Very happy news from Liz "Kershner" Whiteacre (MFA '02):

I've checked out the blog and was once again impressed by the great talent SIU's MFA program hosts and has nurtured. I don't know that this news is blog-worthy, but I wanted to share with all of you that I had a doctor's appointment yesterday morning, and the doctor confirmed that I'm pregnant! I'm due May 3rd-ish, and Kevin and I are both thrilled.

We are currently living just outside Chicago, and I've started my fifth year at College of DuPage. I had the opportunity to chair the Creative Writing Committee last year, which was exciting, and I've just become the advisor for the school's literary arts magazine, The Prairie Light Review, this term. The only poet currently on faculty (at least the only one who identifies herself as one--the other retired last spring), I'm also the advisor of the poetry/music club at the college. This place keeps me busy with my interests--I love it here. They have also given me a very kind schedule for the year: I'm teaching 2 Introduction to Literatures online and 1 & 1/2 Compositions online (1 then 2 in the spring), a poetry writing class, and the literary magazine class that produces the magazine for the college's district each term.

Those who are curious about the daddy-to-be will be happy to hear that Kevin's busy with new research projects at the federal halfway house for which he's done research for the past three years (it's run by the Salvation Army) and is teaching graduate research methods for Loyola University in downtown Chicago.

Those who are curious about the goldfish, currently the objects of our affections, will be happy to know that they haven't shown any signs of jealousy. We're all getting along swimmingly.

I probably won't be down to Atlanta for the 10th-year celebration party, but I'll send you an update. I hope you are all happy and well-rested--I'd love to hear your gossip!