Meet Madison Hogg

Madison, a second-year master's student, finds herself changing with each class she takes. She is working as a graduate teaching assistant while completing her thesis on the presence of grief in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Read on to learn more about Madison, from her "origin story" with literature to what she has found herself enjoying most as a tutor and teacher.

When did you realize you wanted to be an English major?

It feels almost inevitable, honestly. Growing up, I would read anything I could get my hands on. I wrote incessantly as a high schooler. I was enchanted by the opportunities reading and writing offered for conversation: listening through reading and responding through writing.  I enrolled in undergrad as an English major without a second thought and have been privileged to spend years of my life engaged in the conversation I love so much. 

What are some favorite classes you've taken as a grad student?

I've taken so many wonderful classes, it's hard to choose. Dr. Kyle Grimes' British Romantics class was a wonderful deep dive into the poetry of the Romantics and launched my thesis project, while Dr. Jay Jessee's Women's Lit and Theory class taught me how to read and engage with criticism and theory. Taking Kerry Madden-Lunsford's Non-Fiction Creative Writing Workshop was a bit outside my usual discipline, but I found it extremely fulfilling on a personal level. Every class I've taken has changed me in some way.

You've worked as a graduate teaching assistant for nearly two years now. What has that experience been like?

It's been challenging and rewarding in equal measure. I've loved my time working as a tutor at the University Writing Center. Getting to know the students has been a joy. Teaching has brought another unique set of challenges, but the experience has been invaluable. I think my favorite thing about my experience as a GTA has been the people I've been working alongside: I've made some excellent friends in the past few years.

It's almost time to defend your thesis! How is that whole process going?

Once again, challenging and rewarding. My thesis is by far the biggest project I've ever tackled, and it gets overwhelming at times. However, the guidance I've received from my advisor, the encouragement from my instructors, and the support from my peers have all helped me along thus far. I'm getting more and more excited about the final product the closer I get to the finish line.