Denise Kinsinger '08

Major: English

Minor: Creative Writing, Music, and Art

Hometown: Stuarts Draft, Virginia

Activities and Honors: Bailey Scholar, recipient of the Susan E. Carter Memorial Scholarship (2006), nominated for the Excellence in Library Research Award, Writing Center tutor, MBC Choir, Madrigals, Campus Comments (managing editor 2006-07), Media Advisory Board, Commuter Student co-chair

Career ambitions: To teach English as a second language in France.

How is MBC helping you reach your goals? I have always loved words, and I have professors who challenge me to use words thoughtfully and accurately — to carefully calculate language’s impact on the people around me. I can think of no better way to attain an excellent command of the English language than to have English professors who provoke you to think about what you want to say and who guide you into learning how to clearly express your thoughts.

What advice would you give to someone considering Mary Baldwin College? Go for it! A small college setting provides and intellectual intimacy between students and professors that cannot be found at larger schools.

What makes you an MBC woman? Knowing that even though I am only one person I can make a difference in the world.

How have your goals, dreams, or directions changed since coming to MBC? I have become a great deal more broad minded and aware of the world around me. I think that has dramatically impacted how I view my goals. I know see them as definitely doable rather than a far off aspiration.

What will you take with you? Every person you meet in life has something worthwhile to offer you — be it emotional comfort, things to supply physical needs, or spiritual insights to help you grow as a person — because every person in the world comes from a different set of circumstances. It is important to recognize that as we relate to others as global citizens and to share whatever resources we can with one another to build each other up and make the world a better place.