Radford University
School of Writing, Language and Literature
Where Words Shape Worlds
The School of Writing, Language and Literature (SWLL) houses the Department of English and the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. Combining the strengths of these disciplines, SWLL is Radford University's interdisciplinary hub for language, culture and expression. Through innovation and collaboration, SWLL empowers students to think critically, write powerfully and engage globally.
Academic Programs
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Minors available: English, Creative Writing, Professional Writing and Health Humanities.
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Minors available: Foreign Languages, Spanish, Hispanic Studies, German Studies, Classical Humanities and Intercultural Studies.
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SWLL Events (Spring 2026)
- SWLL Day of Service
- Crafty Afternoon
- Lunar New Year Celebration
- Neurodiversity Celebration
- Reading: Willie Carver Jr.
- SWLL Ceremony Banquet
SWLL Day of Service
The School of Writing, Language and Literature (SWLL) welcomes back students, faculty and staff from the Department of English and the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, as we take part in Radford University's annual "Day of Service" event. This is a great opportunity to give back to the local community, while also meeting and interacting with other SWLL folks in a collaborative and service-oriented context!
Date: Monday, January 19
Time: noon - 4 p.m.
Location: TBD
Contact: Michele Ren, Ph.D.
Crafty Afternoon
Just because we're language and literature nerds doesn't mean that we can't be craft nerds, too! Join the School of Writing, Language and Literature (SWLL) for our latest and greatest afternoon of crafts. If you've never attended one of these craft events before, it's a fun and low-stress way to meet other folks in the ENGL/FORL departments. What kinds of crafting will we do? You'll have to attend and find out! No crafting experience required!
Date: Wednesday, February 11
Time: 3 - 5 p.m.
Location: Hemphill Hall 4800
Contact: Marti Wagnon, Ph.D. or Emily Keck, Ph.D.
Lunar New Year Celebration
The School of Writing, Language and Literature (SWLL), in partnership with the Chinese Club, will be hosting our annual lunar new year event. One of the most important holidays in the Chinese calendar, this event--which is free and open to the public--typically features music, food, dance, crafts and all other kinds of enjoyment. A fantastic way to celebrate, expand your cultural knowledge and meet interesting people. Hope to see you there!
Date: Saturday, February 21
Time: 2 - 5 p.m.
Location: Kyle Hall
Contact: I-Ping Fu, Ph.D.
Neurodiversity Celebration
In honor of Neurodiversity Week 2026, the School of Writing, Language and Literature (SWLL) and the McConnell Library are partnering for this event to explore the many interesting and important ways that our brains operate! This event seeks to provide awareness for neurodiversity, connect neurodiverse students and allies with one another, and celebrate neurodiversity in all of its wonderful complexity. Join us for this exciting event!
Date: Wednesday, March 18
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Location: McConnell Library Reading Room
Contact: Amanda Biviano, Ph.D.
Reading: Willie Carver Jr.
Hosted by the Appalachian Studies program, writer Willie Carver Jr.--author of the poetry collection, Gay Poems for Red States (UP of Kentucky), and the novel, Tore All to Pieces (UP of Kentucky)--will be reading from his work. An advocate for minoritized youth and a former Kentucky Teacher of the Year, Carver Jr.'s experiences have been featured across media, including ABC, CBS, The Washington Post and Good Morning America.
Date: Tuesday, March 24
Time: 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: TBD
Contact: Dan Woods, Ph.D.
SWLL Ceremony Banquet
The School of Writing, Language and Literature (SWLL) wraps up the 2025-2026 academic year with our annual ceremony banquet, celebrating the accomplishments of our English and Foreign Language students, faculty and staff--including graduating students, creative writing award winners, Dean's Scholar recipients, retiring faculty/staff and more. Make plans to join us, as we honor our SWLL colleagues for all their hard work!
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Contact: Paige Horst, Ph.D.
SWLL News
The School of Writing, Language and Literature hosted this year's Corridors: Blue Ridge Writing & Rhetoric Conference. Many congratulations and thanks to Laura Vernon, Ph.D. (Professor of English), Laurie Cubbison, Ph.D. (Professor of English), and Sydney Jones (current M.S. English graduate student) for organizing this fantastic event!
Conference Keynote Speaker, Theresa Burriss, Ph.D.
Current M.A. English graduate student Nina Aidam presented on the topic of "Meritocracy and Cultural Disruption in Ngugi wa Thiong'o's The River Between" at this year's Writing Meritocracy Conference in Brussels, Belgium. Congratulations, Nina!
Frank Napolitano, Ph.D. (Professor of English and Coordinator of the SWLL Graduate Teaching Mentor Program) was recognized with the "Distinguished Teaching Award" by the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences for his work with undergraduate and graduate students. Congratulations!
Study Abroad
Available for students in any major, the School of Writing, Language and Literature (SWLL) offers several study abroad opportunities each year, including Mexico, Spain, Taiwan and more!