Our Staff
Our Director
Karen Head, PhD
As an Army Brat, I grew up all over the world, but am in fact an Atlanta native--born just across the interstate from GT at Crawford Long Hospital. I have a PhD in English, specializing in Rhetoric & Composition, Contemporary Poetry and Creative Writing. In “previous lives” I’ve been on the road with a band, owned a catering company, and worked as the executive assistant to a CEO in the corporate world. I have a passion for both hot dogs and Baroque music, so I think a harpsichord concert in the Varsity would be amazing.
Our Assistant Directors
Brandy Blake, PhD
While I find my PhD rewarding, I feel equally proud when I can squeeze in a good nap--schoolwork, a baby, and the cats require so much attention that sleep is rare. That’s why I need caffeine so much. If you see someone in the Communication Center with a Diet Mountain Dew or a Coke in her hands, that’s probably me. I’m also an extreme geek. I love Victorian literature (which is my main area of study), but you’re more likely to see me reading a fantasy book or hear me talking about whatever new superhero movie just came out.
Christopher Weedman, PhD
At the age of thirteen, while growing up in Central Illinois, I stayed up late at night and watched Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller Psycho for the first time. Not only did the film give me a few nightmares, but also it sparked a passion for classic Hollywood and European films that has never ended. I have a PhD in English, specializing in Film Studies and twentieth-century British Literature and Drama. When not reading and writing about the films that I love, I am known to mourn over the latest Chicago Cubs loss, indulge in very dry humor, and drink too many cups of coffee.
Our Research Coordinator
Malavika Shetty, PhD
I did most of my growing up in India, but have lived in the United States ever since I moved here for graduate school. I have a PhD in linguistics and love learning about languages and about the cultures of the people who speak them. The first language I ever spoke is a language that not too many people have heard about, so I am very interested in the lesser-known, endangered languages spoken in many places around the globe and in this country. I speak nine languages, so, chances are, I speak yours.
Our Peer Tutors
Allison Braden
If I had a time machine, I would go and see if Napoleon was really as attractive as Jacques-Louis David painted him. I would talk Orwell about writing and politics, Hemingway about love, and Austen about how to deal with the Mr. Thorpes of the world. If my time machine had a radio, I would be blaring Cuban underground hip hop, Iberoamerican pop, and indie music that reminds me of autumn. And if it cruised by the present, I would be found studying international and Latin American affairs, Spanish, and literature, DJing on WREK radio, reading like a fiend, and trying to work diligently on building the foundations for my castles in the sky. Or napping.
Gerina Kim
I was born in Korea and moved to the states in 3rd grade. My English at the time was far from decent, so I was put in the Purple reading group, reading "baby" books, while the rest of my classmates were reading chapter books in the Green or Yellow reading group. After numerous visits to the library, I slowly but surely progressed, making my way up to Frog and Toad Are Friends, Charlotte's Web, and even Harry Potter. These days I'm busy completing school work, attempting to have a social life, and trying sleep --although some say that you can only choose to do two of the three at Tech-- but I still try to squeeze in time to read for pleasure. Aside from reading I also love playing the guitar and listening to music.
Jordan Lockwood
If I had three wishes, I’d use the first one to acquire lots of knowledge about the interaction of individuals and their social systems. For now, though, I study this fascinating relationship as a second year undergraduate majoring in business administration and public policy. I’d use the second wish to take a sweeping tour of the globe; I have a special fascination with the European cultures that have influenced my home state of Georgia. The last wish I would use to summon a magical food that was both delicious and healthy. Actually, maybe food would be the first wish.
Our Research Assistants
Jean Kang
Raised mostly in the suburbs of California and Georgia, I grew up fostering a love for reading and writing that explained my bookworm attachment to Harry Potter as well as my own simply composed short stories during my childhood. Ten years later, I'm enrolled at a technological institution as an engineer major taking a majority of math and science classes, reading textbooks, and writing lab reports. Needless to say, times have changed, and thank you to the Communication Center for allowing me to further exercise the right side of my brain that wouldn't have otherwise been as active.
Our Desk Assistants
Patricia Ford
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta. I’m an undergraduate business administration major with a concentration in marketing. I’m half Chinese and half Caucasian, and I'm really glad that as child my Mom was able to teach me to speak Chinese fluently. If I could pick one activity to do for the rest of my life, I would choose to dance. I love all kinds of dance including ballet, jazz, Chinese folk dance, the wop, and the dougie. My favorite color is coral (pink/red), and my favorite snack is Nutella with bananas. I strongly encourage you to visit the CommLab; we have bean bags!
Hannah Shore
I was born in Atlanta and have lived here ever since. I am an undergraduate Science, Technology, and Culture major, with a minor in Economics. I love learning languages, meeting new and interesting people, and traveling (I have a tendency to end up in interesting political climates, though). Also, if my main life plan doesn't pan out, I'm going to open a bakery.
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