Name: Julia Tigner

Department: Literature, Media, and Communication

Title: Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellow

Hometown: LaGrange

Degree(s): Ph.D. in English, Auburn University; M.A. in English, The University of Georgia; and B.A. in English, Tuskegee University.

Who had the greatest influence on your education and/or career path?

While I stand on the shoulders of many, the person who has had the greatest influence on my education and career path is my mother. As my first teacher, she fueled my passion for Black literature and instilled in me a reverence for education and learning.

What's the goal of your research? What do you hope to change with it?

My research examines how Black women writers across the African Diaspora use liminality as a trope to explore how Black women negotiate space and live at the intersection of race and gender. It is my hope that my research will effect change related to antiracism, equity, and belonging as I aim to centralize marginalized voices.

Why did you decide to teach at Georgia Tech, and what's the best part about working here?

At Georgia Tech, I have had the wonderful opportunity to translate my research interests in liminality to students’ lived experiences.

The best part of working here is the students; they are AWESOME!

What moment in LMC/at Georgia Tech stands out as the most memorable?

Presenting at the Celebrating Teaching Day event stands out to me as the most memorable. I enjoyed sharing my pedagogy and student work as well as learning more about the innovative work of other faculty.

What's your favorite course to teach and why?

Currently, I am teaching a composition course, Narratives of Black Girlhood. I enjoy the meaningful class discussions about representation, visibility, and bias, and I have been impressed by how the students’ projects reflect their burgeoning commitment to diversity and inclusion.

When you're not working, what do you like to do?

I enjoy spending time with family and friends, catching up on my favorite TV shows, shopping, and reading (shoutout to the Black Feminist Book Club).

If you weren't doing this, what would you be doing?

Of the careers I contemplated in my formative years, I wanted to be a meteorologist.

Do you have any advice for LMC students at Georgia Tech?

Enjoy the journey, give yourself grace, and always remember that there are valuable life lessons born of missteps.

If prospective students or alumni are interested in what you do, can they contact you? What are some topics you can speak to?

As a lifelong learner, I’m always delighted to talk with students about what they value as emerging scholars. While I am open to discussing my research interests in Black women’s movement, I relish learning from students about their scholarship and what they care about.

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