Educational Highlights: I have been a member of the Honors College since my entrance to College of Charles-ton in fall 2011. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to study English, French and Italian with some truly amazing professors. I’ve held three internships that have offered me a valuable understanding of how my English degree will ap-ply when I leave school. My junior year afforded the chance to conduct an independent study, where I wrote a research paper focusing on mental illness as a theme in contemporary novels. In the summer of 2014, I studied abroad in Spoleto, Italy, where I studied travel writing and Dante. In terms of campus involvement, I was President of the Literati English Club for two years and a member of Phi Eta Sigma, the freshman honors society, and Sigma Tau Delta, the interna-tional English honors society. I will graduate summa cum laude in May.

Research Focus or Project: I spent my senior year composing a 100-page collection of short fiction, which does not yet have a title. I read several collections of short stories during this time and also read numerous secondary sources, primarily essays by prominent fiction writers about the craft, in order to assist with compiling this collection. The project was advised by Dr. Tony Varallo and graciously re-viewed by the following professors: Tony Varallo, Meg Scott-Copses and Bret Lott.

Future Plans: I am in the process of applying for jobs in the publishing industry, where my strong writ-ing skills and basic experience with social media and content marketing will be applied. I’m currently fo-cusing primarily in New York City but am also considering positions in Philadelphia (my hometown), as well as many reputable presses in Charleston.

HSS Scholar

Valerie KellerMajor: English Concentration: Creative WritingMinor: French & Francophone Studies

Presented by Jerold L. Hale, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Department of English at the College of Charleston on the 15th day of May 2015.