Interviews for Professional Writing
Interview with Ivan Davis
Vanessa Correra
Q. Why did you decide to be an English major yourself?
Mostly because I enjoyed writing. I doubled the major with physical education because of my interest in sports. I picked English because it was intellectually challening.
Who are some students you've worke with and what are they doing now?
One I can mention is Katie Shaw. She was an English major with a writing emphasis and she now works public relations for Florida Hospital.
Q. If you're interested in something other than teaching how can you find out about it?
If you're going to do something other than teach with an English degree that something is entirely up to you. You have many people of whom you can ask questions and that's good because setting up your career will involve a lot of research and effort on your part. The flip side of that is that you can do just about anything. The career world is looking for bright people that have acquired degrees in the humanities, and an education enabling them to be adaptable, trainable, good communicators and multitalented, which can be accomplished through being an English major.
Q. What would you say are the disadvantages of being an English major?
Well all the research that I mentioned above and the fact that because you can do just about anything with an English degree it's sometimes hard to zone in and get specific about your future and your goals.
Q. What have you observed about people that switch into or out of the major?
I think those that switch into English have become dissatisfied with whatever they were studying before, with that detailed and infallible plan they've made for themselves and their careers which may make a lot of sense, but lack the enjoyment they need in life. Those that switch out I think might do so because they are not succeeding with the reading and the writing involved or are just not interested in it.
Q. Finally, what knowledge do you have about the numbers of English majors that are double majors?
I think it's becoming something that is done less and less as it gets harder and harder to do more than one major.
Interview with Dr. Delmer Davis
Interviewer: Kami Lizarraga
March 28, 2005
Why did you decide to become an English major yourself?
Dr. Davis wanted to teach but he didn’t know what he wanted to teach. In high school, he had difficulty narrowing down a field. Although he had bad English teachers, he eventually decided to teach English because he liked the content. He also liked to read and write.
Were you ever interested in any careers other than teaching?
Initially, Dr. Davis wanted to teach mathematics. He then decided to pursue dentistry, and finally returned to teaching, settling on English as his specific field.
What skills do English majors develop? Which ones are specifically important in and translatable to other fields? Which ones should they emphasize when marketing themselves to prospective employers?
The skills that English majors develop are usually transferable to other fields and should be emphasized to prospective employers. Three main types of capabilities that English majors develop are writing skills, reading skills, and critical skills, that is, the ability to analyze and interpret what is written. Also, through their reading, English majors gain considerable knowledge of the world and of human experience.
Why is English a good platform major for other occupations?
English is a broadly-based major and provides options in many areas. Often, the skills taught are fairly broad skills that are helpful in many areas. However, an English major must construct his resume convincingly to adequately communicate the variety and flexibility of their skills.
What kind of employers specifically try to hire English majors?
Employers give a lot of lip service to finding people with writing skills, reading skills, humanities backgrounds, and critical thinking skills. The reality is quite different. Often in industry and business, the advantage goes to business majors, who have other, more specific skills.
Why do people transfer to and from English programs? What are the motivating factors?
Not many students transfer out of the English program on the undergraduate level, although a fair number of English majors follow very different courses after graduation. Students who leave are usually motivated not by any objection to the content but by the desire to have specific career options other than teaching. Some go to health science, some go to social work. Very few students leave the program for academic reasons.
Students usually transfer into the English program because they dislike their major. These students often like to read, write, and display their creativity. Many see themselves as writers or would-be writers.
What are the biggest disadvantages of being an English major?
There is no specific job awaiting the graduating English major. They have a very wide range of options and therefore have difficulty choosing a career that will fulfill them. Also, job opportunities are often offered to students who have more specific training in fields such as business. At times of high unemployment, humanities majors in general are often disadvantaged because their skills and services are not seen as necessary in such times.
What is the name of one of your former students who has gone into a career other than teaching? What did they go on to do?
Matthew Quartey completed a Master’s in English at Andrews and then went on to obtain a doctorate in education. He then took a two year program in nursing and now works as a nurse anesthesiologist at a local hospital.
What other professions have your former students entered? Which professions do you feel that an English major is best suited for?
Many English majors go into law. Some have been very successful as professional writers or editors. Others have done well in medicine or dentistry. Some graduates have studied social work at the Master’s level. Others work in industry or business in various capacities. Some write and edit, but English majors have also become financial managers and corporate executives. Some enter careers in the health science industry.
Interview of Professor Dianne Staples
Kari Friestad
March 29, 2005
What exactly is your teaching position/ what do you teach?
She teaches English as a second language, which covers basic English as well as Intermediate, and Advanced, and covers all the skills areas such as grammar and composition.
Why did you decide to go into English? What attracted you to it?
It happened by accident. She liked reading and decided to do something that would keep her reading.
How did you become more involved with your particular field?
It was mostly due to her cross-cultural background. She grew up in Zimbabwe and went to school there and in Germany until the age of 15, and then came to the United States to finish high school. As she went through her English degree, she took a linguistics course, and an anthropology course, among other courses which helped give her skills that she uses today and also which increased her interest in the field. She taught in Korea for 1 year, and then came back to the US, where she got her MA in English, taught for 5 years here, and then went back and got a second MA in Anthropology.
What do you do during your summers?
Teach. She works here, on the summer schedule and she works on reading that is related to her field.
What are you planning on for next year?
Teaching here again.
What skills do you think English majors can boast about? Writing, analytical reading, knowing how to talk about books and any subject.
Any advice that you would give an English major trying to determine their field?
Don't be too narrow-minded; travel. If you want to experience something, do it. If you want to write, write.
Interview with Dr. Joseph Warren
Conducted by Tristan Bramble
March 28, 2005
Why did you choose to study English during your undergraduate years?
I was successful early on in my English classes and this motivated me to follow this path. English professors, who recognized my potential, encouraged and helped me to realize that I could go far with these studies. I also seemed to fit in with the English types or the English major circle of friends.
Follow-up question: If you could choose another closely related field of study, what would it be?
I might have looked more closely at the behavioral sciences. I have found that I am deeply concerned and interested in social issues. Perhaps I would have studied psychology or sociology, because in those fields there is more room for counseling, surveying, and related research.
What would you say is the biggest advantage/disadvantage to majoring in English?
A Bachelors of Arts in English is a universal degree. It will develop skills that can be applied to almost any other field of study or work. It is also attractive to prospective graduate programs and jobs because of its versatility and usefulness. However, I do feel that English majors are not taught to market their skills. Many are able to handle ideas, but are not instructed on how to practically use their critical writing skills. This may be a disadvantage of the English major alone, but it can be helped when paired with marketing or computer studies.
What have you observed about students who come into or leave the major?
I find that the English Department grows through social interactions. Advisors and fellow students serve as mentors for those considering English as a major. The networking opportunities that are available because of the close-knit group are also attractive to students. Those who have left the English Department usually moved into another specific field of study that they decided to pursue. Not because of dissatisfaction with the major or English classes.
Name a couple of graduates that you have worked with. What have they gone on to do?
Colin Meadows- went to Harvard Business School, executive with Wells Fargo Bank Joseph Thurman- entrepreneur, created his own web-based business in New York
Interview with Dr. Beverly Matiko
Associate Professor of English and Communications
Deidre Etheridge
Q: Why did you decided to become an English major when you were in your undergraduate years in college?
A: Dr. Matiko chose to study English because she knew it was one of her strengths. She enjoyed writing a great deal, and English seemed to be the major in which you were allowed to write the most. For a while she had thoughts of entering journalism, but she decided to double major in English and Communications.
Q: What are some other careers that and English major can pursue beside teaching?
A: Dr. Matiko mentioned several careers that are open to English majors. All Examples were careers that her students in the past have entered. Law School, medicine, research foundations, university relations as a writer, publishing, comp>uter and website management are a few options Dr. Matiko Mentioned. One college student that Dr. Matiko went to school with, went back to school and received his MBA and is a financial advisor. Another person who has a masters in English works editing a scientific Journal. She had to learn all of the scientific terminology as she went along, but they were mostly interested in hiring someone with increased writing skills. "English majors sometimes tend to enter into fields that are very people oriented. Anything where you have to deal with people very closely, anything that has a performance component such as speaking amongst large groups, preaching, giving worship thoughts, broadcasting, or theatre." says Dr. Matiko.
Q: Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages (if any) of being an English major?
A: Flexibility is one of the main advantages according to Dr. Matiko. She basically says that you can't really think of a career in which good communication skills, writing skills, good thinking and reasoning skills are not favorable. One of the main disadvantages is the prejudices of what people think English majors are. People tend to think English majors are snooty, or they go around correcting everybody's spelling and grammar, or they think all they can do it teach. Another disadvantage according to Dr. Matiko is that English majors are not usually in the ranks of the higher paying occupations, unless they enter into law, or medicine.
Q: If you didn't decide to be an English professor, what other career would you have chosen with your degree?
A: Speech pathology was another interest of Dr. Matiko. Also she would have considered going back to school and doing seminary work and becoming a Chaplain.
Q: What advice would you give to an English major trying to determine a field?
A: She would advice an English major to get a double major. She did a double major in English and Communications and she says " that double major has earned her every job she has ever gotten." It's good to show that you have the ability to master two different areas. Her second piece of advice would be to tell her students to do their very best. More opportunities come to those who have done well, as opposed to those who have just squeaked through. Good grades open more doors according to Dr. Matiko.
Q: What are a few names and careers of your former students?
A: Judy Cutler: Law School
Terry Chilson: Physician
Christina Marsa Carlton: Physician
Travis Rowe: works for a Web company/ works for an anti-smoking
advocacy group
Stacey Rodriguez: English administrator at language school in
Las
Vegas.
John Frost: Financial Advisor
Bonnie Leichercassie(spelling): Editor for scientific journal
Beverly Stout: University relations on Andrews Campus
David Defoe: Seminary graduate and pastor of a church in Maryland
Interview with Dr. Scott Moncrieff
Gillian Sanner
March 29, 2005
What degrees do you hold?
Dr. Moncrieff has a degree in English from Pacific Union College, an M.A. from Andrews University, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside.
When/why did you decide to be an English major?
Dr. Moncrieff was a Journalism major for his first two years of college. Then he took a year off to be a task force worker. During that year off, he discovered that English was more than just grammar. Two English teachers at the academy he spent the year at encouraged him to read-and he found that he enjoyed both reading and discussing books. When he returned to his Junior year of college, he tried out the English major-and stuck with it.
Who are some students you have worked with, and what fields have they entered?
Other students have worked in the areas of copy editing, archaeology, etc.
What is a benefit of having an English major?
Dr. Moncrieff says that studying English teaches general skills that are widely applicable. While there may be an adjustment period when entering a new job area, the English major is still very flexible.
What is a disadvantage of being an English major?
Dr. Moncrieff says that because there are so many career possibilities for an English major, students may undergo anxiety about what to do later with their degree.
In general, what have you observed about students who become English majors?
Dr. Moncrieff commented that students who do well have to like reading and words. They do not necessarily have to be great writers, but they do need to have a love of reading.
*Dr. Moncrieff also referred me to Judy Cutler's article for the October 2004 Reveille entitled "Seven Things You Can Do With an English Major." The main point of Judy's article can be summed up in her last sentence: "So the next time someone asks what you can possibly do with an English degree, just say, 'Anything I want.'" Her list of "great things" she has done with an English degree is as follows: skydive, run a marathon, teach elementary school, go to law school, drive a bulldozer, learn to fence, and drive a motorcycle. (If anyone wants more details, I do have a copy of the entire article.)
Interview with Jeanette Bryson
Heather Hopkins
Ms. Jeanette Bryson, director of the intensive English programs at Andrews University, knew that she wanted to be an English teacher when she was called in the 11th grade to substitute teach at the elementary school affiliated with her high school. She started as an undergraduate English major in college, but because she was a new Seventh-day Adventist at the time, she had some reservations about the English classes being taught and decided to switch to a Religion major. She was very conservative, and when required reading such as Shakespeare was introduced, she became very uncomfortable and that is what prompted her to switch. Her college career was very vast and diversified, from almost getting an English Masters at Ohio State (she eventually re-evaluated her conservative ideas regarding books) but then went to San Diego State and got her degree in Communications. In the end, she earned a Doctoral in Leadership and a Doctoral in Philosophy, as well as certification for teaching English as a second language.
She has worn many hats throughout her career, including high school teacher, dean, auditor, Director of English as a Second Language, ghost writer (for pastors), internet professor for prisoners, professor for adult degree classes, editor for a column in a paper the General Conference puts out for singles, advisor for ten different yearbooks, yearbook business manager, and administrator. She has taught in many different schools all over the country and beyond, from Benton Harbor to Ghana, Africa.
For many different reasons, she feels that an English major is the ultimate foundation for many other majors and careers. Nearly every career is focused on communication. And no other major facilitates communication skills the way English does. Whether it's Law, Medicine, Social Work or any other job, an English background is a great vehicle for success. A lawyer has to pick out main ideas and synthesize them in five minutes, possibly before presenting in front of a judge. Doctors and dentists must have language skills in order to properly treat patients, rather than simply treating diseases. She feels that having an English degree also gives a person license to say what he or she wants to. People are more apt to listen to someone with an English degree -it gives him or her more authority. Someone may or may not make a lot of money with an English degree, but it does give you license to say what you believe.
She is constantly busy, but one nice thing is that someone with an English background is always in demand. Every single year she gets job offers. She teaches at various conventions, has been published, and is currently working on an independent study project that instructs how to write the five-paragraph essay. She's watched her high school students publish poetry, has led out in dramatizations, youth crusades, plays, and has had ESL graduates return to their home countries to teach ESL.
Overall, she would recommend an English program to absolutely anyone, regardless of what field they plan to pursue, and feels that English is an avenue of expression that allows for constant growth, both professionally and personally.
Works Cited
Bryson, Jeanette. Personal interview. 31 March 2005.
Interview with Dr. Moe
Kimberly Hucks
Q: What inspired you to go into English?
A: First of all, she loves to read!! Dr. Jones Gray was one of the reasons she came to a clear understanding of what an English major can accomplish. She saw that this women was a teacher of English and being taken seriously. This was part of the fuel that inspired her to pursue a teaching career of her own.
Q: Did you always want to teach?
A: She didn't always feel she was destined to teach, but there is a story that persuaded her that maybe she shouldn't give this idea up all too quickly. Her mother told her that when she was little she used to line up all of her stuffed animals and attempt to teach them. After that she thought, " Maybe I am a teacher at heart."
Q: How long have you been in English?
A: A total of 17 years, nine of which have been full time teaching.
Q: If you weren't in English what would you be doing?
A: It was a challenge for her to view life outside of English, but after a little thought she said that she would probably be doing something that called for excellent organizational skills, such as a wedding planner, or one of those people that go into people house's and give them advice on how to organize their things for optimum efficiency.
Q: Is English a suitable platform for other professions, and WHY?
A: English should be the foundation of all professions because it incites analytic thinking, creativity of though, organization, clear presentation of arguments, all the components that make any successful professional.
Q: Did any of your students go on to pursue English careers?
A: A couple went on to teach in a high school setting, and some went on to college to teach. I have two who went into law, and the others pursued various degrees.
Q: What is your favorite thing about English?
A: I enjoy the opportunity to converse with people who are as passionate about writing and literature as I am. I enjoy exchanging ideas and listening to new perspectives.