During the fall 2016 semester, co-faculty sponsors Dr. Andrea Greenbaum and Dr. Lillian Schanfield inducted nine new members into the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society, Alpha Alpha Xi Chapter. The members included: Nikia Brooks, Kevin Dalia, Melissa Diaz, Jonathan Ali Gonzalez, Olga Maria Hodge, Brandon Parker, Destiny Ricks and Vincent Silvanio. The Chair of the Department of English and Foreign Languages, Dr. Laura P. Alonso-Gallo, was given an honorary membership into the organization.
The guest speaker was Nadege Charles Green, a Barry University alumna, who specialized in our Professional Writing program and is an award-winning reporter and producer for WLRN, South Florida’s NPR affiliate.
Green’s job is to tell stories, and her journalistic philosophy relies on the power of narrative to give voice to communities that are not always heard, or worse, silenced. Her reporting ranges from coverage of Liberty City slumlords, policing in Miami’s urban core, to the challenges facing South Florida’s transgender community. Green spoke about the importance of “hustle” and for students to start professionalizing themselves before they try to enter the job market.
“No one is going to just look at you and say, ‘Wow! You're an awesome writer,’ or ‘I'm impressed with your English major degree. You’re hired!’ That's not how it works,” Green said. “Seek a mentor in your field and build a relationship. If you want to be a writer, start writing — now. Write a blog. Write for your school paper. Write for your church newsletter. Write.”
Students who meet the criteria for Sigma Tau Delta are invited for membership during the fall semester. Acceptance into the organization means that the pledge commits to acting as a reviewer for the annual writing contest.
Students with questions regarding induction into Sigma Tau Delta should contact Dr. Andrea Greenbaum at agreenbaum@barry.edu or Dr. Lillian Schanfield at lschanfield@barry.edu.
