Department of English
It was research, and I loved it. I could not get enough of it. It’s really exciting to be able to research and write and present your case. It’s all written, and you need an English degree for that.
I’ve helped a restaurant owner in Riverdale make a menu. I’ve hosted Dungeons and Dragons nights in Auberry and gardening classes in central Fresno. I’ve connected west-side farmworkers with family in Mexico, helping them access the public computers. Every day is different, but I’ve always felt like I’m making a difference.
Our Success Stories
People often ask: What can you DO with an English degree?
Our response: What CAN'T you do?
With honed communication skills, deepened emotional intelligence, and a keen eye for analysis, English Department and Creative Writing Program alumni gain an edge in many professional fields. Of course, our graduates teach. And of course, our graduates write books. They also work in a wide range of jobs you might not expect.
Meet Our Alumni
Library Technician
Matty Hernandez, an English Education alumni, now works as a library technician at West Fresno Middle School
Marketing Specialist
Nou Her, an MFA Creative Writing (Fiction) and B.A. English (Literature) alumni, now works as a marketing specialist for WestCare
Engagement Manager
Laura Musselman, a MFA Creative Writing (Creative Nonfiction) alumni, now works as an engagement manager for the Humane Prison Hospice Project
Feature stories
May 2022 — Professor Mai Der Vang named finalist for Pulitzer Prize in Poetry (Fresno State News)
April 2022 — Humanities foundation awards $50K prize to alumnus Anthony Cody (Fresno State News)
December 2020 — Four MFA alumni publish debut books in 2019-20 (Fresno State News)
December 2020 — The Normal School magazine finished print run among nation's best for inclusion (Fresno State News)
December 2020 — Alumnus Anthony Cody wins regional award for distinguished master's thesis (Fresno State News)
November 2020 — Alumnus Anthony Cody finishes as finalist for National Book Award in Poetry (Fresno State News)
November 2020 — Teaching credential provides direct path to area English classrooms (Fresno State News)
May 2020 — Creative writing and art deeply shape these six English graduates (Arts and Humanities blog)
October 2019 — Local community colleges hire English and Creative Writing grads (Arts and Humanities blog)
September 2019 — Creative Writing student lands coveted publishing internship (Arts and Humanities blog)
May 2019 — Life After Graduation: Leo Rowland, MFA Creative Writing (Arts and Humanities blog)
May 2019 — English Education graduate's Air National Guard service helped her pay for school (Fresno State News)
May 2019 — Alumna Marisol Baca named Fresno Poet Laureate (Arts and Humanities blog)
April 2019 — English alumni gather for multiethnic literature conference anniversary (Arts and Humanities blog)
December 2018 — Seven MFA alumni publish debut books in 2017-18 (Arts and Humanities blog)
November 2018 — English Education alumnus takes unlikely path to teaching job (Arts and Humanities blog)
May 2018 — Symposium embraces complexities of late alumnus, poet Andrés Montoya (Arts and Humanities blog)
December 2017 — University honors late alumna, poet Mia Barraza Martinez with tree, bench, writing prize (Arts and Humanities blog)
August 2017 — Fresno Poets Archive Project brings literary history to life (Arts and Humanities blog)
July 2017 — Creative Writing MFAs deepen their knowledge, experience with Ph.D.s (Arts and Humanities blog)
April 2017 — English alumni inspire high school writers and teachers at campus conference (Arts and Humanities blog)
December 2016 — Eight MFA alumni publish debut books in 2016 (Arts and Humanities blog)
November 2016 — Community film premiere celebrates alumnus, poet Larry Levis (Arts and Humanities blog)
September 2016 — Alumnus Soul Vang creates endowed scholarship, poetry prize (Arts and Humanities blog)
October 2015 — Alumni become leaders of their own college writing centers (Fresno State Magazine)