English: A Higher Degree of Choice

Alumnae Testimonials

Click on the alumnae below to hear from alumnae of the department.

Barbara Burg Schieffelin (Class of 1985)
Senior Vice President, Publicity and Public Relations
The Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Random House, Inc.

Jessica Cown (Class of 1998)
Technical Writer
Thomson Financial

Diane O'Brien (Class of 1998)
Web Editor
Interbrand

Carey L. Goyette (Class of 2000)
English Professor
Clinton Community College

Kristen Shenfield (Class of 2001)
Editorial Assistant
Delmar Learning, Thomson Company

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Barbara Burg Schieffelin (Class of 1985)
Senior Vice President, Publicity and Public Relations
The Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Random House, Inc.

"Although it's now almost twenty years ago, I so clearly remember my friends at Sage that were mostly PT and Nursing majors saying to me: "English, now WHAT are you going to do with THAT?!"

Well, at the time to be totally honest, I wasn't sure what I'd do when I grew up, but I was sure about what I loved (reading and writing) and what I wanted to learn (more about reading and writing!). Happily now I realize the skills I developed over those four years in the classroom, during my internships, on the newspaper, were the ones that opened the whole world to me because they gave me the confidence to do just about anything I could imagine.

How, you may ask? As far as I'm concerned, an English major is the single best preparation for any career since it's the major that teaches you how to think clearly and communicate, the two skills I believe every person needs to be successful. As an English major I learned how to really read something, how to appreciate writing, how to use language effectively, how to speak and write clearly, all skills that have not only enabled me to excel in my chosen field, book publishing, but skills that I see in fellow successful English majors all around me. It's not surprising that many of the brilliant editors, the best- selling fiction writers and journalists I work with were English majors, but it's been so refreshing over the years to meet and work with scientists, doctors, lawyers, teachers, politicians, movie stars, musicians and comedians, and learn that they, too, were proud to have started out as English majors, and found that foundation allowed them to excel at other things and then happily be able to write about their accomplishments.

You'll see: being an English major is like joining a club with a secret handshake--except this one definitely opens doors!"

Jessica Cown (Class of 1998)
Technical Writer
Thomson Financial

"As a technical writer, I develop online help, manuals, and various other forms of documentation for my company's Web-based products. I work closely with product managers, developers, and QA analysts to ensure that the documentation that I write is correct and completed on the same schedule as the products.

Being an English major at Russell Sage has aided me in this position in many ways, a few of which are:

Keeping deadlines - The bottom line is that it's very important that I deliver the work that I promised on schedule. Learning early on that I am responsible for the timeliness and quality of my work has been really helpful.
Thinking critically - The product development process rarely goes according to plan. There are often challenges, unexpected issues, and sometimes panic. Being able to examine the issue and come to an appropriate solution is an important part of my work.
Collaborating as a team - Disscussing my opinions and properly conveying my ideas was something that I first started doing at Russell Sage. Being able to communicate effectively with other team members has made many situations easier to handle."

Diane O'Brien (Class of 1998)
Web Editor
Interbrand

"Through its well-rounded structure and course diversity, the English program at Russell Sage gave me the foundation I needed for a career as a writer and editor. My professors challenged me through my studies, and encouraged me to be independent and open-minded. I graduated with a thorough understanding of the language, an appreciation for it, and the confidence to enter the real world. I am currently a Web editor for a consulting firm and a freelance writer. I live and work in Manhattan."

Carey L. Goyette (Class of 2000)
English Professor
Clinton Community College

"I am currently an English professor at Clinton Community College. Each semester I teach 15 credits of writing and literature courses to students who are planning to transfer to four-year institutions. I am an advisor to Liberal Arts and Humanities majors. In addition, I also participate on college and department committees.

The English degree I received from Russell Sage gave me a strong background in writing and literature. My experience in the classroom, as a writing tutor in the Writing Center, and as an editor for The Quill, enabled me to get a position as an adjunct English Instructor while I attended graduate school. I believe I was better prepared for graduate school than most of the other English graduate students. The English Department at Russell Sage prepared me with a knowledge of various literary genres and authors that was more in depth than what the other graduate students had received. This previous knowledge made graduate school easier and allowed me to develop a deeper understanding and expertise in a particular type of literature. I received a MA degree in English with a specialization in both composition and nineteenth century literature…interests that originated in the classrooms at Russell Sage."

Kristen Shenfield (Class of 2001)
Editorial Assistant
Delmar Learning, Thomson Company

"I can't say I always knew I wanted to study English as my major. I did know, however, that I have always loved to read and write, so I decided to declare English as my major and writing as my minor, following my hearts desire.

During my last three semesters at Russell Sage, I worked as an intern for Delmar Publishers. As an intern, I gained an edge on my professional career-- I enjoyed my work and was interested in the company. Two weeks after graduation, I was offered a position as an Editorial Assistant. After accepting the position, I laughed to myself thinking of everyone who said I would never find a job as an English major!

As an Editorial Assistant, I work to publish Automotive and Trucking titles. My background as an English major allows me to shine in the work I do. I work directly with authors to help them shape their thoughts into a tangible work. To that end, I must have effective, clear, and dependable communication skills. I work directly with reviewers to ensure their comments and questions about the particular work are addressed in the final manuscript before it is sent off to Production. Additionally, I work directly with managers and executives assuring all external and internal product communication to people like our consumers and sales representatives is clear and question-free.

I am happy with my career. I realize now what a wonderful experience I enjoyed at Russell Sage.

Majoring in English doesn't mean you have to teach. Like most people, I was under this impression when I declared English as my major. The more research I did and the more questions I asked, the more I realized I could do anything with an English major! It is the base by which all effective, clear, knowledgeable, and dependable communication begins. English as a major is a gateway to anything you want to be in your life: there are no limits!"