ERHS Stories

Mattie Quesenberry Smith, Ph.D., instructor in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies at Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia’s poet laureate, has been chosen by Virginia Business (VB) for their list of “100 People to Meet in 2026” in the Educators category.

Five Virginia Military Institute cadets, with Dr. Sherif Abdelhamid, assistant professor in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and outreach liaison officer for VMI’s Cyber Defense Laboratory, traveled to present research projects at the SoCon Undergraduate Research Forum in October.

The way Nat Lavender ’26 speaks about writing and reading, anyone can see her dedication and desire for it. She explained that the ability to read a book in a completely different way than the person sitting next to her, just due to personal experience, is so intriguing to her.

Coming to Virginia Military Institute wasn’t an easy adjustment for Matthew Atienza ’26. He was across the country, in an unfamiliar place, and unsure of it all.

Virginia’s poet laureate, VMI instructor Mattie Quesenberry Smith, Ph.D., has launched “Perseverance and Resilience,” a statewide poetry initiative supporting veterans’ health and well-being through workshops, a poetry contest, and public celebrations.

John Paul Adams ’27, an English major minoring in French, spent 10 weeks studying the background and significance of the Jerusalem Bible and Tolkien’s role in its publication for his Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) project, “Scriptural Monster: A Study of Tolkien’s Jonah.”

The Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies (ERHS) recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the implementation of a revised English curriculum integrating the study of literature, philosophy, oral and written communication, and fine arts.

Dr. Mattie Quesenberry Smith, instructor in the Department of English, Rhetoric and Humanistic Studies at Virginia Military Institute and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s poet laureate, is featured on episode 28 of “The Laureate Project,” a podcast launched by Emmy-nominated journalist, Matt Hoisch.

Brooks Freeman ’25, an English major at Virginia Military Institute, sought a common core between the philosophies of Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, a 13th century Middle Eastern Sufi mystic and poet, and SØren Kierkegaard, a 19th century Danish philosopher, theologian, and poet, in his honors presentation.

Nickole Chavez ’26 excels in writing and enjoys it, though she finds science and math less appealing. Her professors recognized her discipline, focus, and strong engagement in class, making her stand out among her peers.

The contest is a part of Mattie Quesenberry Smith’s project serving veterans and in memory of Edward W. Lull, a former executive director and president of PSV and 20-year Navy veteran who passed away last year.

Suzanne Leaptrot ’25 explored the intersection of comedy and political rhetoric in her honors thesis, examining whether comedians, like Colbert, engage in demagoguery by analyzing his monologues from the 2016, 2020, and 2024 conventions.

Simon Moore ’25 was drawn to Arthur Schopenhauer’s pessimistic views and honesty about pain and suffering. He said it might be considered a taboo subject, but it intrigued him.

Col. Steven Knepper, professor and Bruce C. Gottwald Jr. ’81 Chair for Academic Excellence in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies at Virginia Military Institute, recently won first place in three endowed categories of the Poetry Society of Virginia’s (PSV) annual contest.

Ryan Halverson ’26 has grown through the challenges and lessons learned at Virginia Military Institute, especially outside the classroom. His professors describe him as a dedicated and insightful student who actively engages in discussions and decision-making.