Stephanie Zito, the University’s 2010 Undergraduate Commencement student speaker, will pursue a master's degree in English Literature, but she has also developed a love for the Spanish language that led her to spend a summer in Spain.

After taking a few introductory-level Spanish courses at Suffolk, Zito realized that she not only wanted learn more, but also to spend time abroad. So she became certified as an international English teacher through an online course and went to Barcelona in 2009 to teach English to native Spanish-speaking youngsters.

Hopes to teach in Spain

Zito graduated summa cum laude in May with a B.A. in English. Her focus was creative writing, and she will attend Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. She aims to earn her Ph.D. and become a college professor, ideally teaching linguistics or English literature to advanced speakers in Spain.

“Academically speaking, Suffolk is superb,” said Zito. “There are outstanding professors,who not only encourage students to excel, but also challenge them to be the next generation of thinkers. From a creative standpoint, the workshop format for these [English] classes has been extremely beneficial. You are able to share your work, receive feedback from your peers, and learn about the crucial process of revision.”

Zito received the highest scholastic honor of her freshman class, has made the Dean’s List every semester, and has been a member of the Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society and the International English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta. As a senior, she was the recipient of the national Who’s Who Among Students Award, the English Department Scholarship, and the Academic Excellence in Spanish Award.

Athletic recognition

In addition to her academic accomplishments, Zito was a highly productive member of the Suffolk women’s basketball team her freshman and sophomore years. In 2008, she was voted to the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-District team.

Campus contribution

She also served as editor-in-chief of the Venture Literary/Arts Magazine, a tutor in the Writing Center, a Miller Hall Residence Life & Summer Programs resident assistant, and conference assistant.

While attending Suffolk, Zito also spent time as an intern with the Boston publishing house David R. Godine, Inc.