When literature and art meet on the prairie, the result is The Bouteloua LitART Fest; affectionately nicknamed “The Bou”. Now in its third year, the festival brings nationally recognized writers and local artists together at Glacier Creek Preserve and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), creating a space where creativity thrives in unexpected ways.
For Dr. Linda Pawlenty, an alumna of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) English master’s program, driving a concrete mixer through postgraduate school was like straddling two worlds—one idealized and abstracted, the other material and tactile. In her forthcoming work of creative nonfiction, Clutch: An Education at Work, Pawlenty recounts her experience moving between these two worlds.
Today, Dr. Samejon specializes in language variation, post-colonial societies, and sound symbolism, blending fieldwork with experimental and quantitative methods to bridge human stories with scientific analysis. When Dr. Kevin Samejon first stepped into a college linguistics class, however, he felt completely lost. The terminology was overwhelming, the concepts elusive, and the subject far more challenging than expected. But instead of walking away, he leaned in. “
For Lucy Mason, writing has always been at the center of her academic and professional journey. From working on the school paper in high school to contributing to The Gateway at UNO as their Culture Editor, she knew her next step needed to push her creativity while sharpening her reporting skills. That’s what drew her to an internship at the Omaha Magazine.
From the moment she lined up her younger sister to play “student” after long days in first grade, Deana Rainey knew she was destined to teach. Armed with picture books and homemade assignments, she began shaping lessons before she had even learned multiplication tables herself. That early love of learning and literature has grown into a career spanning decades and inspiring countless students.
English Graduate Organization
Thanks to the efforts of graduate assistant Cassie Provost, the English Graduate Organization known as EGO is making a comeback in the UNO English Department. EGO is available to all English graduate students who are looking for professional and community-building opportunities. EGO aims to create spaces for learning, networking, and sharing tools for students of various backgrounds and career interests. We look forward to finding ways to support you on your graduate journey.
The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity.
