The Division of Languages, Literature, and Composition (LLC) at USC Upstate is home to over 100 majors and minors in American Sign Language Interpreting, English, Creative Writing, Film, Spanish, French, German Studies, Global Studies, Spanish Translation and Interpreting, and the Global Competence Certificate. Together we speak over a dozen languages, have traveled to five continents, and share…
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Thomas McConnell, Award-winning Author and English Professor at USC Upstate for 23 Years
By Lauren Reitz Dr. Thomas McConnell talks upbringing, The Wooden King, and advice for aspiring writers For Dr. Thomas McConnell, growing up in the South meant growing up with a reverence for the past—thanks, in part to living near his grandparents who had lived through the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression, and WWII. “The sense…
Alumni Spotlight: Mason Turner Admitted to the South Carolina Bar
Mason Shelby Turner (English ’17) is a recent graduate of Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law and one of the newest members of the South Carolina Bar. She serves an Associate Attorney at Nimmons & Malchow, P.C., in Augusta, Georgia. Turner joins fellow English alums, Spencer Woodstock (English ’14), LaPorscha Smalls (English ’15),…
Alumni Spotlight: Lindsay Harris, Business Advisor at Zillow
University of South Carolina-Upstate Alumni, Lindsay Harris began her work at Zillow in July of 2021. More than a year into the Coronavirus pandemic, this was a career change that Harris described as a “no-brainer”. Since Harris’s time at Upstate, she has utilized her degree in English in various ways. The first job where Harris…
Alumni Spotlight: Exploring Graduate School Panel Video
In case you missed it, join via video as moderator Maria Franciso Montesó, senior instructor of Spanish, discusses a range of graduate school pathways with a panel of USC Upstate alumni and faculty. Featured Panelists: Dr. Xinyi Tan (Education ’14), assistant professor of Chinese and French at Coastal Carolina University Sheryl Mann (English ’12), assistant…
Alumni Spotlight: Tamira Moore, Writer and Filmmaker
The 2020-2021 academic year has not been particularly kind to everyone, but Tamira Moore (English ’19) has much to celebrate. This spring, she earned her Master’s Degree in Public Relations from Southern New Hampshire University and has been inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society. She also completed filming for a short…
Alumni Spotlight: Laura Lynch, Operations Consultant and Sales Analyst
Story by Britany Inabinet, USC Upstate (English ’19) Laura Lynch, USC Upstate (English ’13) has worked New York Fashion Week and done business logistics and sales analysis for the fashion industry. And it all started with an English degree. Like many students after graduate school, Laura Lynch was very lost. She had just spent what…
Alumni Spotlight: Brittany Cooper, Digital Marketer
Story by Jacquelyn Lancaster, USC Upstate (English ’19) Brittany Cooper, USC Upstate (English ’15), is combining her passions in one job, as a marketing automation specialist. After a few years of exploring her career possibilities the world over, she’s found her niche. A love of literature drew Brittany Cooper to major in English, with a…
Alumni Spotlight: Kylin Hunter, OnPage Administrator and Topics Creator at TheHOTH
Story by Jacquelyn Lancaster, USC Upstate (English ’19) Kylin Hunter, USC Upstate (English ’16), fully believes in his skills and the importance of writing in today’s world. Kylin’s current position is an OnPage Administrator for TheHoth. This is a recent promotion for him, but he has been with the company since 2018. He started as…
Alumni Spotlight: Chris Coia, Publishing Industry Project Manager
Chris Coia, USC Upstate (English ’07), now works as a Project Manager for the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC). Before his career move, English major Jacquelyn Lancaster (’19) caught up with him to discuss his work as an Associate Product Designer at John Wiley Press in Boston where he enjoyed his work with the publishing company…