On any given day in the Department of English, you will find students engaging in thoughtful, meaningful and sometimes animated conversations about their world and the stories that shape and are shaped by that world. As a result, students begin to see themselves as thinkers, writers, scholars and professionals. In today’s crowded attention economy, spaces that encourage these interactions have become even more crucial. We want to inspire students to think deeply and critically, both in the classroom and beyond, and our physical spaces can encourage them to interact and collaborate in face-to-face settings.
For many alumni, recalling college days may bring back memories of hours of conversations with friends and professors—ideas and identities were developed in the context of the rich spiritual and intellectual community of Andrews University. In my own memory, I can recall specific conversations around campus: in the Gazebo, on the sidewalks and in my academic home, the Department of English. There, I spent class sessions debating the meaning of lines of poetry. I visited professors’ offices for writing conferences, learning to find my academic voice. I met classmates who remain dear friends, some of whom are now colleagues, and together we grew in our faith and in our understanding of literature. Our departmental suite in Nethery Hall has a long tradition of being the site of these types of exchanges; many readers of FOCUS will remember their own time with friends at the lunch table or with professors during office hours.
The 2025 Giving Tuesday campaign allowed the department to connect with alumni in order to begin fundraising for the next generation of conversations.
Today, the Department of English continues its legacy of connection, though the physical spaces have been in need of a refresh. The 2025 Giving Tuesday campaign allowed the department to connect with alumni in order to begin fundraising for the next generation of conversations. Our fundraising goal began with a need for a conference room, ideal for small classes, department meetings and group projects; our secondary goal was to raise funds to update our common spaces. Based on the significant number of individual donors, it is clear that our alumni share the sentiment that sustaining and updating our physical environment is critical for the continued quality of the student experience. Their support led to a financial award from University administration based on our total number of donors. That combined amount allowed us to reach, and exceed, our fundraising goal.
We are delighted to report that our conference room is already providing space for class discussions and meetings, enhanced by a new portable television and whiteboards. With the additional funds raised, we are creating a student lounge space within the department where students can study, eat and relax. By adding comfortable furniture, charging stations and an eating area, we invite this generation of Andrews University students into the broader community of English scholars and create a welcoming atmosphere in our department where we can continue conversations. We are grateful to the friends of the Department of English and to University administration for helping us realize this vision.