Emmy Misail has always loved comics and superheroes, thanks to her dad, who has a terrific collection of 鈥淭he Far Side,鈥� 鈥淐alvin and Hobbes鈥� and 鈥淟ife in Hell鈥� books.
Now the honors English major is launching her own comic strip in , thanks to a $1,200 Honors College student fellowship and mentoring from Assoc. Prof. of Art and Design Karen Roehr.
鈥淪tudent Groans鈥� features a college student, Bun, and her 鈥渁nxiety animal,鈥� Rabbit. The style of drawing is reminiscent of Matt Groening, creator of 鈥淟ife in Hell鈥� and 鈥淭he Simpsons.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 loosely based on my experiences,鈥� Misail says.
Misail has been drawing her own comics for a while, as a hobby. Then she took an honors seminar on the graphic novel from Roehr in the spring semester of her sophomore year. At the end, she asked Roehr how she could continue pursuing her dream of becoming a published cartoonist.聽
Roehr suggested she apply for an honors fellowship and offered to be her advisor. Misail鈥檚 clever application took the form of a cartoon 鈥� and she was awarded the Robert J. Lechner Endowed Creativity Fellowship.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge help financially, and I鈥檓 getting paid for something I鈥檇 do anyway, so it鈥檚 fantastic,鈥� she says.
Now she meets with Roehr once a week for a critique session.
鈥淧rofessor Roehr is amazing,鈥� Misail says. 鈥淪he鈥檚 always pushing me to think differently about things, to test boundaries.鈥�
So why is Misail an English major with a concentration in journalism and professional writing, instead of an art major?
鈥淚 think journalism and professional writing offer a really broad range of pathways to choose from,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t helps me with my comics, too. You need to write clearly and be able to organize your thoughts efficiently and effectively.鈥�