Graduate Student Alumni Spotlight

English

Tina BausingerStudent Name:  Tina Bausinger

Program: English MA; currently pursuing PhD

Graduated: 2013

Employer: Randall High School and Amarillo College

What attracted you to this field?

I’ve always loved words – both writing them and reading them, so it made sense to do what I love.

Why did you choose to attend UT Tyler?

I attended UT Tyler as an undergraduate, and my experience with top-notch professors and intriguing classes really resounded with me. I couldn’t think of a better place to earn my master’s degree. I can truly say UT Tyler changed my life, and meeting professors like Dr. Ann Beebe, Dr. Paul Streufert, Dr. Karen Sloan and Dr. Emily Standridge has done nothing less than inspire me and ignite my passion for literature and writing.

What do you like most about UT Tyler?

The relationships I’ve made there, both with other students and faculty, have been influential for both personal and job placement reasons. I loved UT Tyler so much I encouraged both my daughters to attend. They are graduating this December! Where did the time go? Sarah, my youngest daughter, will graduate with a BA in Music Education and her older sister, Jordanne will graduate with a double major of Music Education and Performance. They are both looking at graduate school options.

What are your career aspirations?

Currently, I’m working on a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Texas A&M Commerce. I’m also a writer. In 2013 I published my first novel, War Eagle Women, which was mentioned on USA Today. In September of this year, I published my second book, Cold Coffee and Speed Limits: Encouragement for Mamas of Teens. It’s been a bestseller on Amazon. In the past I’ve published twice with Chicken Soup for the Soul and have won awards for my short stories and poetry. I also have a blog.  I’m working on an anthology of short stories called Sweet Tea and Southern Sunrises: Women of the South Speak.

What's your work experience?

I’m teaching English Composition I and II as well as World Literature. I gained valuable experience as a TA at UT Tyler before I graduated from the program. I also worked at the UT Tyler Writing Center as well as TJC’s Writing Center. As a result, I’ve been given a spot as UIL Ready Writing Judge at the regional level, and I’ve been a guest speaker at many academic and writing conferences. I used to write a humor column for the Patriot Talon, and I know that has given me the confidence to approach the Tyler Paper and IN Magazine, where I sometimes do freelance work (book reviews, travel pieces and editorials). The latest issue of IN published a story I wrote about traveling to Paris. I’ve been interviewed by UT Tyler Magazine, the Tyler Paper, County Line Magazine, a writer from USA Today and Southern Writers Magazine.

As a UT Tyler student, I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to Shanghai for three weeks. That trip has changed my life and how I view myself. It really helped me develop confidence and self-esteem to be traveling for the first time by myself—as an older student, this experience really proved to me that I am never too old to learn and grow.

Do you have any advice to pass along to other students interested in this program?

My advice is to resist the urge to stay in your social shell. Make friends of your professors and your classmates. When the work becomes difficult, a network of friends can be invaluable to persist to the end.

Find out more about our English degree

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