JSU alum speaks to grad and undergraduate students

De’Arbreya Lee
Staff Writer

Brandon Manning, a 2007 Jackson State University graduate took over a class of graduate and undergraduate students on March 24 in the College of Liberal Arts Building.

Manning is currently a professor at Ohio State University where he teaches entry and second level composition courses and is currently enrolled in the university’s Ph.D. program.

During the noon session, Manning was a guest speaker to Professor Wanda Morgan’s English 112 freshman honors students where he discussed the importance of knowing your focus in your career and having a love for reading and writing.

“What I want to tell you is that once you do decide what your major is going to be, you have to go in all the way. You have to,” said Manning. “There’s a level of dedication and work that you all have to come to get used to and hopefully that you all are getting acclimated to through the honors program and that you will be able to then continue once you realize what your destination is,” said Manning.

Manning took over the lesson for Morgan’s students as he analyzed and discussed Alice Walker’s short story “Everyday Use.”
Janez Young, a freshman English major from Jackson, Miss., said that she was very impressed with Mannings’ teaching and his accomplishments.

“I liked how he was comfortable with us like he has taught our class for awhile,” said Young. “He offered some interesting insights and a different perspective than what I thought of about the story.”

Young also explained that Manning’s success also gives her inspiration.

“It was very encouraging how he is a graduate of Jackson State and he’s continuing his education, about to get his Ph.D. and he seems so young. It really showed the education that he received at Jackson State,” said Young.

Madison Pennaman, a sophomore Spanish major from Jackson, Miss., said that she also appreciated Manning’s presence and the motivation that he stirred in the classroom.

“He was really pulling out the books. Every time I come to this class, I learn more and more,” said Pennaman.

Morgan, a former professor of Manning, explained why she wanted her class to hear from him.

“He challenged me sometimes with ideas and that’s what I thrive on; students coming to the classroom with questions that cause me to revisit the text,” said Morgan.

Manning discussed graduate school and hard work to senior and junior students.

“If you really want to go to grad school, you have to have an undying, unconditional love for reading and writing. It [your major] definitely needs to be one that you’re willing to wrestle with,” said Manning.

JSU English Department Chair and Associate Professor Jean Chamberlain expressed her thoughts about Manning’s visit.

“I think what impressed me most was that I could see so much growth in [Manning] in such a short amount of time,” said Chamberlain.

Chamberlain also said that she feels that the exposure of Ohio State University has greatly shaped the student that was once an undergraduate at JSU.

“I believe that he is producing original ideas as in what he was doing with “Everyday Use,” said Chamberlain. “He was always a brilliant student, but now he thinks like a scholar in the field of African American Lit.”

Manning came to JSU as a sophomore English major, became a McNair Scholar, and served as a staff writer on The Blue & White Flash student newspaper for three years.

After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in English at JSU, Manning taught English I at Wingfield High School for a year and went on to study at Ohio State University where he received his Master of Arts degree in 2010.