Supervisor - Mr. Smith
Mr. Smith is an upper school Latin, AP Psychology, and English teacher. He sponsors the quiz team, coaches baseball, and is also my advisor. I chose him to be my supervisor because as an English teacher, he can give me feedback on not only my use/choice of grammar, but also on the fluidity of my story. He can also discuss with me his takeaway from it and let me know what ideas work and what don't. As an advisor, I see him daily, making it easy for us to meet with one another and discuss my progress.
Mentor - Tennille Nicole Allen
Tennille Nicole Allen, Ph.D. is Professor and Chair of Sociology at Lewis University, just outside of her beloved Chicago. In addition to these roles, she directs Lewis’ African American Studies and Ethnic and Cultural Studies Programs. Her primary teaching and research interests are in the intersections of race, class, gender, identity, and place. She is the author of works on African American intimate relationships, social networks, food inequalities, the sociological contributions of Zora Neale Hurston, as well as African American cultural and creative practices. Her current community-based participatory research projects focus on youth of color in the Chicagoland region and their perceptions and experiences of race, racism and community through an arts-based youth participatory action research project; community memory archival work in Joliet, Illinois; and the ways African American girls and women living in Joliet and Chicago understand and create resilient and resistive practices as well as space and joy in their lives.
I chose her because she is my aunt, who was willing to help revise my book by reading it and providing me with feedback. As a published author, she understands the writing and publishing processes. She has offered countless resources to me, and will continue to guide me after high school.