I was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, and earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Doctoral degree in English-Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (in 2003 and 2012, respectively). I have devoted much of my professional life to the classroom and service. At the University of Mississippi, I held the faculty position of Ottilie Schillig Associate Professor of English and African American Studies. There, I served for a combined eight years as the Director of the Master of Fine Arts program and the African American Studies program. Here at UWM, I hold the faculty position of Professor of English-Creative Writing. I am excited to serve as Interim Director of the Black Student Cultural Center. I believe that academic institutions should serve as pillars to our communities. The Black Student Cultural Center plays a pivotal role in supporting students and connecting with our community at large. I look forward to working with my colleagues to offer programming that is both invigorating and educational for all students.
Derrick Harriell, Interim Director & Professor of English