Olivia Erndl '25
English Honors and Teacher Preparation

On her major: 

I am an English Teacher Preparation major with an English Honors concentration. I chose this major because of my love for English literature and language. Because I enjoyed every single English class I had ever been in throughout middle and high school, I was certain that I wanted to continue engaging with this subject on the collegiate level.

Becoming a teacher has been a lifelong dream of mine. Being a part of the Teacher Preparation Program has been instrumental in preparing me to achieve that dream. I married my love of English with my love of pedagogy and I am on my way to becoming an English teacher. Undoubtedly, the English and education courses I took at Stony Brook have provided me with an extensive depth of knowledge and care for my craft.

I also had the privilege of being a part of the English Honors Program, which was an extremely transformative experience. The opportunity to complete a thesis under the guidance of such skilled, knowledgeable faculty and staff members was incredibly rewarding and had profound impacts on my writing abilities. Being able to research and write about my specific areas of interest — literature and education — was an amazing opportunity and one of my favorite things I’ve done at Stony Brook.

Favorite Classes:

One of my favorite classes was EGL 207 (History of the English Language) with Professor Graham. I could not get enough of this class; the blend of New York-specific linguistics with contemporary and classic literature was incredibly interesting to me. And Professor Graham is a very engaging speaker, so I really couldn’t get enough of that class.

Another favorite of mine was EGL 346 (Shakespeare II) with Professor Pfeiffer. With many of my peers in that class being in the teacher program, Professor Pfeiffer made our study of Shakespeare applicable to not only the English major, but to our careers as educators. Our class trip to Sleep No More in Manhattan was one of the most exciting and unforgettable experiences.

Accomplishments and Awards:

- Copy Chief of The Statesman, the official student newspaper of Stony Brook University

- Secretary of Alpha Nu Zeta, Stony Brook’s English Honor Society

- Dean’s List (eight-time recipient)

- Outstanding Academic Achievement Award (seven-time recipient)

- English Student Advisory Council Member

- English Honors Symposium Presenter

- English Department Orientation Speaker

My Favorite SBU Memories:

Student teaching an eighth grade inclusion class was the highlight of my time here at Stony Brook. From this experience, I gained invaluable knowledge, experiences, and memories with my students and the teachers I worked with. I relished the opportunity to start my professional journey with this group of students and share my love of English with them, and I hopefully passed that same passion on to them.

Outside of the academic and professional realms, some of my favorite memories I’ve made at Stony Brook are the ones I’ve made with my friends. Whether it be study sessions, impromptu shopping trips, or frequent visits to Panera Bread, having my friends by my side has been the best part of it all.

Parting Thoughts:

I would like to thank the faculty and staff in the Department of English and Teacher Preparation Program, as well as the English Honors Program. I’d also like to thank the College of Arts and Sciences for this profile. I have to express my gratitude to particular members of this department and its programs for their help in advancing my personal, academic, and professional experiences: Dr. Mangano, Professor Buechner, Professor Cabat, Professor Robinson, Professor Santos, and Brian Eberle. And, of course, I am indebted to my family and friends who have supported me during my time at Stony Brook and have kept me going in the best and worst of times.