Sophia Ziemer

Why FSU?

I chose to continue my studies at Florida State University because of the extremely supportive Rhetoric and Composition graduate program and the endless professional opportunities available here. The faculty here work hard to create rigorous and engaging coursework in a loving and supportive environment. The faculty have left a lasting impact in my field, and I hope to learn as much as I can from them. During these next years, I hope to continue my studies in Global Rhetorics and publish work under the guidance of these incredible individuals.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I was motivated to pursue a doctoral degree while completing the second year of my master's degree. I realized I had so much left to learn, and I wasn't ready for it to end. I had just found a passion in Global Rhetorics, and I wanted to take every opportunity I could to keep on learning. Five years ago, I never would have expected to end up in grad school, but I found a deep love in writing studies and academia. After speaking with faculty and staff at FSU, I knew I had to take my chances and apply for my Ph.D.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

Being of mixed heritage, I was instantly drawn to Global Rhetorics. I always felt a deep connection to my Ecuadorian roots, and my first-generation American experience definitely impacted how I navigated college. My MA thesis explored students' attitudes in the composition classroom according to their previous experiences. As the first American in my family, I knew my previous experiences impacted the way I went about my courses, and I was interested in observing how this idea may affect students' attitudes toward rhetorical concepts. Additionally, I am in the process of publishing a co-authored piece on Ecuador's New Year's Eve tradition of burning años viejos (or, effigies). I hope this piece helps spread the beauty of my heritage and our unique approach to end of year festivities. ¡Que viva Ecuador!

Career aspirations

In the future, I hope to continue residing in Florida to work at one of the higher education institutions here. As I specialize in Global Rhetorics, my goal is to become a professor in the field of Rhetoric and Composition and share the varying global communicative efforts that may be unfamiliar to students who have previously only encountered Greco-Roman rhetoric.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Go for it. You will be your own worst enemy, and imposter syndrome is real, but you have to believe in yourself. Also, always have a second reader to check your work! Make connections and get to know your professors. Even if you don't know where to start, just show up to office hours and be honest with them. You can also simply get to know more about how they entered the field. The connections you make are invaluable.

Accomplishments during graduate career

I'm currently serving as the Reading-Writing Center and Digital Studio co-coordinator. I was also the director, producer, and co-editor of the Reading-Writing Center Digital Studio promotional video. During the 2022-2023 and the 2023-2024 academic years, I served as a representative in the Graduate English Student Organization (GESO).  I also recently received the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship.