By Erinn Lyden

The job title next to Denise Atkinson’s name is “Department of English Accountant,” but her responsibilities outside of the office really define her as an individual.

Atkinson enjoys her job but loves her family immensely. She is a mother of two children, one who is a Florida State graduate, class of 2013. She also is the primary caregiver to her elderly mother, which takes up a lot of Atkinson’s free time when she is not working.

In the remainder of her free time, Atkinson reaches out to help the community.

“I enjoy volunteering at my church, and I am involved in numerous missionary committees there,” she says.

Atkinson worked with the Department of Justice for over 25 years. She started in 1982 at the Bureau of Prisons, not long after her graduation with a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Florida A&M University.

That is my favorite part about working for the English department. I have met some nice faculty and students who make me feel like I’m being helpful.

— Denise Atkinson

“I became an executive within three years and I felt it was because of my degree and education that I was able to work my way up in management to become one of the top executives for the government,” she says.

She retired from this job in 2007 and began working at FSU’s English department in October of 2017.

As the department’s accountant, Atkinson oversees all of the department’s financials and reimbursements. Along with this significant responsibility, she makes sure the department sticks to its budget.

Atkinson came to work at FSU after she retired and returned to Tallahassee. She realized her kids had their own lives with families in Baltimore and Los Angeles, and Atkinson wanted to do something more meaningful with her time.

Atkinson has been recently inspired by her reading of Becoming by Michelle Obama, as the former First Lady reminds Atkinson of her daughter.

She has always had high regard for FSU because of her daughter’s time as a student and her graduation from the university. Atkinson says she encountered many staff members at FSU who helped her daughter’s career advancement.

"That is my favorite part about working for the English department," she says. "I have met some nice faculty and students who make me feel like I’m being helpful,” she says.

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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