Meet the Graduate Students

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, including undergraduate programs in English or other disciplines. While some have recently completed their undergraduate work, many are returning students hoping to energize their craft, switch careers, or pursue their passion for language, literature, and writing.

Some of our students grew up and attended college in the Midwest; others have come from across the country or from overseas to study at K-State.

You can find out more about some of our graduate students below. If you'd like to contact a current master's candidate to hear more about the program from a student's perspective, please email gradeng@ksu.edu

Name: Fortune Lavie

Hometown: Anloga, Ghana

Academic Concentration: Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication

Academic Interests: Legal Rhetoric, Rhetoric of Science, Visual Rhetoric, and UX Design

The Best Part of My Experience at K-State

The best part of my experience at K-State is the people! I have found myself in a community where faculty and peers genuinely care, always going the extra mile to support my success. There’s always someone who stops you in the hallway with a smile to ask how your work is going, someone who encourages you to apply for conferences you hadn’t considered or someone who simply understands when you’re having a tough day. From faculty members providing food during finals week to ease the burden on grad students to our Director of Graduate studies ensuring we receive the right support and treatment, to the Expository Writing Program strategically scheduling professional development opportunities for us, K-State, and especially the English department, has been a true family. The support here isn’t just academic; it’s personal, thoughtful, and intentional. I leave K-State knowing I have been part of something special, and the standard of care and community here is one against which I will measure every other institution.

What Makes K-State’s M.A. in English Special?

I love the freedom and the culture of inquiry that underpins each course I take at K-State. The program sets you up for discovery—whether it’s uncovering new knowledge or applying what you already know in ways you never thought possible. Most importantly, the dedication of the faculty in guiding students through this journey is exceptional. My major professor, for instance, is always willing to read my legal rhetoric books and materials with me, just so we can have deeper conversations about my research and how he can better guide me. That level of commitment is rare, and I’m grateful I found it here at K-State. As I get ready to leave in a few months, I feel intellectually fulfilled, knowing that this program has truly prepared me for the next adventure. Thank you, K-State!

Master’s Project Title (2nd Years Only)

"Guilt by Design: The Media’s Rhetorical Construction of Guilt in Casey Anthony’s Trial"

 

Name: Eve Wilson

Hometown: Franklin, KY

Academic Concentration: Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication

Academic Interests: Video game technology and influence on modern culture; literary criticism

The Best Part of Your Experience at K-State

Starting graduate school in a new program of study 20 years after I received my bachelor's degree in philosophy has been both challenging and invigorating. I appreciate the opportunity to acquire new writing, editing, and critical thinking skills (while sharpening others) in a rigorous academic environment. I plan to put these skills to use working in the world of grants as I progress further in my career at K-State, where I'm currently a full-time accountant with Arts & Sciences.

What Makes K-State’s M.A. in English Special?

The rigorousness of the classes, whether asynchronous or in-person, has transformed my work and study habits as well as my critical thinking. In particular, the 801 class was the most challenging and the most rewarding for the research, study, and writing/revision habits it emphasized. I also appreciate that the classes I took to earn my graduate certificate in professional and technical writing easily rolled over into my master's program of study. Every faculty member I've interacted with has been interested in and supportive of my growth as a writer and the goals I've set out to achieve.

I do not have my master's project title nailed down yet, but I will be writing over the spring and summer with the aim to graduate in December 2025.

 

Name: Faezeh Rostami

Hometown: Mashhad, Iran

Academic Concentration: Cultural Studies

Academic Interests: Film, TV, Feminism and Queer Studies

The Best Part of My Experience at K-State

The best part of my experience at K-State has been the people. Everyone has been extremely helpful and kind, especially those in the English department, who made me feel truly welcome. I also love the variety of events and opportunities to connect with people from different backgrounds.

What Makes K-State’s M.A. in English Special?

What makes K-State's M.A. in English so special is that it offers different tracks, so you can try out a few and figure out what you’re really into. The department is smaller, so you get a lot of individual help and feedback, which makes a big difference in grad school. Plus, the chance to become a GTA and get a stipend is pretty awesome and definitely helps with finances.

 

Name: Watson Lee

Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama

Academic Concentration: Creative Writing & Literature with a focus on Fiction.

Academic Interests: Being a southerner, I am primarily interested in southern stories and folklore. The south has a rich history of storytelling, both written and spoken, that is critically undervalued by the arts. My goal is to explore and highlight stories from my birthplace while creating my own.

The Best Part of My Experience at K-State

The best part of my experience at K-State has been teaching some enthusiastic classes while also collaborating with writers and scholars from all over the world.

What Makes K-State’s M.A. in English Special?

The comraderie found at K-State is truly special. People from various heritages and backgrounds all come together and work to further our understanding and appreciation of literature and writing.

 

Name: Cariana Kut

Hometown: N/A

Academic Concentration: Creative Writing

Academic Interests: Creative Writing, YA & Children’s Lit, Victorian Lit

The Best Part of My Experience at K-State

Using the library resources like ILL to further my research.

What Makes K-State’s M.A. in English Special?

I think the community is one of the things that makes the program special.