LLP Does Community in October

VIP Advisement Socials, Alumni Conversation, and so much more...
By Lillian Rose 
LLP Social Media Intern 

With the semester coming to a close, it is time to start planning for the Spring 2026 semester. This means check-ins with advisors to discuss classes, academic goals, and career planning.

But what if students do not know their advisors? What if students do not know which classes to sign up for? The Language, Literature, and Philosophy department has answers for them.

Last week, LLP held an Advisement Meet & Greet for English majors and minors as hosted by Dr. Rebecca Dixon. During this event students were able to engage with other professors and advisors such as Dr. Michelle Pinkard, Dr. Emily Murray, Dr. Lucas Powers, Dr. Michelle Wise, and Dr. Chris Fields to discuss the advising process.

Me and Murray, remember?

“The LLP advising event on Friday was a wonderful success!” Murray said. “Because LLP strives to support and advise students not only in their academic pursuits but also career and life pursuits, this event allowed us to meet majors and minors, learn about student goals and aspirations and have fun!”

Students received tips on navigating EAB, the university website, and the advisement process.  We chatted over lunch and played a Black Trivia History game in which I served as the devastatingly talented host! Students went against faculty in the categories of entertainment, inventions, history, and civil rights figures. In the end, the students overwhelmingly beat the professors proving that our generation knows their history!

Murray summarized the event as another way to solidify the partnership between LLP faculty and students.  “The meeting was informative for practical advising purposes, but I enjoyed most the less formal atmosphere for advising and getting to meet advisees in person, playing trivia and building a sense of community in the department. I look forward to losing more trivia games to these students in the future!”

Me and Heard after our Trivia Win!

There are faculty murmurs of a rematch.  Jasmine Heard, English minor, will be ready. She said, “this
event gave me the insight I needed to talk to advisors about my future career plans in English and beating the faculty in the trivia game was the cherry on top!”

In other LLP News this month, the department hosted an alumni conversation with key speaker, Ms. Chandler Wilson, a 2018 graduate student of Tennessee State University and English major. She is now a ninth grade English educator who ranks #5 as a master teacher in the state for English I teachers.

Dr. Zeba Shahbazz moderated, but other professors in attendance explored how learning from their students is just as important as teaching students. Students are encouraged to archive their work and to use it as source material to track progress through matriculation and transition into the professional world.

Near the end of the conversation, Ms. Chandler Wilson provided special advice for those who are pursuing a career in the field of teaching English:

1.    Use your voice as much as possible.
2.  Get the most information that you possibly can.
3.  Be as knowledgeable as you possibly can on the content.

Watch the entire video below.  Students should use this advice to be the best English educator that you can be.

 

  Looking forward to seeing you at the next LLP event!