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Amanda Bissonnette
By Malynda Dorsey
“Being involved during college has prepared me to be a leader,” said Amanda Bissonnette, graduating senior and editor-in-chief of Valdosta State University’s new online scholarly research journal, Omnino. “Because of my involvement, I have become much more goal-oriented and I now realize that I can do anything I want to do.”
The English major is currently preparing a screenplay based on an Ernest Hemingway short story as a work sample for graduate school admission. Upon receiving her Bachelor of Arts in English, with a minor in philosophy and creative writing, at the end of this semester she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Moving Image Studies at Georgia State University.
Bissonnette has also expressed plans of starting an internship with the Georgia Music, Film and Entertainment Commission in January 2012. Her ultimate goal is to become a film critic and screenplay writer.
“I have a strong interest in indie films, so I’d love to work on them. I love memoir films and those that include dark humor. My favorite movie is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”
Since her sophomore year, Bissonnette has been involved in various on-campus activities that have allowed her to enhance her skills and love for writing, editing and critiquing.
“During my sophomore year I took an editing class with Dr. Pat Miller. I also started getting mentored by Dr. Marty Williams. Under his guidance, I became a writer and junior copy editor for VSU’s student magazine, On Tap. I also joined Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society.”
Bissonnette said that writing for On Tap sparked her interest in film review and ultimately influenced her decision for graduate school.
Bissonnette joined the editorial staff of the undergraduate research journal, Omnino in Spring 2011. She became editor-in-chief at the beginning of the fall semester. As editor-in-chief, she oversees the collection of papers for submission, combines papers for peer review and serves as a liaison between the department heads, co-editors and faculty advisors.
She also serves as president of the Alpha Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, calling bi-weekly meetings and holding fundraisers for the organization.
As graduation approaches, Bissonnette expresses a clear plan for her career and credits the English Department faculty for this direction.
“The teachers in the English department are so giving and personable. They will do what they can to help you succeed if you want to. Many of them have been an inspiration to me in the past few years.”
Meet Amanda Bissonnette
Academic Year: Senior
Expected Graduation: December 2011
Degree Objective: English Literature and Language, minor in Philosophy and Creative Writing
Hometown: Alpharetta, Georgia
High school: Northview High School
My favorite thing to do on campus is… sit at Starbucks for a quiet place to read and study. I do admit that I do not spend a lot of my free time on campus; however, I am on campus for academic and extra-curricular purposes.
When I have free time… I like to review films, write poetry and short stories, go to Stage 51 with friends and spend time with my nephew, Oliver. However, most of my spare time is taken up planning fundraisers for Sigma Tau Delta, writing articles for On Tap and recruiting papers for Omnino.
The three words that best describe me are… driven, spontaneous and organized.
My favorite place to study is… in bed. Weird, I know. But I like to be comfortable and in my own realm. Sitting in bed with the door shut is the quietest and most comfortable atmosphere.
My favorite professors are… Dr. Marty Williams, Dr. David Buehrer and Dr. Michael Davey from the English department.
My favorite classes are… Dr. Marty Williams' Advanced Poetry Workshop and Dr. Jane Kinney's Love & Marriage in the Early Modern Period.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would share it with… Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Barack Obama.
The thing that I will miss the most about college is… my educators and my peers. The English major is the most diverse and close-knit major I could have ever imagined. You start and end your college career with the same people. We have all really grown together and I will miss everyone.
After graduation, I plan to… intern with the Georgia Music, Film & Entertainment Commission in Atlanta, starting in January. I also plan to start graduate school at Georgia State University to pursue doctoral studies with the department of communication for moving image studies and a minor in screenplay writing. I want to be a film critic and screenplay writer while writing short stories, novels and poetry on the side.
Some unique things about me are… my background. I am Irish-French Canadian. I grew up in Guelph, Ontario Canada, but I’ve lived in other places like Michigan and New Hampshire before my family settled in Guelph. My father's job took us all over the place and as a result I have grown up with a very diverse perspective. My father got a job transfer to Atlanta when I was about to start high school and that’s where we have been since. Another unique thing about me is that I grew up in a large family. I have three brothers and one sister. I am the middle child. My mother grew up in a large family as well, but not as large as my grandmother’s family. My grandmother grew up with 25 siblings.
My favorite childhood memory is… when my grandmother came to watch me and my three other siblings while my mom was in the hospital giving birth to my youngest brother.
My biggest supporters in life are… of course, my large family. My family supports me in everything I do and I am thankful for that. Even though the economy is down and my dreams lie in a low-income division, they still push me to achieve my goals. Also, my boyfriend is my number one fan. He is always cheering me on and supporting my every decision.