Alumni

We'd love to hear from you! We are looking to build our community of Fredonia English graduates and would love to hear about how your experiences as an English Major or Graduate student at Fredonia helped you outside the university. If you have news about your life and career, such as getting a new job, getting published, or continuing your education in another location, please let us know by completing the Alumni Contact Form.

Welcome to SUNY Fredonia's English Alumni page! Here you can find information on our English graduates and what they have been doing.


chritinaolsonChristina Olson

Christina Olson, class of 2003, is the author of Before I Came Home Naked, a book of poems. Her poetry and creative nonfiction have appeared in The Southern Review, Gulf Coast, Mid-American Review, The Normal School, River Styx, Passages North, and other magazines; her work has also been anthologized in The Best Creative Nonfiction, Volume 3, and appeared on Verse Daily.

Since leaving Fredonia, she has used her English degree every single day, in a wide range of roles and careers: she received her MFA in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University; worked as a healthcare copywriter; taught writing at Grand Valley State University, and serves as poetry editor for Midwestern Gothic. She presently teaches writing and technical communication at Georgia Southern University, and lives online at www.thedrevlow-olsonshow.com.


Nick Tatenicktate

So what can you do with an English degree in today’s job market? Nick Tate, Class of 1982, has attempted to answer that question by building a career in journalism inspired by the teachings of the strong cadre of Fredonia faculty members. more...

Since leaving Fredonia, Tate has written extensively about health, science, business, technology, finance, music and consumer affairs issues. He is currently the Deputy Health Editor at Newsmax Media Inc. in South Florida. His work has appeared in The Miami Herald, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Boston Herald, Newsmax Magazine, Health Radar Newsletter, Progression Magazine and other print and online publications. more...


kristen

Kristen King

"Kristen King graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English and French literature in May of 2012. Originally hailing from Oneonta, NY, she decided to stay in Western New York after graduation (she just can't get enough of Tim Hortons!) and began a position as Community Engagement Coordinator at Writers & Books in August. Writers & Books is a non-profit literary center in Rochester, NY that provides year-round education classes for youth and adults in writing, publishing, and the book arts; a community-wide reading program, "If All of Rochester Read the Same Book;" readings/talks by writers; a bookstore; and writers' retreats at their Finger Lakes facility, among other things. Kristen is thrilled to be working at such a wonderful organization and to be using so many of the skills she learned at SUNY Fredonia (including grant writing, leadership, community outreach, and effective written and verbal skills). When not working, she can be found baking, reading, or contemplating the possibility of graduate school."


Catherine Colmerauercatherine

Catherine Colmerauer, Class of 2010, used her English degree to embark on a career in journalism. She was previously the arts and entertainment reporter for The Sun News in Hamburg, N.Y. and a frequent contributor to Business First and the Buffalo Law Journal. She is currently the editor of the East Aurora Bee with Bee Group Newspapers, a group of nine weekly newspapers serving the suburbs of Buffalo, N.Y.


amanda

Amanda Marie Rogers

After graduating in May 2012, Amanda Rogers packed her bags and spent six months in New York City interning for a publishing company and a literary agency. Since then, she created her own independent contracting position working with a literary agency, where she scouts for new talent via self-publishing. (To wit: she gets paid to read, which is basically the coolest job ever.) Amanda is also a freelance book reviewer for Publishers Weekly. She hopes to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing, and she is working on writing fiction and creative non-fiction. A degree in English from SUNY Fredonia has made all the difference. Amanda learned a great deal about the writing and publishing business during her four-year study, and she was offered a great deal of support for her ambitious dreams.


louise

Louis Frankel

Louis Frankel majored in English Adolescence Education at SUNY Fredonia and upon graduating spent 5 1/2 months teaching ESL in Valdivia, Southern Chile, through the English Open Doors Program.  He now lives in New York City, preparing to start an MA in English Literature. 

Louis:  "As a former English Adolescence major at Fredonia, I felt quite comfortable transitioning into a teaching position upon graduation.  Cultural differences aside, I was able to connect with my colleagues and students on one principal issue--the fact that, like them, I was there both to learn and to teach."


emily
Sarah Prisaznuk, Emily Paccia, and Tomi Stratton Class of 2012

Emily Paccia

Emily Paccia, a SUNY Fredonia English Adolescence Education graduate, co-presented at the National Council of Teachers of English Conference in Las Vegas in November 2012.  Their presentation, "Exciting Ways to Teach Grammar"  used music (in the form of grammar songs) as a new approach to teaching grammar. 

Her reflections:  "When we wrote our proposal, we didn't think we had a chance.  It seemed as though actually being accepted to present at the NCTE conference would be as easy as climbing Mt. Everest.  When we touched down, and more importantly, walked around the conference with the 'presenter' badge on our shirts, it was unbelievable.  The audience at our presentation was very involved and wrote some excellent songs themselves, which we joked about featuring on our next album.  We learned so much from our own presentation as well as all the presentations we attended (and even met Chris Crutcher!).  It was an amazing experience and I challenge anyone with even the slightest interest to not only attend, but present if at all possible."  
Emily Paccia graduated in May 2012. Emily is currently a long-term substitute in 11th grade English at Gowanda High School, Gowanda NY.


We are updating the SUNY Fredonia English Alumni page frequently so please check back with us in the near future to see what your fellow English grads have been up to!

"One of the signs of passing youth is the birth of a sense of fellowship with other human beings as we take our place among them."
--Virginia Woolf


Jessica Smith (1st row, bottom rt hand corner), English alum ('03) and her creative writing students at Minnesota State University-Mankato.


Page modified 5/9/13