News
SFU English honours education and English Student Union experience lead to marketing career for alumnus
A片资源吧 (SFU) English honours alumnus Meghan Danyluk never thought she would find a full-time communications and marketing position before she finished her degree. However, the knowledge, skills, and experience she acquired while completing her major, and volunteering with the prepared her for this exciting career.
When Danyluk transferred to SFU from Douglas College in 2022, she planned to major in history鈥攖hat changed when she took ENGL 113: Literature and Performance with professor Ronda Arab.
鈥淚 was blown away by a play we read called, Sweat by Lynn Nottage,鈥 says Danyluk. 鈥淚t affected me deeply and revealed the strong passion I had for reading and dissecting literature. 鈥
That same semester, Danyluk also joined the ESU to meet other students the only way anyone could during the COVID-19 pandemic鈥攙ia Zoom.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 understate how game-changing it was for me,鈥 she says. 鈥淢aking friends, especially with upper year students who could help me navigate university, made my time at SFU so much better.鈥
During her time with the ESU, Danyluk volunteered as its communications coordinator and president. She used what she learned in class to help her write engaging bi-weekly newsletters, develop social media marketing campaigns, and generally communicate effectively with other students.
Danyluk found ENGL 371: Writing: Theory and Practice with professor Peter Cramer particularly beneficial, as the class focused on how to write clearly and concisely, as well as how to find the appropriate tone for the intended audience.
In general, Danyluk says her classes and experience with the ESU have made her a stronger writer and editor, better at receiving and implementing feedback, and more organized with her time. Also, she became more connected to the SFU English community, including former 鈥淓SU legend鈥 and honours student Nim Basra, who encouraged her to join the program.
鈥淭he honours program let me take a few more courses and work with more of our wonderful professors, deeply explore a subject, strengthen my writing skills, and resume, and keep my options open for a master鈥檚 degree,鈥 says Danyluk.
With the help of her supervisor Dr. Nicky Didicher, she focused on climate change literature, and wrote her paper, A Prayer for Hope in Climate Fiction in summer 2024. Danyluk subsequently presented her research at the spring 2025 English honours symposium and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) Undergraduate Research Symposium.
鈥淪he was an excellent student, both in her fourth-year seminar and with her honours thesis,鈥 says Dr. Didicher. 鈥淚 was also impressed by her commitment to climate justice and action. Her thesis is an important contribution to a new field of literary study, and I have urged her to submit it for publication.鈥
In addition to excelling academically, Danyluk had unexpected career success. While in the service industry, she applied for an internship at The Improv Centre. After getting and successfully completing the internship, she received a permanent digital marketing coordinator position.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect to find a job like the one at The Improv Centre where I鈥檓 planning to stay,鈥 says Danyluk. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think that my degree would lead me to a job so quickly that was so aligned with English, and where I鈥檓 also learning new things like video editing, photo editing, and more marketing-specific skills.鈥
Danyluk submitted samples of the newsletters she wrote for the ESU when she applied for the position, and believes that the quality of her writing, and the tone she established in the newsletters got her the job. Since being hired, she has found many similarities between being an English student and a communicator.
鈥淚t feels like a very natural transition from English to marketing or communications,鈥 she says. 鈥淲riting, doing revisions, and taking feedback is helpful in an office environment. When you write for a living, people have to give you feedback or critique your work. You might get defensive if that鈥檚 new to you, but I was so used to it from school, it was a very natural thing for me.鈥
Danyluk鈥檚 supervisor, marketing manager Johnny Hamilton, also made the same transition from English to marketing and communications. Hamilton graduated from SFU with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2013.
鈥淲e had similar professors and took the same classes, like professor Torsten Kehler鈥檚 speculative fiction courses, so it鈥檚 funny that we have these reference points in common,鈥 she says.
In addition to working at The Improv Centre, Danyluk plans to travel to Japan later this year, and the United Kingdom next year. She also has a long list of things she wants to write about and is keeping an open mind about the future. She advises future SFU English students to keep an open mind and be brave as well.
鈥淪tep outside your comfort zone,鈥 she says. 鈥淪ign up for classes even if you don鈥檛 know if you鈥檒l like them. Go to professors' office hours even if you鈥檙e nervous. And鈥擨 can鈥檛 stress this enough鈥攋oin the ESU!鈥
Learn more about the SFU English honours program.