An English writing major at North Central College, senior Mary Ann Meussling, was chosen to read at the 16th annual Columbia College Chicago Citywide Undergraduate Poetry Festival on April 2.
A Naperville resident, she was among 12 student poets to read, who represented 11 Chicago-area colleges and universities, including Loyola, DePaul, Chicago State, Northwestern and Roosevelt universities, School of the Art Institute, University of Chicago and University of Illinois-Chicago.
North Central College English faculty nominate a student to read for this event every year. About Meussling, Associate Professor of English Zachary Jack said, “I have worked with Mary Ann since her First-Year Experience four years ago, and she has blossomed into a very fine poet with a wonderful ear for language, for poetic lineation and for poetry as an art of subtlety, suggestion and implication.”
Meussling read a few pieces from a short collection she wrote for Jack’s poetry class, for which she completed a 20-page poetry chapbook titled “Real Horror Show.”
“I felt almost like I was performing my work instead of just reading it, said Meussling, a graduate of Naperville Central High School. “Each poem was influenced by a different villain from film or literature, so I sort of embraced each character’s personality traits as I read their inspired piece.”
Meussling says she takes as many writing classes as possible and always writes in her free time. “Writing has been such a passion of mine, and this is the first time I’ve ever really gotten a chance to share my work in a setting outside the classroom.”
Meussling plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in publishing or advertising.
Photo courtesy of Nancy Dunker, Associate Director of Public Relations, North Central College
Did you know?
English writing is one of more than 55 undergraduate and seven graduate programs at North Central College, an independent, comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences. With more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, North Central College is committed to academic excellence, a climate that emphasizes leadership, ethics, values and service, a curriculum that balances job-related knowledge with a liberal arts foundation and a caring environment with small classes. Visit northcentralcollege.edu to learn more.