Meet the 2026-27 English Student Advisory Council

Yasmina Szymczak: I am a sophomore English major with minors in Creative Writing and Business (SBI). I am originally from Ontario, Canada, but I've lived in the Midwest for most of my life (most recently, North Dakota). On campus, I am involved in Villanova Student Theater, Special Olympics, as well as the literary magazine, Ellipsis! A fun fact about me is that I am in a documentary about Saint Carlo Acutis! I love being a part of the English department because the community is so warm, welcoming, and always willing to chat about books and writing! 

This summer, I enjoyed reading Maggie O'Farrell's Hamnet! The story was beautifully written! I love comparing novels with their film adaptations, and this one was wonderful to watch!

Peter Fabietti: My name is Peter Fabietti, and I’m a senior English major with a minors in Italian and Creative Writing. Alongside the Student Advisory Council, I work in the Writing Center and write for the for the Opinion section of The Villanovan. I love being an English major because it gives me numerous opportunities to express myself creatively. Every professor I’ve had has been caring, intelligent, and inspiring, and I’m so lucky to be able to call this department my academic home here at Villanova.

I enjoyed reading Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler over the summer. Though, on the surface, it seems quite mundane, the book’s intricate layering of family dynamics makes it incredibly striking. Each chapter made me reflect on the complexities and joys within my own family, and I’m sure it will do the same for you.

Kalyani Halsband: I am a senior English and Psychology major from New Jersey. I love being an English major at Villanova not only because I love reading and writing, but because of the supportive and close-knit community that allows for the chance to get to know fellow majors and professors alike. I also enjoy the creativity that comes along with the English major and the wide variety of career options it allows for. Being apart of the Advisory Council further enables me to connect with peers and staff and become more involved in the major, such as by promoting the major and meeting new students. In addition to the Advisory Council, I work as a Writing Center Tutor and a research assistant in a psychology lab.

Catherine Unruh: My name is Catherine Unruh, and I am a Sophomore English and Political Science major with a minor in Criminology from Washington, D.C. At Villanova, I am involved in the Villanova Dance Company & Ensemble, Pre-Law Society, VIDA, and Greek life. I also serve as an ambassador for the McNulty Institute and work part time at the Dixon Center. 

I enjoy being an English major because it challenges me to think critically, analyze, and sharpen my writing abilities. In addition, I admire the wide variety of classes that the English Department offers, which allows me to explore different subjects in literature. Over the summer, I reread my favorite book, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, to revisit his compelling perspective on the justice system while I was interning for a federal judge. 

Baily Keeley: Hello! I’m Baily Keeley and I am a senior pre-law English major. I am from Media, PA. I love to read fantasy and write fiction stories in my free time. Here on campus, I am president of Nova Baja, a member of the poetry society, combat robotics, fiat, as well as a writer for the Villanovan. I love studying English, it teaches me analytical and communication skills I can apply just about anywhere as well as providing me with a creative outlet to write. This summer I read The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy by Jenny Han, it was my first time reading romance, so it was definitely interesting! 

Seamus Tracy: Hi all, I'm Seamus! As an amateur novel writer, I study creative writing in the English department. When I'm not writing books I spend my time reading them, playing D&D, or practicing Street Fighter combos. I also work in our writing center, so find me there or reach out with any questions you have about the department!

Angel Gudiel Garcia: I am a junior English major with a Creative Writing minor. Being an English major has provided me a great community and has allowed me to express myself and pursue my childhood passions - reading and writing - in a way that benefits my future. 

Professor Kamran Javadizadeh Participates in Stonington Literary Festival Honoring Poet James Merrill

Professor Kamran Javadizadeh recently participated in the Stonington Literary Festival, a three-day event that took place from October 2-4 and celebrated the poet James Merrill and his work. Since Merrill's death in 1996, his former home in Stonington, Connecticut has played host to a writers-in-residence program, in which Professor Javadizeh participated in 2022.

For this year's festival, which marked the centennial of Merrill's birth in 1926, Professor Javadizadeh and other former writers-in-residence were invited back to participate in panels, readings, and other events such as musical performances and tours.

Professor Javadizadeh served as the moderator for the "Poetic Afterlives" panel featuring poets Ange Mlinko and Rosanna Warren in which the group discussed Merrill's legacy. In a follow-up email, Professor Javadizadeh told me about the scope of the conversation. "A hot topic for us was how Merrill’s reputation as an urbane, technically virtuosic, witty poet made him unusual as a model for younger poets," Professor Javadizadeh said. "There was a large and lively audience--I thought it was a great event."

The final event of the festival was a group reading by the former writers-in-residence of Merrill's book of poems, Water Street, the first book he wrote upon moving to Stonington. Professor Javadizadeh read the final poem in the collection, "A Tenancy." A recording of the entire reading was posted to youtube and is available here.

More information about the event and James Merrill's work is available at the Merill House website.

Professor Kamran Javadizadeh reads James Merrill's poem "A Tenancy."

- by Nikola Stojcic MA '28

Villanova Student Theatre Presents The Great Gatsby

Villanova Student Theatre's upcoming production of The Great Gatsby is almost here! The show will run from 11/5-11/14 and has several students in the English department involved, including: Will Jeffery ('27) as Nick Carraway, Vix McCoy ('27) as Ms. McKee, Annabel Everitt ('27) as Daisy Buchanan, Yasmina Szymczak ('29) as the Assistant Stage Manager, and Charlotte Insley ('27) on stage crew. 

Annabel Everitt shared with Dr. Jean Lutes: 

"I think all English students would enjoy this show. Gatsby is a North American classic that so many students have read and loved. This is a great opportunity to relax and enjoy a well-loved story before finals, especially now that we are in the thick of fall. 'Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall'."

Below is the show's poster and a QR code for more information (audience members are asked to please wear green): 

Ruth Anolik on the Uses of Horror in the New York Times

A lesson on "The Uses of Horror" devised by Dr. Ruth Anolik for her English 1975 class at Villanova was recently featured in The New York Times. The lesson was featured in the newspaper's online Learning Network section, which highlights resources for instructors wanting to use work from the Times in their classrooms. 

Dr. Anolik's lesson asks "What is horror for?" and draws from an essay by Stephen Graham Jones called “You’re Anxious. You’re Afraid. And I Have Just the Solution," which was published in 2021. 

Per the Times:

"Ruth Bienstock Anolik says that the premise of her course is that horror entertainment serves to reflect and amplify real fears and dangers in the surrounding culture. She writes that the claim the essay makes — that horror can also offer solace — shows her students 'the intellectual benefits of argument, because it provides a counterargument to the dominant message of my course.' And, she says, because it is well organized and lucidly written, it also offers her students an accessible model of excellent writing."

You can read more about how Dr. Anolik employs the essay in her course on the Times website, and you can read a description of Dr. Anolik's 1975 course, "The Cultural Uses of Horror and Terror," in our fall 2026 English 1975 course descriptions.

Retrieved from the New York Times

Dr. Lauren Shohet's Plenary Address: "What is my Archive?"

Dr. Lauren Shohet gave the plenary address at the Conference on John Milton, a biennial gathering of Miltonists from all over the word which was held this year in Provo, Utah. Her talk, entitled "What is my archive?" suggested we think about "archive" as a term that encompasses not only collections of rare books or documents, but also digital archives and also--more abstractly--whatever texts researchers deem relevant for studying a particular problem. 

From Britannica

During this talk, Dr. Shohet proposed that re-considering a problem's "archive" can create fresh questions (especially useful, she said, for junior researchers), then explored the multi-temporal, mutual constitution of archived item, finding aid, and researcher that constellate in the process of archival research.   

Dr. Tsering Wangmo Attends Middle Ground: Nepal Literature Festival

Dr. Tsering Wangmo was invited to the Nepal Literature Festival organized by Middle Ground in Berlin, Germany last week. Dr. Wangmo read poems with fellow poet, Mukahang Limbu, on the panel "Listening to What Endures." Read the description for more information on their writing in conversation here: https://www.hkw.de/en/programme/middle-ground-nepal-literature-festival/listening-to-what-endures  

Dr. Wangmo also moderated a reading and discussion, "Rethinking Geographies of the Disquiet" with three women writers from the Himalayan region: Manjushree Thapa, Farah Bashir, and Tsering Yangzom Lama. More information of the event can be found here: https://www.hkw.de/en/programme/middle-ground-nepal-literature-festival/rethinking-geographies-of-the-disquiet 

Congratulations Dr. Wangmo on both events and your invitation! 

~ by Juliana Catania MA '28

New Podcasts Coming Soon

A new season of the Villanova English podcast is coming soon! In the meantime, why not catch up with our most recent episode, an interview about early American and Indigenous literatures with Professor Kimberly Takahata? You can listen to the podcast using the links above, or subscribe on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, or other major podcatchers so you never miss an episode!