A conversation with Annie Murphy, English alumna

Annie Murphy graduated from the Catholic University of America in 2021 with a degree in English and minors in Philosophy and Theology. While at CUA, she served as a web editor of Inventio and belonged to the co-ed service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega. Since graduating, she worked for three years as an English Language Arts Item Writer for an assessment and EdTech company in Washington D.C., before returning to school full-time at the University of Wisconsin-Miluakee. 

What is your current job/title? 

Currently, I am in grad school at the University of Wisconsin-Miluakee, in a coordinated M.A/M.L.I.S program, studying both Literature and Cultural Theory, as well as Library Sciences with a with a focus on archival studies. At UWM, I am a graduate teaching assistant and teach first year composition classes.

Why did you choose to study English at Catholic U.?

I knew I wanted to study English and I knew I wanted to go to undergrad in a city, preferably on the East Coast. I was compelled by the materials about the English program I found on the website, especially the focus on literary history. After visiting the Catholic U campus, I knew it was where I had to be.

I loved studying English at Catholic U because of the wonderful professors and all the life-long friends I made.

What was your path from gradation to your current job like? What advice can you give senior majors and recent grads about life after graduation?

Fairly soon after graduation, I was hired at my previous job as an Item Writer for a company that contracts with states to create their standardized testing. While I learned a lot at that job (including that an English major is not as unemployable as people might have you believe!), it also helped solidify my idea of what I wanted out of my life and career. I wanted to work in service to and with other people, especially in education and research fields. Combined with my love for books and love for getting books into other people's hands, librarianship was a no brainer. I found UWM's coordinated M.A. in Literature and M.L.I.S program, applied, got in, and accepted without hesitation.

My advice is to try things out, both in your career and in life in general! Many industries rely heavily on effective, thoughtful communicators, which is just one of the many skills you develop studying English.

I was given advice to not immediately go into grad school from undergrad, and this was valuable for me. I gained a certain amount of grit in the full-time, post-college workforce that I didn't know I needed to develop, as well as a deep appreciation for being a student.

 

 How has your English background served you professionally?

My English background has served me very well! It landed me a corporate position and I relied on it heavily in that position. Practically speaking, I used my knowledge of English conventions to write test passages and questions for students in different grade levels across the country, but I also used my communication skills to navigate the interpersonal aspects of the job, like client and stakeholder meetings.

Currently, I not only use my English background in my English M.A. program, but also my Library Science program.  We are always reading and writing, of course, but we are also always having interesting conversations about genre, book and media history, and intellectual ethics.

What do you like the most about your job?

Teaching first year composition courses is both fun and is itself educational. I love working with students, and so many of my students, despite mostly being from the same state, have so many different points of views, academic and personal interests, and experiences that they bring into the classroom. The many opportunities to learn is the best part of being a graduate student, and although it's kind of a cliche to say "I learn from my students," I most certainly do! Outside of teaching, I love the unique venue grad school provides for thinking about texts and through ideas with professors that are committed to helping you think well, surrounded by other students thinking through the same concepts.

 What does a typical day at work look like for you?

My days vary depending on what classes I’m taking or teaching on a given day, but the constant is always reading and writing. The reading can be student assignments, or Othello, or journal articles on trends in archival practices. Sometimes, the writing is lesson plans, and other days the writing is a seminar paper. I teach two days a week, and if I have a seminar later in the day or am holding office hours, I work in my office on campus. In that case, my day will usually include a healthy amount of coffee and chatting with members of my cohort. 

I like to take advantage of all the different events and lectures happening on campus whenever I can. One of my highlights from last semester was seeing Louise Erdrich in conversation, and I’m looking forward to seeing Ada Limon this semester.  

 

What did you learn as an English major at Catholic U. that has stayed with you?

So much! I would be a much poorer writer and thinker without studying English at CUA. For instance, not only did I read some of my favorite books in Dr. Okuma’s Narrative class, but I also learned many of the writing skills I still use today. 

I didn’t realize I was learning it at the time, but my English classes have really helped define the way I think about life, both because of the novels and poetry we read, but also because of the wonderful friends I made and the generosity and intelligence of the professors. 

 

Do you have any advice for current English majors?

College is such a special opportunity to learn and have unique experiences, so my advice is to learn as much as possible and have as many experiences as possible. Take advantage of the opportunities the program provides for you. Take a class out of your comfort zone! Not only did I love working on Inventio, but it was helpful in my early career. I frequently think about books I read for English Society. The CUA English department can provide so many opportunities, but so does living in a place like D.C. I miss it there! Go to all the museums and lectures and concerts and flea markets you can!