A small circle of University of Mary Washington students scrutinized the printed sheets of poetry resting on their laps. Lost in their lively deliberation the amateur literary critics seemed oblivious to the bitter cold outside the Combs Hall window.
Working for the Rappahannock Review
Students work to produce a literary journal with a lasting legacy.
Creative Critics
Students work to produce a literary journal with a lasting legacy.
English Faculty Publish Work, Receive Accolades
Assistant Professor of English Colin Rafferty’s essay “Reflections from Virginia: Signifying a Hospital” appeared in the Used Furniture Review as part of the literary magazine’s post-election coverage. Rafferty’s essay “Albums of Our Lives: Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’” appeared in The Rumpus. His short story, “Wake Up, Doctor West: An Essayistic Exploration of a Possible Alternate History of Kanye West and African-American Musicology (in Three Acts),” is forthcoming in the anthology “#GOODLitSwerveAutumn: An Anthology of Independent Literature about Kanye West,” published by NAP Literary Magazine.
Professor of English and Creative Writing Coordinator Warren Rochelle’s story “The Boy on McGee Street” was recently published in Queer Fish, Volume 2 (Pink Narcissus Press).
Visiting Assistant Professor of English Elizabeth Wade’s poem, “Selling the Saddle,” which was originally published in Cave Wall, has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
Arrington Distinguished Chair Claudia Emerson’s book, “The Opposite House,” has been accepted for publication by LSU Press.
Writing Center Assistant Amanda Rutstein’s poem “Chasing the Hawk,” will be published in fall 2012 issue of The Greensboro Review.
A Poet’s Perspective
Pulitzer Prize-winning professor is passionate about poetry and mentoring students.
Colin Rafferty Featured in The Baltimore Review
Assistant Professor of English Colin Rafferty’s creative nonfiction piece “Digging In” is featured in the Winter 2012 edition of The Baltimore Review.
Student Wins English Department Scholarship for Creative Writing
Helen Alston of Charlottesville, Va., has been selected to receive the Barbara Thomas Phillips Creative Writing Scholarship for the spring semester of 2012 at UMW. The scholarship is awarded annually to a junior or senior exhibiting excellence in writing.
A senior majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing, Alston is poetry editor of the Aubade, the university’s biannual literary magazine. She also is president of the UMW Hand Percussion Club and a tutor at the Fredericksburg campus Writing Center. Alston has been an orientation leader and has been named to the Dean’s List.
Claudia Emerson Profiled in January Issue of Northern Virginia Magazine
Claudia Emerson, Arrington Distinguished Chair in Poetry, is featured in the January issue of Northern Virginia Magazine.
The issue is available on newsstands now; the article will be available online at the end of January.