Amanda Alexander
Year Graduated: 
2013

Ph.D. Candidate & Graduate Instructor

Department of English at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Job description

Dissertation in progress: “Prescriptive Politeness: An Examination of Eighteenth-Century British and Dutch Periodicals’ Influence on Public Perceptions of Prescriptive Language Movements.”

Why did you choose this program?

I attended HSU as an undergraduate, earning BAs in German and English. Because of the positive experiences I had as an undergraduate, I chose to apply for the MA program in English for the opportunity to work more closely with faculty I knew and trusted. I believed that these professional relationships would support my intellectual curiosity and future pedagogical goals.

How did this program prepare you for your job?

Through my MA work, I felt ready to take on extensive research in my field. My faculty advisors gave thoughtful and honest feedback on my ideas and writing, offering constructive ways for me to develop as a junior scholar. I continue to use that advice in my current work. I also came to my current program with a strong foundation in pedagogical theory and practice, something which was not as common for my peers at Minnesota. This groundwork has enhanced my teaching and helped me to be comfortable with, and confident in, any class I teach.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

Our program had a small, supportive cohort of students. Because of this, I knew I mattered to the program, to my advisors, and to my peers. We had a strong community that cheered for each other's successes and offered a commiserative ear to handle the stresses of graduate school. That support was invaluable to me.

What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?

An MA in English can open up many opportunities for future careers. You learn not only core research skills but also how to project manage, advocate for yourself in a workplace, express and defend your ideas, and work collaboratively with peers and senior scholars (akin to bosses). Alongside this, you have the benefit of humanistic inquiry, of learning to understand yourself and others as part of a shared community.

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