Languages, Literature, and Composition

Tara Bing '13 BA English

Tara Bing is currently an Attorney Adviser for Social Security Administration Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. After graduating from USC Upstate in 2013, Tara began graduate school at the Charleston School of Law. In 2016, Tara graduated from law school, passed the South Carolina Bar, and was sworn-in as an attorney. She first served as a law clerk in SC Circuit Court for the Honorable Alison Renee Lee.

“I always knew that I wanted to attend law school to become a lawyer and decided to pick a major that I thought would benefit me in law school. At first, I was certain that I needed to major in political science, but I quickly changed my mind when I was told that I should choose a major that I would love. I am glad that I changed my major to English because writing was a skill that I felt would help me excel in law school. . . . I am excited to see what the future holds for me.”

"I believe that there are countless opportunities to use your English major in the real world. I decided to use my English major to become a lawyer, and I want to show others that an English major does not mold students into just one career path. The sky is not even the limit for anyone with drive and determination to make their dreams come true."

Philip Davenport '13 BA Interdisciplinary Studies, Concentration in French

Philip Davenport completed a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Studio Art and French at USC Upstate in 2013. He went on to earn an MA in International Studies (International Law and Organization) from the University of South Carolina Columbia the following year. After completing his TEFL Certification, Philip lived and worked for Boston Academy in Léon, Guanajuato, Mexico. In July 2016, he received a professorship position at the Universidad Mariana in San Juan de Pasto, Colombia, and he has taught in Colombia and Mexico, where he plans to start his own English school in the coming years.

"I owe all of my experiences, opportunities, and success to the professors and staff at the USC Upstate. During my degree program I received so much support from my professors, including Dr. Araceli Hernandez-Laroche (my mentor and friend). I remember the professors taking me under their wings and showing me what I needed to do to succeed. They offered me opportunities to teach, intern, and research, and without them I believe I wouldn’t be where I am today, chasing my dream of travelling and working around the world. Today, I feel lucky and extremely grateful for the inspiration, courage, and motivation that USC Upstate helped me find. My final words would be those that a great friend offered me right before I left for Mexico, she wrote in a card these simple words: 'Jump, and the net will appear.' Those words will always stick with me as I continue into the future, and I hope they speak to you as well."

Travis Deberry '12 English Major

Travis Deberry earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from USC Upstate. Upon commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in 2012, he started off in the Army Chemical Corps as a platoon leader stationed at Camp Stanley, South Korea. Following Korea, he graduated from the Army Airborne School to qualify as a parachutist for my next assignment in Vicenza, Italy, where he was stationed for two years. 

"The USC Upstate English program enhanced my critical thinking skills and prepared me for the professional writing requirements as an Army Officer. Officers must be effective readers and writers who are able to analyze and interpret Army doctrine, publish and issue  operational orders, implement policies, and write scholarly articles that advance the profession of arms. Being able to analyze and deconstructing binaries are skills that I will continue to use and pursue throughout my life and my career."

Tanya Newman '01 English Major

Tanya Newman has a Bachelor of Arts in English from USC Upstate, and a Master of Arts in English from Clemson University. She is an English Instructor and Library Specialist with Spartanburg Community College. Her short story, “The Only One,” was published by Gadfly Online. Her first novel, The Good Thief, was published by Black Opal Books in 2016, and her second novel, Winter Rain, was published in 2017. She has a third novel already on the way.

"I feel immeasurably blessed to have studied in the English Department at USC Upstate because I found what I wanted to do for the rest of my life: write and teach. The path to this discovery would not be complete without the wisdom and inspiration from many professors, namely Dr. Marilyn Knight, Dr. Thomas McConnell, Dr. Donald Knight, Dr. Alan Chalmers, and Professor Jonathan Barker. Each ignited and re-ignited a love of literature and writing through courses like Creative Writing, Contemporary American and British Literature, Victorian Literature, and Women in Literature, and works like The Great Gatsby, The Sun Also Rises, As I Lay Dying, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, The Scarlet Letter, and Jane Eyre. I found a home in these classes and these works, as I did with the Literary Club and my work as a Features Editor with The Carolinian. My professors inspired me to do for other students what they did for me, which was inspire, enlighten, and enrich through literature. Studying writing and literature at USC Upstate is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made."