National Recognition

For the second year in a row, the Department of Languages & Literatures' MA program in TESOL (Teaching Speakers of Other Languages) has been ranked in the top 15% of online Master's programs in Education the United States, accounting to U.S. News & World Report. L&L's TESOL program joins 12 other education programs at the University of Northern Iowa singled out for this recognition. The fully online program prepares students to assist others in their abilities to use English — whether in K–12 classrooms or in community, business, professional or artistic and cultural settings. A new cohort is scheduled to begin in August 2023, and as part of the federally-funded Project UNITED (University of Northern Iowa Teacher Education for Diverse Learners), there are unique scholarship opportunities available to applicants. 

L&L English alum, Liz Cook, had an essay included in The Best American Food Writing 2022 (Mariner Books). Cook, a freelance food writer and editor who is based in Kansas City, was recognized for her piece (on something that you might not consider eating!) "I Tasted Honda's Spicy Rodent-Repelling Tape," which was originally published in her Substack Haterade newsletter, which is highly recommended and can be subscribed to for free.

Several works originally published in the North American Review also received recognition in anthologies celebrating the year's best writing. Four essays originally published in the North American Review were selected as Notable Essays and Literary Nonfiction for The Best American Essays 2022: Kate McGunagle's "Passive Voice," Lydia Paar's "Erasure," Alyssa Pelish's "Something in the Woods," and Jennifer Sears' "Emerson's Egypt." Two short stories originally published in NAR were nameed Distinguished Stories for The Best American Short Stories 2022: Gina Ochsner's "Snow Queen" and Laura Steadham Smith's "Underwater."