Dr. Tangela Serls

Dr. Tangela Serls is an experienced educator residing in Tampa, FL. Tangela's areas of expertise include: black feminism, religion/spirituality, sisterhood, girlfriends, and more. She has earned degrees in English literature, black feminism, education, philosophy, and contemporary African American literature. For the past seven years, Dr. Serls has been employed by the University of South Florida where she teaches subjects including Literature by Women of Color and Black Feminisms.

One of Tangela's key areas of study has been the role God has played in her female friendships, as well as the differences between sisterhoods and friendships. Her faith has informed her studies, and Dr. Serls has devoted much of her time to researching and writing about these topics in addition to her academic work.

In her dissertation, The Spirit of Friendship: Girlfriends in Contemporary African American Literature, Dr. Serls draws from her personal experience with sisterhood (both familial and platonic) as well as from literature. She references the work of prolific authors like Toni Morrison to explore the notions of sisterhood and friendship, namely among black women, and how the spirit of God interacts with these relationships.

Dr. Serls enjoys learning about others' experiences and discussing the nuances of these subjects with both her students and the general public. To facilitate these conversations, she posts blogs to her personal site, as well as social media posts to various platforms. She encourages people to reach out if they are looking to learn more or engage in enlightening conversations.

Dr. Serls' mission in life is to discover the intricacies of her studies and help educate others. Her favorite aspect of teaching is forming relationships with her students. Getting the chance to inspire the next generation of leaders never fails to make her appreciate this aspect of her work.

From an early age, Tangela Serls knew she wanted to be an educator. The influence of notable teachers from elementary school through her doctoral program had guided her to where she is today. Education plays such a significant role in her life as it always has, and to facilitate a similar impact with her students is a privilege granted to teachers like her.