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Jenni Baker
Major: Professional Writing
Academic Year: Graduate Student
Hometown: Elizabethtown, KY
"Both literature and the arts have had a profound impact on my life, and I'd love to encourage as many people as possible to partake in them."
Tell us about something you're involved with here and how it's changed you.
I currently work with Changing Lives Through Literature, an alternative sentencing program co-founded by English professor Robert Waxler. The program sentences criminal offenders to a series of literature seminars in lieu of traditional probation and is proven to reduce recidivism by over 50%.
Before getting involved with the program, I knew that my reading experiences had influenced me for the better, but never understood literature's potential to change lives. Now, as I participate in the biweekly sessions, I see literature's powerful sway firsthand and am continually inspired by the change it makes in offenders' lives.
Why did you choose to attend UMass Dartmouth?
I wanted to pursue my writing studies beyond my undergraduate schooling, but neither of the two traditional options--an MFA or a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition--appealed to me. I stumbled across UMass Dartmouth's MA in Professional Writing and, after reading about it on the university website, knew that this was the program for me. It's the perfect program for someone seeking employment as a writer in the real world.
What surprised you about UMass Dartmouth?
I came to UMass Dartmouth from a school with over 25,000 students and wasn't sure that I'd like a smaller university. Surprisingly, it's UMass Dartmouth's small size that I've come to love the most. I enjoy knowing all of the students in my program and appreciate the close interaction with faculty members.
What has been your greatest challenge?
UMass Dartmouth is a long way from Kentucky! It was difficult at first to acclimate to a new state and new school where I didn't know anyone. I was homesick a lot during my first year. Thankfully, I've met a lot of wonderful people who've made this school feel like a home away from home for me.
What's your plan for after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to obtain a marketing or public relations position at an arts organization or publishing company in a big city. Both literature and the arts have had a profound impact on my life, and I'd love to encourage as many people as possible to partake in them.
