PhD Student in Early English Studies and CRL

Academic Interests: Medieval women's writing, textual editing and analysis, folklore and mythology, rhetoric and identity, rhetoric and technology, technical communication

Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK

Previous Degrees: BA English/History, MA English University of Nevada Las Vegas

Why OU? The Chaucer Variorum, plus it's close to home.
Extracurricular Interests & Activities: Reading, raising a couple of grandkids, OU football, tilting at windmills, OU football, writing, OU football, cooking and eating. Did I mention OU football? :)

E-mail:alexander@ou.edu

MA Student in American Studies

Academic Interests: My academic interests include a sincere appreciation for the Harlem Renaissance, a fascination with the concept of American Exceptionalism, and a growing interest in the social movements of the 1950s in America.

Hometown: Bartlesville, OK

Previous Degrees: A.A. - Rose State College; B.A. English, OU

Why OU? I graduated from here and I was intrigued by the opportunity to study material to a greater depth with professors I have come to know and respect deeply.

Extracurricular Interests: I am a father of two, as well as an active member of the PTA. I volunteer for neighborhood watch duty, and I also serve as the president of the local Sigma Tau Delta/The English Club chapter.

E-Mail Address: kylebaker@ou.edu

Katie K. Bramlett Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy MA Student

Academic interests: I am interested in composition pedagogy, English as a Second Language Students, Service Learning Literature, and rhetoric and identity.

Hometown: Alva, Oklahoma

Previous degrees: BA from the University of Oklahoma in English with a German minor

Why OU? I choose the CRL OU program because it's a great school, town, and program. The teachers really care about their students and it's an easy town to balance your academic and social life.

Extracurricular activites & interests? Student Association of Graduate English Scholars (SAGES), reading, writing, running, Germany, and traveling.

Email: katiebramlett@ou.edu

MA Student in Native American Studies

Academic interests: Indigenous women, oral traditions, government policy and sovereignty

Hometown: Tahlequah, OK by way of La Crescenta, CA

Previous degrees: BA in English and History, MA in History

Why OU? It has been a childhood dream to attend OU. It has a Native American Studies department in its initial offering this year, and a strong academic reputation.

Extracurricular activities & interests: I’m an activist and will probably be involved in Native issues. I love football and support all women’s sports.

Email: lcarey@ou.edu or tawodi02@yahoo.com

PhD Student in Modernity and Theory

Academic interests: 20th century British literature, philosophy and literature, ethics and literature

Hometown: Cluf-Napoca, Romania

Previous degrees: BA and MA, University of Cluf

Extracurricular activities & interests: Basketball, music, painting

Email: ddarvay@ou.edu

Nancy El Gendy PhD Student in Native American Literature and Gender Studies.

PhD Student in Native American Literature and Gender Studies.

Academic Interests:  Cultural, Literary and Comparative Studies with and emphasis on issues of Ethnicity, Gender, Race, and Class.

Country:  Egypt

Previous Degrees:  MA in English, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt; BA in English, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Why OU?  Decent doctoral program, incredibly diverse areas of studies, knowledgeable, well-read and well-published faculty members with various areas of expertise. I really love the friendly atmosphere I am experiencing at OU. As an international student, I greatly appreciate the warm feeling and the generous help that everybody at OU has endowed me with. In fact, I am both achieving my goals and having fun. Thanks for the Department of English for having me here.

Extracurricular Interests:  Dancing, camping, reading, walking, swimming, chatting, shopping, watching movies, cooking, going to parties, learning foreign languages, meeting new people, and EATING OUT!!!

E-Mail Address:  nelgengy@ou.edu

PhD Student in American Studies

Academic interests: Contemporary African American Literature, such as Terry McMillan; the issue of the current African American female identity: its effects on the way we view ourselves as women, 19th Century Slave Narratives, Autobiography and Memoir, African American Popular Culture, and Composition Studies.

Hometown: Fresno, CA

Previous Degrees: BA in English and African American Studies and MA in English at California State U, Fresno.

Extracurricular Interests: Roller blading, stepping with my sorority, watching movies, and journal writing.

E-Mail Address: yguillory@hotmail.com

Brian Hudson Ph.D. student in Literary and Cultural Studies focusing on Native American Literatures with a secondary emphasis in Theory

Academic interests: Native American theory and literatures, Cherokee literature and culture, Human-Animal Studies, Critical Animal Studies, Indigenous futurism, late nineteenth to early twentieth century Irish literature.

Hometown: Bushyhead, OK

Previous degrees: Bachelor of Arts from Northeastern State University with a major in English and a minor in Psychology.

Why OU? Several respected professors I encountered during my undergraduate studies received their doctoral degrees from OU. They informed me that the faculty members at this university are continually publishing works in their field, and therefore have their fingers on the pulse of the current critical schools and movements. The fields of theory and Native American studies are of particular interest to me, and OU is highly regarded in both of these arenas.

Extracurricular activities & interests: reading good literature, singing bad karaoke, rescuing animals, and playing roller derby.

PhD Student in Composition/Rhetoric/Literacy with a secondary emphasis in Native American Studies.

Academic interests: Oklahoma regional studies, working class studies, transnationalism, rhetorical recovery, archival work, and community literacy partnerships.

Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK

Previous degrees: MA in English Language and Literature (emphasis on American Literature), University of Tulsa; BA in English, minor in philosophy, University of Central Oklahoma

Why OU? The faculty in the CRL program and their areas of interest, and the opportunities for experience in writing program administration and curriculum design.

Extracurricular activities & interests: My activities include involvement in professional organizations such as the National Council of Teachers of English and Rhetoric Society of America, tribal organizations such as the Cherokee Historical Society, the Chickasaw Arts and Humanities Division, and the Meredith Indigenous Humanities Center, and state organizations such as the Oklahoma Humanities Council. I am interested in local history and culture, community building, sustainable agriculture, and grassroots art.

Anything else of interest? I coordinate the Kiowa Clemente Course in the Humanities through the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.

Email: Rachel.C.Jackson@ou.edu

Sara elizabeth Jordan PhD Student in Later British Literature and Theory and Media Studies

Academic interests:  Later Victorian/Early Modernism/ist British literature and cultural history (roughly 1850-WWII) and Discourse Theories (particularly of gender and/or sexuality, language, and the Novel).

Hometown: Emporia, KS

Previous degrees: M.A. University of Kansas, Literature and Literary Theory, July 2007; B.A. University of Kansas, English, May 2004; B.A. University of Kansas, History, May 2004.

Why OU? Since I was a young child, I have been fascinated by Interstate-35, affectionately called 1-35 by those in the know. Being based in cosmopolitan Norman affords me the opportunity to spend hours upon hours driving to visit friends and family who live along this tar beauty as far north as Kansas City, Missouri and as far south as Austin, Texas. Also, this fair metro has the fine distinction of providing an outpost to almost all outposts of corporate America, particularly of the “food” variety.

The strength and depth of faculty in my areas of interests, as well as the tremendously supportive graduate program and First-Year Composition reaffirms my decision “finish” my education at OU. More importantly, the community of graduate students and teaching instructors has been incredibly beneficial to me as I begin the process of professionalization.

Extracurricular activities & interests: I may or may not enjoy, on occasion, the following: books, other reading materials, organizing, sarcastic comments, trivial information, dogs (specifically my peculiar cocker spaniel, orion), my old friends who are like family and my family whom I enjoy as friends, meeting new people & making new friends, traveling (armchair & otherwise), house building & architecture, furniture & craftsmanship, over-accessorizing, car dancing, pool (billiards not water sports, I do not like to be wet), pondering today’s youth and their bizarre ways, dancing (preferably to live music or music that is alive), intensely overthinking the ramifications of language "choice" in attempt to provide the most "accurate" re-presentation, uncapitalizing letters to save them from absolutism.

Email: s.e.jordan@ou.edu

Ph.D. Candidate focusing on literature of the British Romantic period with a secondary emphasis in 18th-Century British literature.

Academic interests: representations of consumer and commodity culture; urban life and culture, particularly in London; flânerie or the art of walking in London; sensibility.

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Previous degrees: BA in English from the University of Texas at Tyler; MA in English (literary and cultural studies) from the University of Oklahoma

Why OU? The supportive graduate student community and the English department, excellent and supportive professors, teaching experience.

Excurricular activies & interests: travel, spending time with family, amateur film studies, long walks, reading, cooking and eating, and hanging out with my corgi, Rutherford.

Email: amanda_klinger@ou.edu

PhD Student in Later British/Anglophone and Gender Studies

Academic Interests: The Victorion Irish Gothic; Irish Nationalism(s); Dandyism and Late-Victorian Masculinities

Homestate: Texas

Previous Degrees: BA - University of Texas at Tyler; MA - University of Oklahoma

Why OU? Why not?

Extracurricular Interests: Reading, travel, pets, painting, textile art, irony, confusion, absurdity

E-Mail Address: mlee@ou.edu

Jarrod A. McCartney PhD Student

Academic interests: Transatlantic Modernism, Masculinity and Sport Studies, Native American Studies

Hometown: Red Cloud, NE

Previous degrees: B.A. in English Literature and in Philosophy from Hastings College in Hastings, NE. M.A. in English/American Studies from Kansas State University

Why OU? I chose OU because of the diverse strengths of the program. I am simultaneously studying Modernism, Native American Studies, and Sports and finding a surprising amount of overlap due in part to the diligence and support of my peers and my academic advisors. The atmosphere is collegial instead of cutthroat.

Extracurricular activites & interests? Baseball (especially the New York Mets), music, television, film, gardening, outdoor activities, making lists.

Email: jarrodmccartney@hotmail.com

MA Student in Theory

Academic Interests: Gender studies, queer theory, literary criticism/theory, performance studies, Shakespeare, modern drama, 19th cent. British Romanticism and American Transcendentalism, Gothic Romanticism, etc. etc. etc.

Hometown: Richmond, VA

Previous Degrees: B.A. in English, Oklahoma Christian University; B.S. in Theatre Performance, Oklahoma Christian University

Why OU? The best opportunity to gain teaching experience while reciving a superior education in an exciting community!

Extracurricular Interests: reading, creative writing, performance (acting, singing, dancing), sending and reciving handwritten letters

E-Mail Address: paul.mitchell@ou.edu

Joseph E. Mulder MA in Literary & Cultural Studies

Academic interests: Creative Writing, Technical Writing, Film.

Hometown: Prinsburg, MN

Previous degrees: AA from Ridgewater College; BA in Literature & Creative Writing from Southwest Minnesota State University

Why OU? I chose OU in order to gain experience teaching and designing lesson plans for the composition classroom. I also wanted to collaborate with faculty, friends, and colleagues from the OU English department and become a part of Sooner Nation.

Extracurricular activites & interests? Movies, Writing, Running, Concerts, Thunder Basketball, Vikings Football

Email: Joseph.E.Mulder-1@ou.edu

PhD Student in Modernity and Theory

Academic interests: Psychoanalysis, Feminism, World Literature, and Literature in English.

Hometown: Irbid, Jordan

Previous degrees: B.A. in English Language and Literature (1999) and M.A. in English Literature (2003), Yarmouk University, Jordan.

Why OU? I came to OU because it has such a good school of English Studies and special areas of concentration. Life in Oklahoma is also relatively cheap for international students. Above all, OU has a special exchange agreement with my home university (Hashemite University) back in Jordan.

Extracurricular activities & interests: I enjoy swimming, body building, and learning foreign languages.

Email: shadistar2@ou.edu

Sarah O'Connell MA Native American Literature

Academic interests: Indigenous women’s literature, Native American literature and poetry, Gender and queer theory

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Previous degrees: BA in English and American Indian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Why OU? Its national reputation for producing top scholars and teachers of Native American literature and writing

Listening to Glen Hansard and The Frames, spending time with family and friends, watching American Indian films, attending local theatre, swimming

Email: sarahjay@ou.edu

MA Student in Theory and Media

Academic Interests: Theory, Gender Studies, Rhetoric and Technology, Linguistics, Creative Writing

Hometown: Tulsa, OK

Previous Degrees: BA English,University of Central Arkansas

Why OU? I am excited about joining this great community while gaining teaching experience and pursuing my Masters degree. OU is a great fit for me!

Extracurricular Interests: running, reading, writing, history

E-Mail Address: Alison.Page@ou.edu

PhD Student in Native American Studies

Academic interests: Mvskoke centered literature, Native American literature and drama, Native American film

Hometown: Seminole Nation (Mvskoke Confederacy)

Previous degrees: BA in Native American Studies, University of Oklahoma; MA in American Indian Studies, UCLA

Why OU? Faculty, graduate courses, Native American language courses, library collection, etc.

Email: ndnphd@hotmail.com

MA Student in Later British Literature

Academic Interests: Modern literature - particularly science fiction

Hometown: Shawnee, OK

Previous Degrees: A.A. - Rosestate College - Liberal Arts; B.A. English - OU

Why OU? I love Norman!

Extracurricular Interests: Reading popular novels, playing with kitty Ralph

E-Mail Address: susanpratt@ou.edu

PhD Student in American Studies

Academic interests: Jewish American literature, 19th century women writings, especially the turn of the 19th into the 20th century

Hometown: Beniamina, Israel

Previous degrees: BA University of Haifa; MA in English, University of Oklahoma

Extracurricular activities & interests: Movies, films, cinema…

Email: rabkinorit@ou.edu

Michael M. Rifenburg 4th year PhD in C/R/L

Academic interests: Histories of Composition, Research Methodologies, Student-Athlete Literate Development, Classical Rhetoric

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Previous degrees: MA (Auburn University), BA (Georgia College & State University)

Why OU? Great town, great program

Extracurricular activites & interests? Biking, sports, boardgames, raising a kid

Email: rifenburg@ou.edu

Steven B. Sexton PhD Student in Native American Studies Grad Foundation Fellow

Academic interests: Native American literature, poetry, modern and postmodern

Hometown: Lawton, OK

Previous degrees: BA in English, University of New Mexico

Why OU? It’s the best program for my field

Extracurricular activities & interests: Going to the beach, climbing mountains, golf, trick-or-treating, accounting, volleyball, cross-country skiing, hot air balloon piloting, bowling, picnics, watching television, OU football (BOOMER!!)

Anything else of interest? I have no birthmarks

Email: chocpaw@ou.edu

MA Student in Theory

Academic interests:  Structuralism, poststructuralism, and 1920s and 1930s American poetry.

Hometown:  Memphis, TN

Previous Degrees:  BA English from Harding University

Why OU?  Good theory program and a good teacher-prep program.

Extracurricular Interests:  Writing poetry

Anything else of interest?  I am a Protestant Christian.

E-Mail Address: nathanshank@hotmail.com

Heidi M. Silcox PhD Student (3rd Year)

Academic interests: Late 19th/early 20th century British and American literature. Specifically, I study Aestheticism in a transatlantic context during this time frame.

Hometown: Uniontown, Ohio

Previous degrees: B.A. The Ohio State University; J.D. The University of Akron School of Law; M.A. The University of Central Oklahoma

Extracurricular activities & interests: Writing science fiction (I am currently working on a steampunk novel in the spirit of Cherie Priest), attending plays, and traveling.

Email: hmmsilcox@ou.edu

Elizabeth K. Smith PhD Student

Academic interests: Nineteenth-century American Literature, Geography and Cartography

Hometown: Springfield, MO

Previous degrees: B.A. English Literature, Minor in History (University of North Carolina at Charlotte), M.A. in English Literature (University of North Carolina at Charlotte)

Why OU? I was especially attracted to the departmental emphasis in cultural studies and theory, and resources available for undertaking interdisciplinary research.

Extracurricular activities & interests: Running, hiking, and spending summer months in Colorado.

Anything else of interest? I ran cross country and track as an undergraduate, and have competed in Chicago Marathon (2009) and New York City Marathon (2011). I look forward to running Boston Marathon this Spring, 2013.

Email: lizsmith@ou.edu

PhD Student in Modernity and Theory (postcolonial and poststructuralism)

Academic interests: I intend to study how minority cultures have used the novel, specifically realism in the novel, to gain mainstream acceptance. Research includes Lukacs, Said, Rudolfo Anaya, Spivak, J.M. Coetzee, Gabriel Marquez, etc.

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Previous degrees: BA, Baylor University; MA, University of Oklahoma

Why OU? I wanted to go to a school that could beat Texas A&M in every sport

Extracurricular activities & interests: Baseball, triathlons, home and garden TV (thanks to my wife!)

Anything else of interest? No, I’m relatively plain.

Email: tommyjr@ou.edu

Tara K. Wood PhD candidate in the Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy Program

Academic interests: I am interested in the intersection between disability studies and composition pedagogy, as well as issues of access, feminist theory, and pain/trauma narratives.

Hometown: Wichita Falls, TX

Previous degrees: MA in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition, from Colorado State University and a BA in English with a concentration in Writing, also from Colorado State University

Why OU? The CRL program at OU suits my academic goals and my family is from the region.

Extracurricular activites & interests? In my spare time, I enjoy recreating in the outdoors, playing piano, practicing yoga, and spending time with my beautiful family.

Email: twood@ou.edu

Daren A. Young MA Student in Composition, Rhetoric and Literacy

Academic interests: Territorialism, Existential philosophy, the Rhetoric of Power, 20 th-Century Lit.

Hometown: Palestine, TX

Previous degrees: B. A. in English Lang. and Lit., University of Texas at Tyler, 2005

Why OU? I chose OU for my graduate work because it is respected in my field, and because the program here was willing to get me right into the classroom--doing the very thing I'm studying to do.

Extracurricular activities & interests: Poetry, Feng Shui, Bowling, Music (spectator), Pop-psychology on the Internet

Email: darenayoung@ou.edu