By Erinn Lyden

Britni DeZerga is an avid amateur botanist, crochet enthusiast, and a cat mom. Indeed, as the English department’s Graduate Program Coordinator, she brings more to the desk she sits behind than most people know about.

DeZerga moved from Lake County, Florida, to Tallahassee in 2010 to attend Florida State University, where she majored in literature and earned her bachelor’s degree.

Her literature studies, she says, gave her strong communication skills, which are essential for any job, especially hers. Her courses provided her with opportunity to think critically about various topics, to be able to understand a lot of information at once, to be aware of the people affected, and how this information might change the future.

“While I was here as an undergrad, I had a federal work study position in the English department,” she says, adding that her tasks then included general office duties and filling copying and scanning requests for faculty members and staff. “I realized I loved working in the department, and I wanted to work here full time.”

While I was here as an undergrad, I had a federal work study position in the English department. I realized I loved working in the department, and I wanted to work here full time.

— Britni DeZerga

Not long after her time in that position ended, DeZerga began working at the department’s front desk on the fourth floor of the Williams Building. She quickly became interested in the students enrolled in the three graduate programs the department offers.

After a brief time away from the Williams Building, DeZerga returned to the English department in April of 2021.

“I worked in FSU’s School of Teacher Education, and then my current position became available,” she says, referring to the three-and-a-half years she was in the College of Education.

In her free time, she enjoys cozying up in one of her homemade crochet blankets and reading her favorite book, Wuthering Heights.

“I love the drama,” she says enthusiastically. “I know in my rational mind that Catherine and Heathcliff are terrible for each other but something about it being so vivid and the dark draws me in.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, DeZerga, her wife, and their two cats, Clover and Milo, watched more than 100 movies. She admits she had never seen the Harry Potter series until recently, and added that one of her all-time favorite trilogies is Lord of the Rings.

For her work in the department, DeZerga assists graduate students, prior to when they are admitted to their respective programs through their graduation. She also helps them stay on track with their graduation milestones.

“I don't do everything, certainly, but graduate students can come to me with any questions,” DeZerga says, “and if I can't answer it, I will direct them toward the [right] person.”

Although her 8-to-5 office job in the Williams Building takes up a lot of time, DeZerga enjoys tending to her 14 African violets she has all around her house.

“I think African violets are great starter plants so I have several,” she says. “I’m also partial to roses and a wide variety of fruit trees I have outside. Right now in my yard, I’m growing lemons, limes, loquats, and peaches.

“I think this is a lifelong interest for me, I grew up with a lot of plants.”

DeZerga herself is a peach and anyone who has seen her at her job has seen the enthusiasm she has for her work with the graduate students and the department.

“I really like the environment,” she says. “I like working with creative people and passionate people.”

Erinn Lyden is a junior who is majoring in English-Editing, Writing, and Media, with a minor in Communication and a certificate in Multicultural Marketing Communication.

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