English Department
Why Study English at UNC Asheville?
People have always told stories to explore what it means to be human. Our department is a supportive community of readers, writers, and scholars contributing to this ever-changing story. Through seminar-style discussion and project-based learning, English majors learn how to analyze texts, think critically, and communicate their knowledge and ideas.
English Department Programs
English
B.A. Minor Teacher Licensure
From antiquity to the contemporary moment, you will study Western and world literature to learn how novelists, poets, playwrights, and literary critics have shaped, and were shaped by, our shared cultural and historical contexts. Creative writing students learn how to critique poetry, fiction, drama, and creative non-fiction in a workshop setting, and craft a longer manuscript of their own in their senior year. Our graduates enjoy meaningful careers as teachers, professional writers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and more.
Creative Writing
Minor Teacher Licensure
The Creative Writing minor invites students to explore and develop their craft in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, drama, and musical writing. Through coursework, students build foundational skills, refine their individual voice, and receive personalized feedback in a supportive, creative environment. The program also offers opportunities to participate in literary events, publish in Headwaters Literary Journal, and engage with visiting writers. Overall, the minor provides a dynamic, immersive experience that complements a wide range of academic pathways and professional goals.
Professional Writing & Rhetoric
Minor
The Professional Writing and Rhetoric minor at UNC Asheville develops strong, adaptable writing skills for professional, academic, and public settings. Through coursework in writing, grammar, and a hands-on internship, students gain practical experience and rhetorical awareness. Electives from multiple disciplines allow students to tailor the minor to their interests, preparing them for careers in communication, publishing, health fields, and beyond.
Careers Outcomes
Careers Outcomes
With a bachelor’s degree in English, students can pursue careers in fields such as education, writing, communications, marketing, library management, and publishing. Some graduates may also choose to apply to graduate programs, either to continue their study of literature in preparation for a career as a professor or to transition into other fields such as law or business. An English degree is highly versatile, and UNC Asheville graduates have gone on to meaningful careers as teachers, professional writers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and more.
First-Year Writing
First-Year Writing
First-Year Writing classes invite students to explore the dynamic ways that writing and other forms of communication are produced and used across a variety of situations. College writing matters not only as a product that shows what we can do, but also as a process that helps us test what we’re thinking, keep track of what we’re learning, and interact with others’ ideas. Learning to do all of this takes time, of course, but our classes offer a supportive environment where students can practice thinking critically, engaging ethically with others, and making rhetorically effective communication choices.
Visiting Writers & Critical Perspectives
Visiting Writers & Critical Perspectives
The Visiting Writers Series brings acclaimed authors to campus to share their work and creative process with the campus and Asheville community. The Critical Perspectives Series features scholars and critics whose work connects literary and cultural theory to the classroom, bridging creative and critical approaches in contemporary literary studies.
Headwaters Literary Journal
Headwaters Literary Journal
At UNC Asheville, English majors have the opportunity to publish their work while earning their degree. Headwaters, the university’s annual creative arts magazine, showcases poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art submitted by students, faculty, and staff. The magazine provides a platform for students to share their unique voices with the campus community and beyond. Students can also contribute behind the scenes by enrolling in a four-credit course that offers hands-on experience in editing, publishing, and distributing the journal as part of the Headwaters team.
“Everyone in the department takes the time to get to know you and goes the extra mile in supporting you. I had professors go out of their way to help me with my grad school applications, from zoom calls over the summer to weekly office visits. I wouldn’t be going to the University of Georgia to get my masters without the foundation I’ve built here at UNC Asheville!”
English Department Faculty
Our English faculty are active in their fields, publishing their scholarship and creative work. Our department brings noteworthy writers to campus for readings, workshops, and conversations. Many of our students conduct independent and faculty-mentored research, publish in the University’s literary journal Headwaters, and are active in Asheville’s vibrant writing community.
Gary Ettari, Ph.D.
Chair and Associate Professor of English
Office: 237 Karpen Hall
Phone: 251-6598
Email: gettari@unca.edu
Office Hours
Tuesday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
And by appointment
Emily Adair
Adjunct Lecturer of English
Office Hours
Tuesday 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Thursday 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Mildred Barya, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of English
Office Hours
Wednesday 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Thursday 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
and by appointment
Steven Blevins
Lecturer of English
Office Hours
Monday – 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Wednesday – 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Friday – 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Kirk Boyle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
Office Hours
Monday – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Wednesday – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
By appointment
Angela Du
University Fellow
Office Hours
Tuesday – 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Thursday – 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
and by appointment
Ayelet Even-Nur, Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professor of English
Email: aevennur@unca.edu
Office Hours
Monday – 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Wednesday – 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
and by appointment
Brian Graves
First-Year Writing Coordinator & Senior Lecturer of English
Office Hours
Monday – 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Wednesday – 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Friday – 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
And by appointment
Evan Gurney, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Office: 204 Karpen Hall
Phone: 251-6575
Email: egurney@unca.edu
Office Hours
by appointment
Luke Hankins
Director, Great Smokies Writing Program
Office: 119 Delany Hall
Phone: 350-4588
Email: lhankins@unca.edu
Leslee Johnson
HUM 124 Coordinator and Lecturer of English
Office Hours
Monday – 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Wednesday – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
and by appointment
Erica Abrams Locklear, Ph.D.
Professor of English | Thomas Howerton Distinguished Professor of Humanities
Office: 217 Karpen Hall
Email: elocklea@unca.edu
Office Hours
By Appointment
Sophie Mills, Ph.D.
Professor of Ancient Mediterranean Studies
Office: 122 Whitesides Hall
Email: smills@unca.edu
Office Hours:
Monday – 9:00 am – 9:30 am
Tuesday – 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Wednesday – 9:00 am – 9:30 am
Friday – 9:00 am – 9:30 am
Or by appointment.
William Revere, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
Office Hours:
Tuesday – 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Wednesday – 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Kristin Shepard
Adjunct Lecturer of English
Office Hours
Monday- 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Tuesday – 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Wednesday – 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
and by appointment
Wren Williams
Administrative Assistant
Office: 223 Karpen Hall
Phone: 6411
Email: williams@unca.edu
Office Hours
Monday 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
Tuesday 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
Thursday 7:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Friday 7:30 am – 11:30 am
Hours subject to change without notice.
Ready for what's next?
From our strong liberal arts core to our seemingly endless opportunities for hands-on engagement with literature and the writing craft, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of North Carolina Asheville gives you an undergraduate experience unlike any other.