Thank you for investing in the future of the Department of English. Your generosity creates opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach, empowering students, supporting faculty innovation, and enhancing the experiences that define our community.
Because of your support through the Excellence Fund, meaningful progress is happening every day. The accomplishments highlighted in this report reflect the impact of your partnership, and we are grateful for your commitment to our mission.
With sincere appreciation,
GO COUGS!
How your gifts made an impact in 2025-2026:
- Supported a wide range of activities that helped improve programs, support staff, and engage the community. Food and drinks were provided during meetings, events, and formal gatherings to support our Graduate students, Creative Writing group, provide meals for candidates, Department Holiday Celebration, All staff Fall Semester Welcome event and Graduate program orientation lunch. Departmental membership to the Association of Writers and Writing Programs along with Mental Health first aid training was provided. Subscriptions helped maintain access to useful publications and resources, while software services ensured that digital tools stayed up to date and secure.
- In collaboration with university partners the Department of English supported the Black Prisoners’ Caucus (BPC) at WSU: Rebuilding Black Lives During and Beyond Incarceration; an initiative and collaborative programming effort connecting Washington State University with the wider, prisoner-led Black Prisoners’ Caucus founded in Washington state prisons in 1972. We hosted panels, discussions, and webinars exploring the history and abolitionist organizing work of the BPC. The BPC held a screening of documentaries like Since I Been Down followed by a live Q&A with the director and Black Prisoners Caucus members, including participants from Coyote Ridge Corrections Center.
- Travel expenses covered lodging, meals, and transportation for events. This included flights, car mileage, and other travel-related costs that supported learning, collaboration, and outreach.
- Scholarships and fellowships provided financial support to students, helping them take part in educational programs and reducing barriers to participation. Faculty and student awards and contributions also helped recognize and support those making a positive impact across multiple platforms including teaching, creative writing, dissertations, etc.
- Funding was provided to support the WSU Blood Orange Review; an online literary and arts journal operated by Washington State University (WSU) faculty and students.