For seven years, Allison Brimmer has been an assistant professor for the Division of Humanities in the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences. Her love of literature and writing, combined with her desire to help students realize their full potential, made her want to become an educator.
Brimmer earned her master’s degree in literature from Iowa State University and her doctorate in women studies from the University of South Florida. For Brimmer, finding your voice and having the power and privilege to use it is what made women studies and the education field so interesting.
Brimmer said, “Education gives a person the power to speak out for themselves and for others.”
One of the books that really influenced Brimmer was the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave.”
Brimmer said that this book is not only one of the most famous narratives written by a former slave, but it became big in the movement to abolish slavery.
This work, and many other pieces of literature, really helped Brimmer see the importance of caring for and helping others.
“It is a person’s job to recognize problems and speak out and behave in ways to make positive change,” said Brimmer.
Brimmer is not only a professor. She has also been actively involved on campus, through the American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) collaboration with the PACE Center for Girls.
The PACE Center for Girls is a non-profit organization that mentors, educates, and trains girls and young women throughout Florida to help them establish successful futures. Twice a month, NSU students and faculty welcome girls to campus to mentor them. Besides building friendships, these girls take part in basic learning skills and talk about the importance of education and attending college.
Brimmer said that the initiative, of NSU partnering with PACE for students and faculty to become mentors, was started by Divia Sadhwany.
After interning at PACE at a local pace center, Sadhwany thought this was something that the university should get involved with. From there, student and faculty met with members of the library, who were really supportive of AAUW and its partnership with PACE.
Brimmer says that the program has been great for NSU students and for PACE. She said that the 10 NSU students involved feel that they are doing something worthwhile and that the girls from PACE learn to value the importance of going to college.
Brimmer said that being part of this program reinforces why she loves her job as a college professor.
“I see other people inspired to be in school and acting in the world, which makes my work really awesome,” said Brimmer.
