Em Ramser receives TWU Alumni Association's Outstanding Student Award

3/24/20

The Awards and Honors Committee of the TWU Alumni Association has selected Em Ramser to receive the 2020 Outstanding Student Award. Ramser graduates in May 2020 with two degrees, the M.A. in English and the M.A. in Teaching with a concentration in English. 

"Em embodies the dedicated, fearless spirit of a Pioneer... She is a talented poet, accomplished teacher, and a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. In the very short time that Em has been at TWU, she has published numerous poems in professional creative journals and been featured in an installation at the Dallas Museum of Art; she has progressed from substitute teacher and library aide to full-time teacher at Braswell High School, earning a number of awards and two grants; and served the community as a volunteer for organizations like Spiderweb Salon, OUTreach Denton, and Casa of Denton County. She has presented (and will present) her research on-campus at the TWU Experiential Education Symposium (as an ELL scholar) and the ESFL department SmartTalks event, and off-campus at conferences like the Southwest Pop Culture/American Studies Association. Her thesis fills a critical gap in poetry studies, offering the first comprehensive history of the blackout/erasure poetry movement.

"As her advisor, I am delighted (and astounded, really) by her ability to consciously weave her creative and scholarly passions into her teaching and service to at-risk communities. We are extraordinarily proud for Em to represent the ESFL department as a poet, scholar, and teacher – we are thrilled for her to receive recognition at the university level as well," said Gretchen Busl, Ph.D., assistant professor of English and graduate program coordinator.

Page last updated 10:03 AM, March 28, 2023