Department of English Presents Inaugural Wayne Weber Graduate Student Scholarly Activity Award
The Wayne Weber Graduate Student Scholarly Activity Award was established to recognize graduate students who excel in their engagement with department activities, pedagogical questions, and scholarly and creative activities, including publications and conference presentations. The students were selected by members of the English Graduate Committee in consultation with the chair of the English department.
Gray, a Brooklyn College BFA and USD M.A. graduate, is nearing the completion of his Ph.D. degree. Gray’s short story dissertation titled “Celebration Palms” is under the direction of duncan b. barlow, Ph.D., lecturer of English. Gray’s scholarly and creative work has been both impressive and diverse and includes his recent publication of a short story in “Coming of Age in Florida” and a one-act play in Patchwork Literary Magazine. Gray also presented a paper at the 2023 Modern Language Association conference in San Francisco, California.
Ludwick, a Texas Tech University M.A. graduate, is in the beginning of her Ph.D. program at USD. Ludwick is currently working on her dissertation project tentatively titled “Index of Bones” under the direction of Leah McCormack, Ph.D., assistant professor of English. Ludwick has published original work in three creative outlets, presented at four national conferences, and has a book titled “These Strange Bodies” under contract for publication in 2024. She has also been involved as the associate poetry editor for the South Dakota Review and will be taking on the role of editor-in-chief for Broken Antler Magazine this summer.
The Wayne Weber Graduate Student Scholarly Activity Award is named after Wayne Weber, a 1951 graduate of the College of Arts & Sciences who majored in English. Weber generously provided a substantial gift to support English graduate education. Weber spent his career as a teacher in California, teaching in Madeira, Klamath, and Crescent Elk, before retiring in 1958. He also taught English and writing classes at the College of the Redwoods-Del Norte for eight years and served on the college's advisory board for several years.
