Kemp Symposium
The Department of English and Linguistics is dedicated to undergraduate research and creativity–and to a collaborative sharing of our students’ work. Our strongest venue for this is the annual William Kemp Symposium (a name honoring a former department chair), which is scheduled each Spring semester and which showcases critical, creative, original work by the department’s students and classes.
The Kemp Symposium is open to the public.
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Spring 2026
Twenty-First Annual William Kemp Symposium
April 23-24, 2026
All upper-level daytime English and Linguistics classes will be cancelled on these two days.
Event Schedule Program:
For a detailed schedule with events, times, and presentation times, see the program:
Special Events:
Poetry Reading
Thursday, April 23, 5:00 p.m., Combs 139
Guest Poet Chelsea Krieg (ENGL 2010) will read from her debut poetry collection, Everything Is Water, and discuss the journey from UMW undergraduate to published author. Free copies of the book will be available for attendees (while supplies last), and a reception/signing will follow.
Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society Induction
Friday, April 24, 4:00 p.m., Combs 139
Select student will be inducted to the International English Honor Society
Taddesse Adera Memorial Address: Why Literature Matters 2026 Speaker: Dr. Corley Miller
ENLI Department Picnic!
Friday, April 24, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Jefferson Square
For more information about this year’s event, contact Dr. Eric Lorentzen.
Symposia of Yesteryear:
2025: Kemp Symposium Program 2025
2024: Kemp Symposium 2024
2023: Kemp Symposium Program 2023
2022: UMW Kemp Program, 2022
2021: UMW Kemp Program, 2021 FINAL
2020: UMW Virtual Creativity and Research Symposium Booklet and Department Presentations
2019:Kemp Program FINAL, 2019 and 2019 UMW Digital Showcase Program
2018: kemp-program-final-2018
2017: kemp-symposium-program-2017
2016: PROGRAM, Twelfth Annual William Kemp Symposium, April 21-22, 2016
2015: Kemp Symposium Schedule 2015
2014: The 10th Annual William Kemp Symposium for Majors in English
2013: Kemp Symposium Program 2013
2012: 2012 kemp symposium program
2011: 2011 Kemp Symposium UMW Blogs Site
2009: Kemp Symposium Program 2009
2008: 2008 Kemp Symposium Program
2007: 2007 Kemp Symposium Program
2006: 2006 ELS Department Kemp Symposium Program
