Dona Cady
Student spotlight details
Dona completed the MSt in Literature and Arts while working full-time in the United States. To continue her research she has since progressed to the DPhil in Literature and Arts, and hopes her dissertation will result in several articles or perhaps even a book.
'I’ve always had a career in academia, whether it be teaching college English literature and the humanities, or conducting research in Asia through the East-West Center, or writing and directing US Departments of State and Education grants. This was deeply satisfying, yet I wanted to return to academic research in literature and the arts.
'A colleague editing a book on British travel writers suggested I consider contributing a chapter. Intrigued, I turned to the special collections of Somerville College, Oxford, where in 1979 I had matriculated and earned a Diploma in European Archaeology with a focus on Anglo-Saxons, the Celts and the Roman Provinces. Two women stood out – Emily Georgiana Kemp and Amelia B. Edwards. Returning to Oxford for two summers to complete research for the chapter was intellectually exciting and ignited the desire to pursue further degrees.
'I asked myself the question – could I get accepted to Oxford again after so many years? After all, it’s the number one university in the world. Did I have what it took to succeed even while I was still working full-time in the States? I looked at myself in the mirror. I could do this. With an interdisciplinary focus in mind, since I had a BA in literature and history from the University of the Pacific and an MA in literature from the University of Notre Dame, I decided that the Department for Continuing Education at Oxford had the programme that best suited my interests and needs. I applied and was accepted to the Master’s in Literature and Arts.
'During this part-time two-year course, through the guidance of excellent, supportive tutors, I explored diverse and intellectually stimulating topics. The social science theories one tutor recommended informed not only my master's work but also later research and writing. I found a keen interest in such topics as the Elizabethan and Empire country houses. And the essays I wrote proved I could succeed and succeed well even while juggling a full-time teaching load and administrative duties. Although as a procrastinator, I found submitting essays on time challenging, ultimately that challenge was good for the soul!
'The pandemic forced our cohort to meet online for the first three modules, yet despite the forced physical distance, we became supportive friends. The challenge of getting to know colleagues at first online just deepened the pleasure when finally meeting them in person. We still meet every spring in Oxford for an unofficial residency!
'I used the residency in Oxford to also finish research on Kemp and Edwards, resulting in several academic publications during the programme: “Amelia B. Edwards” and “Emily Georgiana Kemp” in The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Victorian Women’s Writers (Palgrave 2021), and the chapter “Emily Georgiana Kemp: An Early Twentieth Century Traveler’s Perspective on the Heart-Mind of China” in Chinese Women: Crossing Borders and Confounding Identity (SUNY Press 2023). I even revised my dissertation for a chapter in my colleague’s book on women travellers: “Exploring The ‘Wild Zone’: Amelia B. Edwards Travels the Italian Dolomites” in With Italy as Their Muse: British Women Travellers in the Long Nineteenth Century (Britain and the World Series, Palgrave MacMillan Press 2024).
'These experiences built self-confidence and, with the encouragement of my supportive MLA tutors, I applied for the DPhil in Literature and Arts, with Professor Yasmin Khan and Dr Ben Grant as my supervisors. Building on one of the master's modules and my new-found interest on Empire, my DPhil examines Maria Graham, Lady Callcott (1785-1842); Frances (Fanny) Parkes (1794-1875); and Harriet Tytler (1828-1907), who through their writings and art about India represent the dynamics of gender, a definition of imperial self, and the transformative nature of travel.
'My independent research into travel writing also provided a useful foundational bibliography for my DPhil work. This is particularly helpful in building a first-year knowledge base. Because I am fortunately able to do so, after forty-three years of teaching, I retired to concentrate on my DPhil. With this focus, I hope my dissertation will result in a book or at least several articles.
'I would encourage anyone who is thinking about a master's or DPhil to consider how their interests or existing work can provide a foundation for these degrees. Be open to possibilities – even out of the box suggestions like writing a book chapter. It certainly led me to the master's and DPhil! Time management – always a challenge for me – is key. Work and life in general can often crowd out research and writing time, so crafting a work-life balance that includes family support and time for scholarly research, including travel to England, has made a huge difference. In addition, I present my work at national and international conferences, using these as opportunities to try out research ideas or fine-tune existing papers. Conferences offer excellent venues to network, connect with research in your area, or even just learn more about tangential interests. Organizations also provide useful networking and research opportunities. I remain active as a current Contributing Editor for The Scriblerian, current Advisory Council member and past-president of the Oxford and Cambridge Society of New England, and past-president of the Asian Studies Development Program Alumni Association.
'To anyone considering the MLA or DLA, I say, “go for it!” Challenge yourself – join the conversation both academically and personally. The rewards are incalculable. I found a renewed sense of self, friends, intellectual satisfaction and academic purpose. Every day is a treasure hunt, a new discovery into my research – and that makes it all worthwhile!'
