Department of English | SUNY Potsdam

The Department of English challenges its students to complete a core of courses that explore the varied ways people speak, write and read.

Degree Programs:

Bachelor of Arts in English with undergraduate majors in:

literature and writing
creative writing

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Sharmain van Blommestein, Department Chair
Email: vanblos@potsdam.edu
Office: Morey Hall 118
Phone: (315) 267-2043

A Creative Mind

Tasked with writing a fractured fairytale in one of his first English classes out of high school, Parker Atlas Yaw ’24 had no way of knowing that he would be a published author just a few years later. Now, a junior at SUNY Potsdam, he has turned those initial pages into a fully formed 300-page novel that will soon be on the digital shelves of Amazon in paperback and eBook. Yaw has excelled academically while pursuing a double major in anthropology and English literature/writing. He plans to teach English at the high school level after graduation, and also pursue a doctorate in linguistics.

Motherhood and Education

As she handles the responsibilities of marriage and motherhood, Elizabeth Criscitello ’22 has faced the challenges of adulthood much quicker than many of her classmates. Engaged at the end of her freshman year, married the following year, and then having her baby in the spring of 2020, she has continued to balance parenting with her educational goals as she pursues dual degrees in English writing and community health.

Finding Her Voice

Once an introverted first-year student at SUNY Potsdam, Kiara Espinal ’21 has continued to develop skills as a public speaker and artist, on a path of discovery to find her voice and become a leader among her peers.

Finding A Way to Say It All

Concluding a semester like no other, SUNY Potsdam students in a magazine writing class poured their thoughts, challenges, struggles and advice into a digital publication they titled “Pandemic Magazine.” Through personal essays, reader-service pieces and participatory articles from students and several professors, the magazine documents the college experience in a time of pandemic. It is a creative and sometimes stark reminder of the role a virus is likely to play in the testament of a generation.

Mike Rogge '08

When he’s not carving through the fresh powder at Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe, Mike Rogge ’08 leads a successful career as the editor The Ski Journal and the founder/owner of the media production company, Verb Cabin. Since graduating with his degree in writing and literature from SUNY Potsdam over a decade ago, Rogge has turned his dream into a reality—skiing as many days as possible and writing about it professionally.

Kalis Nunes '20

Kalis Nunes ’20 has been on a trajectory of success ever since he first set foot on campus his freshman year. After entering SUNY Potsdam through the Bridges Program, he continued to grow both academically and as a leader on campus. He went on to take a persuasive speaking with Professor David Fregoe where he developed the skills and confidence to speak in front of large groups—paving the way for his new role as President of the Student Government Association.

Dr. Trevor Blank

Dr. Trevor Blank, who started teaching at SUNY Potsdam in the fall of 2012, has either authored or edited nine books. His most recent book, “Slender Man is Coming,” was published in September 2018 and is centered around the fictional horror character Slender Man and looks at Creepypasta in digital culture.