Will Hines, ’92 (CLAS), was recently featured in UConn Magazine for his successful career as a character actor and a respected improv teacher in venues like the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.
Alumni
Kashawn Taylor, ‘13 (CLAS) releases “subhuman”
A collection of poetry by Kashawn Taylor ’13 (CLAS), subhuman, was released in March 2025 by Wayfarer Books. One of his poems, These Headphones Should Be Free, was featured in their April 2025 Poetry magazine and can be found on the Poetry Foundation website. Congratulations, Kashawn!
Alex Mika ‘21(CLAS), ‘22 (MA) to Perform Play in NYC
Alex Mika ‘21(CLAS), ‘22 (MA), who is currently a PhD candidate in the Penn State Department of English, is co-producing on a musical, In the Wake, at the Green Room 42 in New York City on February 23rd. Livestream passes are also available from the venue. Congratulations, Alex!
Christopher Bolster, ’25 (Ph.D.) Accepted a Position at Hamden Hall
Christopher Bolster, ‘25 (Ph.D.) has recently accepted a position at the Hamden Hall Country Day School as of an Instructor of English and History. Christopher’s advisory committee included Lyn Tribble, Linsday Cummings, Jean Marsden, and Gregory Semenza. Congratulations, Christopher!
Gretchen Geer, ‘25 (Ph.D.) Accepted a Position at Montevideo High
Gretchen Geer, ‘25 (Ph.D.) has recently accepted a full-time English teaching position at Montevideo High School in Montevideo, Minnesota. Her advisory committee included Fiona Somerset, Victoria Ford Smith, Pam Bedore, and Greg Semenza. Congratulations, Gretchen!
English Student Caitlin Ongley Wins One-Act Festival
English undergraduate student Caitlin Ongley was honored in a competition for her one-act lyrical play, titled Fig Mind. The play was selected as a winner in July and was performed at the Chain Theatre’s festival in New York City. Congratulations, Caitlin!
Julia Brush ’23 (Ph.D.) to UMass Dartmouth
Julia Brush, ‘23 (Ph.D.), has recently accepted a position at UMass Dartmouth as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the First-Year Writing Program. She will be starting this position this fall semester. Congratulations Julia!
Hayley Segar ’17 (CLAS) to Appear on Shark Tank
Hayley Segar ’17 (CLAS), an alumna of the English program on the UConn Avery Point campus, was featured in UConn Today for her upcoming appearance on Shark Tank, scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday, January 24th. Segar will be featured with her swimsuit company, onewith, where she will be pitching to top entrepreneurs.
Distinguished Professor, Alumni Featured in UConn Today
Gina Barreca, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor in the English Department, was recently featured in UConn Today for her class work and recent collections that have featured a number of her current and former students.
Alumni Co-Edits issue of Genre
Justin Sider, ’05 (CLAS), an alumni of the English Department and the Creative Writing Program, has co-edited an issue of Genre titled Thirty Years after John Guillory’s Cultural Capital. This issue was published by Duke University Press and is available on their website. Congratulations, Justin!