https://www.facebook.com/marshalluenglish/photos/a.1477630245853537.1073741829.1445469739069588/1898970547052836/?type=3&theater

Caitlin Graham is a Creative Writing and Literature double-major getting ready to graduate from our undergraduate program. In her years at Marshall, she has been an active member of the writing community: involved with Marshall’s writing group, The Written Void; the A.E. Stringer Visiting Writers Series; and Et Cetera literary magazine. When she’s not writing, Caitlin loves to read, go camping, play video games and plan trips with friends. She also loves cats.

Although Caitlin is a fantastic writer, she was not always an English major. “I changed my major a lot my freshman year. I was originally an engineering major—in the sciences, no connection to English! I was afraid to major in English: my family wanted me to be a doctor. But after my first English class—with Professor Eric Smith—I changed to a Creative Writing major; he made me stick with English.”

Last year, Caitlin was elected the student representative of the Undergraduate Programs Committee. There, Caitlin works with faculty to keep things moving in the department, working with professors to figure out what classes are needed for majors, what classes will be offered and what classes should be required for minors. Currently, the UPC is working on developing a Creative Writing minor for students with a passion for storytelling, but just not enough time for another major. “We want others, including those outside the department, to have as good an experience here as possible,” she says.

After she graduates, Caitlin plans to take a year off school, saving up money for her Master’s degree. In the future, she hopes to work as an editor.

Caitlin says she’ll miss her peers and professors most after graduation. “The English Department is amazing! I’ve never felt like such a family with my professors and peers. It’s one of the best environments: all my peers are accepting, of everyone! And in the English Department, my advisors aren’t just advisors: they’re also my professors, and I know them. It’s a family.”