April D. Best

Environmental Humanities, Women’s & Gender Studies,

and Poetry Scholar

Scholar, researcher, writer

April D. Best is a PhD student in the Department of English at Michigan State University. She is working towards a certificate in Global Studies and Women and Gender Studies. She currently co-coordinates the Intersectional Environmental Feminisms Research Workshop and is President of the Association of English Graduate Students board.


She received a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from York University in Toronto, Ontario where she majored in English and and minored in French. Her master’s degree in literature is from Grand Valley State University where she wrote her thesis on the role of the river in Edwidge Danticat’s The Farming of Bones.


Teaching experience

Summer 2024 - Amsterdam Study Abroad Program

ENG 355: Readings in Sexuality and Literature

HST 420: History of Sexuality since the 18th Century

MC 388: Sexual Politics: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

WS 202: Introduction to Contemporary Feminist Theories

WS 304: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) and Sexuality Studies WS 424: Seminar in Queer Studies


Program Assistant I Supervisor: Dr. Ellen McCallum


Spring 2024 - IAH 209

Dangerous Art

Graduate Teaching Assistant I Supervisor: Dr. Stephen Deng

Fall 2023 - IAH 207

Gothic Literature

Graduate Teaching Assistant | Supervisor: Dr. Stephen Arch

Spring 2023 - IAH 202

Europe and the World

Graduate Teaching Assistant | Supervisor: Dr. Salah Hassan

Fall 2022 - IAH 207

Afrofuturism

Graduate Teaching Assistant | Supervisor: Dr. Julian Chambliss

2020-2021 - ENG 113

Expository Writing

Instructor of Record

2010-2011 - ELA

Eighth grade English Language Arts

Instructor of Record

2009-2010 - French

High school

Instructor of Record

Research

The impact of palm oil on the environment

A project born out of a COIL collaboration with students in Indonesia researching the environmental impact of palm oil harvesting and farming.

River as border in Edwidge Danticat’s The Farming of Bones



A thesis investigating the role of the river as a space of geographical. linguistic, social, and experiential demarcation.


Representations of nature in contemporary poetry

As a scholar of poetry, environmental humanities, and feminist and gender studies I investigate and question the relationship between these three fields. I am curious about the intersections, distinctions, and connections across poetry, science, and feminism (the broad umbrella term that encompasses queer studies and trans studies). I hope to query the attentiveness given to “nature” by certain poets, scientists, and feminists. What is queer about such focused, intense scrutiny? How does identification with the natural world shape cultural understandings of our entanglement with and/or separateness from it? What myths about the environment influence our imagination?

Papers and publications

Across Space and Time: Relationality in the Poetry of Joy Harjo”

Presented at the Newberry Consortium for American Indian and Indigenous Studies Graduate Student Conference, Newberry Library, Chicago in February 2024.


Mutating Modes of the ‘Human’ in W. E. B. DuBois’s ‘The Comet’”

Presented at the Modernist Studies Association Conference in Brooklyn, New York in October 2023

Race and Mobility in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Presented at the Michigan College English Association Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan in October 2013

The Veil of Water: The River in Edwidge Danticat’s The Farming of Bones

Presented at the Midwestern Conference on Literature, Language, and Media in DeKalb, Illinois in March 2012

Mr. Guizac: Savior and Judge in Flannery O’Connor’s ‘The Displaced Person’”

Presented at Midwest Conference on Christianity and Literature in Grand Rapids, Michigan in March 2012

Curriculum Vitae


EDUCATION

Currently - Michigan State University PhD student

Specialization in Women’s and Gender Studies

Global Studies Certificate

Somers Award for Excellence in Teaching


2013 - Grand Valley State University Master of Arts in English

Winner of Shakespeare Festival Essay Competition

Dean’s Citation for Academic Excellence

Most Outstanding Student Award

Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award Nominee, Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools


2009 - York University Bachelor of Arts, English & French and Bachelor of Education

Special Honors in English, Minor in French

Dean’s Honor Roll

Magna Cum Laude


AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Summer 2024 - College of Arts and Letters Research Enhancement Funds

Spring 2024 - Somers Award for Excellence in Teaching

Fall 2023 - College of Arts and Letters Travel Fund Award

Summer 2023 - Colleges’ Online Learning Academy Fellowship

Summer 2023 - College of Arts and Letters Summer Support Fellowship

Fall 2022 - Michigan State University Global Studies Graduate Student Recruitment Fellowship

Spring 2013 - Grand Valley State University Most Outstanding Student Award

Spring 2013 - Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award Nominee, Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools


FELLOWSHIPS AND FUNDING

CONFERENCE AND PRESENTATIONS

Best, April D. “Across Space and Time: Relationality in the Poetry of Joy Harjo.” Newberry Consortium for

American Indian and Indigenous Studies Graduate Student Conference, Newberry Library, Chicago, 2024.


Best, April D. “Mutating Modes of the ‘Human’ in W. E. B. DuBois’s ‘The Comet’.” Modernist Studies Association Conference, Brooklyn, 2023.


Best, April D. “Race and Mobility in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Michigan College English Association Conference, Grand Valley State University, 2013.


Best, April D. “Mr. Guizac: Savior and Judge in Flannery O’Connor’s ‘The Displaced Person’.” Midwest Conference on Christianity and Literature, Calvin University, 2013.


Best, April D. “The Veil of Water: The River in Edwidge Danticat’s The Farming of Bones.” Midwestern Conference on Literature, Language, and Media, Northern Illinois University, 2012.


INVITED TALKS

Best, April D. “Collaborative Online International Learning: Palm Oil Project with Indonesian Colleagues.” Food Fight Museum Talk, Michigan State University, 2023.


Best, April D. “Afrofuturism in W. E. B. Du Bois’s ‘The Comet.’” IAH 207: Afrofuturism, Michigan State University, 2022.

UNIVERSITY AND VOLUNTEER SERVICE

Association of English Graduate Students Board Member / President

June 2024 – present


Integrated Arts and Humanities Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion / fellow

August 2023 – December 2023


Intersectional Environmental Feminisms Research Workshop / co-coordinator

June 2023 – June 2024


Association of English Graduate Students Board Member / Undergraduate representative

June 2023 – June 2024


Moms Demand Action / Legislative Lead for Lakeshore Chapter

June 2022 – present


Innocademy School Board Member / Secretary

June 2021 – present


EMPLOYMENT

Michigan State University

Graduate Teaching Assistant / August 2022 – present

IAH 207: Afrofuturism with Dr. Julian Chambliss

IAH 202: Europe and the World with Dr. Salah Hassan IAH 207: Gothic Literature with Dr. Stephen Arch

IAH 209: Dangerous Art with Dr. Stephen Deng


Amsterdam Study Abroad Program Assistant / July – August 2024

ENG 355: Readings in Sexuality and Literature

HST 420: History of Sexuality since the 18th Century

MC 388: Sexual Politics: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

WS 202: Introduction to Contemporary Feminist Theories

WS 304: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) and Sexuality Studies WS 424: Seminar in Queer Studies


Hope College

Adjunct Professor / August 2020 – December 2021

ENG 113: Expository Writing


Freelance

Content writer and editor / June 2013 – February 2020


Grand Valley State University

Assistant Editor of Flannery O’Connor Society / September 2011 – May 2013


Grand Rapids Public Schools

High School French; 8th grade ELA / September 2009 – June 2011






April D. Best

bestapri@msu.edu

Wells Hall

619 Red Cedar Rd

East Lansing, MI 48824