English and writing
 

The English major affords students essential insights into human nature and thought as well as an appreciation of the written word as a mode of expression. English majors are prepared for responsible careers in business, law, education, public service, information services, and other professional areas, as well as for graduate study in English. The major develops the skills of analysis, interpretation and communication indispensable for any career.

The writing major shares many interests with the English major, but its focus is more directly on producing writing. For this reason, a writing major will take courses in several varieties of writing -- news, business, creative writing and others -- to pursue and prepare for a wide variety of career possibilities. Writing majors have had successful careers in technical writing, journalism, academic writing, business writing and management. Students have often chosen double majors with writing and English, mass communications, and new media.

Faculty in brief

Tricia Currans-Sheehan, a Briar Cliff alumna, joined the department in 1986. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of South Dakota. Tricia is a short story writer whose collection, The Egg-Lady and other Neighbors, won the New Rivers Literary Competition. In addition, Tricia helped found The Briar Cliff Review in 1989 and has been managing editor for sixteen years, propelling the BCReview into the national spotlight with numerous awards.

Jeanne Emmons specializes in Modern Poetry and Victorian Literature. She has additional interests in Mythology and Linguistics. She earned her B.A., M.A., and PhD. degrees from the University of Texas, where she met her husband Adam Frisch, also a member of the Briar Cliff English faculty. She writes short stories and poetry. She won the Iowa Woman poetry competition in 1991, the South Coast Poetry Review competition in 1993, and the Minnesota Voices Project competition in 1996. Her book Rootbound, a collection of poetry, has been published by New Rivers Press in Minneapolis.

Adam Frisch, who received his B.A. from the University of Michigan, his M.A. from the University of Washington, and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas, has been a member of the Briar Cliff faculty since 1978. A professor of dramatic literature, he is also a specialist in British Romantic literature and in science fiction. He has published various articles on Percy Shelley, on the role of audience when writing arguments, and on contemporary feminist science fiction writers. With Jeanne Emmons, he is half of a husband-wife team on the English faculty.

Phil Hey has been our resident writer at Briar Cliff since 1969. Called upon to serve as unofficial poet laureate on several occasions, he also takes his poetry to Iowa's elementary and high schools for the Iowa Arts Council. His book How it Seems to Me: new and selected poems, was published in 2004. On campus he teaches writing in all its aspects and occasionally contributes his musical talents to department socials.

Jim Redmond, since 1977 a member of the English staff, did his undergraduate work at Lewis College, receiving his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at Purdue University. A scholar of Medieval and Renaissance literature, Jim leads his students to Shakespearean and other dramatic productions at Omaha and the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, and also teaches The Black Hills Experience course in the summer.  In his roles with the local and state chapter of the Sierra Club, he uses his writing skill to advocate for environmental preservation.

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