Black Graduate Student Association

Dee Hill Zuganelli

What is your name, where are you from, and what program of study are you in at the U of A?

Hey! My name is Dee Hill Zuganelli -- yes, you gotta say the whole thing. I'm originally from Elizabethtown, Kentucky. I am a second-year in the sociology Ph.D. program at the University.

What attracted you to Tucson and the University of Arizona?

To be honest, I was born and raised in Kentucky and did all of my post-secondary education there, so after twenty-plus years, I had to go! I applied to several graduate schools in the Southwest and the West Coast. UA sent the acceptance letter and asked me to come for a prospective weekend. I flew out here, and everyone in the program was so genuine and sweet, really comfortable, really chill. A friend of mine who does career counseling back home advised that even if people aren't doing the same things substantively that you want, you need to go to school somewhere that feels good in a place you'd like to live. Nice people, laid back atmosphere, pretty cool vibe, and people are generally friendly. That, AND a pool and no snow! I was in like Flynn.

What are your career aspirations?

After finishing up the Ph.D., I would love to teach in a small, liberal arts institution. I attended one for my Bachelor's degree, and it really made a world of difference for me. Classes were smaller, teachers knew me by name, and they just seemed more accessible and motivational -- like they care. During my last semester, I took an honors capstone course in philosophy, and I wrote a term paper about Patricia Hill-Collins and black subjectivity. I asked the professor to give me feedback and to make sure my paper sounded okay. He just leaned back in his chair and said, "You're the expert on this. You tell me." Yeah, I had a WTF moment, but then he said that learning and education are all about encouraging students to really get into what they learn and to make that passion come first. I hope to be able to convey that same message to my students someday.

How did you hear about BGSA-UA and what motivated you to join?

Anita is one of my really good friends -- head nod to a former Member of the Month, haha -- and she told me one day, "Dee, I'm gonna join the BGSA!" I had no idea what that was. She told me, and you know I had to chuckle. I knew she was down for the brown, and I said I would go with her to the first general body meeting. I flipped. I never saw so many of my folks in the same room. In all seriousness, though, I think minorities on campus -- especially those in graduate school because we're so busy all the time -- probably experience the same thing. You're a member of your cohort. You take classes with your peers. Maybe there are a few minorities here and there. But once you get entrenched in your work and research, that's it. You're out of touch, and rather than go seek out some folks, you just kind of grin and bear it on your own.

I joined BGSA because, honestly, it was just a really cool place to hang out and get to know people in other programs and disciplines that I might not ever cross paths with otherwise. I came for the social gathering, but I believe I stayed around because the people that are in this organization really do care about it. They're involved. They recognize that single people scattered here and there crave a sense of community no matter how grown you are, and they want a place where they feel like they belong. I know time will get tighter and tighter as my education continues, but BGSA is important and it's something for which I will make time.

Any favorite BGSA-UA activities or experiences?

As exhausting as it was, Sankofa. Hands down. I have never seen so many grown and sexy individuals. It was absolutely wonderful to have a special occasion where everyone got dressed up and looked nice and enjoyed a fancy meal and some communion together.

Of the three pillars that BGSA stands on, which is your favorite and why?

All of them are important, but Fellowship is my favorite pillar. Like I said earlier, graduate students need a strong support system to make it through school. Life can get challenging, very stressful, and aggravating at times, and it's always good to come back to people who have been there, have your back, and wish you the very best.

What are some of your favorite hobbies, pastimes, or things that you do outside of school?

I'm a geek. I haven't outgrown video games, and I just got hip to the PS3 a few weeks ago. (Talk about something getting in the way of your thesis!) Let's see, what else? I definitely like reading and blogging about current events, hanging out with my friends. I love playing volleyball too even though my jump shot needs a LOT of work, heh.

Tell us one crazy/funny/weird/unknown thing about yourself.

When I was a kid, I found out that I was pretty good at being an escape artist. My older brother used to pick on me. He tied me up with a jump rope and belts and extension cords and whatever else he could find, AND on top of that he got caulking glue and stuck my hands together. Jacked up, huh? He was so pissed that I wriggled my way out of it and got loose.