A lot of people think that an English degree only prepares you to be an academic, to be a teacher, or to be a writer. Sure these are all possibilities - but there are so many more. 

 

 

A degree in English gives you a lot of skills: communication (clarity and grace in writing and speaking), the ability to process complex and various kinds of information (from the large scale, like the organization of a novel, to the small scale, like the structure of a single line of poetry), and attention to audience (considering the subtle effects of a shift in narrative voice, or the perspective of an advertising campaign). 

Most importantly, however, it teaches intellectual flexibility and nuance. When people are hiring, they don’t just want someone with a set of skills: they want someone who can learn new skills quickly, who can adapt to new forms, and who can read situations, and people, carefully and critically. It is a degree that will get you hired, and if you want to see what some of our recent English graduates are doing, just scroll down.

But we here at the Sewanee English Department also insist that the value of pursuing English isn’t just about its preparation for work (though we all think that is important). Every person, regardless of their job, deserves to experience beauty, and literature is beautiful. To experience beauty in its fullness, study, guidance, and collaboration are all necessary. Work is important, but studying English should also remind you what you’re working for. This degree will help you get a job, but it will also prepare you for all the hours you aren’t working. 

 

Eliza Smith Working at Oracle
Alumna ('20)

After a summer internship at SHADOW, a creative marketing and communications firm in New York City, I knew I wanted a full-time career in the industry.

I began my career at BUNTIN, an advertising agency in Nashville, TN, after graduation. I’ve learned the foundations of advertising–media strategy, consumer behavior, client relationship management, and so on here.

I now work as an Account Manager at Oracle, a technology corporation best known for its software products and services. 

As an English major at Sewanee, I learned invaluable skills which I will carry throughout my career. The English department taught me how to think critically, write effectively, and distill complex ideas into concise language. I’m so grateful for my time at Sewanee and everything it has given me!

 

Mary Graham Harvey takes English Skills to Healthcare
Alumna (C'16)

Mary Graham Harvey (English, '16) tells a bit about her journey from English degree to her current position: "After working for a non-profit organization for five years, I returned to school and got my MBA at the University of Tennessee in Marketing in 2021.  I now work as a Senior Marketing Strategy Specialist at HCA Healthcare, the largest healthcare provider in the United States.  I am forever grateful for the education, life experiences and friends that Sewanee gave me.   My English degree and the strong writing foundation I received as a result of my time at Sewanee have been instrumental in my professional success, allowing me to effectively and succinctly communicate in business." 

Julia Harrison Found her Place in Publishing
Alumna (C'20)

A lot of college students dream of a job in publishing in New York, but Julia Harrison (C'20), found her way to one. At the beginning, she says, "I landed a $10/hour gig with an independent literary publicist. Leah ran her company, Press Shop PR, from her apartment. It was just her husband and herself, and me handwriting notecards in the back room to literary agents, begging them to notice us. I worked for her for 8 months, through a semester away from Sewanee and into the summer, while simultaneously working 3 days/week with a literary magazine A Public Space.

I returned to Sewanee and continued to work for Press Shop PR 10-15 hours/week remotely as a contracted worker, building out our campaigns from the porch of Stirling’s (Sewanee's coffee shop), until I took a full-time position with the Sewanee Review in May of 2020 after my graduation. I then resumed working with Leah in January of 2022, after leaving my position at the Review and taking a brief artist residency in Italy. Press Shop PR had an opening for a full-time publicist position and I took it nearly immediately, grateful to be working for the same small team (now up to 5 folks), four years later."

Lee Shurlknight Helps Businesses Find their Purpose
Alumnus (C'14)

Lee Shurlknight (C'14) is a Strategy Director at BCG BrightHouse, a company that helps organizations around the world articulate and bring to life their Purpose. His major in English is important to his position. "In my role, I wear many hats: an archaeologist that excavates the rich history of a company, an interdisciplinarian that treats the way trees communicate as an analogue for how business might collaborate, a deep listener that creates space for candid conversations about why people get up in the morning and what keeps them up at night, an architect that shapes plans to take Purpose off the page.

Though I didn’t fully appreciate or know it at the time, my English major at Sewanee taught me all of the skills I would need for the job – and for life. It taught me how to think deeply, bring clarity to complexity, synthesize divergent perspectives, hear what’s unsaid as much as what’s said, and ask big questions. It taught me to take a close look at what it means to be human, and how to strive for a life well-lived. So when companies come to me and ask for help finding their Purpose, their “why,” I know where to turn: to my time on the Mountain."

Reagan Leverett at Vanderbilt Law School
Alumna (C'22)

I was an English and Politics double-major, with concentrations in Law & Justice and National Institutions & Policies. I’m passionate about social justice and community building. I am currently attending Vanderbilt Law School, an adventure enriched by my involvement in the English program at Sewanee, which has greatly helped me strengthen my reading and writing skills!

Oliver Larkin Helps Political Campaigns
Alumnus (C' 15)

Oliver Larkin ('15) is an Associate Email Director at Authentic Campaigns, a full-service digital fundraising firm that works with Democratic campaigns and progressive non-profit organizations across the country.

Oliver says of the relationship between his English major and his career: "Writing skills are a core function of the work I do every day. My clients and I pride ourselves on crafting informative, thoughtful email campaigns that teach the recipient something new or contribute to their understanding of an issue by building an emotional connection. We don't treat our email lists like ATMs — we treat them as human beings."

The skills that Oliver learned in Sewanee's English program built his foundation for nearly a decade in political advocacy — from contacting voters and recruiting volunteers for Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign in New Hampshire to leading the email and SMS fundraising strategy for Rep. Adam Schiff's U.S. Senate campaign in California.

From the time Oliver spent one undergraduate summer as a Creative Copywriting intern at Zimmerman Advertising in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he knew that wanted to apply his English language and writing skills in the advertising and marketing field. As it happened, Oliver was able to merge this passion for advertising with causes he strongly believed in, and he's been building a career with the skills he learned at Sewanee ever since."

Hear from Current Students!

Will Stacey
English Major, '25

Why did you choose English as your major?

I chose English as my major because I want to very intentionally better my communication skills and pursue truth through analyzing great works of literature. I also heard that the English department is full of spectacular professors, and I have definitely found that to be true. My most influential teacher in high school was an English major at Sewanee, so that contributed to my decision as well.

What do you like about being an English major at Sewanee?

I am very grateful for how talented, knowledgable, and caring all the professors are. I have also been very happy with the selected texts that each of my classes have focused on and how the professors balance lecture with in-class critical thinking and discussion among the students.

Do you have a clear plan for what you want to do after graduation? If so, what is it?

My current plan for post-graduation is to work in the fire service. I am unsure if I will work for a municipal department or do wildland fire. I hope to start a business while working in the fire service, and depending on how the business goes, I may or may not stay in the fire service.

What sorts of things are you involved in outside of English, academically and extracurricularly? 

I am involved in the Sewanee Volunteer Fire Department, University Catholic at Sewanee, the Sewanee Outing Program, the Sewanee Cycling Team, and I compete in triathlon.

What was the first English class you took here?

The first English class I took here at Sewanee was English 101 with Dr. Irvin. I very much enjoyed the class. One focus of the class was how authors use the rhetoric of characters to push out the overarching meaning of their works.

What is your favorite book of all time or just at the moment?

My favorite book I've ever read is This Tremendous Lover by Eugene Boylan. It is a dense spiritual classic that touches on many aspects of the Christian life and God's love for mankind.

Do you have a minor or major in another subject?

I am doing a Business minor, too!

Hawkins
English C'25

Why Did you become an English major?

I initially wasn't sure what I wanted to focus on studying in college. After coming to Sewanee, I very nearly went in a direction of majoring in German. Like a lot of indecisive college students, I finally settled on English because it is where I'm academically strongest and it is most relevant to the career I want to pursue.

What do you like about the English major?

I like being an English major at Sewanee because of the strong emphasis placed on literary history. As a Politics and German Studies minor, having professors who care so much about the background and modern relevance of every text we study is important to me. I enjoy finding a variety of connections across my classes in different ways throughout each semester.

What do you plan to do after graduating?

While I don't have a clear plan to outline my post-graduate future, I am certain I want to work in the publishing industry. I'm not yet sure what sort of roles I could see myself in, but I am passionate about helping people make their goals happen. 

Are you a member of any organizations on campus?

I am a member of three different organizations outside of academics. My biggest time commitment is to the University Choir due to frequent rehearsals and my event-coordination role as Social Chair. I am an active member of my sorority, Kappa Delta, and a second-year member of the Writing House. The Writing House collaborates with a host of student and academic groups to bring together literary enthusiasts all over campus, and sometimes coordinates with the English and Creative Writing department faculties to join in on our events. 

What was the first English class you took?

The first English class I took was the first college course I ever walked into. It began at 8 A.M. three times a week and despite that, it is, to date, my most favorite class I've taken so far at Sewanee. It was called History of the English Language and it was the first time I encountered studies in etymology. This class, taught by Dean Alexander Bruce, is what drove me towards the major.

What is your favorite book of all time, or right now?

My favorite book of all time is Station Eleven, a standalone, multi-perspective novel written by Emily St. John Mandel. It features a wide cast of characters at different points before, during, and after a plague-driven apocalypse, and touches on themes like brief but important, genuine human connection.

LJ Kemper
English and Environmental Sustainability C'24

Why did you choose English as your major? 

I had always enjoyed my English classes in middle and high school, and I wanted the ability to further my interests in a productive way. I also wanted to sharpen my writing abilities. I think being a good (or at least passable) writer is one of the most important skills you can have! 

What do you like about being an English major at Sewanee? 

Being an English major has allowed me to explore some of my more niche literary interests with the full support of professors and peers who also share the same fascination. But, I would never have found these interests without the classes I took, as they allowed me to encounter so many texts and authors I never would have discovered otherwise. Right now I’m lucky enough to have the support to write an Honors Thesis, something that never would have happened without my professors supporting my endeavors and opening new doors for me. 

Do you have a clear plan for what you want to do after graduation? If so, what is it? 

Although I don’t have a solid plan right now, I’m interested in wildlife conservation and management, so I’m either going to apply to graduate school or look for a job in the field. 

What sorts of things are you involved in outside of English, academically and extracurricularly? 

I’m also involved in my sorority Alpha Delta Theta, Art Forum, and volunteer with the OESS. 

Are you involved in any of the clubs or organizations connected to the English department? 

I participate in Yea Sewanee Reads as a book reviewer for the Sewanee Bookstore. What was the first English class you took here? Representative Masterpieces with Dr. Irvin. 

What is your favorite book of all time or just at the moment? 

My favorite book of all time is probably The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut. My favorite book right now would have to be Anna Kavan’s Ice. I love anything wacky and surreal. 

Are you minoring or double majoring in another subject? 

I’m double majoring, and my other major is Environmental and Sustainability Science. Besides English, I’m very interested in wildlife biology!

 

Job Opportunities

Southern Teachers

Southern Teachers helps college graduates find jobs in college-preparatory schools around the South, learn about how at SouthernTeachers.com/Recruiting.

The teaching environment in these private/independent schools can be wonderful because of their small class sizes, their college-bound students, and their close-knit communities.  At independent schools, quality isn’t just about test scores and college acceptances; it’s also the unique way that teachers maximize the potential of their students.

While successful progress through a teacher-education program is essential for some of these jobs (e.g., for elementary teachers), for many positions a teaching certificate is not required.  Math majors can be hired to teach math; Spanish majors can teach Spanish, etc.  Candidates do, however, need a strong academic record and the personal characteristics that will enable them to manage and motivate K-12 students.  To summarize:  Teacher certification is not required for most jobs.

Information and Applications

Internships for Publishing

The Association of American Publishers has an excellent list of mostly small presses with internship opportunities! 

Details

Internship and Positions in Business, Finance, and Consulting

We regularly get messages from alums asking Sewanee English students to apply to various positions. If you are interested in these kinds of positions, please watch your email, or ask Dr. Irvin to add you to the mailing list. 

Want to read in-depth interviews with English majors who are now pursuing teaching, writing, and academia?

Click here!