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Department of English


Our Mission

In the Purdue English department, you will learn the kind of adaptive thinking, empathy, and creativity that the current job market demands and that global citizenship requires.

In other words, our classes cultivate skills that will never go out of fashion, including:

  • reading and writing skills (how to read patiently, and with empathy and insight; how to recognize patterns in texts; and how to express your observations effectively)
  • creative and literary thinking (metaphorical and other non-literal reasoning; connecting the dots both globally and historically; telling stories with data)
  • analytical and research skills (how to take texts and ideas apart for a greater understanding of the whole; how to find, compile, and synthesize important information)
  • cutting-edge presentation skills (how to read and understand images and digital texts; how to present your ideas in the most effective manner)

English Department Sweeps CLA Teaching Awards!

For the first time in the history of the College of Liberal Arts Teaching Awards, the English Department had winners in every category. Below is a list of our four award winners for 2023; click on the names to find out more about these accomplished teachers:

Richard Johnson-Sheehan: The Kenneth T. Kofmehl Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award

Michael Johnston: Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher 

Bradley Dilger: Outstanding Graduate Teacher

Holly Baker: Outstanding Lecturer

Congratulations to our amazing award-winning teachers!