English Department

English Department

Good reading and writing skills are valuable to everyone, whether you plan a business career or are studying nursing. The English Department teaches students to think critically, understand the materials they read and express their ideas in writing.

Who We Are

English Department faculty are accomplished writers, poets and literary critics. Many have published books. Others have been nominated to Best New American Writers, served on the National Endowment for the Humanities board and read their poems on A Writer’s Almanac.

Course Descriptions
Department Directory
Admissions | 763-433-1300
Dean Hannah Oliha-Donaldson |
763-433-1186

Meet Catherine Bean

Catherine Bean
Meet Catherine Bean
Instructor of English
Meet Catherine Bean
Instructor of English

Master of Arts (MA) in English - Film and Contemporary American Literature Studies, University of Florida; Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English - Film and Contemporary American Literature Studies, University of Florida

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Meet Angerise Carter

Meet Angerise Carter
Creative Writing program
Meet Angerise Carter
Creative Writing program

Minneapolis

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Degrees & Certificates We Offer

Courses offered range from freshman composition classes to historical literature and creative writing classes.

The department offers three degrees that can be earned entirely online:

  • The English Department presents students with a variety of engaging literary opportunities. (See Visiting Writers Series below.)

    Both campuses also host student and faculty readings and have active creative writing clubs that publish the student literary magazines.

  • The English Department presents two exciting series: The Two Rivers Reading Series at the Coon Rapids Campus, and the Minnesota Writers Series at the Cambridge Campus.

    Each semester these series bring acclaimed and award-winning local, regional, and nationally-known authors to campus. Students study these authors’ stories, novels, essays, plays, or poetry in their English or Reading courses. Students then attend the readings in person to meet the author, ask questions, and have their books signed. Readings are video recorded to enable online students access to these events.

    The English Division is pleased to offer these events free to Anoka-Ramsey students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general public.

  • Write Like Us is an equity-based creative writing program at five Twin Cities metro-area community colleges. Write Like Us centers and celebrates the work of BIPOC writers and writing students, fostering literary mentorship and leadership as it builds a platform for shared stories, voices, and lived experiences.

    Learn more about the Write Like Us program and events here.

More About The Department

Students can explore their literary interests and develop their writing talents outside the classroom, too. The English Department presents students with a variety of engaging literary opportunities. On our Cambridge Campus, students can hear meet well-known writers through the citywide Minnesota Authors Reading Series. On the Coon Rapids Campus, the Two Rivers Reading Series allows students to study a book then interact with the published author. Both campuses host student and faculty readings and have active creative writing clubs that publish the student literary magazines.

Faculty Achievements and News

The English Department swept PTK’s 2020 Golden Chalk teaching awards. Professor Jasmin Ziegler received the Silver Chalk award, and Chris McCarthy received the Golden Chalk award.

Madelynne Rootes, a writing tutor and an AFA in Creative Writing student at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, was accepted into the summer 2020 Northwoods Writer's Conference at Bemidji State University. She will study with fiction writer Scott Russell Sanders.

Professors Paige Riehl, Tracy Youngblom, and Kathryn Kysar all had poems published in the anthology Rocked by the Waters: Poems of Motherhood edited by Athena Kildegaard and Margaret Hasse.

Professor Kathryn Kysar was awarded a writing residency at Tofte Lake Center in Ely, Minnesota, which she will be taking in summer 2021.

For the first time ever, both the Cambridge campus Spirit River Review and the Coon Rapids campus Rapids Review are available for viewing online.  

Meet Our Students and Alumni

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  1. Meet Joshua Chase
    Joshua Chase
    Joshua Chase
    Arts & Communication
    Creative Writing
    Joshua Chase

    "The teachers are, hands down, the best part of Anoka-Ramsey. I’ve always read a lot, but while at Anoka-Ramsey, I had teachers who gave me entirely new perspectives on the writers and works I was already interested in. I always knew I liked certain authors, but couldn’t really put my finger on why. After my time at Anoka-Ramsey, I had a much better understanding.

    I spent a lot of time in the advising office. Having transferred many of my credits from a community college in Nevada, I wasn’t really sure how to proceed in a new state with different graduation requirements."

  2. Meet Jamie Haddox
    Jamie Haddox
    Jamie Haddox
    Arts & Communication
    AA Creative Writing Emphasis
    Jamie Haddox

    "Having taken creative writing classes at Anoka- Ramsey, I can honestly say that talent alone isn’t enough, no matter how talented. There’s so much I didn’t know. I’ve also learned that part of writing is having a network. You’ll never meet half the people you should without going to school."

  3. Meet Javier Abrica
    Javier Abrica
    Javier Abrica
    MnTC
    Associate in Arts
    Javier Abrica

    "When I walked through the doors here, I knew this was the place to get started. I’ve enjoyed it here ever since. Being Hispanic I appreciate the diversity at Anoka-Ramsey. I have met people from all over the world. It’s fun to have them share their cultures with me, and to see they have the same interests as I do."

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