride was honored with the university’s inaugural Faculty Mentor of the Year Award. The award celebrates faculty who have helped other NWU faculty improve as teachers, colleagues and professionals.

Two long-time NWU professors will return to campus on Thursday, November 2, to deliver the annual William C. Kloefkorn Nebraska Writers Series lecture.

The free lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. in Prairie Wolf A&B, located on the lower level of Story Student Center.

The president and CEO of the Center for Media Literacy will deliver this year's Kenneth R. Holder Lecture.

Tessa Jolls will deliver the lecture on Thursday, April 20 at 4 p.m. in the learning commons area, located on the first floor of Cochrane-Woods Library.

Jolls has served as president and CEO of the Center for Media Literacy (CML) since 1999. She also founded the Consortium for Media Literacy. During her tenure at CML, her primary focus has been working in partnership to demonstrate how media literacy works through school and community-based implemention programs. 

Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Spring Visiting Writers Series will feature two poets.

Poet Brenda Shaughnessy, associate professor of English and creative writing at Rutgers University-Newark, will give a reading on Thursday, March 30. Poet and essayist Brian Blanchfield, visiting faculty at The Iowa Writers’ Workshop, will give a reading on Thursday, April 13.