After Graduation

Opportunities for English majors are limitless. The critical thinking and problem-solving skills students learn through our degree program serve as the base for success in any job market. Close reading, accurate writing and the ability to listen well lead graduates into satisfying careers and excellent graduate programs.

Visit our alumni page for info on resources and services 

Career Paths

Below is a listing of careers and fields our English major graduates have entered after graduation. Alumni report high job satisfaction after graduation — and they have the résumés to prove it.

• Technical communication/writing
• Public relations
• Social media for government and private organizations
• Marketing/information marketing
• Nonprofit department/project manager
• Director of regional/national organizations
• Americorps
• Writing/copywriting/editing
• Financial consultant/coordinator
• Advertising agencies/departments
• Broadcasting (radio and TV
• Community relations
• Financial agencies/affairs
• Editing/publishing
• Government agencies/affairs
• Grant writing
• Health advocacy
• Human resources
• Law
• Public affairs
• Sales and customer service
• Sports information
• Teaching
• Advocacy coordinator
• Character performer – Disney World
• Consultant
• Dance teacher/dance performance
• Director of community relations
• Editor-in-chief
• Graduate instructional assistant
• Management trainee
• Mechanical engineer
• Online marketing specialist
• Research chemist
• Urban Education Fellow

Alumni Profiles

Anna Gazmarian ’14 – Teacher at Gotham Writers Workshop and is the author of the memoir Devout. Her work appeared in The Rumpus.

Taylor Rebhan ’14 – Senior writer at REI Co-op. Creative non-fiction writer with the hope of publishing a book of humorist essays.

Hannah Jones ’21 – Earned advanced degree in library and information science from the University of Illinois-Champaign. Librarian at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Aine O’Connor ’20 – Earned advanced degree in library and information science from the University of Illinois-Champaign. Librarian at the University of South Dakota State University.

Natalie Weg ’20 – Support and resource specialist with the American Red Cross SAF (Service to the Armed Forces) chapter in Landstuhl, Germany.

Meaghan Minkus ’11 – Assistant editor, Zondervan Books

Kelsie Cavanaugh ‘20 -Editorial assistant for the Business, Computing, and Career Education team at Goodheart-Willcox in Tinley Park, Illinois.

Ben Opipari ’91 – Ph.D. in English language and literature from The Catholic University of America. Owner of Persuasive Matters, which delivers legal writing seminars and individual coaching to law firms worldwide.

Samuel Vega ’22 – Writer and researcher for the “Stories of Equity and Hope” project, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Natalie Brown ’17 – Freelance writer and author

Kristin Brace ’07 – Poet and author of two chapbooks and a full-length collection.

Shea Tuttle ’06 - author of Exactly as You Are: The Life and Faith of Mister Rogers and co-editor of Can I Get a Witness? Thirteen Peacemakers, Community Builders, and Agitators for Faith and Justice.

Sam Mason ’19 – Global partnerships specialist at Lions Clubs International Foundation

Shanley Smith ’19 – Missionary and community advocate

Melanie Burkhardt ’18 – Acquisitions assistant at Baker Publishing Group

Angie Hines ’18 – 4th-grade literacy teacher at Believe Memphis Academy

Kyle Bernaciak ’16 – Chicago police officer

Laura Van Oss ’15 – Teacher in Honduras

Natalia Connelly (Granzotto ’13 – Communications at Calvin College

Annalise Klein ’14 – AP Chemistry Teacher

Alex Mouw ’14 – Writer and professor

Kian Hashemi-Rad ’14 – Retail Operations Manager at Warby Parker HQ

Sara Sanchez ’14 – English teacher

Brooke Furry ’13 – Marketing manager

Stephanie Mouw ’13 – Writer/editor for Purdue University’s Marketing and Media Department

Kasidee Karsten ’13 – Social media and content manager for the National Football League Players Association

Emily Henry ’12 – Bestselling author

Chris O'Brien ’12 – Editor, writer, and owner of Long Overdue, a publishing company.

Matthew Baker ’09 – Author and screenwriter

Peter Derby ’05 – Television writer

Kate Bode-lang ’02 – Writer and director of education and quality management in the Office for Research Protections at Penn State University.

Sally Smits Masten ’01 – Writing center mentor at Western Governors University

Sarah Smith ’97 – Hospital teacher/school liaison at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

Annette Bourland ’94 – Senior vice president and group publisher for Zondervan,  of HarperCollins Global Publishing