Scholar in the News
Ahmad Ali Lewis isn't a typical Stanford undergrad - nor is he a typical rapper
A.J. Tierney
"I believe it is my responsibility to use my gift of storytelling to create a culture in which people feel safe to discuss the most taboo subjects of our time."
- Alumni of: 2006 Graduate Scholarship Program
- Resides: Tulsa, OK
- Hometown: Tulsa, OK
- Age: 36
- Community College: Tulsa Community College
- Four-year College or University: Oklahoma State University
- Graduate School: Sarah Lawrence College
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Education / Academia, Entrepreneur / Independent Business, Writing / Journalism, Publishing
- Other Interests: Nonprofits, Performing Arts / Theatre, Visual Arts, Writing / Journalism
Biography
Adrianne Tierney knew she wanted to become a writer after reading one of her stories in class. She shared her experience as a teenager. "When I finished reading the story, no one spoke. I looked around the room and found fellow classmates in tears they had been so deeply moved by my story."
Adrianne hopes to refine her writing skills at Sarah Lawrence. She also plans to take advantage of opportunities to teach creative writing in non-traditional settings, including the Westchester County Correctional Facility. Long term, Adrianne wants to become involved in preparing incarcerated women for re-entry into society.
Adrianne says she is motivated by a desire to see the arts thrive in public schools. As a little girl, dance and theater gave her a creative outlet that schoolwork alone could not provide. "Writing presented me with a new set of challenges and opened new doors of creative expression for me," she explains. "It gave me a way to channel my tenacity and perseverance into stories that were cathartic as well as inspiring to those around me."
Other Scholars Like A.J.
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William Allen
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