The College of Arts and Sciences

Adam Blechman, J.D.

Adam Blechman, J.D., graduated from Syracuse University in 2008, and has just completed his Juris Doctorate at Northeastern University School of Law.  Adam found that his degree in English and Textual Studies lent itself to his study of law.

Being able to read and digest large, complicated material in a timely manner is invaluable. I did plenty of close reading for my ETS classes, which certainly helped in that area.

Adam also noted that his writing intensive undergraduate work helped prepare him for the process of writing and formulating arguments.

When doing a research project for an English class, a student might have to pull facts, theories, and arguments from a variety of complex sources.  The skills involved with that type of work are similar to those law students must draw on when writing memoranda, briefs, and other legal documents.

Adam encourages English majors interested in pursuing law to do plenty of research to find out if law school is right for them.  For more information on law school and the application process, contact a pre-law advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences:

http://thecollege.syr.edu/students/undergraduate/advising_academic_support/pre_law/index.html

Mariel Fiedler

Mariel Fiedler graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in English and Textual Studies and Broadcast Journalism in 2010.  Now, she works as the office coordinator and podcast producer for “LIVE” from the New York Public Library (NYPL).

LIVE is a conversation series out of the library that hosts creative types, most of whom have recently written a book. I came to them in January proposing an idea for a podcast since the program already releases full video/audio and animated/live video shorts. I worked this spring season as an events intern and developed the podcast, so that's what I'll be focusing my energy on now that I am a producer.

Mariel’s work with the library is engaging, creative, and in line with her academic background and interests.

I love, love, love the NYPL's agenda and philosophies, and my love for 'zines and queer lit is something that's prized here (there's a 'zine library housed in the building I work in!) … I think what ETS has given me is a sturdy basis in … literature. Books like Middlemarch or people like Nabokov are talked about with as much enthusiasm here as pop-culture celebrities are outside the library, so I thank my education for allowing me to actually be hip in this setting.

Mariel’s position now draws on skills honed in her undergraduate work, like her talents in research and editing:

My favorite part of the job is listening to past programs and picking out the bits I think are most compelling and get at the core of what the guest(s) had to say. A big part of why I love audio work is the amount of emotion someone's voice can carry.  Sometimes that emotion is separate from what they're actually saying.

Nicola Jones

Nicola Jones graduated from Syracuse University in 2008 with a dual degree in Television, Radio and Film, and English and Textual Studies. She completed her ETS Distinction Thesis entitled “Manufacturing Stardom: Modern Actors Self-Effacement in the Neo-Musical Biopic” under the guidance of ETS faculty member Steven Cohan.

While I was at Syracuse I tried to take advantage of all it had to offer, both in and out of the classroom. Finding a home base within both of those spheres is really important. The English department was just that for me. Its courses were something I loved, yet they also challenged me. Thankfully, I was able to explore my interests in film from two different perspectives through my dual majors. Moreover, my writing skills developed deeply in my ETS courses, skills that I have used on a daily basis since I graduated.

After graduating, Nicola moved to Los Angeles in 2009 to forge a career in the entertainment business. She currently works as an assistant to a talent manager at One Talent Management in West Hollywood, CA. Once in LA, she also created her own blog where she writes feature film reviews. ETS courses she took on film noir and the musical deepened both her love and critical understanding of these genres, about which she continues to write. These courses, combined with literary courses, like Prof. Mike Goode’s Jane Austen course that took her to England over Spring Break, complement her current work in entertainment.

One of the most important things to learn starting out in the entertainment business is the importance of relationships and networking. Cultivating those relationships while you are still a student is an excellent way to gain confidence and learn how significant connections can be in your business and personal life. Specifically, my relationship with my thesis advisor, Steven Cohan, has not only been one of the most rewarding due to his guidance on my thesis, but his support throughout my education, career, and life has been an amazing asset.

Gina Keicher

Gina Keicher graduated from Syracuse in 2009 with Distinction in English  and Textual Studies.  Throughout her time as an undergraduate, she focused her studies on creative writing and poetry, and she is currently enrolled in the M.F.A poetry program at Syracuse.

The creative writing faculty members were helpful, encouraging, and supportive. Verbal Seduction, an on-campus undergraduate literary magazine, was another valuable resource that informed my creative work and offered insight into publishing.

The department offers undergraduate creative writing workshops in fiction and poetry each semester, with varied and talented instructors.

The creative writing workshops in poetry and fiction … are invaluable to any student’s writing, whether they’re taking the course for fun or planning to seriously pursue creative writing. The faculty members who teach these workshops encourage an energy and environment that’s a productive mix of serious and generous, insightful and generative.

In addition to the workshops and creative avenues offered by the department, Gina found that the more analytic investigations in her critical courses were also useful to her graduate studies.

I saw a great deal of carryover from the critical to the creative, both in my writing and reading. One thing I valued about the English and Textual Studies program’s critical aspects is that I had the chance to step outside the realm of what was familiar to me. I was challenged to read, write, and think critically, which deepened the way I came to think about my creative work.

Students interested in creative writing may want to consider the Creative Writing track for undergraduate English and Textual Studies majors: (http://english.syr.edu/undergraduate/ETS_Curriculum/CW_Track.html ).  To learn more about Verbal Seduction, email them at Verbal.Seduction@yahoo.com. 

Bryce Renninger

Bryce Renninger graduated from Syracuse University in 2007 with a double major in English and Textual Studies, and Television, Radio and Film. He wrote his Honors Capstone Project on Indian cinema under the supervision of ETS faculty member Roger Hallas.

When I was preparing to graduate, I knew I wanted to leave my options open when I left Syracuse. I was one of the many SU students who majored in both Television/Radio/Film and English & Textual Studies, and this double major allowed me to explore my dual interests in critical cultural theory and in the production side of the media industry.

After graduating from Syracuse, Bryce completed an M.A. in Cinema Studies at New York University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Media Studies at Rutgers University.

Once I was in my Master's program at NYU, I realized the opportunity to work on an honors thesis at Syracuse had allowed me to delve into a topic that greatly interested me and to do work that prepared me for the research and analytical expectations of a critical graduate degree. Through a grant from the Honors program, too, I was able to travel to India for a month to do research with leading film scholars in Delhi.

The range of courses in the history and theory of cinema that Bryce was able to take within the ETS major not only prepared him for the rigors of graduate study in the field, but also opened up opportunities in film programming and journalism.

My Syracuse connections in ETS helped me meet and network with so many smart and wonderful people across the world. 

An addition to his graduate studies, Bryce also works as Director of Programming at NewFest: The New York LGBT Film Festival and as a Contributing Writer for indieWIRE, the leading online news source about independent filmmaking.

Students interested in the critical study of film and media may want to consider the Film and Screen Studies track for undergraduate English and Textual Studies majors: (http://english.syr.edu/undergraduate/ETS_Curriculum/FS_Track.html).

Janel Sullivan

Janel Sullivan, a dual major in English and Textual Studies and Education, interned at the Syracuse University Press for the fall and spring semesters through the English Department’s partnership with the Press.  Now, at the beginning of a summer term at the Press, she says the internship has opened up new possibilities for her future:

I love words and I love books and this is a field I want to be a part of someday. Working at SU Press has helped me realize how much I like this work, and how rewarding I find it.

Janel notes that the small size of SU Press makes it a perfect fit for an introduction to the field of publishing.  The work is varied and interesting, and includes tasks related to both the acquisitions and the marketing sides of publishing.  Among other projects, interns read, monitor, and review manuscripts being considered for publication, as well as research potential awards and venues to tailor the publicity for forthcoming books.

In addition to broadening the scope of her career opportunities, Janel found her internship had immediate practical benefits:

I’ve definitely noticed that my writing has improved since I started this internship. I’ve learned a lot about professional and business writing that I know will help me in the future. My academic writing has improved a lot as well; I’ve learned to remove superfluous words and I organize sentences more clearly and concisely. I’ve also learned a lot of communication skills.   Whether speaking with someone electronically or in person, it’s important to be able to build some sort of relationship.

The English department has developed partnerships with SU Press and Salt Hill Literary Journal to place interns at these institutions.  Available intern positions and application procedures will be advertised to ETS majors during the fall semester.

Eric Vilas-Boas

Eric Vilas-Boas is a double major in English and Textual Studies and Magazine Journalism.  He was the Editor-in-Chief of the indie music magazine 20 Watts, as well as a Rossman scholar of the Humanities.  Eric studied abroad at the London Centre in the spring semester of 2011.  Part of the program's appeal was the breadth of courses available to count toward both of his majors, which allowed him to complete his requirements on a regular schedule while having an experience abroad.  After taking advantage of the 11-day pre-semester intensive course in Scotland, Eric found that his new location lent him a novel perspective: 

I felt fully immersed in the culture as we read texts, artwork, architecture, speech and customs, and the history of Scotland. I wasn’t learning just in a university classroom, but on walking tours, hikes, conference rooms, in castles, in museums, and in art galleries.

Eric also noted that in addition to the easy travel access to other European countries, students at the London Centre are just a short trek from many incredibly beautiful English sites.

I spent my time… traveling not to different countries, but to the English countryside. The hikes we went on were beautiful, and not something most tourists ever do.

Above all, Eric says he chose London because of the links to his academic interests.  The English department currently offers five upper-division classes at the London Centre, including the Auld Reekie Scottish literature class Eric mentioned, as well as a Shakespeare course, a contemporary British film course, and other offerings.  A full list of the courses offered can be found on the SU Abroad website. http://suabroad.syr.edu/

Sara Yablonsky

Sara Yablonsky, a 2009 graduate of Syracuse University with a dual major in English and Textual Studies and Education, is currently teaching four sections of English Language Arts to students ages 16 to 19 at a New York City alternative high school.  The dual ETS/English Education program prepared her both intellectually and practically for the classroom. The English Education program is dedicated to hands-on training in the classroom, as well as a nuanced investigation of pedagogy. 

Taking both ETS classes and Education classes is a huge advantage. You are being exposed to different types of literature and being shown methods to teach the literature.  […] The combination of ETS courses and EDU courses allows you to practice your trade. 

English Education students have the benefit of two college’s worth of faculty mentors, as well as a close cohort of peers.  Learn more about the dual major in English and Education here: http://english.syr.edu/undergraduate/ETS_Curriculum/Dual_Major.html

I took a wide variety of English classes at Syracuse, including courses focused on the English language, genre, author studies, and critical theory.   I felt confident entering the classroom that my breadth of knowledge was extensive, allowing me to teach all different types of literature.  I felt prepared to enter the workforce as a full-time teacher immediately after graduation, and that is an invaluable feeling.