Department of English

Centers and Projects

Annual Events

Professor Tanya Nichols speaks to attendees at the Young Writers' Conference

Young Writers' Conference

Since 1980, the English Department welcomes 400+ high school students and teachers to campus for a day of writing.Join the Young Writers
UCMLA conference student organizers gather for a group photo.

UCMLA conference

The Undergraduate Conference on Multiethnic Literatures of the Americas invites students to present their scholarly research.Come to the Conference
Professor Brynn Saito speaks behind the microphone.

Fresno Poets' Association

The Creative Writing Program's decades-old reading series, featuring poets and prose writers from Fresno and beyond.Come to a Reading

Publishing and Editing Projects

Past cover of The Normal School magazine, featuring a girl in a rabbit mask.

The Normal School magazine

Our national literary magazine is staffed by grad students and features nonfiction, fiction, poetry, interviews, and multimedia.Read the Magazine
Headshot photo of Philip Levine.

Philip Levine Prize for Poetry

Our national book contest is staffed by grad students and honors the beloved U.S. Poet Laureate and professor emeritus.Explore the Contest
Screenshot of San Joaquin Review website's homepage.

San Joaquin Review journal

Our department's literary journal is staffed by undergrads and features writing and art by students, alumni, and community. Read the Journal

Campus Spaces

Four smiling students sit around a workshop table together inside the Writing Center.

Writing Center

The Writing Center offers group, one-on-one, and online tutorials for all students interested in improving their writing.Come to the Center
Professor Juan Felipe Herrera directs a group of schoolkids to create poetry and art on the walls.

Laureate Lab studio

Inside the Library, become a "visual wordist" with U.S. Poet Laureate Emeritus Juan Felipe Herrera and his fellows.Join the Labbers
Four students sit in comfy chairs in a circle inside the Levine Reading Room.

Levine Reading Room

Inside the Library, explore the personal book collection of the late U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine.Visit the Room

Special Projects

Modern oil painting of a street

International Conference on Virginia Woolf

This 33rd annual gathering of Woolf scholars, supported by our graduate students, embraces the expansive turns in modernist studies.Explore the Conference
Larry Levis at podium

Fresno Poets Archive project

Our archive of video recordings from the earliest Fresno Poets' Association readings, researched by undergrad students.Watch the Episodes