Becca Betty '24, English Alum Spotlight

Becca At A Glance

What drew you to millersville?

"I was initially drawn to Millersville’s flexibility in the MA program because returning to school after a long gap spent working left me a little anxious about how well I would do stepping back into the role of a student. The community here was very welcoming and studying at Millersville has made an exceptional difference in both my career and personal life. The graduate program allowed me to expand my knowledge and develop my passion for teaching, something I had considered but never truly believed was an opportunity I could realize so quickly. I also want to recognize the dedication of multiple professors that encouraged and invited me to be involved in opportunities beyond the classroom – Dr. Emily Baldys, Dr. Katarzyna Jakubiak, and Dr. Nicole Pfannenstiel. Participating in community events like Disability Pride, hearing speakers like poet Julia Fiedorczuk, and presenting and attending many different conferences has allowed be to grow into a well-rounded and firmly grounded scholar."

what advice do you have for current and/or prospective students? 

"My advice to current students is to be open to the unexpected. While focusing on the subjects and skills that will help you develop your career is important, the humanities and particular this English grad program will introduce new perspectives and methodologies that, if you are open to them, can truly transform your education from checking a box to entering and co-creating a richer, fuller world." 

A Lifetime Commitment to English

You mentioned that you recently presented at the 2025 Science Fiction Research Association Annual Conference. What was that experience like?  

"SFRA was really cool (and a bit overwhelming). It was the biggest and most international conference I've gotten to attend and the caliber of presentations was off the charts. I met some really interesting scholars and loved discussing how threads of our work related to each others' research. My TBR grew exponentially and I had a really wonderful time getting to know my fellow panelists who I met at a different conference (a major networking win). I also got to meet and have conversations with author Ryka Aoki - who was one of the keynote speakers. Aside from all the other wonderful experiences, being able to speak with her was incredibly illuminating and inspiring."

Registration Coming up? Becca Recommends...

"The course that made the biggest difference for me was ENGL686.01 - Topics: Disability Theory that I took in Spring 2023 taught by Dr. Emily Baldys. It was one of the first courses I took here and remains one of the best. Before attending Millersville, I'd had only a little cursory introduction to Disability Theory in undergrad and honestly, I had initially wondered how applicable the course would be to my then focus on queer theory and science fiction. But it was genuinely the course that changed everything. Not only did it provide direction for my future scholarship it also solidified my reasons for returning to grad school. Learning about Disability Theory felt like a puzzle piece falling into place, expanding my knowledge of intersectional approaches to literature and radically shifting my understandings of activism, community, and self-hood. The skills, content, and community of other learners challenged me and helped me build a way forward in my general mindset of the role of humanities research and my own purpose in writing. The scholarship from that course has been foundational in my ongoing investigations of futurity, a common theme in much of my work. I cannot overstate how grateful I am to everyone who was involved in making that class happen."