After Graduation

Our students go on to build careers in publishing and marketing, earn advanced degrees in a number of fields and serve as teachers and educators across the country.

Opportunities for English majors are limitless. The critical thinking and problem-solving skills students learn through our degree program serve as the base for success in any job market. Close reading, accurate writing and the ability to listen well lead graduates into satisfying careers and excellent graduate programs.

Visit our alumni page for info on resources and services

Career Paths

Below is a listing of careers and fields our English major graduates have entered after graduation. Alumni report high job satisfaction after graduation — and they have the résumés to prove it.

Technical communication/writing
Public relations
Social media for government and private organizations
Marketing/information marketing
Nonprofit department/project manager
Director of regional/national organizations
Americorps
Writing/copywriting/editing
Financial consultant/coordinator
Advertising agencies/departments
Broadcasting (radio and TV
Community relations
Financial agencies/affairs
Editing/publishing
Government agencies/affairs
Grant writing
Health advocacy
Human resources
Law
Public affairs
Sales and customer service
Sports information
Teaching
Advocacy coordinator
Character performer – Disney World
Consultant
Dance teacher/dance performance
Director of community relations
Editor-in-chief
Graduate instructional assistant
Management trainee
Mechanical engineer
Online marketing specialist
Research chemist
Urban Education Fellow

Alumni Profiles

AnnaLeah Lacoss ’25
Carole Chee ’24
Piper Daleiden ’24
Eileen Ellis ’23
Samuel Vega ’22 – Writer and researcher for the “Stories of Equity and Hope” project, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Hannah Jones ’21 – Earned advanced degree in library and information science from the University of Illinois-Champaign. Librarian at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Kelsie Cavanaugh ‘20 -Editorial assistant for the Business, Computing, and Career Education team at Goodheart-Willcox in Tinley Park, Illinois.
Aine O’Connor ’20 – Earned advanced degree in library and information science from the University of Illinois-Champaign. Librarian at the University of South Dakota State University.
Natalie Weg ’20 – Support and resource specialist with the American Red Cross SAF (Service to the Armed Forces) chapter in Landstuhl, Germany.
Sam Mason ’19 – Global partnerships specialist at Lions Clubs International Foundation
Shanley Smith ’19 – Missionary and community advocate
Melanie Burkhardt ’18 – Acquisitions assistant at Baker Publishing Group
Angie Hines ’18 – 4th-grade literacy teacher at Believe Memphis Academy
Natalie Brown ’17 – Freelance writer and author
Kyle Bernaciak ’16 – Chicago police officer
Katharyn Haas ’15
Hanna Ford Warner ’15
Laura Van Oss ’15 – Teacher in Honduras
Anna Gazmarian ’14 – Teacher at Gotham Writers Workshop and is the author of the memoir Devout. Her work appeared in The Rumpus.
Taylor Rebhan ’14 – Senior writer at REI Co-op. Creative non-fiction writer with the hope of publishing a book of humorist essays.
Annalise Klein ’14 – AP Chemistry Teacher
Alex Mouw ’14 – Writer and professor
Kian Hashemi-Rad ’14 – Retail Operations Manager at Warby Parker HQ
Sara Sanchez ’14 – English teacher
Natalia Connelly (Granzotto) ’13 – Communications at Calvin College
Brooke Furry ’13 – Marketing manager
Stephanie Mouw ’13 – Writer/editor for Purdue University’s Marketing and Media Department
Kasidee Karsten ’13 – Social media and content manager for the National Football League Players Association
Emily Henry ’12 – Bestselling author
Chris O'Brien ’12 – Editor, writer, and owner of Long Overdue, a publishing company.
Meaghan Minkus ’11 – Assistant editor, Zondervan Books
Matthew Baker ’09 – Author and screenwriter
Kristin Brace ’07 – Poet and author of two chapbooks and a full-length collection.
Shea Tuttle ’06 - author of Exactly as You Are: The Life and Faith of Mister Rogers and co-editor of Can I Get a Witness? Thirteen Peacemakers, Community Builders, and Agitators for Faith and Justice.
Peter Derby ’05 – Television writer
Kate Bode-lang ’02 – Writer and director of education and quality management in the Office for Research Protections at Penn State University.
Sally Smits Masten ’01 – Writing center mentor at Western Governors University
Sarah Smith ’97 – Hospital teacher/school liaison at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
Annette Bourland ’94 – Senior vice president and group publisher for Zondervan, of HarperCollins Global Publishing
Ben Opipari ’91 – Ph.D. in English language and literature from The Catholic University of America. Owner of Persuasive Matters, which delivers legal writing seminars and individual coaching to law firms worldwide.