University of Denver Spring 2026

RELEASES

Taylor Swift by the Book Rachel Feder (associate professor of English and literary arts) Taylor Swift’s album “The Tortured Poets Department” inspired English professor Rachel Feder to write “Taylor Swift by the Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, From Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets.” Feder teaches courses on 18th- and 19th-century British literature with emphases on Romanticism, women writers, and the Gothic. After Swift announced her album at the 2024 Grammys,

DU NAMED DREAM SCHOOL in National College Guide

The University of Denver has earned a coveted spot among 75 institutions highlighted in “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You,” a college guide by higher education journalist Jeffrey Selingo. Based on Selingo’s in-depth research— including a survey of more than 3,000 parents—“Dream School” reveals what matters most in a college: strong job prospects after graduation, hands-on learning experiences, and a sense of belonging. Hidden gem schools with incredible value and rich opportunities fill the pages of this guide. “We are thrilled to be recognized among the nation’s ‘Dream Schools,’” says Chancellor Jeremy Haefner. “This reflects our commitment to providing a high-quality education and helping our students reach their full potential. At DU, students gain the knowledge, skills, and

Feder joined forces with her sister-in-law, Tiffany Tatreau, a “Swiftie” and musical theater artist, to write the book. Swift divided her 11 studio albums into 10 distinct eras during The Eras Tour in 2023-2024. Feder and Tatreau used that as a structure for the book, assigning each of Swift’s eras to a literary era before combing through every song to highlight the songwriter’s literary references and tricks. Feder says she was impressed by the depth of the literary allusions she found across Swift’s discography.

Justice for All Michael J. Hightower (MA ’82)

“Justice for All: Dick T. Morgan, Frontier Lawyer and Common Man’s Congressman,” written by Michael Hightower, chronicles the career of Morgan, an Oklahoma founding father whose public service reflects a passion for fairness that was often lacking in Gilded Age America. After arriving in the Unassigned Lands in central Oklahoma with the first

wave of non-Indian settlers on April 22, 1889, Morgan developed a reputation as the go-to lawyer for land disputes, built a substantial real estate business, and promoted church-building across the Oklahoma

support needed to thrive— both on campus and in their professional lives ahead.” This recognition

Territory. During his tenure in Congress from 1909 until his death in 1920, he helped create institutions that were central to progressivism in the post-frontier period and have shaped modern America, including the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Farm Credit System. Hightower collaborated on the book with Morgan’s great-grandsons, David Morgan (JD ’81) and Kenyon Morgan, who resolved to rescue their ancestor from a century of obscurity.

joins a growing list of accolades for the University of Denver. In the Princeton Review’s latest Best Colleges rankings, DU earned high marks across nine categories, including top-10 placements in “Students Love These Colleges” and “Best College Library.”

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | SPRING 2026