Wordwrights 2017 by Darla Hueske

Department of Language & Literature at Dickinson State University Twenty-first Annual Newsletter -- Spring 2017

DEPARTMENT CHAIR’S NOTES -Dr. Jim McWilliams

This past academic year, like last year, has been a time of changes. Although the department faces some difficult challenges due to the ongoing state budget crisis, change can be a positive force, and I like to think that the future of Language and Literature remains bright. First, as detailed elsewhere in this newsletter, we welcomed three new colleagues: Dr. Kevin Anzzolin, Assistant Professor of Spanish; Ms. Lara Carlson McGoey, Instructor of English; and Mr. Marty McGoey, Adjunct Instructor of English. Moreover, we were pleased to learn that Mr. Kevin Moberg, currently the chair of the Department of Teacher Education, will join us on a full-time basis next academic year. Kevin will lead our English Education program and teach Adolescent Literature, Secondary Methods, Modern Grammar, Structure & History of English, and other courses. This current academic year is the first for our new B.A. in English program, which has a core of 17 credits and then two tracks from which students select one: literature or creative writing. So far, students seem to be pleased with our revamped degree. In the coming year, we’ll likely revise the B.S. Ed. English MAIN ARTICLES Education to ensure that our program continues to 1 DEPARTMENT CHAIR’S NOTES meet all accreditation standards. 2 A BEAUUUUUUTIFUL DAY FOR SOME LIGHT READING 4 2017 ALBERS HUMANITIES FESTIVAL: STAR WARS 6 WOMEN’S VOICES 14TH YEAR CELEBRATED 7 MOM-ISM MEMORIES 7 LANGUAGE & LITERATURE ON FACEBOOK 8 COMMUNIVERSITY 2017 9 HEART RIVER WRITERS’ CIRCLE 2016-17 SERIES 13 SOPHOMORE AND SENIOR PROJECTS 14 NEW FACULTY INTRODUCTIONS 16 CURRENT FACULTY 18 ALUMNI UPDATES

As always, the department has had an active year of on-campus and community service, and you can read about Heart River Writers’ Circle, CommUniversity, Women’s Voices, and the Albers Humanities Festival elsewhere in this newsletter. Although DSU funding remains tight, this department hasn’t scrimped on events and remains committed to serving “town & gown.” The rest of the faculty, and our dutiful administrative assistant, Marie Fichter, are well and remain active in the department and university. I invite you to read the rest of Wordwrights to discover some of the recent faculty and student accomplishments and activities. I especially invite alumni to keep in touch with us in Stickney Hall.

A BEAUUUUUUTIFUL DAY FOR SOME LIGHT READING —Megan Dailey I find it funny that as I start writing this, I couldn’t agree more with Everett Albers. As anyone who has read even parts of his online journal would recall, he describes nearly every day as a beauuuuuuutiful day—as I write this, it’s over sixty degrees in early March, and it most certainly does feel positively beauuuuuutiful! No doubt there are many beauuuuuuuutiful days in North Dakota, but it reveals true character when these words come from someone who was been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given three months to live. Everett defied this grim prognosis by surviving for another eighteen months before passing away in April of 2004. With this cherished time left with his loved ones and passions, he dedicated much of his time to keeping an online journal. He was able to stay with this almost every day, swimming through his thoughts and providing an endless stream of humor, intelligence, and a realistic joy of life despite his circumstances. After having some joy of my own in communicating with two of Everett’s close friends, Jim Fuglie and Lillian Crook, I’ve learned that in person he was just as charismatic as his journal suggests. Several of Jim’s descriptive words included loud, loud, loud, and loud. Don’t get me wrong, he definitely said some other complimentary adjectives, like funny, intelligent, and observant, but loud came out of Jim’s mouth most often. Similarly Lillian had nothing but praise for

this outspoken, bold individual, and I must say I full-heartedly agree with them after indulging in Everett’s journal. In the midst of a terminal storm, Everett makes people laugh. One entry I found particularly amusing was that of December 15, 2003: “…I was sipping a bit of one of those horribly flavored hot chocolate drinks—French Velvet or Irish Crème or whatever. I drink them because it feels so good when I stop.” Now, coming from someone who loves those horribly flavored hot chocolate drinks, I’m not sure I can relate to his distaste, but I can certainly appreciate the humor in it. Maybe I’ll test his theory on pickle juice, or pistachio pudding. I was also astonished by his sense of peace with his diagnosis, shown in his ability to make jokes about it. On February 10th, 2003, Everett lets us into his life by describing how to play pinochle in “Albers style.” I don’t understand pinochle to begin with, but I’ll do my best to explain the Albers’ version of it. He describes it briefly as “a particular twist on cut-throat, every-person-for-him/herself, single-bid, three-card-kitty.” In their four-handed version, each person can draw six cards. They play till someone reaches the score of fifty, at which point the winner receives a dollar from every other player. I don’t understand a word of it, but the game itself is not my point for this reference. My point is to applaud Everett’s admirable ability to find humor within desolate circumstances.

“The Magi have indeed brought me a ‘terrible gift’— unwanted knowledge of certain mortality. Ah, but a new year, new hope, and yet another turn of the calendar.” “‘Tis a wonderful game to take your mind off such matters as being diagnosed with terminal cancer or the prospect of another Gulf War or the ever-rising price of gasoline.” I enjoy humor as much as the next person, and would love to go on about his comments regarding baseball (hopefully the Twins are winning—I’d hate for them to disappoint him again as they did in April of 2003), but it’s also important to note Everett’s extreme intelligence, both in factual and philosophical matters. Many of his entries pertain to famous people who were born, had passed away, or had done something magnificent years ago on the day of that particular entry. He had a plethora of knowledge and shared it freely and passionately in his journal. Regarding his philosophical comments, I’ll narrow my favorite insights down to the top two. One crossed his mind on January 21st,

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2004, just a few months before he passed away. It was stirred in him by Sir Francis Bacon’s quote “Silence is the virtue of fools.” Albers responds in his journal, “If I stop talking, I admit that I’m a fool—which may not be so bad, because there’s good fools and bad fools.” I find this view enthralling, possibly because my mom always says, “Megan, you fool!”—in a loving way, of course. To me, a “good fool” is one who is not afraid to do outlandish acts, as long as they have merit and will better the world, while a “bad fool” is someone who lives a blind and irrational life, with no regard for consequence. Everett, if called a fool, should most definitely be considered one of the good ones, as he boldly lived his life by loving others and doing what was best for humanity. Hopefully we, too, are the good kind of fools. Everett also astounds me in his philosophy of his personal life. In his first entry on September 20th, 2002 he describes what his diagnosis meant for the rest of his life in the following way: “I continue to do my job as executive director for the North Dakota Humanities Council…and pay much more attention than I ever have to my wife, children, family and friends—so even this curse is a great blessing.” Wow! Not only is he still so deeply committed to the humanities, but he sees what most people would consider a nightmare to be a great blessing. I can only hope to have an even similar strength if I am ever in his situation. And if that wasn’t enough, he still holds his belief to 3

his heart in January of 2003: “The Magi have indeed brought me a ‘terrible gift’—unwanted knowledge of certain mortality. Ah, but a new year, new hope, and yet another turn of the calendar.” He never whines, complains, or feels sorry for himself; rather, he writes about his life with vigor and acceptance. Everett is truly a remarkable individual, showering himself in humility and a deep appreciation when he could have easily let a torrent of fear and pessimism drown him. What a privilege it is then, that Everett spent some of his time with us here at Dickinson State University while working towards his undergraduate degree. After graduating in 1966 with B.A. in English and minors in Spanish and German, he went on to achieve his M.A. in English in Colorado before he was drawn back to beauuuuuuutiful Dickinson in 1969 to teach at DSU. Here he shared his wisdom with students, many of whom he kept in contact with up until his death. It is clear that he was a beloved professor and contributed an immense amount of insight to students. A plaque commemorating him can be found in Stickney Hall, showing how proud we are to have had a man of such excellent taste and class in our presence. His contribution to DSU was not limited to the years he spent here. In 1973, Everett moved to Bismarck and became the North Dakota Humanities Council’s first executive director. The NDHC assists North Dakotans in attaining lifelong learning and supplies high quality humanities programs in various areas throughout North Dakota by graciously donating grants. One

“If I stop talking, ` I admit that I’m a fool—which may not be so bad, because there’s good fools and bad fools.” of the council-supported festivals takes place in Dickinson—the Everett C. Albers Humanities Festival. It is an annual compilation of panel discussions, theatrical performances, and presentations in celebration of the humanities. Though Everett was diagnosed with a horrific and daunting cancer in 2002, he did not wilt in its presence. If anything, he blossomed. Everett’s passion for the humanities pushed him to philosophize about the purpose of our existence. It has to be more than just eating, sleeping, and reproducing. He searched to find what makes us human, what gives life to our souls. We are not simply “biological robots,” he states in November of 2002. He explored the depths of these thoughts within this journal, which he then gifted to us at the time of his death, to keep in our hearts forever. Carry his positivity and tact with you, readers, throughout the rest of your beauuuuuuutiful days. As I write this, I can’t help but notice that today’s date is March 28th, Everett’s birthday. Perfect timing. I encourage you to take a peek at his online journal at http://nullrefs.com/ev/index.htm . You might just end up reading the whole thing.

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2017 ALBERS HUMANITIES FESTIVAL: STAR WARS — Salena Loveland The Force was strong at Dickinson State University this spring. A fourfoot-tall Darth Vader and Storm Trooper stood sentinel inside the Theodore Roosevelt Library display case filled with Star Wars memorabilia. A display of Star Wars books, DVDs, magazines, and bookmarks was front and center in Stoxen Library. A lucky DSU student, Daniel Suazo, even found Han Solo hiding in the Stickney Lobby fireplace. The 2017 Albers Humanities Festival was gearing up, and this year Star Wars was the theme in celebration of the movie’s 40th anniversary. It was almost four o’clock, and I had left my job in the Writing Center a little early so I could make it to Beck Auditorium in plenty of time for the first event. Dr. Holly McBee, co-chair with Dr. Steven Doherty of the this year’s festival, greeted me at the auditorium doors and handed me a stamped Millennium Falcon card. This was valuable property because if I got it stamped at the other festival events, I could put it into a drawing for a Millennium Falcon, a piece for the Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game by Fantasy Flight Games. This afternoon’s event was a threepart panel presentation titled “The Force is Strong in this One: The Cultural Impact of Star Wars.” Kevin Moberg, Chair of the Department of Teacher Education and Assistant Professor of Education, was the first to present. His talk, “Teaching When the Force is With You,” focused on multiple ways teachers are currently using Star Wars in their curriculum to engage students. For example, music teachers might have their students play the music by John 4

“Once more unto the trench, dear friends, once more!” The Readers Theater performance of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope.

Williams and study how it reflects the mood of the various parts of the film. Science teachers might have students determine if the extended battle scenes in the movie make sense according to what they know about physics. Amanda Benedict-Barbian, Career Development Coordinator and huge Star Wars fan, as attested by her three Star Wars bobble-head figures atop her office filing cabinet, presented the second talk of the panel, “More Than a Love Interest: Women in Star Wars.” She stressed that what we see on television and in movies has an impact on us: “representation matters.” She explained the Bechdel Test, which was introduced author Alison Bechdel’s comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For. The test is a method to determine how well women are represented in a particular piece. In order to pass the Bechdel Test, a film would have to have at least two named women, they would have to talk to each other, and their conversation would have to be about something besides a man. The original Star Wars doesn’t pass this test, but Star Wars: The Force Awakens passes with flying colors. Benedict-

Barbian credits this to changing social norms from 1977 to 2016. Dr. Corinne Brevik, astrophysicist and Associate Professor of Physics, was the final speaker. She identifies her love of Star Wars and all things science fiction as inspiring her career path. In her fascinating presentation, “The Many Worlds of Star Wars: Is it Possible for Planets and Moons like These to Exist?”, she pointed out the impact that the franchise has had on people, like herself, who have been inspired by the fascinating and heroic stories to explore and study space. “Star Wars has helped drive us science-wise.” After discussing the variety of moons and planets of Star Wars, she shared what NASA has been finding in our own galaxy. They have found “more than we ever dreamed of,” and the search has only just begun. Dr. Brevik believes “the variety of planets is as limited as our imagination” and therefore, “the Star Wars worlds could exist.” An hour or so later, I was sitting in Stickney Auditorium, an empty stage before me. A row of seats Wordwrights

were lined up along the dark back curtain. A row of mics stood at the front of the stage. Several pairs of squeaky tennis shoes walked onto the stage; their owners filled the seats. The event I had most looked forward to was about to begin: The Readers Theater performance of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope by Ian Doescher as presented by Jarvis Jahner and his Acting II class. As each actor’s character came up, holding their script, they stepped up to a mic and delivered a captivating meld of Shakespeare and Star Wars. Dr. Jeremy Wohletz, Assistant Professor of Music, enriched the performance with his oboe accompaniment. The audience shared an evening of laughs as we recognized familiar lines from both the movie and Shakespeare’s works. Lines such as “O help/ Me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, help. Thou art/ Mine only hope.” - Leia Organa; “A plague on 3PO for action slow,/ A plague upon my quest that led us here,/ A plague on both our circuit boards, I say!” –R2-D2; and, “Once more unto the trench, dear friends, once more!” – Luke Skywalker. The second day of the Albers Humanities Festival offered more intriguing discussion and entertainment. I was once again in Beck Auditorium. This time I was awaiting the keynote presentation, “You Know It to Be True: Canon, Culture, and Continuity in the Star Wars Universe.” The keynote speaker was Dr. Greg Carlson, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Theater Art at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where he is also Director of Film Studies and Media Activities. Star Wars was the first movie he saw in a theater when he was five years old, and he hasn’t missed a theatri-

cal showing of the franchise since. To say he is a fan of Star Wars would not be doing his passion justice. He shared slides of some of the Star Wars paraphernalia he had as a kid: the Burger King glasses he drank milk from, the lunchbox that The Star Wars Trivia organizers with the festival’s keynote carried his sandwich speaker and his Jedi younglings. Back row (left to right): Dr. to school, a calenGreg Carlson, Dr. Holly McBee, Dr. Debora Dragseth, and Mr. Martin McGoey. Front row (left to right): Forest Carlson, dar, comic books, Violet Carlson, and Mrs. Lara Carlson-McGoey vinyl records, trading cards, and his prize. The festival had included Darth Vader Halloween costume. He a scavenger hunt for Han Solo on passed around a new storm trooper campus, and before the trivia game action figure along with an original began, Daniel Suazo was awarded storm trooper action figure he had the prize for finding Han in the picked out for a birthday present. Stickney Lobby fireplace. I did not The original figure was bone yellow, win the drawing, but the look on and its joints were a little loose. Its Berg Elementary student Kyle Anderonce harsh edges were now soft and son’s face as his name was called rounded and some of the black paint was priceless. He also won the prize on parts of its hands had rubbed off. for best imitation. Violet Carlson, This was a well-loved piece of his Dr. Carlson’s daughter, won best collection. In his presentation, Dr. costume. A twenty-five minute, cutCarlson spoke on the many ways throat game of Jeopardy-style trivia Star Wars has branched out into our finished with Kyle the winner and culture. There are sanctioned and Violet the runner-up. unsanctioned materials that make up This year was my first Albers Huthe Star Wars universe. This includes manities Festival, and although I all the films, cartoons, parodies, fan was initially skeptical about Star fiction, and countless other works Wars fitting with humanities, I found the story inspires people to create. As that it made perfect sense. Most of Dr. Carlson noted, “Creation requires what makes Star Wars great is the influence,” and Star Wars is certainly humanities. It’s about people and a rich source of inspiration. relationships, culture, history, and The festival concluded in the Student mythology. It is literature, music, art, Center Ballroom. I had my Millenand science. After forty years, it is an nium Falcon card, stamped from indelible part of our culture, and the each event, and was ready for a good festival shared this with me. game of Star Wars trivia. I placed my card in the pot, hopeful of winning a

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WOMEN’S VOICES 14TH YEAR CELEBRATED —Jessica Grebner Every year, throughout the month of March, Dickinson State University brings something new and exciting to our community to celebrate Women’s History Month. DSU’s annual celebration, named Women’s Voices, was started in 2003 by Marty Odermann-Gardner and continues through the work of committee members from DSU and the community. “Issues of women had always been important to me and I could finally do something in a big way,” said Odermann-Gardner. “Anyone could have started it, but I just had fire in my belly because of discriminating events I had experienced in my life.”

favorite event of all time was this year’s film, Chisholm ‘72: Unbought and Unbossed. “She is inspiring. Actually, she is awe-inspiring! Her story needs to become part of American history courses that focus on the 1970s, politics, the presidency . . . civil rights, and social justice.”

continue to exist today. Dickinson’s American Association for University Women representative, Linda Steve, who spoke at the first Women’s Voices series in 2003, stated that

 This year’s events also included a global table lunch panel This year’s theme was “Social Exchange students Fizza Hassan Zaheer, Sonia Zahara, and Abdul featuring three Moiz Kamran present at Global Table—Pakistan. Justice: Women Taking a Stand in international Equity and Equality.” This topic students from Pakistan; a writing was timely considering the recent her hope for Women’s Voices is to workshop with award winning presidential election and key events “raise awareness that bias truly does novelist, Gwen Florio; panels by in the political world. Committee exist.” She wants someone to think, community members on the reintemember Michelle Stevier-Johanson, “Wow, I never thought of that!” gration of former women prisoners who has taught numerous Women’s  into society and the lack of women Studies courses in the past and has This year, Theodore Roosevelt Honin leadership positions; a recital spent nine years now involved with ors Leadership scholar Sovi Herring of women’s voices in music; and Women’s Voices, shared that her played a role on the planning coma reading by young-adult author mittee. Many of the committee Tammy Wilson. members of Women’s Voices hope The variety of that in the coming years more stuevents in this dents will become involved in the annual monthcelebration whether it be as a part long celebration of the committee or just attending provide opporthe events. Though gender equaltunity for ity may never truly be found, Lara individuals to Carlson McGoey, committee co-chair delve deeper into feels that we can slowly make our understanding way to our goal of gender equality the struggles and equity if we “keep persisting in women have everything we do. There will be setfaced in the backs and hardships, but if we keep past and the Women’s Voices committee member Linda Steve presents at the pushing, we can achieve anything.” Leadership Gap Panel. challenges that

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MOM-ISM MEMORIES —Jessica Grebner Margaret Barnhart, a published writer, teacher, and actor, has written an outstanding collection of memories in her book Home for Supper: Memories and Recipes. Barnhart cleverly begins every story with adages that she refers to as “mom-isms.” If you aren’t familiar with the adage that opens the story, have no fear because Barnhart weaves it into the story in such a way that the reader feels like the child narrator. The book delves deeper into the author’s nostalgia by including recipes for some of the comfort foods mentioned in the stories. The narrator, young Margaret, shares childhood memories from chores with her siblings to her trips to the grocery store for her mother’s request of “stupid liver.” Barnhart credits her mother with being her earliest influence in her writing. “I used to write stories when I was little and would make myself fall asleep imagining stories . . . I’ve always loved words.” The influence for her book came about when walking through a bookstore or reading new releases and noticing that so much of today’s writing presents “biographical stories about surviving a difficult childhood: abuse, dysfunctional families, and develop-

mental challenges. I asked myself, ‘Does anyone ever read about functional families or happy childhoods anymore? I consider myself blessed to have had a happy and healthy childhood with very close family ties. Perhaps what inspired me most to write the collection was remembering some of the adages my mother used to speak.’” This collection has been a workin-progress for several years and started out as a series of short essays, all of which have been submitted and workshopped with the help of Dr. Dave Solheim and the local Writer’s Exchange workshop. Solheim and his wife, Dr. Barbara Laman, were instrumental in reviewing, copy editing, and proof reading the collection. Solheim, who runs The Buffalo Commons Press, was pleased to support Barnhart’s work and make it available to the public. “The episodes were well written,” said Solheim. “I thought she had an inventive format, including recipes related to the nonfiction stories. I hope people will read and enjoy the book.” Home for Supper: Memories and Recipes is available online via The Buffalo Commons Press website at <http://www.buffalocommonspress.com>.

LANGUAGE & LITERATURE ON FACEBOOK —Lara Carlson McGoey

This spring, the department created a Facebook page. By using this social media platform, we are able to combine departmental and committee event information into one central location. Furthermore, the website can be used as a recruitment tool to spread program information to prospec-

tive DSU students. The Albers Humanities Festival, for instance, brought over 1,200 people to our page. Future promotional boosts will only increase the amount of students and community members we can reach. The Department of Language and Literature hosts many events

through Heart River Writer’s Circle, CommUniversity, Women’s Voices, and Albers, and the Facebook page is an additional tool for information broadcasting that will continue to be useful. Visit the page at <https://www.facebook.com/DSULanguageandLiterature>

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COMMUNIVERSITY 2017 In February 2017, Language & Literature’s CommUniversity offered six classes, under the continued directorship of Dr. Peter Grimes, now in his fifth year in the position. This year he was joined on the committee by English major (creative writing track) Salena Loveland; Assistant Professor of Accounting Amy Kass; Theodore Roosevelt Center Digital Library Coordinator/ Archivist, Pam Pierce; Theodore Roosevelt Center Office and Outreach Coordinator, Pamla Kukla; and community members Linda Steve and Lora Petrie. In addition to Dickinson State University and the Department of Language & Literature, this year’s CommUniversity sponsors were the American Association of University Women, Heart River Writers’ Circle, North Dakota Humanities Council, Clare Messmer at Nodak Mutual Insurance Company, High Plains Dental, Clear Creek Plumbing and Heating, Hawks Point, Baker Boy, NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center, Peace Lutheran Church, Dickinson Ready Mix, Dickinson Public Schools, Gate City Bank, Ebeltoft . Sickler . Lawyers, In Home Computer Service, Melbye Law Office, Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing, and HealthSource Chiropractic. The following titles and program descriptions announced this year’s CommUniversity offerings to the community:

Mr. Greg Walter, Assistant Professor of Art This class will explore the processes of making fermented beverages at the beginner level. We will learn the basic steps in making wine, cider, mead, and kombucha, which will taste better than what you can buy locally. Over the four weeks, class attendees will acquire the necessary knowledge for safely and successfully making these wonderfully flavorful and healthy beverages at home while gaining hands-on experience in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.

TWENTIETH-CENTURY MEXICAN MURALISM Dr. Kevin Anzzolin, Assistant Professor of Spanish This course will examine one of the most popular art movements of the twentieth century: Mexican muralism. By analyzing works by some of the most important Mexican artists—Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and José Clemente Orozco—our class will cultivate a deeper understanding of the artistic, political, and social values of our southern neighbor. Equal parts art appreciation, cultural intervention, and political discussion, the class will serve to transform the way we think about borders—whether real, imagined, or affective.

EXPERIENCING AND WRITING NATURE: AN INTRODUCTION

FOOD PRESERVATION ESSENTIALS

Mr. Marty McGoey, Adjunct Instructor of English

Mrs. Naomi Johnson, Instructor of Computer Science

This course will examine the relationship between writing and the natural world. The course will serve as a basic introduction with a combination of reading, discussion, and writing activities. Students will gain a deeper understanding of nature-based writing by studying examples from essays, fiction, and poetry, which they will then use in crafting their own creative writing.

Preserving food is an ancient art with a modern twist. Food preservation techniques are centuries old and quite varied among cultures, climates, and foods. Come explore four of the most common techniques for our region: canning, dehydrating, freezing, and fermentation. Students will learn the basics of food safety. Equipment will be available to examine, and we will evaluate the benefits and options as well as learn the basic information needed to start preserving food for yourself. Each week will cover a different topic with demonstrations and handouts on equipment to buy, recipes, as well as tips and techniques. Bring an empty notebook!

CRAFTING FERMENTED BEVERAGES (OTHER THAN BEER)

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HEROES, ROGUES, AND AUTHORS. OH MY! Ms. Pamela Pierce, TR Center Digital Library Coordinator/ Archivist; Ms. Pamela Kukla, TR Center Office and Outreach Coordinator This course will focus on real-life historical figures and how they are represented in popular culture. Figures will be divided into the following categories: heroes, authors, criminals, and rogues. Forms of popular culture used in the class will include graphic novels, film clips, and music. Discussion will highlight the ways the figures are represented in pop culture reflects or disputes the cultural values of the United States. Participants will also have the opportunity to create their own rogues via drawing, writing, or a medium of their choice.

THE CELLULOID CEILING: WOMEN AND FILM 1900-1955 Ms. Tawnia Cummings, TRiO Intake & Transition Specialist/DSU Disabilities Services Coordinator This course will focus on discussing the role of women in films (as directors, writers, and actors) from the first half of the twentieth century and their impact on film today. Passages from articles and books will be shared, along with short clips of films from each decade. Each week will feature a different era in the history of film. Students will leave the course with a deeper appreciation and understanding of the women who shaped the films of the first fifty years of cinema, as well as a long list of films to recommend to others.

HEART RIVER WRITERS’ CIRCLE 2016-17 SERIES The visiting writers and literary activities for the 2016–17 school year were arranged by director Dr. Peter Grimes and an expanded committee. Continuing committee members Dr. Steven Doherty, Professor of Political Science; Ms. Margaret Barnhart, Instructor of English; and Ms. Rita Ennen, Director of the Dickinson Area Public Library, were joined by new members Mr. Marty McGoey, Adjunct Instructor of English; Dr. Renae Ekstrand, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education; Ms. Tawnia Cummings, TRiO Intake and Transition Specialist/DSU Disabilities Services Coordinator; Ms. Salena Loveland, English major in the creative writing track; and Ms. Caitlin Meyer, Circulation Librarian and Adult Programmer at the Dickinson Area Public Library. The following activities made up this year’s series:

NATIVE AMERICANS & THE MEDIA ARTS: BRIDGING CULTURES & CREATIVE JOURNEYS Saturday September 17, 2016 / High Plains Cultural Center / Killdeer, ND

Heart River Writers’ Circle sponsored two shuttles from Dickinson to Killdeer to provide Dickinson area residents with convenient transportation to this event hosted by the Dunn County Writers. The event included a screening of the film Waterbuster and discussion with the filmmaker J. Carlos Peinado; a panel discussion moderated by Pulitzer Prize finalist Mark Trahant on the roles of Native Americans in books, film, scholarship, and journalism; readings by Mark Trahant, Susan Power, and J. Carlos Peinado; and music by Jaese Lecuyer.

HIGH PLAINS CREOLE: POET AND SINGER/SONGWRITER RICK WATSON

Wednesday October 12, 2016 / Beck Auditorium, Klinefelter Hall / Dickinson State University

Rick Watson entertaining an audience in Beck Auditorium.

Language and Literature’s 2017 Alumni Fellow, Rick Watson, performed his songs and poetry for an appreciative audience. A native North Dakotan, Watson teaches pop culture, communication arts, and music history at Minot State University. In April of 2004, he was appointed “lifetime” North Dakota Associate Poet Laureate. He thinks of his songs and poems as “High Plains Creole.”

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THE CURSE OF READING SCARED

Thursday October 27, 2016 / Dickinson Area Public Library The debut Reading Scared in 2012 was followed in 2014 with The Return of Reading Scared and in 2015 with The Revenge of Reading Scared. This was the fourth installment. Faculty, staff, students, and community members read short excerpts of frightening tales and poems, selected from world literature, ancient to contemporary. This year’s readers were HRWC committee members Margaret Barnhart; Caitlin Meyer; Marty McGoey; Salena Loveland; and Rita Ennen; joined by Assistant Professor of Spanish Kevin Anzzolin; Instructor of English Lara Carlson McGoey; Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership student Sovi Herring; Dickinson High School’s choral music and drama teacher, Michael Stevenson; DSU Adjunct Instructor Don Ehli; Associate Professor of English and Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program Director, Holly McBee; along with community members Karen Nelson, Donna Camoesas, and Jackie Hope.

EXPERIENCING AND WRITING NATURE: AN INTRODUCTION Saturdays, February 11, 18, 25, and March 4, 2017 / Hawks Point / Dickinson State University

HRWC sponsored a CommUniversity course for the first time this year, given its creative writing emphasis. The full description can be viewed under the CommUniversity schedule in this newsletter.

THE CHOKECHERRY AWARDS: A CELEBRATION OF APPALLING LITERATURE Thursday, February 23, 2017 / Dickinson Area Public Library

In this second community-reading event of the year, selections of truly dreadful published writing were Publicity poster for the Choke Cherry Awards. shared with the audience. Prizes Marty McGoey; Margaret Barnhart; were given for the best of the worst Rita Ennen; and Renae Ekstrand; writing. In the spirit of the Razzies, along with Dean of Instruction and the reading “celebrated” bad writInterim Associate Provost, Ken ing as a way to have fun and open Haught; Associate Professor of Enga conversation about what makes lish and Theodore Roosevelt Honors for quality writing. The event was Leadership Program Director, Holly emceed by HRWC committee member Steven Doherty, assisted by McBee; Dickinson High School’s choral music and drama teacher, HRWC committee member Caitlin Meyer, who decorated the space and Michael Stevenson; along with community members Karen Nelson and purchased the awards. Readers inPat Barnhart. cluded HRWC committee members

DAKOTA: A READING BY MYSTERY AUTHOR GWEN FLORIO

Tuesday, March 7, 2017 / Student Center Ballroom, Dickinson State University

Gwen Florio visits Advanced Creative Writing.

In collaboration with the Women’s Voices committee, HRWC brought novelist and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Gwen Florio to campus to read from her Lola Wicks series of mystery novels, including Dakota, which was set in western North Dakota. Florio also visited Dr. Peter Grimes’ Advanced Creative Writing class to discuss professional aspects of novel writing with the students. Wordwrights

TURNING FACT INTO FICTION: WRITING WORKSHOP WITH GWEN FLORIO Wednesday, March 8, 2017 / Dickinson Area Public Library

On the day after her reading, Florio led a two-hour writing workshop open to community members. The workshop led students in a process that started with creating a character and ended with constructing a plot around that character. A dozen people participated in the writing workshop, including Language & Literature faculty, DSU students, and community members.

BREAKING THE SILENCE: READING BY YOUNG-ADULT AUTHOR TAMMY WILSON

Gwen Florio leads a community writing workshop at Dickinson Area Public Library.

Thursday, March 23, 2017 / Student Center Ballroom, Dickinson State University Also in collaboration with this year’s Women’s Voices, HRWC brought young adult novelist and elementary school principal Tammy Wilson to read from Through My Eyes. The book tells the story of Zamzam, who, after being caught in Somalia’s horrific civil war, escapes with her mother, sister, and brothers to America. But when she arrives, she learns that she has to deal with biases and stereotyping she isn’t prepared to handle. Before the reading, Wilson met with three Dickinson State education classes: Chris McCoy’s Teaching for Diversity, Darla Hoffmann’s Children’s Literature, and Kevin Moberg’s Adolescent Literature. The next morning, Wilson visited Hagen Junior High to meet with eleven students who had read her book.

Tammy Wilson reads from her young adult novel in the Student Center ballroom.

COME HOME FOR SUPPER: AN EVENING WITH MEMOIRIST MARGARET BARNHART

Tuesday, April 25, 2017 / Beck Auditorium, Klinefelter Hall, Dickinson State University Margaret Barnhart’s second book, a memoir titled Home for Supper: Memories and Recipes, was published this spring by The Buffalo Commons Press. Barnhart read from her book for the penultimate HRWC event of the year. The memoir includes twelve stories and more than thirty recipes from Barnhart’s childhood in post-WW II Richardton, ND.

Margaret signing her book for one of her readers.

FINDING THE PIECES: WRITING WORKSHOP WITH MARGARET BARNHART Wednesday, April 26, 2017 / Dickinson Area Public Library

The evening following her reading, Barnhart led a free writing workshop open to the public in which she shared her memoirwriting experience with interested writers. She also presented memory-trip exercises intended to help them find the little pieces of their lives that carry significance. Using quilt-making as an analogy, she asked participants to focus on individual pieces that make up the “fabric of their lives.” Participants created brief vignettes and discussed how these pieces might be “stitched together” to create a larger work.

Margaret reads from her book.

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GACETILLA* —Dr. Kevin Anzzolin

DSU freshman Daniel Suazo was hired as a teaching assistant for Dr. Anzzolin’s Spanish 101 and 102 courses. Daniel is originally from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, known as the industrial capital of the country. In his role as a T.A., Mr. Suazo was tasked with perfecting pronunciation in the L2, or students’ second language, and helping with classroom activities. His presence has been greatly beneficial to the Spanish program. New Mexico native, volleyball player, and Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership scholar Aimee Molina and Dr. Anzzolin met with local teachers of English Language Learning at Roosevelt Elementary School the week of January 30, 2017 in order to translate from Spanish to English during ParentTeacher conferences. Other collaborative efforts between local schools and DSU Spanish tutors will be explored in the future. For the first time, this spring Dr. Anzzolin offered an experimental class—Conversational Spanish—which included among its students DSU undergraduates, DSU faculty, and even members of the Dickinson community. The course was conceived as a crash course in Spanish,

focusing on aural comprehension and oral production. Student Cristina Herrera Guzmán, a TR scholar originally from Bakersfield, California, served as the course’s teaching assistant. Dr. Anzzolin, along with his Spanish tutors—students Aimee Molina and Daniel Suazo— have been meeting regularly with students from Mrs. Wegner’s Spanish III course at Dickinson High School. These informal chats in Spanish—dubbed by Dr. Anzzolin simply as “Charlas con Chocolate”—take place on Fridays between 11:15 and 12:45 in May Hall, room 205.

Dr. Kevin Anzzolin eating esquites (Mexican street food) at first annual Harvest Festival on October1 in King’s Pavilion. The festival highlighted different organizations and businesses from around the Dickinson community.

During this academic year, the Spanish Club hosted various activities in order to promote awareness of Latin@ heritage, cultivate a love of Spanish, and provide entertainment to the DSU community. In September, the Spanish Club hosted Dickinson’s favorite balladeer, Román Sánchez, while dining on tortilla española, sopa de arroz, and horchata. On Halloween, the Spanish Club decorated plastic of Paris skulls in hopes of

furthering awareness of how different cultures participate in holidays and, furthermore, how they understand death. Finally, before winter break, Dr. Anzzolin debuted a new vaporizador—a large steaming pot—in which he had cooked a traditional Christmas delicacy: tamales. *Gacetilla roughly translates from Spanish as “notes in brief.”

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SOPHOMORE AND SENIOR PROJECTS Matthew Buettner is pursuing an English education degree. Originally from Richardton, Buettner graduated from Richardton-Taylor High School in 2004 and first pursued his higher education at North Dakota State University. Throughout the years, he has worked in various industries incorporating a wide variety of skill sets. He has explored jobs ranging from the food service industry to farming and ranching to oil field labor. In 2016, Buettner decided to transfer to DSU to pursue a long-desired career in teaching. Buettner’s sophomore project, “The Adolescent Experience: Teaching English Language Arts to Developing and Capable Minds,” described the cognitive thought process of the human mind and elements of the cognitive process that are essential to learning. From a general assessment of cognition, the work shifted to identify the cognitive changes that take place in the adolescent mind and what particular teaching strategies are best for educating adolescents. The final focus addressed the best specific strategies for use with students of English language arts, and how these strategies support the developing cognitive features of the adolescent mind.

Matthew Buettner

 Janae Miller grew up in Huff, ND, and attended school in Mandan. She graduated in May with a major in English education and a minor in psychology. Her passion for English runs deep. She knew she wanted to teach English since she was in high school. She did her student teaching at Mandan High School, her alma mater, teaching English III, creative writing, and British literature. She hopes to obtain a teaching position in either a middle school or high school. Janae’s senior project focused on the teaching of English, specifically teaching challenging texts. Using The Odyssey, she explored the use of project-based assessment—that is, assessment that tests not knowing but rather applying knowledge. Through the use of project-based assessment and a challenging text, the students learn multimodal literacies, including speaking, listening, reading, writing, creating visuals, and interpreting visuals. In the example unit, the students use their knowledge of The Odyssey to create scripts, cutscenes, and an advertisement for a video game based on one of the journeys in the story.  Jessica Schmeichel graduated in May with a B.S.Ed. in English education. As William Arthur Ward stated, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” As a teacher, it is her goal to embody the great teacher Ward describes. By doing so, she believes she can make a positive impact on her students and her community.

Janae Miller

Schmeichel’s senior project, “LOTL (Live One Thousand Lives)” was intended to engage students in reading and give students an academic voice in reviewing novels. By answering questions on literary merit, themes, why the student liked the book, and why the student would recommend it to others, along with creating a summary of the book, students view the thoughts of their peers through literature review. “LOTL” also helps students think critically about literature. For more information please visit <https://lotlsite.wordpress.com>.

Jessica Schmeichel

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NEW FACULTY INTRODUCTIONS Dr. Kevin Anzzolin, Assistant Professor of Spanish I arrived at Dickinson State University in 2016, where I now serve as an Assistant Professor of Spanish. Here, I teach a range of classes in Spanish and English. This academic year, I have found my Intercultural Communication course to be particularly energizing, as it is the first time I have taught a class in this field. All of my education took place at the University of Chicago. After graduating with a B.A. in English literature, I spent two years in Valencia, Spain, where I taught ESL and enjoyed life on the sunny Mediterranean. Having returned from Spain, I obtained an M.A. in Humanities before teaching high school for one year. I graduated with a Ph.D. in 2014 after writing a dissertation entitled “Guardians of Discourse: Literature and Journalism in Porfirian Mexico (1887-1912).” My research continues to focus primarily on Mexican narrative and cultural studies from the 19th to the 21st centuries, and my publications have appeared in Letras hispanas, Céfiro, and Studies in Latin American Popular Culture.

Dr. Kevin Anzzolin

In my free time, I enjoy exercising, learning new recipes, planning my next trip to Mexico, and hiking through the notable number of national parks found in North Dakota and Montana. 

Lara Carlson McGoey, Instructor of English I joined the Department of Language and Literature in fall of 2016. For the past five years, I have taught at five universities in South Dakota as an adjunct instructor, both online and in person. At the University of South Dakota, I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English with an emphasis in British literature. I enjoy teaching different levels of composition and literature courses and work under the philosophy that without good writing skills, one cannot communicate effectively. I recently had an article published entitled “Women’s Production and Reproduction in Downton Abbey: Gender Role Parallels across Time and Space.” Applying critical theory to media is a favorite research area of mine; using gender studies when analyzing Victorian literature is another area on which I concentrate. I am also interested in working more with English language learners, and I plan to earn a certificate in ESL methodology later this year. When I’m not reading or writing, I spend time with my dog, Hermes, aptly named after the trickster characteristics of the Greek god.

Lara Carlson McGoey

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Marty McGoey, Adjunct Instructor of English

Marty McGoey

I serve as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Language and Literature, primarily teaching courses in composition. My wife, Lara Carlson McGoey and I moved to Dickinson from Sioux Falls, SD, and I began at DSU in the fall of 2016. In the past, I’ve taught composition courses as an adjunct instructor for the University of South Dakota, Southeast Technical Institute, Augustana University, and Northwest Iowa Community College. I earned my Bachelor’s in secondary education from Concordia University–Nebraska in 2006. After undergrad, I worked as a high school and middle school English teacher at Trinity Lutheran School in St. Francis, MN, for three years before going back to further my education. I received my M.A. in English from the University of Northern Iowa in 2012, after which I was awarded the Lakeside Lab Writing Fellowship, an opportunity that gave me a chance to focus on my nature writing at Lake Okoboji, IA, during which I also taught writing workshops to high school and adult learners. I’ve continued this trend of teaching others about nature writing both with college students as well as adult learners in 2017’s CommUniversity program. When I’m not taking the dog out or watching Netflix, I also work as an online writing tutor for Pearson, and I’m currently writing a series of nature essays and a science fiction novel. 

Kevin Moberg, Assistant Professor of Education and Chair of the Department of Teacher Education

Kevin Moberg

I serve as Assistant Professor of Education and Chair of the Department of Teacher Education. Starting in the fall of 2017, I will be Assistant Professor of English and Education, teaching in the Department of Language and Literature while serving as co-chair for my current department. I look forward to “getting back to my roots” in English! I came to DSU in 2006 to serve as the Writing Center and Supplemental Instruction Coordinator, training writing tutors and co-teaching basic writing courses with English faculty members. In 2008, I joined the Department of Teacher Education as a faculty member and have served as Chair since 2013. I teach courses on educational technology, adolescent literature, and teaching methods for secondary English language arts. Prior to working at DSU, I taught high school English, theatre, speech, and French. I also taught human relations and communications courses at a community college, and I was the Assistant Director of the Composition Program in the Department of English at the University of North Dakota. My wife is a high school teacher and librarian/ media center specialist. We have three daughters, one of them a DSU student and the other two current high schoolers but future Blue Hawks. Wordwrights

CURRENT FACULTY —Megan Dailey

I have enjoyed the chance to meet with each member of the faculty individually, and asked them each two questions:

After these interviews, I composed their answers into poems. The first four lines of each poem refer to the first question, and the last four lines refer to the second.

1. What were you like as an undergraduate student? 2. How has this influenced your teaching?

MS. MARGARET BARNHART

had more than one college experience— one as a shy, traditional student, the other building up her confidence. But it was during the latter, after time spent in the theatre, that she developed the persona with which her students are enraptured. 

DR. HOLLY MCBEE,

Ms. Margaret Barnhart

the outspoken social rebel, dressed in grunge fashion, came here ready to excel. She now teaches students to empower their voices, to back up ideas and make their own choices. 

MS. LARA CARLSON MCGOEY,

Dr. Holly McBee

following her adventurous side, attended college out of state, and practiced tutoring in her spare time. The tutoring she now uses for meeting one-on-one with students, and the adventure can be seen, by radical essay topics of which she allows usage. 

Ms. Lara Carlson McGoey

MS. MICHELLE STEVIER, self-described as “geeky,” dropped out of college twice, living her life freely.

Now a professor herself, she recalls her past teachers’ phrases, and showers deserving students with similar praises. 16

Ms. Michelle Stevier

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DR. KEVIN ANZZOLIN

liked museums and disco tech. He indulged in self-exploration, but managed to keep his studies in check. He thinks learning is most effective when it’s done outside the classroom, so he brings in speakers, images, and videos, to supply authentic knowledge for students to consume. 

DR. PETER GRIMES

Dr. Kevin Anzzolin

received a 50% in chemistry, before deciding philosophy and psychology would be where he’d spend his energy. He brings in visiting authors and manages publications such as this. He works tirelessly with his students and lets no typo escape un-noticed. 

MR. MARTY MCGOEY

admits he was not usually on task, since his professors required only a final product, with no evidence of rough drafts.

Dr. Peter Grimes

Not a fan of this method, he has made it his rival, by requiring his own students to submit drafts before the final.  Mr. Marty McGoey

DR. JIM MCWILLIAMS

has always enjoyed reading and writing, and his experiences in grad school are what makes his teaching enticing. He uses the Socratic method, encouraging discussion rather than lecture. He questions his students, making each class an adventure. 

MR. KEVIN MOBERG

was once a computer science major, till an English professor noticed him, and became a life changer.

Mr. Kevin Moberg

Dr. Jim McWilliams

He always enjoyed teachers who were more outgoing and interactive, so he models his classroom likewise, while always remaining adaptive.

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ALUMNI UPDATES

David Brauhn, B. A. in Writing, Fall 1998 I’m the Communications Manager for the City of Walla Walla, Washington. My son, Samuel, just turned two. My wife, Emily, manages the fine dining restaurant Passatempo Taverna. I have earned awards for the city’s email newsletters and web videos and have given presentations on social media and other topics. I will be presenting at the California Public Information Officers conference in April. Life is good, and I can’t complain.

Ty Salsbery, B. S. Ed. in English Education, Fall 2006

David Brauhn

After graduating from DSU, I worked as a secondary English teacher and coach in Whitewater, MT, for two years and in Idaho Falls, ID, for three years. The last six years, I have been a school administrator and work in a wonderful school district in Idaho Falls. My wife, Kelsey, and I have two children—Kirby (five) and Brenner (one). I will forever cherish my time with the professors and coaches at DSU. The experience I had while attending DSU prepared me for a successful career. Go, Bluehawks!

Meghan Bartz, B. A. in Writing, Spring 2007 After getting my Writing degree at DSU, I decided to get a B. S. in Biology (wildlife option). I started working in the oilfield after graduation in 2011. I am on my sixth year in an oilfield lab as a laboratory technician. My job has sent me places I never thought I would go, and I have been working on my second book for several years. I hope to finish it this summer. I also keep a log of what goes on in my life in the Bakken. I am always writing, whether it be journaling my adventures, writing poetry, or composing short stories.

Ty Salsbery

Cassandra Moos, B. S. in Writing, Spring 2008 Hello! I am currently finishing up my first tenured year as a K–12 Art Teacher in rural Montana. This year was our first full year of working on a K–12 writing curriculum for our school with the partnership of the Yellowstone Writing Project, based out of Montana State University– Bozeman. I was one of three original staff members asked to be on the on-site leadership team to help pilot this developing program. With this responsibility, I got to travel to New Orleans this January to work with the National Writing Project to plan how the grant money will best serve our project and our students.

Meghan Bartz

Chris Aarhus, B. S. in Writing, Spring 2009 Since graduating from Dickinson State University, I have been working in communications. Until August of 2016, I had been a sportswriter for the Jamestown Sun with prior stops in Minot and Dickinson. I was honored and humbled to be named North Dakota sportswriter of the year

Cassandra Moos

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in 2014. Currently, I am the editor for The Union Farmer, which is the staple publication of the North Dakota Farmers Union. I enjoy writing about family farm agriculture and educating consumers about where their food comes from. My wife, Tara, and I continue to reside in Jamestown.

Tricia Myran, B. A. in English, Spring 2013

Chris Aarhus

After graduating from Dickinson State, I bought a new house in Dickinson, where I live with my son and cat, Sapphire. My daughter lives nearby with my first granddaughter, who is my world. I like to write nonfiction, poetry, and prose, and I’m a member of the Writer’s Exchange that meets monthly at Hawks Point. While working toward my degree, I worked at Western Cooperative Credit Union’s branch in Hebron. Luckily, I was able to transfer to WCCU in Dickinson and worked as a teller before getting promoted to Imaging/Loan Assistant. Life is good!

Nathan Amberg, B. S. Ed. in English Education, Spring 2014

Tricia Myran

After college every day seems to quickly turn to weeks and months. Time flies. It feels like I was just sitting in one of Dr. McBee’s classes, but the truth is that it has been three years and I’m almost finished with a Master’s degree. My wife just started a new job with U. S. Foods, and our daughter is doing fantastic in first grade. I’ve spent the last three years teaching at Dickinson High School, where I coach speech and student congress. I’ve wanted to coach speech since I was in high school, so it really is a dream come true. The speech team got 2nd place at state in 2015, and were the state champions in 2016. The students are also working extremely hard towards regionals and state this year.

Robert Meador, B. S. Ed. in English Education, Fall 2014

Nathan Amberg

9:00 AM: Wake up, grapple with existential dread. 10:00 AM: Conduct office hours, wonder if any students will come by to ask a question (they don’t), review lesson plan, think to self oh, they’ll like this (they don’t). 11:00 AM: Teach two sections of College Composition II, resist urge to scream “THINK” often, hang on to that one student’s insightful comment like a flotation device. 2:00 PM: Write. At an alternating percentage of 51% Satisfaction / 49% Self-hatred. 5:00 PM: Attend a visiting writer reading and be amazed at the capability of the human mind (favorites have been Ross Gay, Lydia Davis, Terrence Hayes, Stuart Dybek). 6:30 PM: Enjoy three hours of fiction workshop with creative, engaged, passionate peers and literal genius writer-professors, who are inexplicably humble, kind, patient, and unselfish. 9:30 PM: Go to bar with peers and talk about McCarthy’s singularity, Morrison’s horrible beauty, Nabokov’s voice, and be fascinated. 11:30 PM: Feel unending gratitude to Dr. Peter Grimes and Dr. Holly McBee for making this possible. *Meador is pursuing an M. F. A. in creative writing at Texas State University, in San Marcos.

Robert Meador

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Kaylie Strandberg, B. S. Ed. in English Education, Spring 2015 My dear Dickinson State University, I can honestly say that I would not be where I am without you. Today, I am teaching at Ogden High School in Ogden, UT. I am in my dream location, teaching my favorite subjects, with students that teach me more about diversity and life than I ever could have imagined. I have multiple items of DSU memorabilia around my room, in hopes of showing my students that there are many amazing colleges that they can attend, even if they are in locations that seem far away (and flat). I cannot thank DSU enough. I am so blessed to know that I received my education from not only such an amazing school, but fantastic professors that leave me aspiring to be greater. Thank you.

Kaylie Strandberg

Cassandra Johnson, B. A. in Writing, Fall 2015 Since graduating from DSU, I was fortunate enough to receive a job at The Mix 105.7 radio station right here in Dickinson. It has definitely been a learning experience, considering I had no prior experience with radio broadcasting, but in the last year I’ve learned a lot. I’ve also found ways to use my writing degree by receiving the privilege of writing and editing ads, as well as writing professional emails and letters to our clients. I’ve even been allowed to do some live broadcasting. I’ve also been fortunate enough to meet and speak with interesting people, either on the phone or in person, including Casey Allen and Kat Perkins.

Cassandra Johnson

ALUMNI, FORMER FACULTY, AND FRIENDS: SEND US YOUR NEWS! We are always seeking news from our constituents, so please let us know what you are doing. Please send your news, story ideas, address updates, and other information to: Language and Literature Chair Dr. Jim McWilliams 291 Campus Dr. Dickinson, ND 58601 Office 701-483-2316 jim.mcwilliams@dickinsonstate.edu

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