Amanda Ritter-Maggio says Henderson made her a 'well-rounded global citizen'

Amanda Ritter Maggio

Q&A

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m from Hot Springs and graduated from Lake Hamilton High School. I earned both my BA in English (minor in German) and MLA in English (minor in history) from Henderson State. I am currently an associate professor of English at Texarkana College.

What is the important thing you learned while attending HSU?

I learned so many lessons during my time at Henderson. The education I earned at Henderson (and the professors who made me work to earn it) made me a well-rounded global citizen, fostered my intellectual curiosity, and showed me the importance of being a life-long learner.

What campus activities/ organizations were you involved with at Henderson?

As an undergrad, I was a member of the Showband, concert band, and brass band. I was a member of the English Club and Tau Beta Sigma; lived in Smith Hall; and worked as TRiO Student Support Services tutor. While studying in the MLA program, I was a graduate assistant in the department of English, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy; tutored in the campus Writing Center; taught basic English classes; was a member of Alpha Epsilon Lambda; and was president of Henderson’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta.

What do you believe is your greatest accomplishment?

I’d like to think I’m still climbing and haven’t achieved it yet! I love interacting with my own students and helping them reach their educational goals. I love to share in their successes and accomplishments even long after they’ve left my class. A professional project I’m most proud of was being a contributing author and editor for a publication called the Online Biographical Dictionary of the Woman Suffrage Movement in the United States, published by Alexander Street. I was honored and humbled to research and write about several dozen American suffragists who were previously unknown to scholars. The project was a wonderful mix of several of my interests: writing, research, genealogical sleuthing, and history (particularly women’s history and suffrage).