Section
Eastern University English
English Grad

Careers

What can you do with an English major?
The answer is “almost anything.” There are some obvious answers to this question--teaching, writing, editing--and others that are not so obvious. An English major will help prepare you for any job that requires skill in writing and speaking, and which values knowledge of literature, history, culture, and human nature--and that applies to a wide range of careers.

Here are some paths followed by Eastern English majors.

Graduate and professional school. Our graduates have gone on to further training in English, history, theology, and law at institutions including Harvard, Princeton, Boston University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Connecticut, West Chester University, Villanova University, and the University of Tennessee. For example, Sara Parisi ’06 earned a Master of Library Science degree from Drexel University and is the children’s librarian at Indian Valley Public Library in Telford, PA. Christine Bayles ’98 earned an M.A. in English from the University of Virginia (2003) and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Delaware (2006).  Her specialty is Victorian Literature.  Sharon Hussong’96 earned a law degree from Boston University School of Law (where she won a scholarship) in May 2001. 

2007 Graduates

A 2007 graduate teaching in Sichuan Province in China

Teaching. Our graduates teach at the graduate school, college, high school, and elementary school levels, in public, private, and Christian schools. For example, Kara Shelly ’08 has been teaching in Jakarta, Indonesia. Christian Prendergast’05 is teaching English in Costa Rica.
Others teach in the graduate division of Drew University Theology School and in both the graduate and undergraduate English programs at Southern Connecticut State University. 

Missions. Teachers of English and workers trained in writing and editing publications are useful in the mission field. There are long-term and short-term opportunities, both in the US and abroad. For example, Amy Gorman ‘05 joined a group called No More Deaths and spent two weeks in Arizona and Mexico documenting human rights abuses and providing assistance to migrants. Becki Sardeson’00 has taught English in China.

Publishing. Several of our graduates have published prize winning books, including Carolivia Herron and Jeanne Marie Beaumont. Carolivia Herron’69 published Nappy Hair in 1997. After graduating from Eastern, Carolivia went on for a master's degree from Villanova and a Ph. D. from the University of Pennsylvania. She has also published the book, Thereafter Johnnie , and The Collected Works of Angelina Grimke (a 19th century abolitionist). Jeanne Marie Beaumont’79 has a master's degree from Columbia University and in 1996 she published a volume of poetry, Placebo Effects, selected for the National Poetry Series by the renowned poet William Matthews. She co-edited the poetry anthology, The Poets' Grimm: 20th Century Poems from Grimm Fairy Tales, from Story Line Press. In 2004 she brought out a second volume of her poetry, Curious Conduct.    Visit  http://home.nyc.rr.com/jeannembeaumont/ John Hallock’82 finished his Ph.D. in English at Temple University and published a scholarly book called The American Byron (on a 19th century American poet named John Halleck).

Writing and Editing. This includes newspaper journalism, publishing, technical writing, and public relations in business and industry. Many companies employ technical writers to write user manuals, to assist in communication between technical and marketing divisions, and to produce and edit in-house magazines. Several of our graduates have worked for Christian magazines and journals as writers, editors, and technical staff.  Nora Boydston’07 wrote a play for the May 2009 Performing Arts Living Room at Eastern. Tim Olshefski ‘07, after a couple of years of  teaching English in China, is now living in LA, and studying in the Act One Writing Program,  a Christian-based screenwriting program.   He hopes to pursue a career in film.  Sarah Vanacore’06 is a grant writer and editor at Camden Wellness, which does holistic therapies for low-income people. Jessica Thorn ‘05 works at the publishing company Taylor & Francis (with Eastern alums Sarah Landis and Kim Shigo) as a Production Assistant. Dena Pauling’05 is a news editor at a daily newspaper in Binghamton, NY.

Other graduates of our English Department have succeeded in advertising, public relations, and the ministry. One is the sales manager of a large business (and attributes his success to the skill in language and communication fostered by the English major). Others have managed bookstores. Nancy Hartsock ’06 is Administrative Assistant to the Provost at Eastern University. Ellen Ambler ‘05 is a Production Assistant with Nancy Glass TV Productions. M ark Gerard (Berkey-Gerard)’94 earned his M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University and has been published in the NY Times.

Grads manage a coffeehouse,  teach gymnastics, and run an antiques business. Alina Hernandez Bice ’05 works as an administrative assistant to Eastern University President David Black. Rachel Stephan’05 has been enjoying success as an actor.  She was cast as Lady Macduff in the Hudson Shakespeare Company's production of Macbeth (August 2005), and Lady Psyche in Gilbert and Sullivan's Princess Ida. Debbie Landis’00 graduated from Columbia University with Master’s Degrees in International Affairs and International Social Work. She focused her studies on human rights and refugee issues, and is particularly interested in advocacy and programming for refugee children. 

Being an English major will hone your writing skills, provide practice in public speaking, open the thoughts and language of the greatest writers of our culture, and deepen your relationship with the transforming power of the word. These opportunities will enrich your career opportunities and your life.