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School of English and Interdisciplinary Studies

Jason McEntee

Jason McEntee

Title

Director and Professor of English

Office Building

Pugsley Center

Office

301A

Mailing Address

Pugsley Cont Ed Center 301A
English-Box 2218
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007

Biography

Jason McEntee is director of the School of English and Interdisciplinary Studies and professor of English in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at South Dakota State University. He teaches courses in American literature and film studies, and his primary interests are contemporary war narratives and Westerns.

Education

  • B.A. in english/education, minor in philosophy | South Dakota State University | 1994
  • M.A. in english: language and rhetoric | South Dakota State University | 1988
  • Ph.D. in english: American literature/film studies | University of Kentucky | 2004

Academic Interests

  • American Literature
    • Modern/postmodern literature
    • DeLillo and Pynchon studies
    • war literature, specifically Vietnam to present
    • Westerns
    • Adaptation studies
  • Film Studies
    • War films
    • Westerns
    • Adaptation studies
  • Professional and technical writing
  • Professional development:
    • Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS), Portland, November 2021.
    • SDSU Jackrabbit Philanthropy Academy, 2019.
    • Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS), Denver, November 2017.
    • SDSU Leadership Academy, 2013-14.
    • SDSU Department Head Retreat, 2013.
    • SDSU Educational Technology Center Active Learning Cloud Academy, July 2010.
    • Ohio State University Digital Media and Composition Conference, June 2006.
    • Michigan Technological University, Computers in the Writing Intensive Classroom Conference, July 2004.

Academic Responsibilities

  • Department head of English, 2012-present.
  • Acting associate dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, 2017-18.
  • Coordinator of professional writing, 2004-10; 2011-present.
  • Acting department head of English, 2010-12.
  • English graduate advisor, 2009-10.
  • Directed 10 M.A. students to degree completion by thesis or written examination and served on seventeen additional graduate student degree committees.

Committees and Professional Memberships

Committees

  • Chair of the Ness School of Management and Economics Endowed Director search committee (2021-22)
  • Chair of the School of Design Director search committee (2017-18)
  • Imagine 2023 Strategic Planning Committee (2017-2018)
  • SDSU College Realignment Task Force (2017-18)
  • SDSU Quality Initiative for Assessment Steering Committee (2015-present)
  • Modern Language Association (MLA) International Bibliography (2019-present): Advisory Committee on the MLA International Bibliography, March 2019-2022 (three year term). By invitation from the MLA Executive Council. Appointed Chair for 2021-22., August 2012-present
  • International EBSCO Literature Editorial Board (2017-present): Serve on twenty-person international advisory board
  • South Dakota Humanities Council (SDHC) Speaker’s Bureau/Scholarly Speaker, 2010-present.  
  • 2017 Project Consultant and Keynote Speaker, SDHC “Rapid City Area Big Read” (Tim O’Brien’s Vietnam War novel, The Things They Carried).
  • 2007-08 Project Consultant, SDHC “The Big Read” (Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451), (2008).
  • South Dakota Humanities Council (SDHC) Board of Directors (2013-15; 2016-17): Nominated and subsequently elected (August 2013) to the SDHC Board of Directors (re-elected for second term in July 2016 and resigned in good standing in June 2017 due to appointment as Acting Associate Dean at SDSU). Served as Grants Committee Chair, 2013-15 and 2016-17.
  • Literature and Medicine Group (2011-17): Coordinator, Literature and Medicine Group, Sioux Falls VA Health System, 2011-17. Led war literature and film discussions for VA hospital staff. Program Consultant, 2017-present.

Professional Memberships

  • Modern Language Association (MLA), 1998-present

Awards and Honors

  • 2022-2023, Dr. Harold and Barbara Bailey Award for Excellence in Academic Department/School Leadership
  • 2022-2023, Department/School Early Alert Award for Excellence
  • 2019, MLA Award for Achievement: For Distinguished Contributions Made as Fellow for the MLA International Bibliography, 2015-18.
  • 2016, SDSU F. O. Butler Excellence in Service Award.
  • 2015-2016, SDSU Excellence in Departmental Leadership in Support of Veterans Affairs.
  • 2014-2015, SDSU Excellence in Departmental Leadership in Support of Veterans Affairs.
  • 2013, SDSU Excellence in Departmental Leadership and Support of Honors.
  • 2010, SDSU Victor Webster Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Lecture Award for Outstanding Teaching, Scholarship, and Service.
  • 2003, UK English Department Outstanding Teacher of Literature.
  • 2002, UK Association of Emeritus Faculty Scholarship, $2,000, for excellence in teaching.
  • 2000, UK English Department Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant.
  • 1998, SDSU English Department Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award.
  • 1998, SDSU Vera Way Marghab Award, $2,000, for outstanding graduate student essay.

Grants

  • GTA Support for Global Foundation Program specialist in the Writing Center. South Dakota Humanities Council CARES Grant, 2021, $5,000.
  • SDSU Scholarly Excellence Award, 2008-18, $500-600.00, for conference travel.
  • 2008 SDSU New Ideas Grant, $1100.00, for Research/Guest Lecturer Funds for ENGL/GS 380: Futuristic Communications.
  • 2007 SDSU Griffith Faculty Development Award, $2000.00, for War, Virtual War, and Human Security International Conference, Budapest, Hungary.
  • 2007 SDSU New Ideas Grant, $800.00, for promotion of the professional writing minor.
  • 2006 SDSU New Ideas Grant, $5500.00, for Research/Start-Up Funds for ENGL/GS 380.
  • 2006 SDSU New Ideas Grant, $3500.00, for Digital Media and Composition Conference.

Work Experience

  • 2012-present, department head of English, South Dakota State University
  • 2017-2018, acting associate dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, South Dakota State University
  • 2004-2010, 2011-present, coordinator of professional writing, South Dakota State University
  • 2010-2012, acting department head of English, South Dakota State University
  • 2009-2010, English graduate advisor, South Dakota State University
  • 2014-present, professor, South Dakota State University
  • 2005-present, academic advisor, South Dakota State University
  • 2008-2014, associate professor, South Dakota State University
  • 2005-2008, assistant professor, South Dakota State University
  • January 2004-2005, assistant professor, Visiting, South Dakota State University
  • 2001-2007 (summers), lecturer, UK Robinson Scholars Writing Workshop
  • 2001-2002, research assistant (for Dr. Gregory A. Waller), UK
  • 1999-2000, mentor, UK Writing Program
  • 1998-2003, UK graduate teaching assistant and writing center tutor
  • 1996-1998, South Dakota State University graduate teaching assistant and writing center tutor
  • 1995-1996, Weiser (Idaho) high school English teacher

Areas of Research

  • American literature
  • Film studies
  • War literature and film (specifically Vietnam  to present)
  • Adaptation studies.

Publications

  • Published 11 peer-reviewed essays/articles/reviews, including “Together, We Ride: Partners and Posses in the Contemporary Western Action Film” (with Sharon Smith) in New Riders of the Cinematic Sage: The 21st Century Western in Film and Television (2019) and “The Last Palace Standing: Mitchell’s Corn Palace and the Rise of an Iconic Sports Venue” in Iconic Sports Venues: Persuasion in Public Spaces (2016).
  • Delivered over 75 peer-reviewed or invited lectures at local, regional, national, and international conferences and related proceedings.

Department(s)