Jordan Engelke

In this example, I interviewed claim reps and staff counsel and learned that reps avoided negotiating because they were uncomfortable pushing back against attorneys, whom they saw as more authoritative than themselves. The final training program had two components. The first is an interactive e-learning course on effective negotiation techniques, for which I created the content, interactive components, and graphic design. The second is an AI role-play exercise where reps practice negotiations across a few common scenarios and receive immediate feedback; in this component, I programmed and tested the AI personas.

How did your time as an English major prepare you for your current role or your career?

Two skills I believe set me apart from my peers who do not have a background in English or a related field: research and critical thinking. The degree programs at NDSU and WSU centered on writing well-reasoned papers with clear arguments, so I learned to find answers to my questions, develop counter-arguments, analyze articles and novels, and look beyond surface-level interpretations. I excel at finding answers to complex questions about jobs and behaviors, and I present that information to learners in a logical, well-reasoned format that is easy to follow. I also do a LOT of content writing in my job, and my attention to detail and writing background led to my certification as a QA expert for my department. My undergraduate mentor, Verena Theile, also helped me prepare for grad school by providing research and teaching opportunities, which set me up for a lifelong love of learning how people learn. To this day, I am a huge nerd about pedagogy and feel pretty lucky that I get to thoroughly embrace that nerdiness in my day-to-day work.

What advice would you give to someone considering an English major?

A degree in the arts, and in English especially, teaches you to think for yourself, analyze complex problems, and write in a way that people trust and understand—an invaluable skill in the age of AI slop and misinformation. Many programs train students to believe that there is a single correct answer to every problem. While that's true in some instances, arts degrees go in the opposite direction: You are rewarded for exploring multiple defensible answers, which builds serious skill in questioning the status quo, asking “why," and remaining open-minded. The opportunity to discuss and debate ideas is also so, so rare. Few other degree programs offer it, and even fewer areas outside of school encourage it.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

My area of research in both my BA and MA was pedagogy, so I have studied the science of learning for many years. Even though my diploma doesn't say "Instructional Design" or "Human Resources" specifically, I still qualify for high-level roles in Learning & Development. The same can be said for other areas of interest folks may have while pursuing their degrees. English has become sort of a catchall term for a wide variety of professional skills, but having a well-written resume that explains those skills is the key to getting your foot in the door.