Brooke Echternacht, BA '25, recently won Mizzou’s Award for Academic Distinction. The undergraduate award recognizes students who have improved the intellectual and academic culture of the university and motivated other students to do the same. It is one of the highest honors MU offers based on academic distinction alone. Brooke also completed and English Honors Thesis; the honors thesis program allows students to conduct their own research with the support of a faculty mentor. Her thesis is entitled "What Feeds a Family: Considering Nourishment in Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse."

Why did you decide to get a BA in English and what felt particularly impactful about the degree?

I’ve always been a reader, but I actually didn’t think I would get my BA in English until I was applying for colleges—I was fighting against it because I think there’s a perception that the humanities are less important than sciences. I feel it’s particularly impactful to willingly choose to do the hard thing & study what brings me life! Every day, I get to remember that I have the best major ever.

What would you tell prospective Mizzou students or parents who are interested in an English degree but are concerned about career options? 

I absolutely get this concern! I would say that if you work, you’ll find plenty of work. There are lots of options that come to mind when you think of English— teaching, editing, writing— but there are lots of jobs that you wouldn’t immediately consider, as well. Lots of corporate jobs really value English majors for their writing abilities, and many even have communications departments. The skills you learn in English are about writing clearly, communicating well, and thinking analytically, which are all very attractive traits for employers.

Tell me about your honors thesis–what was it about and why were you drawn to that research area?

Writing my honors thesis was one of my favorite experiences at Mizzou! It’s about the interplay between food and family in Virginia Woolf’s novel To the Lighthouse. I love hosting and all things food, so the way Woolf develops relationships around the kitchen table drew me in. It’s also a huge part of her feminist project, another passion of mine—by writing about the labor and decisions that go into cooking and hosting, Woolf devotes attention to traditionally women’s work. 

What did you learn about yourself from the honors thesis process?

I leaned a lot about self-discipline! My advisor was wonderful in helping guide my project, but I had to be the one to sit down every morning and write. Of course, it wasn’t all self-discipline—I made a great group of friends in the 2025 thesis cohort, and we set up a writer’s group to help keep each other accountable and discuss the process. I’m so grateful to write both on my own and in community!

What’s next for you after graduation?

I’ll be getting my Accelerated Master’s degree here at Mizzou in English. I couldn’t recommend this program more! I graduated with my BA a year early, so I’ll be able to get my Master’s in four years. After that, I think I want to teach middle or high school English. I work in a school now and really love the environment.

What are you currently reading/watching/listening to?

Right now, I’m obsessed with Anne Lamott. We read one of her books in the thesis class during the fall semester, and I think everybody should read it— it’s called Bird by Bird, and it’s just this beautiful exploration of writing, life, and love. I’m also listening to a lot of country music because it makes me feel like summer—a musician I adore is Townes Van Zandt, who’s maybe a little more folky/indie.

What can’t you get enough of?

I could never have too many chocolate chip cookies or Pilot G2 pens.

Where/what are you most likely to found doing outside of school or work?

I’m most likely to be found reading (no surprise), making coffee for my friends, or going on long walks! Since it’s been so nice out, I’ve been trying to get outside and into a body of water as much as possible.