Campus alumna furthering her education at Harvard Divinity School

DUNMORE, Pa. – Rachel Veniamin, a recent Penn State Scranton alumna, is a prime example of the diverse, and abundant, possibilities that exist for students interested in, or currently pursuing, an English degree.

Having receiving her BA in English at Penn State Scranton, she is now embarking on an exciting new academic journey at Harvard Divinity School, in its Master of Theological Studies program. Her decision highlights the diverse opportunities available to English majors and underscores the importance and value of exploring unconventional trajectories and venturing beyond the traditional paths many new college grads pursue.

"Theology has always been present in my life," Veniamin said. "I grew up in a religious family and have always been fascinated by my religion and its complexities, as well as other religions."

Veniamin's academic pursuits were influenced by her desire to contribute a unique perspective to discussions.

"Coming to Penn State, during discussions, I at times wished I could contribute a theological perspective, but I felt my knowledge was too limited," she said. "I decided to pursue a Master of Theological Studies in order to learn more about what has formed much of my own, as well as the world's, thought."

She attributes her background in English for equipping her with valuable skills that are helping her as she pursues this new endeavor.

"My English degree heavily focused on reading and analyzing rich and complex texts," Veniamin said. "These skills are so versatile that they can be applied to any field."

Reflecting on her time at Penn State Scranton, Veniamin recalled a significant moment during her senior seminar course.

"All the schools of criticism interested me in different ways, but when it was time to do our own analysis of “Frankenstein” (a 19^th century novel by Mary Shelley), I found I was more interested in considering the religious themes in the book," she said.

Through her studies at Harvard Divinity School, Veniamin hopes to deepen her personal understanding of theology and its impact on literature and human thought.

"As theology has played a significant role in my life, I personally wish to better understand its origins so I can better understand myself," she said. "Professionally, I want to better understand the impact of religion in literature and human thought so I can bring that perspective into future literary criticism and creative writing."

Veniamin's journey serves as an inspiration for other English majors to explore alternative career paths.

"My English major allowed me to explore many different fields," she said. "Because of this, I was able to rediscover and pinpoint an area of great interest to me and realize that I wanted to pursue it."

Penn State's English degree provides students with a well-rounded curriculum that helps them become well-rounded critical thinkers with a varied skillset that is demand by various industries, including: academia, business, communications, cultural institutions such as museums and libraries, consulting, creative writing, education, journalism, politics, publishing, speech writing, theater and other areas.

For some students, the B.A. in English serves as a first step in pursuing higher-level degrees, preparing them for graduate programs across various fields and specialties.