Student Outcomes

It’s not unusual for humanities majors to try a number of jobs or fields during their first few years after graduation, before settling on a career in which they have a passionate interest. English majors, who have strong analytical and critical skills and who express themselves well in speech and writing, are highly adaptable and trainable, and thus in a good position for each new career trajectory.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that individuals who move to top-level management positions in business and other organizations were humanities majors in college. It is worth noting that the University’s own renowned benefactor, E. Claiborne Robins — who founded a major international pharmaceutical corporation and eventually donated many millions of dollars to his alma mater — was an English major.

Richmond alumni, including those who majored in English, are surveyed regularly to determine their success after graduation — 93 percent of the class of 2010 was employed within six months of graduation. While it is not uncommon to spend one to two years feeling uncertain about the trajectory of their career, within five years, most English majors are very satisfied with their career path. For example, read about Emily Moore, '99, who today produces television commercials, including several that have aired during the Super Bowl.

Students majoring in English at the University or Richmond go on to careers in such fields as advertising, business, editing, journalism, marketing and communications, museum curatorship, public relations, software development, teaching, television and movie production, Web development and writing, or they may enter graduate programs in English, law, or other fields. The reading, writing, analytical, and critical thinking skills acquired by students in an English major make them attractive to employers in business, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations. Students who are still considering several different career paths can major in English with the knowledge that their skills and training will apply, regardless of their final decision.

Alumni Accomplishments

Below is a selection of alumni news from our most recent newsletter.

Aleah Goldin, '13, had her story "Arsenic Possibilities" appear in the 2013 issue of in plain china, the national undergraduate anthology at Bennington.

Starr Miyata, '13, was awarded a two-year research fellowship through the Japanese Ministry of Education.

Amani Morrison, '12, is pursuing a Ph.D. in African Diaspora Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Katie Toussaint, '12, is managing editor of SOCIETY Charlotte Magazine, which provides media coverage for nonprofits.

Megan Lund, '11, is getting an advanced degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Edinboro University.

Maria Ribas, '10, is a literary agent with the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency.

Chet'la Sebree, '10, is the 2014-2015 Stadler Fellow at Bucknell University's Stadler Center for Poetry.

Allison Speicher, '08, is an assistant professor of American and children's literature at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Carmen Hermo, '07, is the curatorial assistant for collections at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Matt Rafalow, '06, is finishing a Sociology Ph.D. program ad University of California-Irvine.

Amy Seals, '87, is a technical editor in the Environmental Division of Dudek, a leading California environmental civil engineering and construction consulting firm.