Students who graduate from the Department of English at Bishop's University go on to exciting positions and post-graduate careers. Here are the testimonials of some of our former students:
John Partington
John graduated from Bishop’s with a B.A. in Honours English (Film, Media, and Cultural Studies Concentration) and moved onto to pursue a Master’s Degree in Cultural Studies and Critical Theory at McMaster University. He was awarded the Glen Wickens Prize from the English Department, as well as a Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship for a Master’s program. “BU is a creative community like no other. I was supported throughout my four years by dedicated professors who took me seriously as a thinker and a writer. Being surrounded by great people -doing great things- facilitated many different learning experiences. I had the opportunity to do my own research in the form of a nine-month thesis; to plan and present a public scholarship event for my peers; and to complete an internship with the Association of Italian Canadian Writers. University is certainly a place where you discover who you are and what you’re about. For me, there was no better place to do that then at Bishop’s University”.
Melanie Tutino
A degree in Honours English has lead Melanie to Malawi, London, and now, to New York. Just prior to graduation, Melanie travelled to Kasungu with BU’s The Malawi Project, where she shared her zeal for literature by creating a book club for adolescents. She passed the rest of the year in the UK, where she worked various jobs, including an internship at Random House. She now continues her education at New York University, where she is completing a Master of Science in Publishing. Melanie was the recipient of BU’s Stanmil Prize for Excellence in Writing and the Mackie Prize for English. “I know that I have benefitted enormously from attending Bishop’s. At a larger university, I likely would have been lost in the crowd, but at BU, my voice was encouraged. I participated in two accredited editorial internships, including the Tomlinson Internship for which I worked on the Morris House Reading Series. My interest in publishing flourished. NYU feels like a natural progression from my time at Bishop’s – and it doesn’t hurt that its official colour is violet. I will always bleed purple.”
Michael Berrigan
When I reflect on my years at Bishop's, they seem so idyllic. Perhaps I'm now overlooking some of those long nights spent in the basement of the library before final exams. However, there is no question in my mind that I chose the right university and program for my undergraduate degree. I felt the strong sense of community and tradition the moment I arrived. The faculty members are passionate and inspiring, and you can tell from day one that they are committed to your success. I enjoyed learning with and from an interesting mix of people, professors, and students from across the country, many who remain close friends. With the repertoire of skills I developed while studying English literature, I will pursue the study of law at Dalhousie University.
If you want a great education, in a great place, that will allow you to do great things with your life, then go to Bishop's University.
Tiffany Stoik (nee Godin)
I will always think back on my time at Bishop's as some of the best years of my life. This school's small size helps foster a sense of close-knit community, and the English department does this particularly well. I was encouraged from the very beginning by professors and other students alike to get involved, to speak up, and to push myself harder. Classes were challenging but entertaining, and professors always kept their doors open to anyone who needed help, or maybe just wanted to chat. The professors at Bishop's are like no others. They are engaging, funny, kind, and most of all, you can tell they really care about their students. They are invested in your development and will help you do the best work you can do. My professors believed in me and gave me every opportunity to prove myself, from an internship with the Morris House Reading Series, to helping organize QUEUC. It's because of this dedication and this engagement that I found myself in love with what I was studying, and plan to pursue graduate work. What can I say, I want to be like my professors when I grow up.
James Hatch
I feel very fortunate to have chosen Bishop's. My time here gave me the chance to study a wide variety of literatures while realizing my capabilities and specific interests. It is truly a remarkable experience. I was the co-chair of the Inglit Club, Bishop's English Literature Club. The club organizes regular events, including weekly study groups, social gatherings and poetry nights, all intended to perpetuate a passion for literature around the Bishop's community. I also had the unique opportunity to assist in the coordination of the Morris House Reading Series, which invites established and emerging writers from all over Canada to Bishop's to read from their body of work.
Patrick Madhère
Shawn Oh! Malley, or Shawn Oh! Smiley as we called him, Ken McLean and many other English professors have helped me build my life in many ways. Being born and raised in Haiti, a Creole- and French-speaking country, I didn't know anything about English when I moved to Lennoxville for my studies. Shawn Malley really made the courses interesting and forced me to think "out of the box" when writing essays. I quickly picked up on the language because the courses were fun and the people in the department were very approachable.
Right now I reside in Vancouver BC, working downtown at one of the most prestigious law firms in Vancouver known as Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP as an IT consultant. I'm very thankful for all of their help in building my English skills that allowed me to move as an immigrant to this beautiful country. Thank you, to all of my teachers that helped me.
