Danielle King

HOMETOWN: Ridgefield, Connecticut MAJOR: English, concentration in Literature WCSU DEGREE: Master of Arts in English ACTIVITIES: Safe and Sound Satos Rescue, ESL/English tutor, swimming, boxing, employed full-time with WCSU Pre-Collegiate and Access Programs INTERNSHIPS: Graduate Internship in Judicial Affairs

HONORS AND AWARDS: Dean’s List, Alpha Sigma Lambda: National Honor Society for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning, Sigma Tau Delta: International English Honors Society, Macricostas Best Research Paper of the Year 2017, Macricostas Most Promising Scholar of the Year 2018, Macricostas Outstanding Thesis of the Year 2019

______________________________________________________________________________

Danielle King obtained a bachelor’s degree in English from WCSU, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2012. So when it came time to consider pursuing a graduate degree, she didn’t have to look far.

“Initially I decided to attend WCSU because of the proximity to my home,” King says. “After looking into the programs and faculty, I realized that the quality of education and cost effectiveness of attending WCSU were very beneficial as well.”

King, who works on campus as a secretary in the Pre-Collegiate and Access Programs office, says her choice of major came easily, too.

“I have always been very good at writing and also enjoyed reading, so becoming an English major was a natural fit for me. Also, I believed that it would be great preparation if I decided to attend law school.”

While pursuing her degree, King says she had many in the English Department supporting her goals. “Many members of the English Department, such as Dr. Margaret Murray, Dr. Shouhua Qi and Dr. Michael Chappell encouraged my growth tremendously,” King says. “However, Dr. Murray became my mentor. As a nontraditional student in a sea of recent high school graduates, I was able to relish learning, versus simply studying to pass exams. Dr. Murray’s classes exposed me to many authors and work that I had not studied before, and in turn made me want to do additional research just to grasp all the information I could. Dr. Murray was the first person at WCSU who encouraged me to keep writing. She eventually became my Thesis Adviser and I am tremendously grateful.”

Asked what she will remember most about her WCSU experience, King says, “My most memorable experiences  have included WCSU’s Annual Day of Service where we volunteered at various places within our Danbury community. The camaraderie, as well as the feeling of accomplishment at the end of each day was unforgettable.”

After graduation, King says, “I plan to pursue either a doctorate, or perhaps attend law school, while continuing to mentor and guide our students through Pre-Collegiate and Access Programs. As a first-generation graduate, I hope to help our students navigate and chart their course on their college journey by encouraging them, and sharing all the knowledge I have acquired from being here on campus.

Her advice to new students entering WCSU is: “Don’t give up, always show up and don’t be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help. No problem is insurmountable and someone here on campus can always help! Our community here at WCSU is incredibly caring and supportive, but if you don’t ask, nothing will change.”