It's our quasquicentennial!
While English and humanities studies have been part of the Arizona State University story from the beginning (1885), the Department of English was first mentioned in the 1900 Normal School of Arizona catalog.
In 2025, the Department of English at ASU is celebrating its 125th year as an official department.
Quasquicentennial events and initiatives will be added here as they are confirmed; bookmark this page for updates on what's being planned over the next year. And please reach out if you have any questions in the meantime.
Media
Video: What we learned in the archives
Video: How do you say 'quasquicentennial'?!
2025 Upcoming Special Events
Oct. 16: Opening Reception: What Is a Quasquicentennial? Exhibit 4 p.m.
- Opening event for interpretive display covering the first 125 years of the Department of English at ASU in books, photos and stories. Curated by English and ASU Library staff. Refreshments served. Exhibit open Oct. -Dec. | Hayden Library first floor. RSVP
ASU Humanities Week (Oct. 20-24, 2025) Anniversary Events
Oct. 20: The Art and Science of Conlanging 10:10 a.m.
- David and Jessie Peterson of LangTime Studio pull back the curtain on their careers in language creation for film and TV; credits include "Superman" (2025), HBO's "Game of Thrones" and Legendary's "Dune." | Armstrong Hall room 101, ASU Tempe campus. Register
Oct. 23: ASU Book Group: 'Wild for Austen' by Devoney Looser 12 p.m.
- ASU Regents Professor and Austenite Devoney Looser visits the October 2025 meeting of the ASU Book Group to discuss her latest book. Note: 2025 is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birthday! | Hayden Library, Luhrs Reading Room, ASU Tempe campus. Register
Oct. 23: The Future is Now: Nnedi Okorafor in Conversation with Matt Bell 3 p.m.
- Sci-fi/fantasy writer Nnedi Okorafor ("Death of the Author" and the "Binti" series) and fiction writer Matt Bell ("Appleseed" and "Refuse to Be Done") talk about writing craft, publishing, Africanfuturism, and more. A reception will follow. | University Club, ASU Tempe campus. RSVP
Oct. 24: So What Are You Going to Do with That? Humanities Alumni Panel 12 p.m.
- Humanities alumni from across The College share stories of where their humanities degrees took them and how they got there. Features Department of English alumni Leah Newsom and Daryn Orr + more. | Armstrong Hall L1-30 and online. RSVP
Oct. 24: Stellar Alumni Reading Series: M.L. Martin and Hayden Casey 6 p.m.
- Two star graduates of ASU Creative Writing read from their work: poet and translator M.L. Martin (MFA 2009) and fiction writer Hayden Casey (MFA 2022). | Ross-Blakley Hall 196, ASU Tempe campus.
Archival Projects
Collecting our stories: We're gathering memories from alumni, faculty, staff, students, and retirees in a digital storybook using the BrightCrowd platform. Please visit to request access.
The History of the English Department, Arizona State University (to 1971) by Katharine C. Turner is now digitized and available to read online at ASU Library. (With gratitude to the Distinctive Collections staff for their hard work.)
Ongoing
If you're a graduate of our department, we'd love to be able to keep in touch! Please update your information if you'd like to (re)connect and learn more.
Past Quasquicentennial Events
Oct. 1: ASU Common Read with Eliot Stein: 'Custodians of Wonder' 6 p.m.
- BBC journalist Eliot Stein discusses his nonfiction book in an ASU Common Read conversation with ASU faculty and students. | Online. Register
Sep. 25: TomorrowTalks with T J Klune: 'The Bones Beneath My Skin' 6 p.m.
- NYT bestselling author TJ Klune discusses his sci-fi novel in a TomorrowTalks conversation with ASU faculty and students. | Online. Register
Sep. 25: 'ASU Book Group: 'Every Sound Is Not a Wolf' by Alberto Ríos 12 p.m.
- ASU Regents Professor Alberto Ríos visits the ASU Book Group in commemoration of National Hispanic Heritage Month to discuss his newest poetry collection, a work that evokes the “soundscape of the Southwest” (Booklist). | Hayden Library, Luhrs Reading, ASU Tempe campus. Register