“I was a high school dropout and a first-generation college student. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I changed my major several times, but I knew I wanted to learn. I remember how excited I was for my first college English class, having grown up an avid reader and writer. I still often think about taking Bible as Literature with Dr. Lisa Verner, how clever and wry she was, and how much her lectures broadened my perspective on religion and gave me insightful points to make over drinks for years. I wasn’t initially looking forward to taking British lit, but Dr. Leslie White was so incredible, I made sure to take classes with him whenever I could. He was so engaging and encouraging, and he could turn even the driest material sparkly and resonant. I was in the inaugural Japan study abroad cohort, and that indescribable experience changed my life in ways I continue to carry. I still keep in touch with my Japanese language partner and several fellow Americans from that 2009 summer; huge thanks to Noriko Ito Krenn and Mary Hicks for organizing and chaperoning that trip and tolerating our chaos. Dr. Edward Johnson was a constant surprise and delight. From Greek philosophy class in New Orleans to Japanese philosophy and karaoke in Kyoto, I appreciated every moment of his humor and genius. Dr. Olivier Bourderionnet was a superb French professor and raconteur, and I still regret not double majoring in French when he prompted me. I went to Cork, Ireland with the MFA program, conquered my fear of performing my writing in public, and had many adventures that turned into later travels. And I remember the student protests and police violence of 2010 demonstrations against Jindal’s budget cuts. Finally, I feel truly honored to have studied literature of the African diaspora under Dr. Niyi Osundare, an incomparable spirit, a genius, and a poet in every sense. I loved how animated he was retelling stories, and how he would wear traditional Nigerian dress and share his culture and customs with us. On my last day of his class, he stopped me as I was leaving and asked, “do you write poetry?” followed up with, “because you should.” And I did, and I will. Thank you to all who changed and shaped me and imbued my education with wonder and magic. ”
