天美传媒

Tessa is a proud UMA grad! She graduated from UMA in 2012 with a major in Liberal Studies and minors in Women鈥檚 Studies and American Studies. She went on to earn a MA in English from UMaine (2015), and a Ph.D. in American Culture Studies (2020) from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Tessa is an experienced academic advisor and classroom instructor. In both roles, she loves working with students, and finds joy in helping them find and/or stay their own course. As a non-traditional and first-generation student, Tessa faced many challenges in her life and education, and she brings this knowledge and experience to her work at UMA.
While she recognizes the hard work and sacrifices it took to reach her academic and career goals, Tessa credits the advising, mentorship, support, and encouragement she received during her time at UMA for providing her with the foundations she needed to stay the course, both at UMA and beyond. She is thrilled and honored that her own course has brought her 鈥渉ome鈥� to UMA.

Tessa is 鈥渕om鈥� to her son, Ethan, and is a newly minted 鈥渆mpty nester.鈥� Though she recently discovered the title 鈥減arent of a free-range adult鈥� and much prefers it. She is also 鈥渕ommy鈥� to her furry son, Hiccup, a nearly 8-year-old Shorkie. Tessa enjoys cooking, baking, cross-stitching, gardening, and spending time with small gatherings of close friends.

Current and prospective students can email Dr. Pyles to set up an appointment.