English Department Master Calendar
Thursday, October 8, 2026
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Join us for a reading by poet Philip Metres! Philip Metres (he/him) grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, the grandchild of Lebanese refugees and migrants and the descendent of Irish famine survivors. Metres has been called “one of the essential poets of our time,” whose work is “beautiful, powerful, magnetically original.”

Thursday, October 15, 2026
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Join us for a reading of creative work my MFA students from the Department of English. This month's reading will feature: Steven Bergmark Morgan O'Sullivan William O'Brien

Friday, October 23, 2026
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Join us for a professional development presentation from a visiting literary agent! Rayhané Sanders will give a glimpse at the nuts and bolts of publishing, working in publishing, query letters, and other aspects of the literary trade. This will include some do's and don'ts and plenty of time for questions and answers.

Thursday, November 5, 2026
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Join us for a reading by Illinois Alumni, Chekwube Danladi, Chris Vanjonack, and Weston Morrow!

Friday, November 6, 2026
Thursday, November 19, 2026
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Join us for a reading of creative work my MFA students from the Department of English. This month's reading will feature: Steven Bergmark Morgan O'Sullivan William O'Brien

Friday, December 4, 2026
Wednesday, December 9, 2026
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Join us for a reading of creative work my MFA students from the Department of English. This month's reading will feature: Steven Bergmark Morgan O'Sullivan William O'Brien

Thursday, February 11, 2027
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Join us for a reading by author Carmen Maria Machado! Carmen Maria Machado is the author of the bestselling memoir In the Dream House, the graphic novel The Low, Low Woods, and the award-winning short story collection Her Body and Other Parties. She has been a finalist for the National Book Award and the winner of the Bard Fiction Prize, and more.

Thursday, March 25, 2027
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Join us for a reading by author Brandon Hobson! Dr. Brandon Hobson is a 2022 Guggenheim Foundation Fellow. His novel, Where the Dead Sit Talking, was a finalist for the National Book Award. He has taught at New Mexico State University and the institute of american indian arts.

