When David Lynch died, the internet filled with quotes from him. I usually cringe at these sudden and predictable proliferations of soundbites that become nearly meaningless in their ubiquity. The point in moments like this is to show that you are the kind of person who posts a David Lynch quote, the quote itself is secondary at best, you might as well just post a square with the words “David Lynch Quote.” This time though, there was one quote that made its way through to me, that stuck in my brain, looping. “Ideas are like… read more about The Risk of Serialized Reality: On Big Fiction and The New Seriality »
New summer reading from Duke authors include timely books on race, history and political polarization; useful books on finance, health and mentorship; and good reads of poetry and fiction. Plus: for the kids, there’s a primer on subatomic particles. Catch up on more than 20 new Duke books. read more about Summer Reading: Duke Authors’ Hot New Books »
All historical periods are created twice: first in their own age, and again in the work of their interpreters. But this truism applies in a special sense to the Renaissance, an era whose intellectuals developed a new orientation to history, before becoming the whetstone on which one generation of historians after another honed their ideas. It is this double story that Ada Palmer tells in Inventing the Renaissance: The Myth of a Golden Age, a quirky, meandering, and cumulatively brilliant popular history of the… read more about How Should We Think About the Renaissance? »
Jorge Mato Frontela, Miguel Cohen Suarez, Fletch Rydell and Trisha Santanam were chosen by a faculty committee chaired by Professor Erika Weinthal of the Nicholas School of the Environment. The award honors students who have a strong GPA and a record of original, independent study and show promise of entering a scholarly career. read more about Four Undergraduates Whose Research Studies Are Winning Acclaim »
Marrying into a wealthy family that also comes with a job opportunity sounds pretty great — until a dark secret comes to lightThat's the premise behind Amin Ahmad's mystery A Killer in the Family, PEOPLE can exclusively announce. The book is forthcoming next year from Henry Holt and Company, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers.Muslim bachelor Ali Azeem thinks he’s made it big when he joins an arranged marriage with Maryam Khan, the daughter of one of New York’s wealthiest tycoons. Ali leaves his hometown of… read more about A Man Uncovers His In-Laws’ Twisted Secrets in Amin Ahmad’s "A Killer in the Family" »
As their first year at Duke winds down, we’re checking in with our Trinity undergrads to see how they navigated the challenges of campus life, coursework and newfound independence. Four common themes emerged across their individual experiences — balance, adjustment, connections and growth — shaping a year defined by new beginnings and meaningful discoveries. read more about Trinity in Four Acts: First-Year Wrap-up »
Join Duke English as we review our 2024-25 Academic Year. Please click here to access our annual e-newsletter. read more about 2025 Duke English e-Newsletter »
ESTABLISHING A SCIENCE AND CULTURE NETWORK AT DUKESTEFANI ENGELSTEIN, PROFESSOR OF GERMAN STUDIES; ROBERT MITCHELL, PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH; CATE REILLY, ANDREW W. MELLON ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LITERATUREThis project seeks to bring together scholars who investigate the sciences from a variety of theoretical and historical perspectives as a set of cultural… read more about Seed Grants Aim to Improve Faculty Experience »
Eight faculty in Duke University’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences have been honored with named professorships, effective July 1.These endowed positions recognize leadership and commitment to excellence in scholarship and research. Their recipients are outstanding teachers, mentors and researchers whose contributions are invaluable to the College of Arts & Sciences, as well as their students and colleagues.“Trinity is defined by the strength of its faculty, and we are extraordinarily fortunate to count these… read more about Eight Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Honored With Named Professorships »
LINCOLN HAMA EMMA HUANG Barbara Cardenas Codriansky read more about 2025 Duke English Graduation: Keynote Students Speakers »
Duke English proudly announces that Lizzie Apple, a fourth-year Duke English PhD candidate, has received the 2025 Stephen Horne Award for Excellence in Teaching. Candidates in consideration for this award are nominated by their students, and the Director of Graduate Studies in conjunction with the DGS Advisory Committee selects the winner. Six students in Apple’s English 90S “Literature and Medicine” course taught during the Fall ’24 semester nominated her for this honor.Her course description shared with interested… read more about Lizzie Apple, 2025 Stephen Horne Award for Excellence in Teaching Winner »
The Office for Faculty Advancement has awarded seed grants to six new projects led by Duke faculty members. The theme for this grant cycle is “Deepening Engagement and Improving the Faculty Experience.”Faculty were invited to propose creative approaches to strengthening faculty communities and relationships; innovative initiatives to improve the culture in departments, centers and schools; and new faculty groups that deepen engagement on topics relevant to the faculty experience.The seed grant program will provide financial… read more about Trinity Faculty Join New Projects to Deepen Engagement and Improve the Faculty Experience »
On Sunday, May 11, 2025, Duke English held its 2025 Duke English Graduation Ceremony in Reynolds Theater in the Bryan Center on Duke University's West Campus. read more about PHOTO GALLERY: 2025 Duke English Graduation »
Edited recording of 2025 Duke English Graduation Ceremony On Sunday, May 11, 2025, Duke English held its 2025 Duke English Graduation Ceremony in Reynolds Theater in the Bryan Center on Duke University's West Campus. read more about RECORDING: 2025 Duke English Graduation Ceremony »
We present a partial list of departmental, university and national honors and scholarships won by this year’s graduates. A full list will appear Sunday in the commencement program. read more about Department Honors and Laurels for the Class of 2025 »
This Spring, Professor Taylor Black taught English 208: Philosophy of Modern Song Radio Show, a course, he noted in its description, “for people who listen to music seriously and are interested in expanding their powers of critical reception.” To conclude the class, students submitted their final portfolio, which consisted of writing pieces that had been workshopped during the semester, reflecting on how they related to critical texts the class had surveyed. Below are links to the… read more about English 208: Philosophy of Modern Song Radio Show »
The following is a partial list of national, university, school and departmental awards presented to the members of the Class of 2025. In some awards where there are multiple winners, only members of the Class of 2025 are included. read more about Department Honors and Laurels for the Class of 2025 »
Undergraduate research is one of the cornerstones of a Duke education. More than half of the undergraduates leave Duke after doing an honors project, independent study or other faculty-mentored research.“At Duke, undergraduate research is more than an opportunity — it’s part of our culture,” said Deb Reisinger, dean of undergraduate education. “From their very first year on campus, students are encouraged to explore big questions, test ideas, and engage directly with faculty mentors across every discipline. Whether in an… read more about Class of 2025 Honors: Exploring the Big Questions »
“The Fiction Fix” Workshop SeriesThis Spring semester, Duke English Professors JP Gritton and Mesha Maren, in conjunction with Duke Arts and the Writers Collective, hosted a series of writer's workshops featuring local writers who provided insight on how to work through elements of one's writing. From January to April, monthly workshops were held to showcase the talents of local writers and discuss a specific aspect of writing.The series started with Professors Maren and Griffon leading a workshop… read more about “The Fiction Fix” Workshop Series »
Undergraduate research is one of the cornerstones of a Duke education. More than half of the undergraduates leave Duke after doing an honors project, independent study or other faculty-mentored research.“At Duke, undergraduate research is more than an opportunity — it’s part of our culture,” said Deb Reisinger, dean of undergraduate education. “From their very first year on campus, students are encouraged to explore big questions, test ideas, and engage directly with faculty mentors across every discipline. Whether in an… read more about Class of 2025 Honors: Exploring the Big Questions »
Each year, the Duke English Department proudly showcases the exceptional work of its graduating seniors during Undergraduate Distinction Day. This special event honors students who have gone the extra mile to graduate with distinction—through completing a senior honors thesis crafted with tireless dedication, insight, and creativity. Here is a glimpse into the works presented by the first panel:Drew Temel "The detective simply asked about Eric's history. Keegan had no… read more about A Celebration of Senior Theses at Undergraduate Distinction Day »
On March 25, I attended a talk by Nadia Davids entitled “Performance in the Aftermath: Mourning and memorializing District 6. Davids spent her childhood in District 6, Capetown, and following its demolition, has written several plays and novels in efforts to keep its memory alive. “An Imperfect Blessing”, her debut novel, was shortlisted for the Pan-African Etisalat prize for literature, and her most recent novel, “Kept Fever,” will be published in 2025. I knew nothing about the subject before attending, but was entranced… read more about A Talk by Nadia Davids: The Chronicling of Memory in District 6, Cape Town »
Some of the most influential scientists of all time, including Albert Einstein, recognized the necessity of the Humanities as a counterpart for scientific inquiry. However, this opinion is not widespread. Many believe subjects within the STEM field to be more “real-world-applicable” than their Humanities counterparts– a perception reflected by the upward trend of STEM degree paths among undergraduate students. And as the interest gap between the Sciences and the Humanities widens, some academics are beginning to wonder if… read more about Bridging the Divide: The Intersection of STEM and the Humanities »
Having completed two semesters worth of college classes, I’ve encountered my fair share of professors– all with differing backgrounds, levels of experience, instruction strategies, and areas of focus. This diversity is one of Duke’s greatest strengths. But perhaps the most intriguing student-teacher dynamic that I’ve observed is one in which an instructor is able to relate to their pupils on a fundamental level. Fostering these unique relationships are none other than the 500 or so graduate students who double as professors… read more about Fostering Mentorship: Graduate-Student Taught Courses »
With First-Year registration for Fall semester quickly approaching, it can be difficult to navigate the plethora of classes offered by Duke. In my own experience, balancing the excitement of choosing from such a diverse selection of subject matter and the logical instinct to fulfill degree requirements has been no easy feat. As an English major about to begin my second year of undergraduate education, here are the top five English classes that I think incoming freshmen could benefit from adding to their shopping carts:… read more about Top 5 for 2025: English Classes for Incoming Freshman »
Duke English is excited to announce the winners of our 2025 Critical Essay and Department awards!Stanley E. Fish Award for Outstanding Work in British & Anglophone LiteratureOctavia Chilkoti, ’25 - A Spectral Image Renewed: Recursive Dialogues Between Phantasmagoria and Gothic FictionThis award recognizes outstanding work by an undergraduate enrolled in an English course in British Literature. Louis J. Budd Award for Outstanding Work in American… read more about 2025 Critical Prize Winners »
“The Garden is a healer… that’s just a fact.”“When people come into my garden they see me.”“The people in charge are not the ones that look like us.”These were just a few of the powerful truths shared during the African American Legacy in Gardening and Horticulture Symposium on Saturday, March 29. In a space filled with stories, resistance and regeneration, I witnessed how gardening is much more than cultivation– it’s reclamation, identity and legacy. Organized by the North Carolina Botanical Gardens, Durham County… read more about So Much More Than Growing Plants: Gardening as a Practice of Reclamation, Identity and Legacy »
For 17 years and counting, the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute has been the go-to source for ongoing collaborative support for scholars in the interpretive social sciences and humanities working on not-yet-published books.The Provost's Office and Trinity College of Arts & Sciences currently support the Faculty Book Manuscript Workshops program, which was first funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and addresses the purposeful need for feedback at a crucial point in the book-writing process. - Read More read more about FHI’s Faculty Book Manuscript Workshops Keep Fostering Academic Excellence »
During the Spring '25 semester, Professor Frances Leviston, the 2024-25 Blackburn Artist-in-Residence, taught a course that combined two of her loves, "poetry" and "photography." In English 290S-4 "Poetry and Photography," Professor Leviston's students learned about the influence that these two forms can have on each other. They explored how words and photographs together can create powerful storytelling that elevates how messages are conveyed.When asked what inspired her to teach a course of this nature, Professor… read more about Poetry and Photography Taught by Professor Frances Leviston, ’24-25 Blackburn Artist-in-Residence »
Duke English is excited to announce our 2025 Creative Writing Scholarships honorees. Each year, Duke English faculty members nominate undergraduate students for one of the Creative Writing Scholarships based on the exceptional work they submitted in one or more of their creative writing courses. The Creative Writing Committee selects the winners of the prestigious William M. Blackburn, Francis Pemberton, and Margaret Rose Knight Sanford Scholarships. Students nominated must be eligible for financial aid to receive… read more about 2025 Creative Writing Scholarships Honorees »