Blog

By: Trixie Smith

Back in 2018 I had my first experiences with Leadership Fellows from across the African continent through the Alliance for African Partnership. It was then that I met Professor Fredrick Muyodi from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, College of Natural Sciences. It was also then that we started talking about establishing a writing center at Makerere. Through other AAP programs over the next couple of years, I also met Professor Ronald Bisaso from the College of Education, and Stella Kakeeto, a research manager with the College of Health Sciences. They too were dreaming of a writing center at Makerere University. In 2022, we had the opportunity through support from the US Embassy in Uganda to work together to start making that dream a reality. In March of 2023, Dr. Grace Pregent and I traveled to Makerere to help launch this new writing center and to work with faculty from across the university. I was asked to say a few words at the ceremonial launch and I share them with you now.

I am professor Trixie Smith and it is so good to be here at Makerere University and to play a small role in the university’s commitment to moving towards the future of a research-led university. First I want to thank the team here that we have been working with, Prof Muyodi, Dr. Ronald Bisaso, and Ms. Stella Kakeeto, as well as a great team of Research and Administrative Assistants—Charles, MaryAnn, and Aisha. Thanks as well for the warm greetings and support from the VC, the DVC for Academic Affairs, and the Director of Research and Graduate Studies. In fact every one we’ve encountered has been warm and inviting.

I bring greetings from Michigan State University, my home for the past 16 years, I also extend greetings from my colleague Dr. Grace Pregent who is also on this trip, and my colleagues back home with the Alliance for African Partnership, Ms Ann Allegra and co-director Dr. José Jackson-Malete, who was the first person to introduce me to Makerere University and Prof Muyodi. It is an honor for all of us to be involved in this project and in this launch.

Makerere University has announced through its 2020-2030 strategic plan that it “ is committed to providing transformative and innovative teaching, learning, research and services responsive to dynamic national and global needs.” This vision includes strategic partnerships in research and industry, as well as the community, and the development of students in every area. Just like Makerere, at Michigan State we too have a new strategic plan dedicated to change by 2030. Michigan State is focused on three things: 1. empowering excellence, 2. advancing equity, and 3. expanding impact. We also acknowledge that one of the ways we can accomplish these goals is through engaged partnerships both locally and globally. Partnerships such as this one with Makerere University where we can collaborate with stellar researchers and visionaries, where we can work together to build on the abundant strengths you have here, and where we can conduct research together that is important to a global audience as well as a local one. It also means student and faculty exchanges, learning from and with each other at every level from undergraduate student to senior faculty leaders.

I have been directing university writing centers for 20 years, but I started many years before that as a peer tutor, when I was an undergraduate student finishing my BA degree in English and my BS in Education. One of my mentors along this journey, advanced a model of what she called complementary expertise, which is particularly salient in the writing center. Writers are their own best experts about their writing, their projects, their research, their goals, but they come to the writing center to work collaboratively with others who have expertise in areas such as research, writing, grant applications, and presentations. Working together both individuals learn and grow and become even better versions of themselves, they complement each other. That is our shared goal for a writing center here at Makerere University. We think this writing center and the programs organized by and run through the center can be a model for the East African region and beyond, an important part of Makerere’s goals and visions for being innovative and transformative and increasing its visibility around the globe.

In my 30+ years of teaching writing and working in writing centers, I have seen their transformative power—for individual writers, researchers, and teachers, as well as for programs and curricula. Focusing on writing and the needs of writers, no matter their level or type of writing, can open up new opportunities for networking, for influencing readers and researchers, for making connections in the community and beyond. Writing is a tool that cuts across colleges and disciplines, it can also cut across identity markers such as gender, age, and citizenship. It can, it does, provide forums and platforms for new discoveries and solutions, whether we’re thinking about food security or the effects of climate change on our planet. Whether we’re thinking about the role of play in literacy learning for our children or the role of education in keeping people healthy. And on and on—writing’s importance never diminishes.

I’m excited and honored to be a part of this launch and to have the opportunity to work with so many of you in the upcoming days and months, and hopefully for many years to come. Thank you.

-Post published: August 28, 2023

This blog was updated May 2024 as Dr.Trixie Smith stepped down from her role as Director of the Writing Center in 2024 to transition into the role of Director of Global Alliances in Literacy and Engagement.

1. What’s your favorite ceiling tile in the MSU Writing Center’s Bessey location?

I can’t pick one.  I love the diverse ways consultants have chosen to represent themselves, writing, and their time in the center.  My favorite thing about the tiles is the impact they have on people when they make their in-person visit to 300 Bessey. 

2. What’s the most surprising change you’ve seen in the WC?

I’m still surprised by how much COVID-19 affected our numbers in terms of staff.  We’ve been rebuilding our numbers, but also had 20 consultants graduate this spring/summer, so we’ll keep rebuilding. 

3. Pancakes or waffles?

I love them both, but usually pick pancakes first. 

4. What historical person do you want on your team in the event of a Zombie apocalypse?

Alice from the Resident Evil movies; unless you mean non-fiction and then I’ll go for Ida B. Wells.

5. If you could have any historical figure come to the MSU Writing Center—either just to observe, or even as a writer—who would it be and why?

Toni Morrison because she had so many smart things to say about writing, her novels have so many layers to them, and I’d love to meet her.

6. What’s your favorite thing about directing MSU’s writing center?

The diversity of consultants and writers who come through our programs—they’re all doing such interesting things and I continue to learn from them daily.

7. In an alternate universe where you aren’t a WC director, what do you think you might be doing as a job?

My alternative career is as a midwife; sometimes I still consider it as a retirement plan.

8. Most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?

My house!

9. What is a favorite moment from your time at the Writing Center?

One of my favorites is our first partnership with folks in southern Africa because that one encounter has led to so many other partnerships, engagements, friends, co-researchers, etc. 

10. What is your funniest story from working in the Writing Center?

One of my funniest memories was making a public relation video in the WC.  We were trying to do it in one take, and the media team had practiced many times to prepare, but then we hired Sparty to add to the mix and hadn’t rehearsed with him and it seemed to throw everyone off.  We had a lot of fun and laughs that day. Here’s the Outtakes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7AVEuO_xgM&t=23s

11. What do you think the Writing Center will be like in ten years?

Still helping writers in even more diverse ways and probably with even more community partnerships, both locally and globally. 

12. Is a pop tart a sandwich?

No, it’s a pastry!

13. What are your pets’ names?

Sunshine, Hazel, and Lily.

14. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

It’s easier to get forgiveness than permission.

15. What is the one thing people always misunderstand about you?

I’ve been told I can be hard to read sometimes and when I ask people to explain, it’s usually about times when I was just trying to really listen, to pay full attention to what someone was telling me both with their words, their omitted words, and their body language. 

16. What is one thing you’ve always wanted to try but never had the courage to do?

I’ve always wanted to try parasailing, especially at the beach.  I’ve never really had the opportunity, so I don’t know if courage is an issue or not, lol. 

17. With the emergence of new technologies over the past decades, how have you seen the Writing Center change and adapt? 

As a team who works with writers, we know we’ll see all of the new technologies in writers’ projects and assignments, so we work together to think about how these technologies can help us support writers, how these different technologies may create problems or confusion, as well as new genres and modes of communication, and what technology has become obsolete.

18. What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?

I once had a male student in an Intro to Women’s Studies course who challenged me and his classmates at every turn all semester.  A couple of weeks before the end of the term, he told me that he was mad at me.  When I asked why, he said that my course was making him have to think about things before he spoke (or acted).  I took that as a supreme compliment. 

19. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Teleporting. Would also settle for a flying carpet like Aladdin’s : )

20. What is the best thing you’ve ever eaten?

That’s really hard because I love food.  In home-cooked food, I’d say my mom’s fried chicken and homemade mac ‘n cheese; in food bought out, I’d say lasagna with fresh-made spinach pasta at a little place in NYC. 

21. What is your favorite book?

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn.  It’s so queer and layered and interesting.

22. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?

My daughter, so I could really understand what goes on in her life and in an average day at school for her. 

23. What is your favorite quote?

“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison

24. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

Agreeing to be a foster parent. 

25. What’s your biggest pet peeve?

People who don’t practice what they preach.

26. If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be?

My MawMaw, my Dad, and my Uncle J.C. 

27. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

The opportunity to adopt my daughter!

28. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about love?

You have to give it freely, absolutely no strings attached. 

29. What do you think is the key to a successful life?

Treating others as human beings with complex, intersectional lives and experiences. And expecting the same back.

30. What’s your favorite way to relax after a long day?

Play a game with my wife, particularly with drinks and snacks alongside. 

31. What’s the one thing you cannot leave the house without?

My phone usually. 

-Post published: May 24, 2023