By Erinn Lyden

Christie Daniels’ list of responsibilities in her Florida State University English department role is a mixed bag, which she welcomes. In addition to being the College Composition Program Assistant, she oversees the creation of instructors’ and teaching assistants’ schedules and the sections of classes.

Daniels appreciates the English department and enjoys working behind the scenes.

“Our department looks out for the staff and the students in light of the pandemic and I really appreciate everything they’ve done for us,” Daniels says, referring specifically to English Professor Gary Taylor, chair of the department. “He has really put the people of the department first, which include the students and the staff.”

Originally from Miami, Daniels moved to Tallahassee to attend FSU for her first year. She eventually transferred from FSU to Ohio State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in literature. She then earned her doctorate in rhetoric from the University of Texas.

In spring of 2020, she returned to Tallahassee to work in the English department.

Along with her administrative duties, Daniels is currently teaching ENC2135 in the Spring 2022 semester.

“I try to make my classroom chill and inviting but I appreciate the competitiveness of the students,” says Daniels, who recalls Native American Literature as her favorite class during her undergraduate studies. “I love the students in the college. So many of them are extremely engaged and interested in cool subjects, which in a first-year writing class, I’m always impressed by the passion of the students.”

In her free time, Daniels enjoys watching sports, especially her favorite soccer team, Chelsea F.C., located in West London. Daniels admits, though, that her mom introduced her to the guilty pleasure of reality television.

“I’m addicted to 90 Day Fiancé,” she says, laughing a bit at herself. “I feel like I should know better but I watch it anyway.”

She enjoys reading and her favorite book is the novelization of the Academy Award-winning movie Interstellar.

“The book is always better than the movie,” she says, “but this book allows you to pick up on things you might have not gotten from the movie.”

Because of her work in the College Composition Program, Daniels truly values first-year writing classes such as ENC1101 and ENC2135. She enjoys that the assignment topics are open, so the students are able to express their feelings on the topics they care most about.

“As a teacher, it’s nice to read their projects because they aren’t boring for them to write,” she says. “The students take it as an opportunity to do something really exciting with their work. The assignments bring the students out of their shells which can be difficult in a first-year class.”

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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