English, Department of

by Margaret SchellThe Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Award Ceremony took place April 2, 2025 at Georgia College & State University. Five finalists each received a significant cash prize made possible by the family of Margaret Harvin Wilson (’34).Maggie Creekmore, a sophomore and English/creative writing major, from Hampton, Georgia, placed first in the first-year and sophomore division of the 2025 Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Award for her short story “The Fourth Ballerina.”She has...

by Amanda Respess and Maggie ForresterTwo faculty from the Georgia College Department of English are finalists for the 2025 Townsend Prize for Fiction. Professor Peter Selgin is an award finalist for his novel “A Boy’s Guide to Outer Space.” Assistant Professor Dr. Chika Unigwe is nominated for her novel “The Middle Daughter.”"A Boy's Guide to Outer Space"Selgin said the news of his nomination as a Townsend finalist is “a very pleasant surprise” which he was honored to receive.The...

by Kylie Rowe, University Communications Student Assistant and SwiftieA new anthology of 113 poems inspired by the chairwoman of The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift, is released today and features the work “Auld Lang Syne” by Dr. Kerry Neville, interim co-chair and associate professor of English at Georgia College & State University.“Invisible Strings,” referencing one of Swift’s songs from the album “Folklore,” is currently available to order as a hardcover, e-book or audiobook.Kristie...

 by Margaret SchellFor as long as Denechia “Neesha” Powell-Ingabire (’22) can remember, she wanted to write a book—one that would spark social change. As a movement journalist, essayist and community and cultural organizer, she writes about environmental, gender, racial and reproductive justice. “I've had my eye on Georgia College & State University’s MFA in Creative Writing program for more than a decade,” Powell-Ingabire said. “So, I enrolled.” The MFA Creative Writing program seemed...

The 15th annual Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Awards ceremony took place March 28 at Georgia College & State University. Out of 63 submissions, five finalists were selected from different writing categories including poetry and short story. In the first year and sophomore category, sophomore Kennedy Welker of Peachtree City placed first and third for her poems “The Last Sheep” and “December 2016,” respectively. Placing second, is sophomore Alexia Schauer of Johns Creek for her short...

Five inspiring writers achieved finalist status for their poetry and/or short story earning the Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Award from Georgia College & State University. Their creative works were selected out of 70 submissions. The 14th Annual Awards ceremony took place March 30.  Winning first place two years in a row in the First Year and Sophomore Category is Charlotte Aexel of Wind Lake, Wisconsin. Her poem, “Miss Flannery,” took first place while her short story, “Indiana’s...

Story and photos developed by University Communications. She was trying to teach a group of seventh graders about haikus. Although she was excited about her lesson plan—they were not. “Adaptability is one of the biggest things I’ve learned from this class,” said Aner Gendellman, a junior creative writing major from Alpharetta. Gendellman is one of a dozen graduate and undergraduate students taking the creative writing course, “Teaching Writing in the Schools.” Throughout the academic...

In 2018, Jeff Boedeker, ’04, was underwater, filming a sunken aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Mexico when he spotted several lionfish inside the shipwreck. “They’re beautiful and I had no idea what lionfish were,” he said. “After filming, I spoke to other divers on the shoot who told me how they are invasive and weren't there 20 or 30 years ago. And, it got me, thinking.”  Boedeker didn't do anything about it right then, because he was producing a film. But a few years later, he recalled...

The 13th annual Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Awards ceremony took place March 30. Out of 51 submissions, three finalists were selected from different writing categories including poetry and short story.  The first-year finalist is English and history major Charlotte Aexel of Wind Lake, Wisconsin, who won first place for her poem “Man in the Fog” and second place for her short story “Delanna’s Day.” Sophomore biology major Aner Gendellman from Alpharetta, Georgia, placed third with...