Holly Sauer (left) and Kayla Marasia presented their work at the Northeast Modern Language Conference in March. Both women completed literary Magellan Projects in London that provided background for their talks.
WASHINGTON, PA (April 15, 2019)—Two Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) senior English majors presented their work at the 50th Annual Northeast Modern Language Conference at its inaugural Undergraduate Forum.
Kayla Marasia ’19 presented “Woolf, Joyce, and Desire: Queering the Sexual Epiphany” and Holly Sauer ’19 presented “The Pressures of Pseudo-Motherhood in Elliot and Joyce.”
“My English classes at W&J have given me plenty of experience examining literary works and the critical conversation surrounding them, and my Gender and Women Studies classes gave me the ability to delve into queer theory. I wouldn’t have been able to attend this conference without the support of the wonderful professors in those departments,” Kayla said.
Both women agree the opportunity to present at a conference as an undergraduate is a unique one that has prepared them for the future. This is the second time Kayla and Holly have presented work at a national conference after both presented work at the Sigma Tau Delta conference last spring.
“I think this experience will help me in the future if I have to prepare presentations to others who may not be as familiar with my topic and explaining it so they understand. It also helped me to practice my writing and communication skills,” Holly said.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.