Graduate

Graduate Alumni Interview: Taylor DeMichael

Taylor DeMichael,

MA in English, literature concentration
Spring 2022

Bio

Taylor Jenette DeMichael earned her MA in Literature at the University of South Florida and is currently a Teaching Associate and PhD candidate at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  Her research focuses on medieval and Renaissance studies with specific interest in transhistorical connections between mythological, medieval, and Early Modern figures, and how these figures and stories manifest and reemerge as symbols of propaganda, rebellion, or even hate. Taylor is especially passionate in exploring “monstrous” women and the female voice as a catalyst for rebellion, revolt, and social change.

What is your position now?

Teaching Associate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Why did you come to the USF graduate program?

I discovered USF’s English Graduate program through the work of Dr. Nicole Guenther Discenza. As a medievalist, having the opportunity to study under Dr. Discenza was a huge motivational factor in my decision to attend USF. I have benefited tremendously from her mentorship and guidance. I also appreciated USF’s focus on developing graduate students as teacher-scholars and providing students the opportunity to grow with a focus on the overarching development of personal pedagogies and teaching styles.

What was a unique opportunity you had at USF?

Being a graduate student at USF is like having a second family. While at USF, I found a community of life-long friends, colleagues, and mentors. The faculty encourages growth by developing individual and personalized relationships with each of their students. The graduate director, Dr. John Lennon, is the heart of USF’s English Graduate program. Throughout my time at USF, Dr. Lennon was a great source of both wisdom and encouragement. He is devoted to the students in this program and is always willing to help, direct, and listen. Dr. Lennon led panels for graduate students, providing the opportunity to learn from a vast array of scholars and professionals across fields as well as providing open graduate forums for students to voice questions, concerns, thoughts, or anxieties. This fostered both comradery and community.

How did USF prepare you for your current position?

USF’s unique focus on digital humanities and interdisciplinary research with an emphasis on scholar-activism helped shape and refine my scholarship and academic goals and provided me with the skillset I needed to be a competitive applicant for PhD programs.

What advice would you give to new graduate students in the program?

Reach out and cultivate relationships with professors. Look for mentors and carefully listen to their advice. Embrace every opportunity they suggest. 
Apply for everything. You will never “be ready” and there is no such thing as the “right time.”
Make the most of any and all opportunities available at USF: internships, scholarships, awards, certifications, panels, etc.
Don’t be afraid to use your seminar papers as a way to experiment with your own scholarship and authorial voice. Push yourself out of your comfort zone.
Grad school can be an incredibly isolating game of comparison. Build up the people around you, while recognizing the value in your own work and the importance of your own.