Ask an English Professor
Clemson’s Department of English has professors passionate about a wide variety of subjects, ranging from post-colonial literature to children’s literature. Professors help shape students’ experiences and Clemson English professors are dedicated to educating and investing in their students, which is something I can attest to on a first-hand basis. We recently sat down to learn more about a few of them:
Megan MacAlystre, Senior Lecturer:
What is your favorite class you have taught at Clemson?
An honors Harry Potter course, which was definitely one of the most exciting courses I have taught. I separated the class into houses for the house cup competition and studied the Harry Potter video game and theme park.
I also taught an awesome Children’s Literature course with a passionate group of students. We are still in constant communication; we even have a Facebook group message!
What is an interesting career field that one of your former students has gone into?
Some of my former students have gone on to be high school teachers, some are working on their Ph.D.s, and some have gone on to law school, but one that stands out to me are a couple of former students who are working as children’s librarians, focusing on adolescent literature. They are a great source for books to use in my children’s literature classes and my studies on adolescent literature.
Are you doing anything fun for the holidays this year?
Yes! Over winter break, I’ll be visiting with my in-laws in California. When we come back home, we will be setting up our goose pen to breed critically endangered geese that breed in the winter. We are hoping to help Cotton Patch geese move from being critically endangered to endangered.
Cameron Bushnell, Associate Professor:
What is your favorite class you have taught at Clemson?
English 4190, Post-colonial and World Literature has been one of my favorite classes to teach. The class is wonderful because the course texts change every time. We read texts from South Africa to the Caribbean to New Zealand and Australia. I usually focus on three areas per class, so that it changes up each time.
What is an interesting career field that one of your former students has gone into?
I have had several students who have gone to law school. I remember one student particularly who went on to work on political campaigns and one person went on to work on a literary Ph.D. at Cornell University. I think it is so unique that the English major provides such a wide range of careers like this.
Are you doing anything fun for the holidays this year?
Over winter break I will travel to visit family, and I will also be traveling to the Caribbean to do a project on post-Maria trauma narratives through a grant some colleagues and myself received.
Elizabeth Stansell, Senior Lecturer:
What is your favorite class you have taught at Clemson?
I really like the literature class I’m teaching right now- English in the 20th and 21st century context.
What is an interesting career field that one of your former students has gone into?
I know that I’ve actually had a few students go off to medical school which is somewhat unusual, but because I teach more sophomore-level general education courses, I get to see a variety of different majors and career paths that follow.
Are you doing anything fun for the holidays this year?
I will get to spend more time with my five-year-old which I am most excited about. I will get to do the “Santa thing” and recreate that magic for him!
Written By: Caroline Cavendish
11/12/2018