APSU languages and literature students to present their scholarship at international conferences

Calie Benke, Jessica Emerson, Micaela Cuellar, Gabriela DiCarlo and Arizona Hurn.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Five Austin Peay State University languages and literature students are headed to Las Vegas next month to present their scholarly research at the Sigma Tau Delta International Convention. Sigma Tau Delta is an international English honor society with a strong, student-run chapter at Austin Peay.

“This demonstrates that our students can compete at the national level, that they're producing scholarship that is relevant at the national level,” Dr. Andrea Spofford, associate professor of creative writing and chapter adviser, said. “Even as undergraduate and graduate students, they're already contributing to their fields.”

The students and their presentation topics are:

• Calie Benke, "The Seeds of Counterculture in Jane Eyre"
• Micaela Cuellar, "On the Run - An Oral History Project"
• Gabriela DiCarlo, "Spatial and Spiritual Identity in Native American Literature"
• Jessica Emerson, "Stevenson's Hyde as the Repressed Feminine Other"
• Arizona Hurn, “Chameleon Love: Transformative Powers of Romance”

According to the convention’s website, the annual conference is “a unique event that allows hundreds of members and Chapter Advisors from around the United States and beyond to gather in one locale, share experiences and expertise, be recognized for their achievements, and participate in the official proceedings of the Society. The convention also provides opportunities to discover new ideas in English and English-related disciplines, while engaging with speakers, presenters, and texts that members might not otherwise encounter.”

For information on APSU's Department of Languages and Literature, visit www.apsu.edu/langlit.