Director Mamie L Hixon

Inspired by the tradition or Griots, West African poets, musicians, and storytellers who are the keepers of oral tradition, the MyStory Griot Project was launched in Fall of 2020 by the UWF College of Art Social Sciences and Humanities Dean's Workgroup on Race, Diversity, and Belonging. The project invited members of the campus community to talk and write about their lived experience with race and race relations. It has created a space for individuals to share their stories while others have the opportunity to listen, learn, and expand their understanding of the complexity of race and racism. The stories shared are topically broad: some of them address experiences with racism; some address the intersection of race and other forms of discrimination, while others are a celebration of individuals who were allies in challenging times. All are incredibly moving.

In addition to her academic work, Hixon is also a professional editor, radio and television grammarian, motivational speaker, and workshop organizer and presenter. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama, and master’s degree in English from UWF. In her role as a "Grammar Coach," Hixon conducts "Grammarcises" via Zoom every Monday morning at 7:15 a.m. CST in the virtual grammar gym where students and professionals from Pensacola and surrounding areas and other parts of the country, including California, New York, New Jersey, South Florida, Virginia, New Jersey, and Delaware, “talk grammar” and talk about grammar—its nuances, its limitations, its rules and exceptions, its creativity, its versatility, and its constant changes and limitless possibilities.