Student Biographies

Chantal Cotton - Humanities Convening Hey all, I am Chantal R. Cotton, an 18-year-old, first year student at the University of Michigan (Hometown: Flint, MI). Currently my major is English with a minor in Political Science in order for me to prepare myself to take over the world. I say 'currently' when I mention my major because I may convert it over to Public Policy because of a program that the School of Public Policy offers, not because I am a freshman who is trying to take everyone else's pathways. Besides, I will be doing the same kind of work with either major that I choose. I am not in college to obtain a degree and to get a "good job" by replacing someone else in a prestigious position. By my education at UM and graduate school, I plan to make positions of my own while changing societal norms along the way. My mind travels into some of the different dimensions of my field of study-dimensions that most people will not dare to touch. Average people are comfortable with simply following the pathways that they were told that they had to take. I, however, make desire lines out of my rebellion to follow the norm. I make the first step in the soil of the field while others move along only on the sidewalks. If the norm of a particular field of study was made in a diamond shaped path, with a job at each corner made, I would go from midpoint to midpoint and change things along the way. I live by the motto that "If there is supposed to be a change, then nothing can stay the same." In less serious news, my favorite color is green; I love Jesus; I love the movie "The Emperor's New Groove"; I am the youngest of four; I love to think (abstractly); my Mom's the coolest; my favorite food is Junk food (umm). I am participating in the Walking Project because it allows me to see the world through a new lens, and allows me to make sense of my abstract thoughts through organization.

Natasha Leal - Printmaking Exchange, Curriclum Development Hi there. I'm Natasha Leal, a first year student at the School of Art and Design. I don't exactly work in a specific medium, I'm pretty well rounded and love it all. I'm undecided as to what my concentration would be but I do know I would like to work in something that involves interaction and problem solving visually. In my free time I enjoy taking it easy. I'm pretty calm and like to keep things simple, although I am told otherwise. I'm really not hard to please. My favorite foods are pretty small-time. Just crackers, cheese, and I'm set. In terms of the Walking Project, I heard about it through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). It has been a pleasure working on the project. I've learned a lot about different means of communication and ways to create community between people. It's an eye opening experience as well, being able to learn about the African culture and be able to make connections with Africa and places and events here in the United States. It's an experience that has allowed me to think openly and in depth on topics I normally wouldn't have. I look forward to being a part of the project in the future as well.

Kenya Kindle - Public Interviews on Walking Hello everyone, my name is Kenya Kindle. I currently go to the University of Michigan, and I am in my second year here at this lovely university. I was born and raised in a city called Saginaw, MI. I am widely known for being fun and energetic and lively. At the university my major is in The Center for Afroamerican and African Studies (CAAS). I want to go into the field of medicine and become a pediatrician. I love working with kids. I am currently involved with the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, known as UROP, as a research student for Arts at Michigan. And in this UROP program the project I am working on is the Walking Project. My whole involvement with this project is to interview people about their walking experiences and record them. The reason why I chose to work with this project is because it gives me the opportunity to work with people and that is something I am good at.

Mary Paul - Printmaking Exchange My name is Mary Paul and I am a fourth year student in the School of Art and Design at the University of Michigan. My majors are printmaking and community based arts, as well as a minor in African and Afro-American Studies. I am also a Program Assistant at Arts at Michigan. I was born in Pontiac, Michigan where I lived until 1990 when I moved to Chelsea. I attended Chelsea High School and graduated in 2001. In my years at Michigan I have been active in the Prison Creative Arts Project, Art that Gets Out, Arts in Action, and various other campus organizations. For the Walking Project, I have been in charge of the Print Exchange. Being a part of this project has been a pleasure. Not only has it given me a chance to organize around my passion for the arts, but it has also made me really think about walking, mobility, paths and maps in my everyday life.