People
Tangela Serls
Associate Professor of Instruction of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and
Special Advisor to the College of Arts and Sciences Dean on Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion
Office: CMC 202D
Email
Curriculum Vitae
Biography
Dr. Tangela Serls is the inaugural Special Advisor to the USF College of Arts and Sciences Dean on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (SADEI). She’s received the University’s Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching award as well as the USF Faculty Pride Award. Serls is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies where she teaches courses such as Intro to Women’s and Gender Studies, Literature by Women of Color, Interdisciplinary Approaches to Disability Studies, and Black Feminisms: Past and Present. She served as the WGSS undergraduate director for five years and has been a faculty partner with the Department of Housing and Residential Education for five years as well. She has published essays on pedagogy and has presented nationally at conferences such as the Southeastern Women’s Studies Association, the South Atlantic Modern Language Association, and the College Language Association.
Dr. Serls is engaged in scholarly activities and was the principal investigator for two Florida Humanities grants. She was also an inaugural recipient of the USF Humanities Institute faculty fellowship, which keeps her connected to a research community. She continues to collaborate with her cohort, and her research interests include contemporary African American women authors, Black feminist theory, Womanist theory, friendship theology, and fugitive pedagogies.
Dr. Serls was born and raised in Macon, GA. And when asked how she would describe herself, Serls says, “I’m Southern, and I would like to think I embody some of the better characteristics of the South including our charm and hospitality.” Serls is a first-generation college student. She received her B.A. from Fort Valley State University and her M.Ed. from Florida A&M University—two historically Black Colleges and Universities. Her PhD is in English/Literary Studies from the University of South Florida. Ultimately, Dr. Serls is a professional dedicated to centering the voices and experiences of marginalized people in all aspects of her work.