Tyina Steptoe had plans to become a documentary filmmaker – that is, until her research uncovered how little most people knew about cultural history. Determined to understand more and be able to pass along her knowledge to others, she left Texas in 1999 for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received her master’s degree in Afro-American studies in 2001 and is now earning her PhD in history with an emphasis on African-Americans. Steptoe, 29, and a fellow student developed a “traveling classroom” that will take 36 students to more than 15 historical sites in the American West. She hopes the discussion, films and interactions with key historians will help enlighten the students about how history has shaped their lives and that they’ll share what they’ve learned with their family and friends. Steptoe – who aspires to become a tenured professor who does documentary filmmaking on the side – took time out of her busy tour planning to speak with reporter Kawanza Griffin-Newson.
Office of Strategic Communication