English class held outside and students sitting in hammocks

Department of English

Department of English Department of English

The Department of English at UNCW provides an exceptional academic experience grounded in critical inquiry, creativity and application.

Undergraduate Programs Whether you major in English or another subject, our courses will help you in your chosen field. Explore undergraduate programs

Graduate Programs Continue your education with our graduate program, or further enhance and customize your studies by earning a certificate. Explore graduate programs

From the Chair

Welcome to the Department of English!

We are a community of teachers and scholars dedicated to helping our students become thoughtful and productive citizens of the world. Our classes engage with complex ideas and diverse perspectives. We challenge students to communicate ethically and effectively in an ever-changing cultural and technological landscape.

We have a lot to offer in our department, including:

Excellent, award-winning teachers
Small class sizes
Flexible, customizable programs of study
Robust internship, study abroad, and hands-on learning opportunities

As an English student, you might find yourself wrestling with the fascinating puzzle that is "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" or pitching a real-world solution to a local nonprofit or corporate partner. Our classes are hands-on: you could be creating a collage or zine, mapping the empire using Victorian embroidery techniques, or even designing and printing your own newspaper!

Beyond the classroom, I hope you’ll have the opportunity to present your research at our semi-annual English Research Showcase, complete an internship with one of our many community partners, or apply for one of our Wentworth Fellowships, which fund student-designed travel study experiences. We invite you to join us for one of the many student events we host in Morton Hall, from our “crafternoons,” to our Sigma Tau Delta Friendsgiving, to our Halloween Escape Rooms and Morton Murder Mystery events. There are so many wonderful ways to make the most of your experience in our department!

Please follow us on Facebook or Instagram, check out our student-run WordPress blog, and feel free to stop by for an in-person visit. Whether you are planning to take a required class, considering a career-enhancing minor or certificate, or pursuing a full degree program with us, we are honored to be a part of your educational journey. Fly high, Seahawks!

Dr. Sarah Hallenbeck
English Department Chair

English Student Blog

Students, Faculty Present at International Conference

Assistant professor Josh Roiland and English M.A. students Ethan Cockman and Sabena Burkhart all presented at the May 2026 International Association for Literary Journalism Studies Conference at the Université de Lorraine in Nancy, France.

Teamship Students Pitch International Solutions

Students in ENG 498 participating in UNCW Teamship pitched ideas to software company Heretto while studying abroad in Kraków, Poland. They developed prototypes to redesign the company's hiring process and a Heretto manager credited their "inspiring" work and valuable perspectives.

Learn more about study abroad opportunities

Students pitch solutions during a Teamship session

Wang Leads Chinese New Year Celebration

Yuanheng (Arthur) Wang, assistant professor of English, served as head emcee of the 2026 Wilmington Chinese New Year Gala on Feb. 15, which brought attendees from across the Carolinas for an afternoon of performance, music, and cultural celebration.

UNCW faculty pose at the Wilmington Chinese New Year Gala

Teamship Students Pitch Local Solutions

Students in ENG 498 participating in UNCW Teamship pitched solutions for local businesses and agencies at the conclusion of their fall semester. In one instance, they pitched solutions for AI platform integration at large pharmaceutical companies to the president of Content Rules.

Butler Presents Analysis of Laureate Poetry

Maia Butler, associate professor of English, presented “Messenger of this Land: Jaki Shelton Green’s Black Feminist Landscape Poetic" in October, an article examining North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green.

Anthology of Black Mountain College Poetry

Dr. Alessandro Porco is coeditor of the recently published Anthology of Black Mountain College Poetry (Chapel Hill: UNC Press, 2025), named by NPR's Due South as one of the "most anticipated books" of the spring and described by Ron Silliman as "literally the best presentation of any literary phenomenon we have had in the United States."

Wentworth Travel Fellowship

What Is the Wentworth Travel Fellowship, and where can I go?

Learn More

About Morton Hall

Morton Hall is not just a brick-and-mortar structure. It is an emporium for the exchange of different ideas. As the current stewards of this space, we view it as our responsibility to promote comity, preserve the right to free expression and affirm the dignity of all.

The first floor of Morton Hall houses the English Department. It has become a haven for students seeking intellectual and social community, and it will stay this way.

Get To Know Our Faculty