Posts

Bertha Looney
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Do you know Bertha Looney of the Memphis State Eight?

Bertha Looney, a history-maker and trailblazer who made my time at the University of Memphis possible, peaceful, and progressive. Imagine being at a place where no one wants you there. Hateful words are yelled at you daily and you literally…
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A Focus on the Future After a Year of Loss and Lessons

2020 respresents a lot of loss for me, as it does for many others. It also represents a year where I was reminded of just how creative, flexible, compassionate, and resourceful I can be and how the lessons from my past can help me focus on the…
Summer Owens and Miriam DeCosta Sugarman
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Becoming a Part of History- The Miriam DeCosta Sugarman Marker Dedication Ceremony

There are not many moments when you're invited to be a part of history. Last Monday, I had the honor of speaking on the program for a major moment in University of Memphis history. As part of the University of Memphis' initiatives to Eradicate…
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20 Years Later. A Teen Mom Homecoming Achievement.

Have you ever achieved something that you didn't even consider pursuing because you didn't even know it was a "thing." Well, here's my teen mom homecoming achievement. 20 years I did just that when I was named Ms. University of Memphis 2000-2001. Teen…
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When Silence Doesn’t Make Sense

When I was asked to issue an official statement on the racial injustices many African Americans are currently facing and have for too long, I was ready. I didn't know what I would say and could barely verbalize how hurt and even afraid I felt,…
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How My Life Became a College Course

When I walked onto the campus of the University of Memphis as a freshman and mother of a two year old in 1997, the last thing I ever imagined was that I would one day be a professor on that same campus. When I chose business as my degree the…

5 Lessons Learned from Losing Two Friends Under 40

At this moment, I am 19 days from my 38th birthday, and a little more than two years from my 40th birthday. I pray that I will be blessed to see it on May 22nd because two of my friends did not. Last weekend I had the sad occasion of attending…

How Sharing My Story Became a College Course

"Dreams Do Come True...Even the Ones You Didn't Even Know You Had."