Languages & Literature - Alumni

Chris Davis
Class of 2007

 

“My English and journalism professors at DSU helped me develop my  own style. The guidance about writing I received from them was the best  part of my undergraduate experience. I use this guidance every day as part  of my job.” 


-Chris Davis is a staff writer and editor for the Mississippi State Hospital

Class of 2001



"I am grateful for the nurturing environment of Delta State, which, no doubt, made it possible for me to be where I am today.  Now a doctoral candidate at the University of Tennessee, I still rely on the encouragement and support of those professors at Delta State who took an early interest in shaping my career.  The care and attention the faculty offers to each student is not only invaluable, but also often hard to come by in many academic institutions.  I look back upon my time at DSU more fondly than any other academic setting, and I know that this place is where my love of literature best thrived, where my creativity grew, and where remain even now the roots of my inspiration. "


-Ashley Combest is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Tenessee where she teaches composition and literature and also works in the Writing Center.

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"I look back on my years as an English major undergraduate fondly. What I appreciated most about the professors here is that they not only had high standards but they provided us with the means to reach them. Their enthusiasm for literature and writing makes the classroom an enjoyable and exciting arena of learning." -After earning his B.A. in English from Delta State, Nick White was a awarded the Butler Scholarship for Creative Writing at Mississippi State University where he is now an M.A. candidate. While persuing his masters degree, he teaches Basic English and is an assistant in the Writing Center.

Andrea Tatum
Class of 2006



"The Communication Studies program at Delta State is nothing less than impressive. When I was there, the classes and teachers taught me everything I needed to know for the real world. They taught me to be a better writer and speaker, which helped me get a great job when I graduated from college. Most employers look to hire someone with good communication skills, and I think that the Communication Studies program at Delta State can help any graduate become successful in this area. The program is growing into something spectacular at Delta State, and I see it becoming even more remarkable each year. "


-Andrea Tatum (pictured left) is a writer and content editor of Varsity.com for Varsity Spirit Corporation in Memphis, Tenessee.

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Stephanie Eddleman
Class of 2002

"I came to Delta State as a non-traditional student, excited about returning to university studies, ready to work hard, yet a little self-conscious and unsure of my abilities after so many years out of an academic environment.   It didn’t take me long to realize that Delta State was the right place for me.   My professors—all of them—encouraged me and challenged me and supported me.  They believed in my dreams when I was scared to dream for myself.  They opened doors for me that I didn’t even know existed, and sometimes, when I was a little hesitant to enter, they pushed me right through.   They were my mentors, and now I am proud to call them my friends." -Stephanie Eddleman (pictured right) is currently on leave from Harding University, where she is an English and Honors Symposium faculty member, while she pursues a Ph.D. in English from the University of Mississippi.

 Bonnie Gillespie
 Class of 1998 

“When I first came to Delta State, I was a science major and obviously a bit misguided. On a lark, I took a creative writing class and that experience became a signpost for me, leading me to become an English major. Once I became a student in the Division of Languages and Literature, I knew I had found a home. Now, whether I find myself in the halls of Congress, in Geneva at UN agency meetings, or in rural African villages, I am well equipped to do my job with the skills I cultivated as an English major at Delta State.” 



-Bonnie Gillespie has worked as a Staff Writer/Photographer for the American Red Cross, where she was involved in relief efforts all over the world, including helping with the Tsunami Recovery Program in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Currently, she is Advocacy Director of the Global Program on Malaria at Johns Hopkins University.