2025 Convention Highlights

On March 19 – 22, 2025, Sigma Tau Delta converged on Pittsburgh, PA, for the 2025 Convention. New relationships were forged, memories were made, and money was given away. But most importantly, a love of literature, language, and writing was shared among a group of like-minded people. The event was a smashing success and we are eagerly looking forward to reconvening at the 2026 Convention in New Orleans, LA.

The 2025 Convention commenced with an Opening Ceremony where the Convention Chairs, President of the Board, and Executive Director welcomed attendees and kicked off the close to our centennial celebration. The Opening Ceremony was followed by a presentation from representatives at City of Asylum, and readings by local authors Diana Khoi Nguyen and Claire Beams.

Immediate Past President of the Board and Convention Co-Chair Shannin Schroeder welcoming attendees as they enter for the Opening Ceremony.

Executive Director Matt Hlinak reading the proclamation from the mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, welcoming the Sigma Tau Delta Convention to town.

Convention Co-Chair Kevin Stemmler welcoming attendees to his home city.

City of Asylum representatives sharing with convention attendees about their residency program for writers living in exile under threat of persecution.

High Plains Student Representative Isaiah Russell introducing Diana Khoi Nguyen.

Local Pittsburgh author Diana Khoi Nguyen.

Left to right: Far Western Associate Student Representative Kaylee Jo Stocks, Claire Beams, High Plains Student Representative Isaiah Russell, Diana Khoi Nguyen

Attendees shopping at White Whale Bookstore while watiting in line for the Local Authors Booksigning.

The convention also featured three Keynote Speakers. Thursday evening welcomed Natalie Diaz, author of the 2025 Common Reader, When My Brother Was an Aztec. Friday afternoon’s keynote address was by Cynthia Kadohata, Newbery Medal winning author of Kira-Kira. Our final keynote speaker was Benjamin Alire Saénz, who both introduced the film adaptation of his novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, for Movie Night on Friday evening and concluded the 2025 Convention with his keynote on Saturday.

Senior Student Advisor Autumn Koors-Foltz introducing Natalie Diaz’s Keynote presentation.

Attendees checking out vendor booths while waiting in line for the Natalie Diaz signing.

Southern Region Student Representative Sophia Jockell excited to get her copy of the 2025 Common Reader signed.

Southwestern Student Representative Carmen Lok introducing Keynote Speaker Cynthia Kadohata.

Benjamin Alire Saénz talking with NEHS members before Movie Night.

Benjamin Alire Saénz introducing the film adaptation of his book Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.

Convention Co-Chair and Vice-President of the Board Leigh Dillard introducing Southern Region Student Representative Sophia Jockell before the Benjamin Alire Saénz Keynote.

Southern Region Student Representative Sophia Jockell introducing Keynote Speaker Benjamin Alire Saénz.

Thursday morning kicked off with a round of workshops led by the Student Leadership Committee, Alumni Representatives, and the Regents Committee, followed by a robust selection of Professional Development Workshops.

Convention Co-Chair and Board Officer at Large Kevin Stemmler sits in on a table discussion during the Alumni Workshop.

Alumni Representative Tiffany Nolde leads a table discussion during the Alumni Workshop.

Sticker prizes and Book Club Quick Kits from the Student Leadership Workshop.

“What Can Student Leadership Do For You”—Professional Development Workshop

While convention attendees certainly reap the benefits of keynote speaker and workshop presentations, the heart and soul of any Sigma Tau Delta convention is the critical and creative work shared by our student presenters.

Student presenter from Chatham University.

Student presenter from Sam Houston State University.

Student presenter from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Student presenter from Utah Tech University.

Left to right: Convention Co-Chair and Immediate Past President of the Board Shannin Schroeder, former Southwestern Student Representative Destiny Jones, current Southwestern Student Representative Carmen Lok working the check-in table at Research in the Round.

For the first time, the 2025 Convention featured a series of events exclusively for NEHS attendees. In fall 2024, NEHS students applied for the NEHS Convention Presentation Award, which granted six pairs of students, accompanied by their Chapter Advisors, the opportunity to attend convention and present on Spotlight Author Willa Cather’s One of Ours and Benjamin Alire Saénz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. These student presentations were supplemented with special workshops and a presentation by the Willa Cather Foundation. NEHS festivities kicked off on Thursday evening with a special reception for all attending NEHS chapters.

NEHS Director Chris Lockwood welcoming attendees to the NEHS Reception.

NEHS attendees waving flags displaying the diverse nationalities represented by NEHS at the 2025 Convention.

NEHS Convention Presentation Award recipients with their welome bags containing a special NEHS Convention T-shirt and books donated by Heinemann Publishing.

Chris Lockwood welcoming the NEHS Convention Presentation Award recipients to their first day of programming.

A full house eager for two days of NEHS programming to begin!

Chris Lockwood and the NEHS Convention Presentation Award Recipients.

Books donated by Heinemann Publishing to be handed out to NEHS attendees.

NEHS students presenting on Willa Cather’s One of Ours.

NEHS students presenting on Benjamin Alire Saénz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe with Saénz in attendance.

NEHS Special Session with Cameron Barnett

NEHS Special Session with Sherrie Flick.

NEHS students hard at work during the Sherrie Flick workshop.

Friday afternoon featured the Business Meeting and Regional Breakouts where members of the Board of Directors share the state of the Society and members elect new leadership positions during election years.

The University of North Georgia—Gainesville chapter waiting for the start of the Business Meeting.

President of the Board Lexey Bartlett kicks off the Business Meeting.

Lexey Bartlett introducing Senior Student Advisor Autumn Koors-Foltz, who read this year’s Land Acknowledgement.

Executive Director Matt Hlinak reading the ever popular roll call.

Southern Region Associate Student Representative Arista Elderkin with fellow Berry College chapter members at the Southern Regional Breakout session.

Another new feature of the 2025 Convention was LitFest, modeled on popular literary festivals that celebrate writers and literary work. Some participants in our lineup included Sigma Tau Delta alumni, to further celebrate our convention theme “one of ours.” Other LitFest presenters featured established Pittsburgh writers and professionals with backgrounds in English.

Left to right: Alumni Representative Tiffany Nolde and Claire Beams.

Claire Beams Crafting Story with Workshop

Diana Khoi Nguyen Poetry with Visual Arts and Workshop.

Attendees spilling into the hallway for Kassia Krone’s Hollywood’s Monstrous Moms: Vilifying Mental Illness in Horror Films.

Kassia Krone’s Hollywood’s Monstrous Moms: Vilifying Mental Illness in Horror Films.

The Pittsburgh Convention was full of social events, in addition to the scholarly workshops, paper, and roundtable presentations, the highlight of which was the Student Leadership Trivia Night, this year sponsored by National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) who also provided totes, journals, and pens for first place winners. Book prizes were donated by Sourcebooks.