Background
Brenda Flanagan was born on December 6, 1948 in The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. She is the daughter of George Melvin and Carmelita Phillips.
Brenda Flanagan was born on December 6, 1948 in The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. She is the daughter of George Melvin and Carmelita Phillips.
Brenda got Bachelor of Arts degree, graduating from University of Michigan in 1977. She continued her studies and in 1978 Brenda attained Master of Arts degree. Later, in 1986, she got Doctor of Philosophy degree. Flanagan also studied at University of Miami, Trenton State College, Palacky University and Atlanta University.
Brenda Flanagan started her career as a teacher aide in 1972 at Mitchell Elementary School, a post she held till 1973. Five years later, in 1978, Brenda began to work as an assistant professor at Tuskegee University and held the post till 1981. The following year, in 1982, Flanagan was appointed an editor of Tuskegeean alumni newspaper and held the position until 1983, when she started to edit the Undergraduate Admissions Newsletter and other publications at University of Michigan. She served there till 1985. The next year, in 1986, Flanagan started to serve as an instructor at Washtenaw Community College, a post she held till 1994.
During the period from 1988 to 1990 Flanagan acted as an editor of CAAS Newsletter.
In 1986 Brenda accepted a teaching position at Wayne State University. Three years later, she became a professor at Eastern Michigan University, English Language and Literature Department.
Since 1996 Brenda worked as a professor of English and associate director of ethnic studies at Davidson College. Also, she served as an adjunct professor at Department of Afroamerican and African Studies at University of Michigan from 1986 to 1990.
In 1991 Flanagan started to work at the associate faculty at Greenhills School. The same year Brenda became an adjunct professor at Adrian College in Michigan.
Since 1994 Brenda served as a visiting professor at University of Hawaii in Honolulu and at Davidson College in North Carolina, United States.
Since 2003 Flanagan acted as a Cultural Ambassador for the United States Department of State.
In 2005 she was the first American writer to be sent on a cultural mission to Libya. Flanagan also worked in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Kuwait, Tajikistan, Morocco, Tunisia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Chad, Panama, India, and the Czech Republic.
In June 2012 the writer presented lectures on African American Literature to universities and secondary schools.
Brenda Flanagan also makes appearances at creative writing workshops, reading fiction aloud.
Quotations: "I write because I have to do so. And besides, I want to be quoted".
On September 8, 1968 Brenda married C. T. Flanagan. In 1973 the couple divorced. They have three children – Nadine Camilla, Earl Conaley and Bryan Babatunde.