Danait Tekie's Portfolio

My name is Danait Tekie, and I am an English major who has lived in Atlanta since I was three years old. Growing up in Atlanta has shaped how I understand community, identity, and responsibility. It is also where I began to recognize that language is never neutral. The way we frame an issue, tell a story, or construct an argument carries real consequences.

My academic interests focus on rhetoric, world literature, and argumentative writing. I am especially interested in how texts engage power, resistance, and ethical responsibility. In 2025, I was honored to receive the Frantz Fanon Book Award from the Georgia State University English Department, which affirmed my commitment to critical and socially conscious scholarship. Courses such as Intro to Rhetoric and Composition and Business Writing have been particularly influential. Business Writing strengthened my professional communication skills and continues to inform my work in tangible ways.

Outside of the classroom, I have pursued leadership through community engagement. In March 2025, I created and hosted an open forum with the Gwinnett County School Board of Education chairs, superintendent, parents, and students to encourage dialogue and accountability with the Eritrean-American Community of GA. From February to June 2025, I co-planned World Refugee Day with CRSA. I also began as a volunteer at the Eritrean American Community Center of Georgia, where I now serve as a Junior Operations Coordinator.

After graduation, I plan to attend law school and pursue public interest law. I am committed to using language with clarity, discipline, and purpose in service of justice.