Welcome to the blog for the Villanova English department! Visit often for updates on department events, guest speakers, faculty and student accomplishments, and reviews and musings from professors and undergraduates alike.
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Villanova Student Theatre Presents The Great Gatsby
Monday, January 13, 2025
Nova English Students, Alumni, and Faculty Participate in Miltonathon
VU English faculty, students, and alumni were featured in a 24-hour global shared reading of the work of John Milton, produced by the Milton's Cottage Trust, on 8 November 2024 to commemorate the 350th anniversary of Milton’s death. Launching at Bread Street in London, where Milton was born, and culminating at St Giles Cripplegate, where he’s buried, the Miltonathon travelled to a wide range of venues with Miltonic connections and collections en route.
VU Prof. Lauren Shohet coordinated the reading of Paradise Lost book 4. You can hear English major Frankie Frabizzio '25, recent English alum Kylie Horan '25, and Professor Shohet reading from Milton's work on Youtube.
Monday, September 9, 2024
Meet the Student Advisory Council!
Villanova's English department cares about community--whether that means discussions about literature in class, chatting about moldy mattresses and other horrors during All About the Bagels, or conversations about internships, careers, and upcoming classes at the pre-registration reception. Serving many important roles-- peer mentors, representatives of the English department, social media influencers, consultants, members of the English department's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, journalists, swag designers--students on the Advisory Council do important work shaping our community. Look for them in classes and at English department events and don't be afraid to ask them about the major or share your ideas for Villanova English with them.
Camille Ferace
Hello! My name is Camille Ferace. I am a senior English and Communications double major. I plan on attending law school following graduation and had the amazing opportunity to intern at my local District Attorney’s office this past summer. Throughout this internship, I was able to sit in on numerous trials and hearings, read different cases, and gain exposure to the field and study of law. On campus, I am involved with many organizations including being on the volunteers committee for Special Olympics and Vice President of Operation Smile! I am very excited to be a part of the Student Advisory Council and cannot wait to be a contributing voice for the English department, which is such a great group of individuals!
I am Maria Therese Barry, a junior English major from Colorado with minors in Spanish Language and Literature and Humanities. Starting this year, I am working as a tutor at Villanova's Writing Center! I also enjoy my involvement with student organizations on campus such as the Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week committee, Ellipsis literary magazine, the Copy Desk staff of The Villanovan, and Pastoral Musicians. Next semester in Spring 2025, I will be studying abroad at the University of Oxford, which I am very excited about! While I am away, I will really miss the people at the VU English department, along with the department's knack for combining a supportive academic community with fun social events.
Ailish Wilson
My name is Ailish Wilson, and I'm a junior English and economics major. I'm involved in organizations such as the Irish dance team, campus ministry, and The Villanovan. I am excited for everything that the English advisory council is planning!
I am Emily Hanlon, a senior English major and Irish Studies minor. On campus, I am involved in Ellipsis Literary Magazine where I serve as the Co-Director of Social Media and Marketing and am of course involved in the wonderful English Department Student Advisory Council! I also work on campus as an Office Assistant in the Chemistry Department and have been involved with the New Student Orientation Program as a Transfer Counselor and as the Transfer Captain on the Steering Committee. In the future I plan to apply to law school!
My name is Katie Lewis and I am a junior English and Communication major from Miami, FL. I have concentrations in Writing & Rhetoric and Journalism. My main interests and career goals are in writing and journalism. I am Co-Sports Editor of The Villanovan and a Sports Desk Intern with The Philadelphia Inquirer. At Villanova, I’m also a member of the Honors Program, Faith & Learning Scholars program, and the club tennis team.
Bianca Brucker
Hi! My name is Bianca Brucker and I am a Junior English and Peace and Justice major with minors in Communication and Writing and Rhetoric from Bel Air, Maryland. On campus I am involved in Villanova's Service-Learning Community, Villanova Student Theatre, Villanova's Mock Trial Team, and Villanova's Pre-Law Society. My favorite English course taken at Villanova so far is a course titled, "Motherhood and Reproductive Fictions" with Dr. Lutes. (I highly recommend taking it!!) This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Greece, through Villanova's communication department. My study abroad gave me a newfound passion for Greek Literature. After graduating Villanova, I hope to attend Law School!
| Mickey Wilcox |
Friday, April 19, 2024
Congrats to our Spring Funding Recipients
This spring marks the beginning of a new chapter for the English department here at Villanova, as we are now able to provide competitive book scholarships and other funds to support both academic and professional experiences that emphasize exploration and growth.
We are pleased to be able to offer the following scholarship possibilities to our majors: a merit scholarship for purchasing books, funding to support graduate school testing and application costs, funding to support an internship, funding to support study abroad, and funding to support an academic need or experience (such as supplies, or conference travel).
While English majors may apply for funds and scholarships more than once, preference will be given to students who have not received department funding in the past. Students may receive a maximum of $2,500 in funding over the course of their studies in the English Department.
We have received these funds from a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous. We are deeply thankful to them.
We are pleased to be able to share the names of some of our first recipients of these funds: Isabel Choi '25, Catherine Messier '24, and Kai Williams '25. Isabel Choi received funds to support a writing internship, Catherine Messier received funds to support studying abroad in Oxford, and Kai Williams received funds for studying abroad and an internship in London. Congratulations to these students!
While applications for funding are currently closed for spring and summer 2024, they will re-open this coming fall. We encourage our majors to apply! You can learn more on our departmental website.
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Coming soon! A Timeline of the "Black Barbie" Doll
Coming soon! Villanova undergrad English major Jenine Hazlewood will be presenting to the school district of Philadelphia on the topic of "What were they made for? A Timeline of the 'Black Barbie' Doll."
This free virtual professional development workshop will take place on March 16 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. To learn more and to register, please visit the virtual form.







