Spring 2017 Department News

Mind’s Eye Student Literary Magazine Now Available

Mind’s Eye 2017, JCCC’s student literary magazine, is now available for sale (for $5) in the Writing Center (LIB 308), the English Department (CC 305), and in GEB 165H.  Professor Tom Reynold’s is the faculty director for the publication.

Prof. McWard Elected Chair of English 

Prof. Jim McWard, Ph.D., has been elected the Chair of the Department of English for 2017 – 2020.  He has a doctorate in 18th Century British Literature from the University of Kansas and has taught at JCCC for many years.  During the Spring 2017 semester, he updated his popular Masterpieces of Cinema, which he will continue to teach in the Fall.  Jim is replacing Prof. Keith Geekie, who is retiring in June after working at JCCC since 1994.

JCCC’s Day of Writing on June 3

Eighteen staff and faculty members joined the “JCCC Day of Writing,” the Kansas Studies Institute’s 7th annual Kansas Writers Symposium, on June 3, 2017.  The day’s structure was informal but productive.  Participants convened for a light breakfast and discussion of their different projects.  Some attendees were novices, and Mathew Schmeer provided them with prompts, writing activities, and inspiring advice.

Writing spaces were spread around the campus—a learning studio, a computer classroom, and the entirety of Galileo’s Pavilion; because the weather was lovely, some participants found a sunny spot outside to sit and write.  The group met up again for lunch and lively conversation, then returned to their projects for the rest of the day.  At the wrap-up session, participants chatted about what they’d written and talked about their plans for continuing their projects.

This year’s Kansas Writers Symposium committee included Anthony Funari,  Farrell Hoy Jenab, Amy Pace, Paul Restivo, Matthew Schmeer, and Jane Stock.

Cavalier Conference on Writing and Literature News

The JCCC Third Annual Conference on Writing and Literature took place on April 21, 2017.   This year’s featured speaker was Professor Tom Averill of Washburn University, who gave a delightful keynote speech on the importance of collaboration in the writing process. Our theme this year was “Showcasing” and the morning of the conference featured 11 presentations from colleagues and visitors. Our conference also showcased the new Collaboration Lab.

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