After Graduation

With the ability to think critically and imaginatively, conduct research, and write with accuracy, concision, and clarity, students who have earned degrees in English from the University of Missouri-Kansas City are prepared for a variety of career paths.

Graduates from UMKC’s Department of English have had many professional successes and accomplishments in the fields of editing, marketing, education, business, and beyond. Our alumni have received fellowships from the National Endowment from the Arts and the Fulbright program, and have published and produced works of academic scholarship, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, screenplays, and film.

Our alumni have become:

Writers and editors in journalism, creative writing (novelists, poets, and writers working in television, film, theater, and radio), publishing, science, medicine, and technology

Editorial Director in the Creative Studio, Hallmark
Manager of Copywriting, Sears Holding Corporation
Senior Editor and Communications Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of KC
Technical Editor, Black & Veatch
Editor, New Letters
Director, New Letters on the Air
Editor, BkMk Press
Editorial Director, Children’s International
Editor, Lion Forge
Copywriter, PBA Health
Proofreader/Editor, Ajilon/Skillpath Seminars
Reporter, KCPT/Flatland
Speech writer (government)
Content Specialist (Writer/Editor), A D Banker
Writer for National Rural Health Association
Writer, Actor, Teaching Artist, The KC Repertory Theatre
Writer, Editor, Content Creator, The Cossack Review
Editor, Founder of Rabbit Catastrophe Press
Writer-in-Residence, Charlotte Street Foundation
Freelance Writer in KC/Contributor to KC Star and KCUR
Freelance Writer/Editor/Media Production
Published poets, novelists, screenwriters, and filmmakers

Writers and creatives in advertising, marketing, public relations, production, social media, and web design and content development

Digital Content Editor, H&R Bloch
Director of Communications, Quartermaster Marketing, KC
Director of Communications, Ascend Learning
Marketing Director, Unicorn Theatre
Marketing Associate, McCrite Plaza, KC
Marketing Manager, Summit Custom Homes
Creative Consultant/Marketing Associate, University of Kansas
Marketing Manager, Newmar Corporation in Indiana
Owner, Small State Writing and Digital Marketing
Production Editor, Andrews McMeel Universal
Internet Application Developer, Hayneedle
Project Manager, Epic Systems (Verona, WI)
Experience Designer, FanThreeSixty

Educators in universities, colleges, K-12 schools, English as a second language programs, international educational programs, and tutoring

K-12 Educators
Pembroke Hill School
Arrowhead Middle School
Blue Valley School District
Belton High School
Barstow School
Montgomery County (MD) School District
Raytown High School
Rockhurst High School
Truman High School
George Caleb Bingham Academy of Fine Arts
Sullivan High School
Bonner Springs
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy
North Kansas City High School
Independence School District
St. James Academy

International Teachers
Global Bilingual Academy (Kuwait)
ELA teacher in Guiyang (China)
US Peace Corps (Thailand)
US Peace Corps (China)

University and College Faculty and Instructors
Professor of English, Arizona Western College
Professor of English, Austin Community College
Associate Professor, Eastern Michigan University
Associate Professor, Point Loma Nazarene University
Associate Professor, Washburn University
Associate Professor, Missouri State University
Associate Professor, Park University
Associate Professor (in Psychology), University of Missouri-Kansas City
Associate Instructor, Maryville University
Assistant Professor, Kean University
Assistant Professor, Barry University
Assistant Professor, Avila University
Assistant Professor, University of Missouri-Saint Louis
Assistant Professor, University of Southern Indiana
Assistant Professor, Western Carolina University
Assistant Professor, Washburn University
Lecturer, Eastfield College
Lecturer, Tarrant County College
Lecturer, Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Lecturer, Fort Lewis College (Durango, CO)
Lecturer, Southeast Community College (Lincoln, NE)
Instructor, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Instructor, Metro Community College
Instructor, Rockhurst University
Instructor, Marshalltown Community College
Instructor, Kansas City Art Institute
Instructor, Park University
Instructor, TESOL Certificate and Composition, Missouri State University
Adjunct Professor of English, Palm Beach State College
Teaching Artist, Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center
Teaching Associate, Literacy KC

Specialists in education-related fields, including libraries, museums, and higher education administration (deans, department chairs, writing center directors, and staff in alumni affairs, student affairs, admissions, and academic advising)

Chief of Binding and Collections Care, Library of Congress
Chief Academic Officer, Johnson County Community College
Director of Accreditation, University of Mississippi Simulation Center
Director, UMKC Academic Support and Mentoring International Center for Supplemental Instruction
Dean of Students Middle School and English Department Chair, Pembroke Hill School
English Department Chair, Blue Mountain Community College
Department Manager of College of Arts & Sciences, University of Kentucky
Director of Writing Studio, Metro Community College
Director of Writing Studio, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Associate Director of Writing Center/WAC Coordinator, Ashland University
Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs, University of Texas at Arlington
Assistant Director of Experiential Learning, University of Central Florida
Director of Composition, Washburn University
Director and Program Coordinator, The Writer’s Place
Director of the Genealogy Center, The Museum of Danish America (Elk Horn, IA)
Access Specialist, Mid-Continent Public Library
Mission Director, Notre Dame de Sion School (Kansas City)
Founder, Squeezebox, History of KC
Owner & Curator of SqueezeBox Theatre (Kansas City)
Librarian, Kansas City Public Library
Youth Services Provider, St. Louis Public Library
School Librarian, Harrisonville High School
Academic Developer, Anglia Ruskin University (United Kingdom)
Online Resource Coordinator, Baker University
Admissions Representative and Mentor, Grantham University

Associates in business, law, and government-related fields, including corporate communications, non-profit administration, politics and speech writing, lobbying, government agencies, human resources, contract law, mediation, sales, and client relations scholars and writers

Senior Analyst, BJC Healthcare (St. Louis)
Support Analyst, Cerner
Economic Development Analyst (Kansas City)
Analyst, VML Marketing
Manager of Philanthropic Communications, Children’s Mercy (Kansas City)
Content Strategist, American Academy of Family Physicians
Executive Director, The Pilgrim Center (Kansas City)
Senior Communications Director, Local Investment Commission (LINC)
Press intern for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for ranking member Claire McCaskill

Scholars pursuing advanced degrees (PhD, MFA, MA, JD, MBA, MPA)

PhD in English, Duke University
PhD in English, Ohio State University
PhD in English, University of Massachusetts Amherst
PhD in Composition/Rhetoric, Syracuse University
PhD in English/Creative Writing, University of Southern California
PhD in English/Creative Writing, University of Houston
PhD in Creative Writing, University of Louisiana, Lafayette
PhD in Creative Writing, Oklahoma State University
PhD in English, Creative Writing, University of Missouri-Columbia
PhD in English/Creative Writing, University of North Texas
PhD in English, University of New Mexico
PhD in English, University of Kentucky
PhD, University of Kansas
PhD, University of Southern Mississippi
PhD, University of Central Florida
PhD, University of Tennessee
PhD, University of Kansas
PhD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
PhD, University of Connecticut
PhD, Rochester University
PhD, Vanderbilt University
PhD, University of Washington
PhD, University of Miami
PhD in Linguistics, University of Tartu (Estonia)
PhD in Education, University of Missouri-Kansas City
I-PhD, University of Missouri-Kansas City

MFA, Iowa Writers’ Workshop
MFA, Columbia College (Chicago)
MFA, San Jose State
MFA, Emerson College
MFA, West Virginia University
MFA, Mills College
MFA, University of Tennessee
MFA, Catholic University
MFA, The New School
MFA, University of Missouri-Kansas City

JD, Boston University
JD, University of Missouri-Kansas City

You can prepare for any of these career paths while pursuing your English degree at UMKC by:

UMKC Career Services will help you throughout your time at UMKC and beyond. Counselors will help you plan your educational experience so that you will be well-prepared to achieve your career goals. Free software programs and career counselors help students with a vast array of information about career opportunities.