Student Spotlight
Meet Our Majors and Minors
Defining Their Future, Today
"If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive." - Audre Lorde
There is a plethora of opportunities for LLP majors and minors to define themselves and their futures within the department. In today's fluid workforce, English majors are finding that their writing and analytical skills will translate into a multitude of career opportunities that include education, law, politics, journalism, public relations, advertising, publishing, and professional and technical writing. Periodically, we will highlight stellar LLP students who have found creative ways to achieve their academic and professional goals.
LLP Majors/Minors interested in being featured should complete the Spotlight submission form by clicking here: Student Spotlight Submission Form.
Meet Brianna McGuire!
Brianna McGuire
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Brianna McGuire is an English major and senior at Tennessee State University. She hopes to work in education after graduation. Brianna aspires to obtain her master's degree in teaching at Michigan State University and return to Michigan to start her career. She hopes to become the educator that she needed while she was in middle school. Brianna also serves as resident assistant for first-year students in Wilson Hall. She enjoys building important relationships with the freshmen and event programing that she does four times a year for the residents. She is also a proud member of HIP’Notyze Dance Troupe and Love You Like a Sister, Incorporated. Brianna is excited for her new opportunity as an intern for Language, Literature, and Philosophy Department. She hopes to learn more about the opportunities that are open to her as an English major and to share those same opportunities with her peers. Read more about Brianna on her LLP Blog.
Archived
Meet Eleana Stone!
Eleana Stone
Anticipated Graduation:
Decemeber 2024
Why I chose to be an English Major:
"I have loved reading and writing since I was in middle school. English was always the subject to which I gravitated." |
Eleana Stone is an English major and a senior at Tennessee State. She aspires to work in the education field after graduation. After obtaining my Bachelor's degree, she wishes to attend grad school at Tennessee State University as well. Stone is grateful to have this opportunity to intern in the department of Languages, Literature and Philosophy. She hopes to make great connections and toenjoy learning experiences and opportunities with the department. Stone wants to grow as an individual throughout her academic and professional journey.
Meet Raquel Ziebart!
Raquel Ziebart
Anticipated Graduation 2023
Why I chose to be an English Major: "I decided to be an English major initially due to my desire of becoming a writer and an English as a second language teacher. After attending Tennessee State, I discovered that I have an immense passion for linguistics and literature." |
Raquel Ziebart is a proud Senior at Tennessee State. Ziebart pursued her Bachelors degree while being a single mother who works full time. She hopes her educational journey will be an inspiration to her son and the children that she will teach one day. Ziebart is a member of the National Honors Society and the Sigma Tau Delta Honors English organization. She enjoys playing soccer with her son, writing creatively and academically, cooking, dancing and reggaeton musiquita. “I believe that education is not only a gift, but a fundamental right that all humans deserve to receive freely.”
Clayton Oglesby
Graduation May 2023
Major: Mass Communication
Double minor: Spanish and Africana Studies
# Goals:
I want to be a writer and content creator
LLP Spanish Tutor: I'm very excited to be tutoring in Spanish this year. I've been learning Spanish since I was 12 and I recently studied abroad in Spain.
Oglesby is a creative writer from Nashville, who enjoys reading, filmmaking, and creating Tik Tok content. He is shopping graduate schools while tutoring LLP Spanish students. “Learning languages is something I love to do because it helps me better connect to the world around me. I want to travel to more Spanish speaking countries in the future!” Oglesby is a member of the following organizations: Alpha Phi Omega, Men's Initiative, Debate Team, and Honors College.
Meet David Ozuna
David OzunaGraduation May 2023 |
Ozuna was born and raised from the “Sunshine State” of South Miami Florida. He is third generation Cuban-American aspiring to be the first in my family to succeed a higher education. He served honorably in the United States Air Force and as a Veteran, and he wants to continue serving the country through the hard work and effort it takes to become a Literature Professor and Novelist.
Meet Bryanna Scott
Bryanna ScottGraduation May 2022 |
Bryanna Scott is a graduating senior at Tennessee State University. Scott is a member of the University’s Honors College as well as several other student organizations. A distinguished speaker, writer, and overall scholar, Scott runs her own Resin business, assists in organizing racial awareness events back in her home state New Jersey, and works with Villages in Partnership, a non-profit that does missionary work in Africa. She enjoys writing, signging, dancing, traveling and painting.
Meet Dr. Deborah Burris-Kitchen
Dr. Deborah Burris-KitchenAnticipated Graduation 2024 |
Deborah J. Burris-Kitchen, Ph.D. is a Professor of Criminology and Department Chair at Tennessee State University in Nashville. She is the author of Female Gang Participation (Edwin Mellen Press, 1997). She also co-authored an article on racism in higher education in the College Student Journal (2000). Her publications also include a book titled Short Rage: an autobiographical look at heightism in America (2002). She also has a book chapter (July 2010) titled Pathways to prison: Implications for the Health and Mental health in the African American Community in Handbook for African American Health Psychology: Evidence-based treatment and prevention practices (edited by Robert Hampton & Ray Crowell); From Slavery to Prisons: A Historical Delineation of the Criminalization of African Americans (2010); a journal article titled Short Rage Revisited (2018); and Deviance and Control, Kendall and Hunt (2020) and a second Edition of Deviance and Control was released by Kendall and Hunt in 2021. Dr. Burris-Kitchen is also an activist who fights against violence, racism, exploitation, greed, and capitalism. Check out her most recent publication on the I Want to Write Publications Page.
Meet DeAnthony Reed!
DeAnthony ReedAnticipated Graduation 2022
Career Goal: I plan to be a Medical Editor/Writer in the Oncology field, preferably for Sarah Cannon Cancer Research Institute, and I would also like work as a Grant Writer for non-profit organizations.
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DeAnthony Reed is a bright, self-motivated twenty-nine year old student who is determined to become a first-generation graduate in my family. He was born and raised in East Nashville and attended East Literature Magnet High school, where he developed my love for reading and writing. He loves helping others, especially within my community. His hobbies include photography, hiking, reading, binge watching shows, traveling, and blogging. He was recently accepted into the MUSE Scholar program at Michigan State University for prospective graduate students. Although he has experienced many challenges in his professional pursuits, he likens hmself to Dory, the fish said in Finding Nemo, "I Just Keep Swimming, I can not stop."
Meet WaTeasa Freeman!
WaTeasa FreemanAnticipated Graduation 2021 Organizations: Links inc.
Career Goal: Short term goals include working in the media industry and leaving an impact on those to come after me.
Long term goals include owning a news network aimed to help the growth of African Americans.
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WaTeasa Freeman is a Junior at Tennessee State University. She majors in Mass Communications with a double minor in Africana studies and English. Freeman is 20 years old and from Columbus, Ohio. She has been writing poetry since 2011 and considers it a passion of hers. She has been published in two books and two albums. When she is not writing she enjoys crochet, painting, makeup and singing. "I am a firm believer in making every moment count no matter how small."
Meet Olivia Bohanon!
Olivia BohanonAnticipated Graduation 2020 Organizations: Vice President of The National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, Incorporated; Women of Empowerment: The Frankie J. Pierce Federated Chapter (NACWC): Community Service Chair for The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People(NAACP); Student Government Association; Student Election Commission (SGA; SEC). Career Goal: I plan to teach children from lower income families and improve literacy rates. I want to one day open a school that caters to African American families that reside in poverty stricken areas. I want to come up with a curriculum that better fits the learning styles of children living in these areas. |
I am the second child of five and the first child of the bunch to attend college. I was always a sickly child, however I look at it as a blessing. Having sickle cell has made me develop a love for writing that I never had before.It also encouraged me to develop a foundation that is used to raise money for a cure. My love for teaching developed when I began to volunteer in my mother's classroom. The literacy scores were always the lowest and I did not understand why it wasn't pushed as hard as it could have been. I want to dedicate my life to teaching under privileged kids. I will create an entire curriculum that will cater and support their learning styles. Literacy is so important and it saddens me that African American children are struggling to grasp it.
Meet Tarrolyn Barras!
Tarrolyn BarrasAnticipated Graduation 2019 Organizations: Otaku Anonymous XII; April 4th Foundation; Sigma Tau Delta (will be inducted on April 20th) Career Goal: I want to become a professional novelist. |
I’m a twenty-one dreamer from the Memphis side of the Mississippi’s banks. I grew up in a single parent household with the best mom in the world who’s always made my success her primary goal from the day I was born. She encouraged me to read and started me on the path of my following my dreams. Even now, she’s always looking out for me and doing her best to get me to the point I want to be in life.
Meet Pragati Natraj!
Pragati Natraj
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Pragati Natraj hails from Bangalore, India. She has had numerous successes during her academic and professional pursuits. She maintained a 4.0 GPA in her freshman and sophomore years, was selected for the President's Roll of Honor, and represented TSU in Women's Tennis, ranking second and third position in the Spring 2016 season. In the 2015-2016 season, she helped TSU achieve a historic, Team Championship at the HBCU Invitational, and secured another historic win at the OVC conference. Prior to enrolling at TSU, Natraj was selected by the State Tennis Association in India to participate in a two-month, Advanced Tennis Program at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona, Spain. Her hobbies include listening to music, traveling, reading articles or watching videos of different types of food and restaurants across the world. She has proven to be a shining star at TSU, and a vivid reflection of mission and motivation of LLP.
Meet Alphonzo Bradford!
Alphonzo Bradford
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Bradford is one of five children. He grew up on the East side of Nashville, and he is the only boy of four sisters. He attended Maplewood High School and graduated in 2010. He married his wife, with whom he graduated high school, and they now have two children. "I love my Alma Mater because its a stepping stone for so many people, and it has a huge impact on our culture." He free time is spent with family, friends and reading.
Meet Chelsea Cash!
Chelsea CashJunior (Anticipated Graduation 2017) |
My goal is to be the best English teacher I can be in order to equip the younger generation with the proper knowledge for college. I plan on joining the Teach For America program to obtain my certification, where I will be able to reach out to children in need of a great educator. I will reason with them as well as help them learn in the best way they can. I believe English majors are the main face of the work force. We will educate each newcomer in their expertise. Without an educator, the next generation will not know the amount of knowledge that is out there or what they can do with it.
Meet James Cooke!
James Cooke
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James Cooke hails from Nashville, Tennessee, and he likes writing for fantasy games and titles. He is a full-time student with three part-time jobs. He currently works for Legendary Games as a designer for their Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition products. His main duties are system conversions and proofreading, with some design offerings. He also works for the Writing Center at TSU as a tutor, where he helps students write papers and understand critical approaches. Additionally, he works part-time as a package handler at FedEx Ground. He plays tabletop roleplaying games about three times as much as anyone reasonably should, he says. "It’s a brave new world of literary expression and it’s a crying shame that TRPGs get looped in with video games in academia."
Meet Kamri Jordan!
Kamri Jordan
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Kamri Jordan is currently an undergraduate student at Tennessee State University pursuing a Bachelors of Arts in English. Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Kamri credits her family as having a profound influence on her life. An avid writer, she had her first short story published at the age of nine. In the Fall of 2015 Kamri served as a Campus Correspondent for the Ohio Valley Conference where it was her task to write articles pertaining to the history and traditions of TSU Athletics. Kamri hopes to one day be a professor of English Literature.
Meet Candace-Omnira LaFayette!
Candace-Omnira LaFayetteSenior (Anticipated Graduation 2017) |
Candace-Omnira LaFayette was born in Nashville but raised in Columbia,TN. Her first career goal in life was to be a landscape artist, which changed to a detective, which later became an author and a track star (she hates working out). Her calling was solidified when she discovered the power of being on stage. She found a way to become everything she wanted to be. She's an individual and choose each day, even off the stage, to be whoever she wants. She is an actor and work for SistaStyle Productions in the Dark Horse Theatre. Her advice to her contemporaries: Be Golden.