• Joy Stoffers
  • Joy Stoffers
  • School of Arts and Sciences '14
  • Major(s): English
  • Minor(s): Business and Technical Writing

Activities: Ballroom Dance Club and Team

What attracted you to Rutgers University and the SAS Honors Program? 
As a native of East Brunswick, I knew that Rutgers New Brunswick had a highly respected English department. I'd always wanted to major in English, and Rutgers was affordable and a convenient distance from home. When I first heard of the SAS Honors Program, I wasn't sure I wanted to pursue a Capstone Project. However, I became interested when I learned one could submit a novel as part of the interdisciplinary option. 

Why did you choose your major and minor?
Ever since my dad read The Hobbit to me in kindergarten, I loved novels. Becoming an English major was a natural choice for me. I minored in Business and Technical Writing because of my editorial internship with the Rutgers University Press. My minor exposed me to the intricacies of professional writing and editing, and provided me with marketable skills.

Tell us a little bit about what you're doing now.  What was your first job after Rutgers? Where do you live?
After graduating from Rutgers, I went on to pursue further higher education. I've just graduated from Newcastle University, United Kingdom, with an M.A. in Creative Writing. I now live in Seattle, W.A., where both my brother (also a graduate of Rutgers!) and my publisher live. 

What has been your greatest professional and/or personal accomplishment since you graduated Rutgers?
I consider the release of my debut novel, Whasian (Harken Media 2015), to be my greatest professional and personal accomplishment.

Was there a class and/or experience at Rutgers that led you to pursuing your current career?
While at Rutgers I pursued a concentration in Creative Writing. The courses I took for this concentration, in addition to a course entitled Asian American Literature in English (taught by Rick Lee), led me to write the version of Whasian that I submitted as part of my Capstone Project. 

What three words describe your experience at Rutgers and the SAS Honors Program?  
Challenging, edifying, fulfilling.  

How has your Rutgers and SAS Honors Program education benefited you in your post-Rutgers life?
Rutgers and the SAS Honors Program taught me that through diligence and determination, one can achieve what many believe is improbable. 

What advice do you have for our current SAS Honors Program students?
I encourage SASHP students to challenge themselves and take courses unrelated to their majors.

For more information about this Honors alum, visit:                             
Publisher's page: http://www.harkenmedia.com/?m=1
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/joyhuangstoffers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joyhuangstoff
Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26534620-whasian
Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/joy-huang-stoffers/whasian/
Website: www.joyhuangstoffers.com

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