Graduate Profile: Katie Matonich '08
Major: English
Minor: Religious Studies
Hometown: Davison, MI
High School: Davison High School, Class of 2004
Favorite Classes: Poetry Workshop, Women's Literature, American Literature II and Sociology of the Family
Favorite Books: The Color Purple by Alice Walker, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Blue Like Jazz: Nonereligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller, The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich
Favorite Professors: Dr. Bender, Dr. Vivian and Dr. Fobes
Research Interests: "While I enjoy reading about early Christian women mystics as well as female playwrights of the Renaissance era, I am really interested in literature/drama post 1900, with a specific affinity for literature of the 1930s-50s and contemporary drama. This semester I am working with Dr. Bender on an independent study of the 'Chick Lit' genre. This has been a great combination of my interests in contemporary work/society with early feminist writing. I think that Women's Literature has suffered from an inescapable cycle of what I call 'derailed reading.' Work from 20 years ago finally gets recognition and 'scholarly' merit, while the women's fiction of today is criticized as 'vapid prose.' I believe that it is through writing and readership that society becomes open to social change and recognizing 'Chick Lit' as worthwhile post feminist fiction allows the derailied model to become obsolete.
Advice to Students: "Don't become an English major just because you think that it is an 'easy' major. Being an English major is academically, emotionally and spiritually rigorous. The faculty of the English department are some of the most intelligent people you will ever meet. Your writing skills as well as your ability to think critically will be challenged as an English major--it's not all rainbows and sunshine , but that's what makes the rainbows and sunshine fun to write about!"
Future Plans: "After Alma, I plan on attending seminary and possibly looking for either a MFA or MA program at a college near to the seminary I choose. I think my English major is what keeps me passionate about wanting to become a minister. So many authors and poets have 'ministered' to me through their work. I hope that once I am placed in a congregational setting that I will continue to write for publications and I hope to one day publish collections of short stories and poetry on spirituality, pop culture and the feminist perspective. I'm not trying to be Oprah and save the world, but I do love to read and write and both will be a vital part of my ministry."
