Mid-Term Study Break

Villanova English Alum Danielle Sekerak Sworn into the New York State Bar

Congratulations to Villanova English alumna Danielle Sekerak, who was recently sworn into the New York State Bar? She received her JD from the University of Pennsylvania. In a message to Prof. Jody Ross, Danielle wrote warmly about how much she felt her BA in English from Villanova had helped her in her career so far.

"I'm so grateful I chose to be an English major! My writing ability has probably had the most significant effect on my law career so far, with oral skills coming in at a close second. The writing skills I developed at Villanova gave me a strong advantage at Penn Law School -- and I don't say any of the following to brag in any way but as proof that the English Department is fabulous and really helped me: in my first year at law school, I earned an Honors mark in Legal Practice Skills (a class that heavily focuses on improving writing skills), in my third year I was selected as a writing instructor (I assisted a professor in providing written feedback on students' memoranda and briefs), and I secured this clerkship in part because of my writing ability (I had to submit a writing sample as part of my application).

"As a judicial law clerk, I draft opinions every day. Although the form of my legal writing may 'look' different from the style of writing I learned in classes at Villanova, I carry the fundamentals with me: organizational structure, grammar, parallelism, clear reasoning, transitions, knowing your audience, simplifying complex concepts for the reader without losing the complexity of the thought.

"Also, because I have built up confidence and patience from reading Shakespeare and other difficult authors at Villanova, when I come across pretty difficult opinions, I am more patient in breaking down and analyzing what the court is saying.

"I am currently clerking in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for Gerald Pappert. He graduated from Villanova as well. Small world!

"I will start at Latham & Watkins in New York this coming Fall."

Thanks for the kind words, Danielle, and good luck with the new job! We're very proud of you!

Danielle Sekerak, with her parents Dr. Richard and Mary Sekerak, after she was sworn into the New York State Bar

Summer Jobs That Matter

Want to spend your summer building skills that will help you launch your career, while working on urgent issues you care about like protecting the environment and our public health, and making good money? 

Find out more and apply at www.summerjobsthatmatter.org. The Fund will be on Villanova's campus from 3/11 - 3/12. You can call us at 1-800-75-EARTH to schedule an interview.

The Fund for the Public Interest is seeking hard-working individuals with a passion for social change to fill citizen outreach and Field Manager positions across the country this summer. They will be hiring full-time staff, with leadership opportunities available, with offices in over 25 cities across the country this summer, to work on issues like stopping plastic pollution, or getting pesticides out of our food supply.

Get experience with the leadership and communication skills and connections needed to launch your career:

• Educate and engage citizens on pressing issues
• Build membership and raise money for environmental and social change groups
• Earn an average of $6,000-$8,000 this summer 

To apply online, visit: www.summerjobsthatmatter.org or call us directly at 1-800-75-EARTH!

We are also hiring for career positions for college graduates. To apply online, visit www.fundjobs.org!

Photos from Harlem Renaissance Party

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Harlem Renaissance Party last Wednesday, February 13. The event, co-sponsored by the English Department, Africana Studies and the Writing and Rhetoric Program, was a celebration of the Harlem Renaissance and the contributions of black writers and artists.

John Eliopoulos and Ogooluwa Laniya

Dr. Michael Berthold and Caroline Rini

Deyjah Foster

Dr. Heather Hicks is Guest Speaker on Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Podcast

Department Chair Dr. Heather Hicks was a guest on a literary podcast, Words to that Effect, produced in Dublin, Ireland a few weeks ago. The episode is about post-apocalyptic fiction and you can listen to it here. Make sure you listen to the very end to catch Truffle the dog weighing in on the apocalypse!

Submit Creative Writing to The Foundationalist

The Foundationalist is currently accepting submissions for its third issue, and we are hoping that you would pass on this information to students in your English Department. The editors are looking for fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, and critical essays (no page limits, no themes). Submission guidelines can be found at http://thefoundationalist.com and previous issues can be accessed through http://bowdoin.academia.edu/TheFoundationalistJournal. The deadline for submission is Sunday, March 24.

The Foundationalist is an intercollegiate undergraduate English journal based at Bowdoin College.

National Young Feminist Leadership Conference - March 9-11

The National Young Feminist Leadership Conference is inviting students from Villanova to participate in its annual conference next month. The three-day summit brings together hundreds of students and young feminist activists from across the country. At the conference, participants discuss critical feminist issues such as anti-violence work, abortion access, racial justice, immigrant rights, queer liberation, health justice and more. NYFLC also aims to be an activist training that teaches students skills and organizing strategies as well. The panels vary from detailed discussions on specific policies, to conversations on the organizing tactics behind specific wins, to strategies of resistance, such as storytelling.

On top of panels, we also host hands-on trainings (such as how to communicate with the media, how to plan an action, etc.), identity caucuses, Town Halls, and plenaries. At the conference, there is an Action Room, where students can engage in direct actions and gather to meet one another and build community as well. And, on the third and last day, we host a Congressional Advocacy Day, where students are first trained on how to effectively hold their elected officials accountable and then engage in lobbying on the Hill.

The 15th annual NYFLC conference will be held from March 9-11, right outside of Washington DC.

If four or more Villanova students register, NYFLC is offering groups a specific discount code making the cost of registration $45 per person. This includes the cost of attendance, breakfast all three days of the conference, as well as snacks throughout, and lunch on Congressional Visit Day. You can register for the conference and book hotel rooms here using the group discount code Villanova2019.

Students can also apply to speak on a panel at the conference. Those chosen will receive free registration, be featured in our program, and may be able to acquire financial support from Villanova as a result.

Publish Your Research in Berkeley's Comparative Literature Undergraduate Journal

The Comparative Literature Undergraduate Journal (CLUJ) at the University of California, Berkeley. For over seven years, the Comparative Literature Undergraduate Journal (CLUJ) is now accepting submissions for the Spring 2019 issue and is calling for papers to all interested undergraduates and recent graduates. The editors are interested in research papers from all those working in, around, or critically engaging with literary topics in a comparative nature.

Papers in any language are welcome. Possible topics include but are not limited to:

• Papers comparing at least two authors or texts
• Interdisciplinary research engaging multiples disciplines within the humanities
• Research engaging with literary theory and schools of criticism

Authors whose papers are selected for publication will receive free copies of the issue in which they are published. For more information and full submission guidelines, or to view past issues of CLUJ, please visit the journal submissions page.

Submissions for the Spring 2019 issue will be accepted until February 15th.

2 Job Opportunities with Irish American Chamber and Network

Term: Semester

Hourly Commitment: Flexible schedule, approximately 15-20 hours per week

Compensation: $10.00/hour 

Job Description: Marketing/Membership Intern

The Irish American Business Chamber & Network, Inc. (IABCN) is looking for an enthusiastic marketing /membership management intern to work both independently and with our Marketing Coordinator to provide creative ideas to help further our mission. The Irish Chamber is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization serving our members in the Greater Philadelphia region and across the Island of Ireland by promoting cross Atlantic economic and educational relationships. 

The intern will have administrative duties in developing and implementing marketing strategies as well as duties related to membership management and event planning. Our intern will collaborate with our Marketing Coordinator in all stages of marketing campaigns. We encourage insightful contributions and fresh ideas, to help develop, expand and maintain our marketing channels.

This internship will help the intern to acquire marketing skills and provide him/her with knowledge of various marketing strategies, as well as expanded knowledge of membership management, international business, and the Irish community and international business community here in Philadelphia.

Responsibilities

• Research best practices of similar organizations/Chambers of Commerce
• Identify and research potential members
• Conduct outreach to membership to increase attendance at events throughout the year
• Support the Marketing Coordinator in daily administrative tasks
• Assist in marketing and advertising promotional activities, specifically social media campaigns and blog postings (member news)
• Provide monthly social media tracking reports
• Prepare promotional presentations
• Assist in designing and writing copy for event promotional material, including save-the-dates, electronic and print invitations and programs
• Manage and update company database and membership management software
• Learn all aspects of event planning for multiple events from sponsorships to logistics – attendees are predominantly business and community leaders. Work at monthly events.

Requirements

• Strong desire to learn along with professional drive
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to record events
• Familiarity with video creation tools, as well as editing software
• Passion for the communications and digital media and its best practices
• Current enrollment in a related Bachelors or Masters degree

Job Description: Communications/Digital Media Intern

The Irish American Business Chamber & Network, Inc. (IABCN) is looking for an enthusiastic communications/digital media intern to work both independently and with our Marketing Coordinator on the Chamber’s 20^th Anniversary projects, including promotional videos and a digital archive of the Chamber’s 20 years in operation. The Irish Chamber is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization serving our members in the Greater Philadelphia region and across the Island of Ireland by promoting Cross-Atlantic economic and educational relationships. 

The intern will have creative duties in developing two promotional videos:

• The Irish Chamber’s largest event, the Ambassador’s Awards
• 20^th Anniversary video

The intern will also work on a digital archive of interviews of Chamber members, former honorees, and government officials. Our intern will collaborate with our Marketing Coordinator in all stages of video creation. We encourage insightful contributions and fresh ideas to help develop these videos.

This internship will help the intern to expand his/her digital media, communications and marketing skills.

Requirements

• Strong desire to learn along with professional drive
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to record events
• Familiarity with video creation tools, as well as editing software
• Passion for the communications and digital media and its best practices
• Current enrollment in a related Bachelors or Masters degree

2019 Literary Festival Kicks on February 5 with poet Ross Gay