Matt Franks
Year Graduated: 
2008

Associate Professor

University of West Georgia

Job description

I teach a wide range of courses in 20th century British and Postcolonial literature, and I publish scholarship in the fields of queer and disability studies. I also mentor student research projects and serve on committees that keep the university running.

Why did you choose this program?

It was close to home, and I liked the emphasis on teacher training. Also, the fantastic faculty members! While my choice was more about location than the program itself, I ended up being extremely happy that I had such a good experience and learned so much in my two years at HSU. I received much better preparation for teaching at HSU than during six years in my PhD program.

How did this program prepare you for your job?

I gained an immense amount of knowledge about teaching, literary scholarship, and becoming an academic from the HSU English department. I also gained my first experiences giving conference papers, being part of a scholarly community, and most importantly, TAing and teaching classes. It simply would not have been possible for me to succeed in my profession without the foundation I gained in my MA program.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

The community among fellow students as we all navigated out personal and professional interests in English, and the mentorship from faculty. The supportive community was necessary and lasting.

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

You don't have to have everything figured out yet! Keep your options open and let your interests and discoveries guide you.

Elissa Rodriguez, 2019 »
MA in Human Rights Education

Todd Loughran, 2020 »
MFA grad student in English Creative Writing: Poetry at University of Kansas City Missouri

Gloria Pearlman, 2020 »
Composition Instructor
Western Washington University

Cristian Martinez, 2020 »
Scholar

Janet Calderon, 2017 »
Academic Librarian


View all Profiles »