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