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“Words, words, words.” - Hamlet, William Shakespeare.

If you love words – reading them, writing them, speaking them and interpreting them – you will find kindred spirits here. The English department at AACC is home to composition, literature and creative writing. The aim of the English department is to prepare you to be a more effective reader, writer and thinker and to help you develop your abilities to understand and appreciate literature and other cultures.

Whether you struggle or excel in English, we meet you where you are. At every level we work to improve your mastery of English grammar, punctuation and sentence structure, as well as your capacity to organize and express ideas in writing. In our English classes, you will develop critical thinking and analysis skills. Along the way, we can help you explore literature of the Americas and the world's many cultures, great writing informs both new and old, and classic literary themes in their cultural contexts. In our Creative Writing courses, explore your boundless imagination, sharpen your critical thinking and hone your writing skills for our student publications and beyond.

Study with faculty in the English department and work toward earning a credential in English or Creative Writing.


Majors

The English and Communications department offers degrees in the following areas of study:


Faculty and Staff

Academic Chair

Full-time Faculty

Margaret Boas
Associate Professor, English
maboas@aacc.edu
410-777-2735
HUM 113H

Dean Bowers, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English
edbowers@aacc.edu
410-777-1407
HUM 203G

Garrett Brown, Ph.D.
Professor, English
gbrown24@aacc.edu
410-777-2809
HUM 113F

Steven Canaday, Ph.D.
Professor, English
sbcanaday@aacc.edu
410-777-2140
HUM 203B

Darius Cureton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, English
dmcureton@aacc.edu 
410-777-1149
HUM 203B

Katy D’Angelo, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, English
kdangelo@aacc.edu
410-777-1218
HUM 203C

Shelley DeBlasis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English
sddeblasis1@aacc.edu  
410-777-2551
HUM 203B

Jennifer Dix, Ph.D.
Professor, English
jdix@aacc.edu
410-777-2459
HUM 215F

Paul Gabriel Tucci
Associate Professor, English
pdtucci@aacc.edu
410-777-2806
HUM 113J

Candice Hill, Ph.D.
Professor, English
cjhill1@aacc.edu
410-777-1409
HUM 203C

Robert Hurd, Ph.D.
Professor, English
rrhurd@aacc.edu
410-777-2119
HUM 215K

Wayne Kobylinski, Ph.D.
Professor, English
wkobylinski@aacc.edu
410-777-2299
HUM 203A

Johnny Lew, Ph.D.
Professor, English
jlew@aacc.edu
410-777-1410
HUM 203G

Jaque Lyman-Thomas
Professor, English
jslyman@aacc.edu
410-777-2802
HUM 113G

Timothy May
Assistant Professor, English
tmay1@aacc.edu
410-777-2298
HUM 203D

David Meng
Associate Professor, English
dpmeng@aacc.edu
410-777-2892
HUM 113I

Marjorie Paoletti
Associate Professor, English
mpaoletti@aacc.edu
410-777-2185
HUM 203H

KT Perkins
Assistant Professor, English
kperkins3@aacc.edu
410-777-2330
HUM 113F

Jessica Rabin, Ph.D.
Professor, English
jgrabin@aacc.edu
410-777-2118
HUM 215G

Brian Riley, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English
bpriley@aacc.edu
410-777-2957
HUM 203I

Grace Sikorski, Ph.D.
Professor, English
gsikorski@aacc.edu
410-777-2186
HUM 203J

Suzanne Spoor, Ph.D.
Professor, English
sjspoor@aacc.edu
410-777-2448
HUM 203F

Simon Ward
Assistant Professor, English
sward11@aacc.edu 
410-777-2144
HUM 203B

Brian Weber
Instructor, English
bmweber@aacc.edu
410-777-1242
HUM 203D

Office Staff

Kristi Tuccillo
English, Academic Literacies and Communications Support Coordinator
410-777-2290
kltuccillo@aacc.edu 


Join a Vibrant Literary Community

Amaranth, the student literary journal

Amaranth is AACC’s student-run journal for the creative arts. Published every April, Amaranth showcases student writing and visual art from the college community and its alumni. Taking on the role of editor-in-chief, managing editor, publicity manger or staff member gives students the opportunity to develop job-related skills in a creative field. Students run staff meetings and advertise the journal while soliciting submissions, working within a budget  and coordinating with a print shop to produce a volume worthy of the creative work contained within its pages. Staff members can also earn college credit while working on the journal. Amaranth has been recognized with numerous awards, including the College Media Association’s Pinnacle Award, the Community College Humanities Association’s Literary Magazine Contest and the prestigious Pacemaker Award from the Associated Collegiate Press.

Learn more about Amaranth or submit work.

Coffeehouse

Coffeehouse is a monthly open mic event hosted by the staff of Amaranth where participants are invited to read their poems and stories, present and discuss visual art or short films, or perform music, monologues, comedy sketches or dance. 
 
Coffeehouse is a great opportunity for students to get to know each other and share their creative talents, for prospective students to get a glimpse of AACC's creative community and for alumni to see old friends and catch up. 
 
Every April, the final Coffeehouse of the year is a release party for the latest edition of Amaranth. Magazine contributors read and discuss their pieces, awards are presented, and family, friends and faculty are invited to support and celebrate the amazing creative work produced by our students. 

Due to current concerns with COVID-19, Coffeehouse events are virtual until further notice.

When's the next Coffeehouse?

Writers Reading Series

Writers Reading at AACC hosts an array of writers including poets, fiction writers, essayists, songwriters, memoirists, playwrights, journalists and screenplay writers. Guest writers read from their work and engage in discussion with the audience about things such as their creative process, the arc of their careers and advice for beginning writers.  
 
Writers Reading events are sponsored by the School of Liberal Arts and are free to students, faculty, staff and members of the community. 

When's the next Writers Reading?

AACC Writing Awards and the League for Innovation

The Creative Writing program actively promotes the writing of its students. All enrolled students are eligible to submit their writing to college awards for potential cash prizes and inclusion in Amaranth. Our program is also affiliated with the League for Innovation, which hosts a Student Literary Competition. Students who win our local League for Innovation competition at AACC are sent forward to compete at the league level for cash prizes and international recognition in the League for Innovation journal. 

Learn how to submit to writing awards at AACC.

Learn about AACC's Young Writers Award


Resources for Students

Writing Center

The Writing Center provides continuous help to students from all disciplines by providing one-on-one tutoring on a walk-in basis. English department faculty tutors are happy to assist in preparing written assignments, offer help in understanding errors on graded papers, and provide additional training in grammar, punctuation and usage.

Learn more about the Writing Center.

Virtual Writing Center

The Virtual Writing Center offers the same high quality tutoring experience as our face-to-face Writing Center locations in a synchronous, voice-interactive online environment.  It is open to all enrolled AACC students and can be accessed using Canvas and Blackboard Collaborate.

Learn more about the Virtual Writing Center.

Honors program

The Honors program is for high-achieving students who wish to excel in a diverse and interdisciplinary learning environment. The focus is on collaboration in learning, critical thinking, effective communication and ethical leadership. The Honors program maintains academic rigor while allowing flexibility for qualified students in all majors to receive recognition for their achievements. Courses are defined by a different method of teaching and learning.

Learn more about the Honors program.

Questions?

We’re here to help.

School of Liberal Arts
English

Wayne Kobylinski, Ph.D.

410-777-2299

Send Email

Kerry Taylor, Ed.D.
Assistant dean