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August 5-12, 2026

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Acknowledgments

A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE

Holly E. Burgess

Would like to thank:

HER DISSERTATION Director

Dr. Cedric Burrows

Associate Professor of English,
Arizona State University

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A large crowd of protesters holding signs during a march. Book cover for Dr. Cedric Burrows' Rhetorical Crossover.

Book cover of Rhetorical Crossover by
Dr. Cedric D. Burrows

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HER undergrad

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside Logo

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside's
​Literature and Languages Department

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foundational mentors:

Dr. Josef Benson

Dr. Teresa Coronado*

DEAN KARPOWICZ

Dr. María Del Carmen Martínez

Dr. Jay McRoy

dr. dana oswald

dR. tARA PEDERSEN

*(Currently Outreach and Development Director at Milwaukee Community Sailing Center)

HER Sponsors & Benefactors

Special thanks to The Arthur J. Schmitt Foundation, the Cyril E. Smith Family Trust, and the Diversity Fellowship, whose fellowships made her dissertation and doctoral degree possible. 

Doctoral Fellowship Support

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Cyril E. SMITH FAMILY TRUST

Black and white portrait of Arthur J. Schmitt with neatly combed hair, wearing a suit jacket, white shirt, and striped tie.

​The Arthur J. Schmitt Foundation

Diversity Fellowship

Research & Travel Benefactors

Shaka and Maya Smart are formally dressed, smiling, and standing together in front of a blue and black background with a basketball hoop in view.

The Smart Family Gift

The Bo and Candy Ellis Student Success Fund
​(Shaka and Maya Smart)

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The Dr. Diane Long Hoeveler Fund

The Writing Innovation Symposium

Mt. Mary university
Bedford/St. Martins

Women's Club Scholarship Fund

Graduate School’s Student Professional Development Fund

Graduate Student Research Support Fund

Career Services Center Student Professional Development Fund Made Possible By:

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Baird

Enterprise Mobility logo

Enterprise Mobility

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GE HealthCare

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U.S. Bank

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Vierbicher

Public Libraries

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Graham Public Library

Mercer County Library System logo

Mercer County library system

NYC RESEARCH TRIP SPONSORS & BENEFACTORS

Holly E. Burgess glasses smiling in black and white photo, with a background decorated with the repeated name 'Holly E. Burgess' and the text 'New York City Research Trip' with a red graduation cap icon.

Special thanks to the GoFundMe sponsors, whose donations make her dissertation and NYC archival research trip possible:

Ariel Powers

Melissa archer

marcos bryant

judy herr

All GoFundMe Sponsors will be thanked in her dissertation and on this website.

Learn More About Holly's NYC TRIP
GoFundMe

POETRY pUBLICATIONS & DISPLAYs

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lakeside books

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Straylight Literary Arts Magazine

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Lake Geneva Public Library

Intellectual Ancestry

Special Thanks to my selected Black scholar-activists—Malcolm, Huey, Tupac, and Angie.
You are the inspiration for my work.
​Thanks for being my intellectual ancestors. 

The Architects

A headshot of Malcolm X in a dark suit and browline glasses, looking directly at the camera with a focused expression.

Malcolm X

Color photograph of Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, speaking at a press conference behind a cluster of microphones.

Dr. Huey P. Newton

ThE VOICE

A vibrant close-up portrait of Tupac Shakur looking intently at the camera, capturing his influential role in hip-hop and cultural history.

tupac shakur

The Narrator

Close-up photo of Angie Thomas with a joyful expression, wearing a black top with white sleeves against a soft, blurred background.

Angie thomas

Her Parents

Photo of the author's mother, Laurie, smiling brightly and cupping her face with one hand.

Laurie Burgess

Photo of the author's father, Greg, smiling in a light blue button down and Chicago bears hat.

Greg Burgess

Her Family & Friends

Photo of the author's cockapoo, Presley, resting her head on a stack of Black Power books
Photo of the author and her family
Photo of the author and her mother and godmother, Phyllis
Photo of Helen B. Smith smiling and wearing sunglasses at the beach.

Special Thanks to Ms. Helen B. Smith

​Her family, friends, and everyone

who has assisted her on her academic journey thus far.

Thank You!

Thank you all for your time, patience,

and investment in Holly's future.

Ready to read the research?


Click to Explore the Dissertation.

Last updated: June 29, 2026