Forging Her Own Identity

As an African-American student, Tiffany Brannon ’07 was inspired by Miami-Dade’s diversity to write her undergraduate honors thesis on the subject of identity. Brannon was particularly intrigued by the question that, without fail, South Floridians and visitors ask one another: “Where are you from?”

“Miami is so transnational and the typical answer to that question is a country of origin,” she explained. “As an African-American, I have never been able to answer the question. My inability to know my roots outside of the United States influenced my interest in African-American identity.”

The goal of her research, Brannon explains, is to determine how ethnic culture affects identity and vice versa and how these constructs can affect self-identity. She plans to continue her studies this fall when she begins a five-year Ph.D. program in social psychology at Stanford University.

The Homestead, Fla., native will attend the elite university, which admits only three students into the program per year, on a Ford Foundation Fellowship. The award provides three years of support for students engaged in graduate studies leading to a doctoral degree. Brannon was one of 62 award recipients from among 1,500 applicants.

“As an undergraduate researcher, the notion that a foundation is willing to invest more than $60,000 in support of my graduate studies is immensely humbling,” she said. “I was shocked and blessed to receive the fellowship. The news literally and figuratively came at the end of a journey; it was more than the gold at the end of the rainbow – it was the realization that hard work does pay off.”

Brannon’s work at FIU culminated in May when she graduated with a 3.993 grade point average.

Before heading west, she plans to explore New York City and search for authentic New York pizza and New York cheesecake.

The 22-year-old psychology major and Honors College graduate will treat herself to a vacation in the Big Apple with family friends before leaving for California. It is what she calls a “graduation present” that will bring her the opportunity to be free of schedules and structure.

In other words, Brannon plans to relax.

“I plan to have fun this summer,” she said. “As an undergraduate I never had a summer without structure. I was either working or attending a research program or conducting research. I want to be energized when I start my Ph.D. program.”

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