English department lecture at Assumption
Department

English Department

Address profound and enduring questions about what it means to be human through literary analysis as an English major. Master skills that apply to a wide range of careers.

The English Department

At Assumption, you are encouraged to find your voice and make it heard. In the English Department, our dedicated faculty members enjoy working with students to discover what they are passionate about and to help them map a course for the future. Our courses in writing and literature push students to develop as confident and persuasive writers and as critical thinkers able to read between the lines, detect unstated assumptions, and trace the logic and implications of an argument. Students within the department gain valuable real-world experiences through our internship and experiential learning opportunities in Worcester and beyond, both on-campus and off-campus. 

Literature explores profound questions about human existence, urging us to embrace complexity and ambiguity. By studying and creating literature in its written, performative, auditory, and visual forms, we embark on a journey of self-discovery, uncovering our strengths, vulnerabilities, and capacity for change. Literature challenges us to examine spiritual, intellectual, personal, and cultural assumptions, deepening our understanding of ourselves and the world. Students have the ability to explore a number of paths within the English department. With our concentrations in literature, writing, and mass communications, you have the flexibility to pursue your passions. A double major in Education and English is available for those who are interested in a career in education.

The English Department provides extra-curricular opportunities for students across the University, from TV and radio production to acting and performance, to writing and editing. Students can become active in the school’s newspaper, Le Provocateur, or explore their media interests with Assumption University Television (AUTV). Both of these initiatives are student-run and have aid from expert advisors in the department. Alpha Zeta Beta, Assumption’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society (for majors and minors), invites and inducts new students each year. 

Communication and Media

Undergraduate

English

Undergraduate

Department of English Faculty

Rachel D. Ramsey, Ph.D
Rachel D. Ramsey, Ph.D
Department Chair, English Associate Professor of English
Paul E. Ady, Ph.D
Paul E. Ady, Ph.D
Adjunct Faculty
Kristen Carella, Ph.D.
Kristen Carella, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Becky L. DiBiasio, Ph.D
Becky L. DiBiasio, Ph.D
Associate Professor of English
Mary DiDomenico
Mary DiDomenico
Visiting Assistant Professor of English
Shahara B. Drew, Ph.D.
Shahara B. Drew, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Practice of English
Christopher J Gilbert, Ph.D.
Christopher J Gilbert, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
John Hodgen
John Hodgen
Writer-in-Residence
Lucia Z. Knoles, Ph.D
Lucia Z. Knoles, Ph.D
Professor of English
Michael Charles Land, Ph.D
Michael Charles Land, Ph.D
Associate Professor of English Director, Community Service-Learning Program
Paul S. Shields, Ph.D
Paul S. Shields, Ph.D
Associate Professor of English
David Thoreen, Ph.D
David Thoreen, Ph.D
Professor of English
Molly Williams
Molly Williams
Adjunct Faculty

English at Assumption

    • Study English with the flexibility to pursue your passions – concentrate in literature, writing and mass communications or double major in English and education.
    • Spend a semester engaged in an exciting internship for leading television networks, public relations agencies, and sports teams in Worcester and beyond.
    • Gain practical experience on-campus writing for Le Provocateur, the student newspaper, MUSE, student literary journals, or producing a television show for ACTV, the on-campus television station.
    • Enjoy post-graduate success at companies like MLB.com, NBC, The Washington Times, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, and more.

  • Department Mission Statement

    Literature addresses profound and enduring questions about what it means to be a human being, while challenging us to recognize complexity and ambiguity in our exploration of those questions. The study and creation of literature in all its written, performative, auditory, and visual forms is an enlightening quest of self-discovery that exposes us to a wide range of aesthetic sensibilities and reveals our strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential for change. Experiencing literature leads us to ask deeper questions about our spiritual, intellectual, personal, and cultural assumptions, so that we can come to know ourselves and our larger world more fully.

    Through their engagement with literature, students learn to pose questions and employ methods specific to the field of literary studies, and to explore the implications of these ways of knowing. They learn to read critically and empathetically and to recognize the significance, quality, and consequences of language. Students learn the value of writing as a means of discovery, as well as to learn to write and speak effectively, exhibiting an awareness of the audience. Our courses challenge students to ask ethical questions about literature and its consequences for their values and ways of being in the world. Students also gain a more informed and global understanding of cultural and historical differences. The department seeks to inspire students to take intellectual risks, synthesize the questions and approaches of the discipline they have learned, and take responsibility for their continued learning. The department’s programs of study prepare students to become active and engaged learners in both their personal and professional lives.