BMCC’s English Department offers major concentrations such as Writing and Literature, Journalism and Children and Youth Studies. Our alumni have pursued a variety of career paths. Here are a few of them:
Madison Petta
Year of graduation: 2021
Major: Writing and Literature
Update: I am a news producer and service aide for CBS 880 and 1010 WINS’ live broadcasts. Concurrently, I am also a freelance writer with words (and some photography) in The Sunday Times, CNN International, Maheem The Globe, and The Independent. In my producing position, my primary focus is pitching relative stories that are extensively researched and complemented by well-executed interviews that provide audio and/or video support.
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/madisonpetta
Advice for students considering an English major: Learn and embrace the craft of creative collaboration and networking. Though I am still in the earliest stages of both my journalistic and creative writing careers, I almost immediately learned that who you know is equally as important as what you know. You want to feel like you’re in a fishbowl of like-minded people; people who not only share your inspiration and drive; but, grant you valuable insight into what they’ve learned. Never turn away an opportunity to see and hear another perspective! It could open your mind or even open a door to new work opportunities.
Christopher Edwards
Year of graduation: 2021
Major: Writing and Literature
Update: I am a general assignment reporter at BK Reader. I write stories on local politics, housing, transportation, and the arts. I began interning at BK Reader in my second year as a Writing & Literature major at BMCC, and went on to work there as a freelance writer. After I graduated from BMCC and transferred to Baruch, I interned at The RICC Magazine, which publishes articles about City College’s research projects. In the fall of 2024, I will begin a Masters in Journalism program at CUNY’s Craig Newmark School of Journalism.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-edwards-4417161bb/
Advice for students considering an English major: My advice would be to build connections with professors who have experience in the field you want to enter who can guide you. Also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! I secured my internship at BK Reader with no prior journalism experience by sending them some essays I wrote in English classes at BMCC.
Karen Santos
Year of graduation: 2021
Major: Writing and Literature
Update: I’m a second-year PhD student at CUNY’s Graduate Center in the Latin American, Iberian and Latino Cultures program. My research interests include Caribbean cultural history, human rights, and affect theory. I’m currently working on a research project that analyzes how temporality, the passage of time, is depicted, perceived and experienced in a set of cultural artifacts (films, literature) that have precarity as the backdrop. I’m also very excited because I will be a graduate teaching fellow at Lehman College starting this Fall.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-santos-591096294/
Advice for students considering an English major: I know that choosing an English or Writing and Lit. major can be challenging, especially with comments like, “what are you going to do with that degree?” Even though it’s scary, do it, follow your heart! Also consider the fact that English majors offer many interdisciplinary courses that foster critical thinking, intellectual adaptability, and a creativity that is hard to beat. These skills help you think on your feet and can set you apart from the competition in a changing market no matter how you apply them, whether it’s public policy, marketing, journalism, or academia. Without BMCC and my Writing and Literature major, I would have missed out on the intellectual and academic opportunities that led to pursuing my PhD. I would be missing out on one of the greatest journeys, passing on my knowledge to students like me.
Chandani Attiyya Nash
Year of graduation: 2020
Major: Writing and Literature/Journalism Concentration
Update: I am a second-year doctoral student in American Studies at New York University’s Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, where I research childbirth, reproductive technologies, and the afterlives of slavery in the U.S. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where I concentrated in Reproductive Justice and Political Theory with a minor in bioethics. Prior experience includes working as a news editor at WNYU Radio and as a production assistant at WBAI radio. I have also been a graduate fellow at the non-profit Collective Power for Reproductive Justice and trained as a full spectrum doula.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandani-nash/
Chelsea Jaylene Portorreal
Year of graduation: 2019
Major: Writing and Literature
Update: I am an incoming Ph.D. student for Rutgers University’s English program Fall 2024. I graduated from Lehman College with a B.A in English, and a Minor in Africana Studies. My work and academic pursuits are focused on Black social life/afterlife of slavery, carceral studies, and visual culture studies. I have presented at several conferences (most notably 2024 Stonybrook English Graduate Conference and 2024 National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) and won awards in regard to my senior thesis: “Imbricationality: Refusal and Resistance in Spaces of Enclosure.”
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-portorreal/
Advice for students considering an English major: English literature spans various genres and historical periods, and my experience exploring the diverse authors and genres led me to comprehensively understand the field and discipline. It enabled me the ability to actively engage with texts of the past and contemporary in relation to my experience as a BIPOC LGBTQIA+ person. Actively participating in class discussions/seminars allowed me to share my thoughts/ideas while listening to various perspectives that further enhanced my critical thinking and knowledge. I also think its fundamental to establish connections with peers and faculty because through academic interests, kinship and community can be found. I think the pursuit of an English degree is incredibly rewarding and transformative.
Serina Morales
Year of graduation: 2018
Major: Writing and Literature
Update: Thanks to BMCC, I was able to gain a scholarship to attend New York University. I graduated in 2020, and now work for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New York office. I’m also applying to masters programs, hoping to major in creative writing and poetry.
Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/serina-elizabeth-m
Advice for students considering an English major: If you’re looking to be a writer, choose your next school wisely. BMCC is an excellent place to start, but choose a bachelor’s program that resonates with your life experiences and supports your journey. Don’t focus on name-value!
Deanna Garcia
Year of graduation: 2018
Major: Writing and Literature
Update: I am a digital producer at Spectrum News NY1. In this role, I cover a variety of neighborhoods across the five boroughs by writing articles and editing our reporters’ stories on our online platform. I handle our political coverage as well. Since NY1 is the largest market for Spectrum News, I also help with editing our coverage of national and other markets across the country.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-garcia-a177a0b0
Advice for students considering an English major: Being a student with the English Department allowed me to get a sense of what I can do with my future. I remember when I took my first journalism course for feature writing at BMCC, it made me realize how much I enjoyed gathering information and sharing stories about different communities. Not only that, but my professors were very supportive and helpful in showing me what the career path would be like.
Donnell Earl Griffith
Year of graduation: 2017
Major: Writing and Literature
Update: I am an Adjunct Professor of College Composition at Hudson County Community College. I’m also leading a summer Circus Program for the Yonkers Youth Bureau in Yonkers. After graduating from BMCC, I received a B.A. in English and Film from Hunter College and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Publishing from Long Island University.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnellgriffithjr83b34128/
Advice for students considering an English major: Get involved in any community that’s available to you, whether it be for a neighborhood, a special interest, or a shared hobby. These are places where you get to do work with people who know you as an individual and give you a record of your ability to take responsibility. These types of references can be invaluable and help you land a future job or position.
Israel Salas-Rodriguez
Year of graduation: Attended BMCC 2013-2015, transferred to Brooklyn College in 2015
Major: English/Journalism Concentration
Update:I am a senior breaking news reporter at The U.S. Sun. I am tasked with monitoring developing stories that could generate online traffic to our news outlet. When a breaking news story arises, I am responsible for writing and accurately reporting on active events, whether that’s calling local police, EMS, and fire officials or scouring the web for potential witnesses, victims, or family members linked to the story. Prior to joining The U.S. Sun in 2020, I was a field reporter for the New York Post, reporting the latest from the tri-state area.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/israel-salas-rodriguez-34b56a165/
Advice for students considering a Journalism/English major: I advise anyone looking to enter the world of media to network with aspiring journalists. Connecting with other newspeople who are already in the workforce, or who are also trying to get their foot in the door goes a long way over endlessly sending resumes to available positions a news outlet may have.
Jake Rogers
Year of graduation: 2011
Major: Writing and Literature
Update: I am an Environmental Scientist for Parsons Corporation, consulting on the cleanup, monitoring, and disposal of pollution as well as soil and water conservation within the New York City Metropolitan area. After studying Writing and Literature at BMCC, I pursued a double major in Environmental Science and Physical Geography at Hunter College, with a focus on sustainability and earth systems science.
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jake-rogers-a0859210
Advice for students considering an English major: Receiving my Associate Degree in Writing and Literature from BMCC gave me a solid base to move forward to an Environmental Science Degree at Hunter College. When you have a firm grasp of writing and literature, then you have unlimited opportunities to apply those skills to other fields. I use the skills that I learned at BMCC every day when writing and editing environmental research papers, presentations, reports and proposals. I highly recommend using your own creative judgement when letting this degree guide you to your future reading and writing endeavors in life, which will be many!
Damian Harris-Hernandez
Year of graduation: 2010
Major: Writing and Literature
Update: After graduating from BMCC, I attended Columbia University, majoring in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies, where I learned Turkish. I became a Turkish translator, and founded the Refugee Translation Project in 2017, which provides free translation and interpretation services to people seeking asylum and other immigration relief.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damian-harris-hernandez-3a68a122/
Advice for students considering an English major: This major will serve you well if you wish to pursue a higher degree or enter a field where writing is a large part of the job.
Jesse Dean
Year of graduation: 2005
Major: Writing and Literature
Update: I oversees external communications and marketing for CSH, a national nonprofit advancing supportive housing as an evidence-based approach to homelessness. I am also is completing training to become a board certified integrative nutrition health coach to inspire others to achieve their highest quality of health and mobility.
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/deanjesse
Advice for students considering an English major: Writing in all its forms is an art as well as a skill. Those who want to stand out as a job candidate in any field, would do well to strengthen their writing abilities. Studying Writing and Literature fine tunes your writing as well as your analytic abilities. Plus you learn about people, places and history by studying literature, giving you a depth of knowledge you wouldn’t otherwise have.
Igwe Williams
Year of graduation: 2003
Major: Writing Careers
Update: I am currently the Director of the BMCC Writing Center as well as an Adjunct Lecturer at BMCC. After graduating from BMCC, I continued on to CCNY for a BA in English, focusing on Creative Writing, and then an MFA, focusing on Creative Writing and Poetry.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igwe-williams-3b551474/
Advice for students considering an English major: Don’t pass on your Critical Thinking and Logical Reasoning courses. It is more important than ever for people to be deliberate about information literacy.
