Our English Department graduates have found success in a variety of career paths and/or courses of graduate study. Here’s what some of our alums have been doing:
J. J. Anselmi, ’10, Technical Writer, Cordial Software, and Author, San Diego, California
J. J. Anselmi majored in creative writing and minored in technical writing. After graduating from CU Denver, he earned an MFA from Fresno State University, after which he decided to pursue technical writing as a career. In addition to working at Cordial Software, he has published three books, most recently Out Here on Our Own: An Oral History of an American Boomtown. He says, “The English program at CU Denver showed me how many possibilities there are for writers in the world. Academia can often create a mirage-like atmosphere for English majors, but the fact that so many students at CU Denver have busy and demanding lives outside school keeps both professors and students grounded in reality, which was endlessly valuable to me. I was encouraged to push my art and explore creatively, but I was also encouraged to take classes and develop skills that would actually help me get a job. I still carry that balance with me as I strive to excel at writing in both artistic and professional contexts.”
Leia Darwish, ’11, Content Editor, PenFed, Richmond, Virginia
After graduating from CU Denver, Leia Darwish continued editing literary journals (Copper Nickel and Blackbird) and received an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. After grad school, she “built a career gig-by-gig”: adjunct writing instructor, senior copywriter in the fashion industry, academic manuscript copyeditor, freelance copywriter specializing in real estate listings for multimillion-dollar properties. Looking to land a salary with benefits, she started at PenFed as a contractor in 2021 and got hired full-time six months later. She says, “I remember the day I changed my major to Creative Writing. The chair at that time, Nancy Ciccone, sat across from me at her desk and said, ‘Okay, you’re going to do this, this, and this.’ It sounds like an ad, but I really believe the foundation laid for me by the department there is why, 12 years later, I am still successfully working as an editor and using the degree I paid for every day. Not a lot of people can say that!”
Selena Dickey, MA ’14, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina
After graduating from CU Denver in 2014 with an MA from the Rhetoric and Teaching of Writing program, Selena Dickey earned a PhD in Media Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She then joined the Communication Studies faculty at Furman University in 2021. She writes, “Embarking on both of these ventures with a rhetoric background was advantageous for two reasons: it sharpened my ability to see media messages as grounded, purpose-driven, and politically and economically motivated cultural products; and, because rhetoric’s methods and theories are found not only in English departments but also communications studies and media studies, it gave me a valuable interdisciplinary awareness.”
Steven Espada Dawson, ’15, Ruth Lilly Fellow & Wisconsin Institute Fellow, Madison, Wisconsin
Steven Espada Dawson went on to pursue an MFA in poetry from Purdue University. He then won a Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Fellowship—awarded each year to five best US poets under 31-year-old—and he is now a Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fellow in Poetry at the University of Wisconsin, where he teaches advanced undergraduates. He writes: “I wouldn't be where I am today without the support of CU Denver's English Department—especially the many creative writing professors who showed me what a life after undergrad might look like. During my time at CU Denver, I worked as a student editor for Copper Nickel and as a writing consultant for the Writing Center. Being part of these larger groups—both with constantly evolving goals that orbited the bigger idea of writing—lit a path forward for me.”
Josh Dunn, ’15, Attorney—Deputy Public Defender, Arapahoe County, Centennial, Colorado
Between graduating from CU Denver and starting law school at the University of Denver, Josh Dunn worked in the CU Denver Writing Center. He is now a Deputy Public Defender for Arapahoe County. He writes, “Dissecting texts and understanding the main points and themes of a given piece are essential skills for the reading comprehension portion of the LSAT. They are equally critical in law school and in the work of being lawyer, where you have to parse complex facts and legal terminology. The CU Denver English Department made me a better writer, public speaker, and critical thinker. The program emphasized clear and concise writing, which parallels what I (try to) do in my legal writing.”
Ahja Fox, ’21, Poet Laureate of Aurora, Colorado
Just one year after she graduated from CU Denver in the spring of 2021, Ahja Fox was appointed the Poet Laureate of Aurora, Colorado, a position that allows her to represent poetry in her home city, to create poetry-related programming, and to speak about poetry in schools and universities. She has also written two poetry manuscripts and gained experience as a literary editor and judge. She writes, “The University of Colorado Denver gave me the tools and knowledge necessary to do each of these jobs with authority and confidence. I’ve gained these successes much earlier in life than I initially thought possible.”
Courtney Harrell, ’14, Senior Producer, Pineapple Street Studios, Brooklyn, New York
After graduating from CU Denver, Courtney Harrell became a copywriter for the University and a regular contributor to Denver’s alt-weekly, Westword, until she moved to Pennsylvania to pursue an MFA in nonfiction at the University of Pittsburgh. She says, “A magazine writing class at CU Denver first broadened my view of what was possible with an English degree. Then my MFA program, combined with a job at the Pittsburgh NPR affiliate, turned my love of journalism into a love of audio. After my MFA, I joined the podcast production company Pineapple Street Studios, where I’ve spent the last several years producing narrative series including a Peabody-nominated investigation and, most recently, the Murrow Award–winning series 9/12, which The New York Times, The New Yorker, Esquire, The Atlantic, and Time all named one of the best podcasts of 2021.”
LeShaye Hernandez, ’19, English Teacher, North High School, Denver, Colorado
Before she had even received her English degree from CU Denver, LeShaye Hernandez had applied and been accepted into the master’s and teaching licensure program at CU Denver. She says, “That transition seamlessly married my two degrees and aided me in securing a position at North High School teaching English and Literature. Studying English at CU Denver helped me to enhance and deepen my appreciation for stories in multiple genres, forms, and registers—a critical thread that is now leading me through my Doctor of Education program.”
Elise Lakey, ’17, Marketing Content Team Lead, TIBCO Software, Founder of Monarch Studios, Editor of The Monarch Review, Nashville, Tennessee
After undergrad, Elise Lakey received an MS in Marketing from CU Denver, then founded the marketing agency Monarch Studios, which focuses on launching women-owned businesses through marketing and branding. She was also hired by the marketing department at TIBCO Software, where she was promoted to her current position as Team Lead. In her free time, she edits the literary journal The Monarch Review, which she founded. She says, “My undergrad was transformational in helping me achieve my current success. After undergrad, I got a full ride to Alabama for an MFA in poetry—but after a year there, I decided to pursue writing in a different way. I often reference the things I learned in my undergrad—how to break down concepts into clear language and how to transform communication with laser-focused word choice. Editors and good writers are so lacking in the business world, and I’ve seen so many English majors thrive in marketing because of this.”
Maddy Lutz, ’19, Service Coordinator, Rocky Mountain Human Services, Denver, Colorado
After graduating from CU Denver, Maddy Lutz was preparing to apply to graduate school in Scotland when she was approached by Rocky Mountain Human Services, a not-for-profit organization that serves to empower individuals with a range of disabilities. She now works as a Service Coordinator, helping people get the support they need. She writes that studying English at CU Denver “provided me with great communication skills as well as great critical thinking skills that have been astronomically helpful in my current human-centered career.”
Jennifer Loyd, ’16, PhD Candidate, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
After graduating from CU Denver, Jennifer Loyd earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Purdue University. She then received a Stadler Fellowship at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania before becoming a PhD candidate in English at Texas Tech University. Loyd writes, “As a first-generation college student, I began my bachelor’s degree without any model for what my career path might be. It was through studying English at CU Denver that I met professors who modeled intellectual, professional, and artistic paths forward and who nurtured my creative potential. Their mentorship, combined with the friendships I made with other students, continues to inspire and support me.”
Samantha McClain, ’21, Nonprofit Liaison & Grant Writer, Arula Consulting, Denver, Colorado
After graduating with her degree in English, Writing, Rhetoric, & Technology (EWRT), Samantha McClain applied for several positions, and, though she had no prior direct experience in the field of grant writing, she had a strong background in writing and was offered her current job. She says, “Studying at CU Denver opened up a lot of opportunities and made me well rounded. By the time I graduated, I was well prepared to write my resume/CV and apply for jobs. Because of my education, I was a good fit for many different career paths and was offered multiple positions.”
Andrew Nellis, ’16, Communications Specialist, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
After CU Denver, Andrew Nellis earned an MFA in fiction from Purdue University, which led him to his current position as Communications Specialist for the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. He writes: “The English program at CU Denver helped me by providing a well-rounded, pragmatic, and thorough education. While I was enrolled, I was able to spend a lot of time zeroing in on my particular subject while also getting exposure to other specialties. Even as a creative writing major, I learned about fields like journalism and publishing from faculty who had direct, real-world experience. That balanced approach gave me the ability to adapt quickly to new situations, which is key to being a working writer today.”
Ali Pearl, ’09, Lecturer in Creative Writing, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
After graduating from CU Denver, Ali Pearl earned a Masters in English from the University of Utah and a PhD in English from the University of Southern California. She is now full-time faculty in the USC Writing Program. She has published many short works of fiction and nonfiction, and she also works as a community organizer in her Los Angeles neighborhood. She says, “Studying English at CU Denver provided me the foundation on which I grew the rest of my life: there, I worked for Copper Nickel, which taught me how to be an editor and how to collaborate with others; I became a critical thinker by taking classes from faculty who taught me how to read closely not only books but the world around me; and I became confident in myself as a writer and thinker thanks to the thorough and attentive mentoring I received.”
John Purfield, MA ’18, PhD Candidate in English, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
After graduating from CU Denver, John Purfield matriculated into the English PhD program at the University of South Carolina. He is currently finishing his dissertation and applying for academic positions across the country. He is also an online lecturer for the English Department at CU Denver. He says, “My studies at CU Denver were foundational to my current position as a lecturer and doctoral candidate. The Masters Program in English Studies at CU Denver gave me the knowledge, habits, and skills to succeed on my path of higher learning.”
Laura Jo Salter, ’15, Associate Attorney, Otten Johnson Robinson Neff + Ragonetti P.C., Denver, Colorado
Laura Jo Salter graduated from CU Denver with a focus in creative writing. After graduation, she worked as a writing coach for a few years before going to law school at CU Boulder. She writes: “I ultimately decided to become an attorney because it’s a drafting-heavy profession that requires undeniable clarity, ruthless editing, intelligent compromise, and deliberate nuance. When I started law school, I was well-equipped with many of the foundational skills I needed because I’d spent four years not only writing, but also considering my audience, cherishing constructive criticism, and revising my work.”
John Welter, ’19, Graduate Student, MA in Teaching (Secondary English License), Denver, Colorado
After earning a BA in English, John Welter immediately entered CU Denver’s MA in Teaching graduate program through the School of Education and Human Development. The program seemed like a “natural next step” in his career journey toward becoming an educator. He says, “Everything I learned studying English as an undergraduate has been invaluable so far. It really helped me build a solid foundation of content knowledge that serves as a great complement to everything I am learning in my graduate coursework. Every day, I use the skills I learned in writing, rhetoric and analysis, and I hope to continue to do so wherever my career takes me next.”
Kensye N. Wood, ’17, Litigation Attorney, Holland & Knight LLP, Denver, Colorado
After graduating with honors from the EWRT program at CU Denver, Kensye Wood went on to attend law school at the University of Denver. She currently practices as a litigation attorney at one of the nation’s largest premier law firms. Wood writes, “The analytical and critical-thinking skills I developed with the assistance of my professors in the English Department translated seamlessly to analyzing and applying case law and statutes. Most importantly, the strong writing skills I acquired through my English studies not only gave me an advantage in law school, but also accelerated my career as a practicing lawyer.”