English

a student reading a book outdoors

Guided by the principle that the study of literature enables students to become better readers, writers, thinkers, and citizens of the world, the Department of English offers a rich curriculum in British, American, and world literatures, creative writing, cinema, and literary theory. Specific courses treat literary periods, genres, major authors, and literary and cultural topics. The department is home to the Hampden-Sydney Poetry Review, one of the oldest continuously-published poetry journals in the country, and the Garnet, a student-published magazine of poetry, prose, and photography. Hampden-Sydney English majors have enjoyed success in graduate programs, business, law, journalism, teaching, and public service. Our curriculum helps both majors and non-majors develop essential skills in analytic and abstract thinking, cultural analysis, and written communication-all in addition to a love of reading that extends well beyond graduation.

As part of our teaching, we want students to see us making literature an important part of our lives -- reading it because we love it, discussing it with colleagues, writing about it for peers, and generally sharing its richness. Thus through instruction and example, we hope that our students, too, will enjoy literature as an important part of their lives and will incorporate it into their thinking about the modern world and human possibility. 

Degree Offerings

H-SC Offers:

  • English Major
  • Creative Writing Minor

English Department

Dr. Sarah Hardy, Chair
Elliott Professor of English
Morton Hall, 111 | Hampden Sydney, VA 23943 
(434) 223-6239
shardy@hsc.edu

English Professors

English Professors

Mark Celeste

Elliott Assistant Professor of English

Morton Hall, 114
(434) 223-6954
mceleste@hsc.edu

View Mark Celeste

Evan Davis

Elliott Professor of English

Morton 115
(434) 223-6245
edavis@hsc.edu

View Evan Davis

Sarah Hardy

Johns Professor of English

Atkinson 304 | Morton Hall, 111
(434) 223-6239
shardy@hsc.edu

View Sarah Hardy

Abigail Horne

Associate Professor of English

Morton Hall, 020
(434) 223-6247
ahorne@hsc.edu

View Abigail Horne

Nathaniel Perry

Elliott Professor of English and Editor of The Poetry Review

Morton Hall 015
(434) 223-6315
nperry@hsc.edu

View Nathaniel Perry

Cristine Varholy

Associate Professor of English

Morton Hall 116
(434) 223-6401
cvarholy@hsc.edu

View Cristine Varholy

Katherine Weese

Venable Professor of English

Morton Hall, 025
(434) 223-6254
kweese@hsc.edu

View Katherine Weese

Writing Contests

Hampden-Sydney College has several competetive writing contests for students.

Poetry Review

The Hampden-Sydney College Poetry Review, published annually, has been a respected journal in the world of poetry for forty years.