September 20, 2018
La Roche Alumna and Director of International Student Services Releases First Book
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 20, 2018 – Natasha Garrett, Ph.D., director of international student services at La Roche University, released her first book, “Motherlands,” on Aug. 27.
In this witty and heartfelt look into migration both as a global phenomenon and as a deeply intimate experience, Dr. Garrett shares her collection of personal essays to explore various facets of the modern migration experience. Combining academic and literary sources, as well as personal and professional experiences, she uses transnationalism as a springboard for discussing topics such as home, motherhood, identity, bilingualism, family, education and travel.
“Often, research and literature on migration tends to be too general. I wanted to paint a picture of modern migration that is specific, using personal stories, but also offers a broader commentary on transnationalism as a contemporary mode of migration,” Dr. Garrett said. “I found the personal essays to be an appropriate vehicle to bring out the humanity of the experience.”
In addition to her role as director of international student services, Dr. Garrett works as an adjunct professor for the University’s International Studies Department, and in 2015 she was inducted into La Roche’s Distinguished Alumni Circle. She has served as a translator and interpreter, a volunteer to welcome new American citizens, and as a liaison between international students and their respective national and ethnic groups.
“As a Macedonian living in the U.S., I grapple daily with questions of identity and belonging,” Dr. Garrett said. “I write in English, which is my second language. I raise a bilingual family. And I work with international students from all over the world, who also face the challenges of living in a country that is not their own.”
Dr. Garrett was born in Skopje, Macedonia, and came to the United States as an undergraduate student at La Roche University. She holds a bachelor’s degree from La Roche, a master’s degree in English literature from Duquesne University and a doctorate in social and comparative analysis in education from the University of Pittsburgh. Her poetry, personal essays, and translations have appeared in Transnational Literature, Gravel, Allegro Poetry Magazine, Arts and Letters, and other publications. In 2014 she was named to the United Macedonian Diaspora’s first 40 under 40 list, which acknowledges the achievements of Macedonians younger than 40.
Within the Pittsburgh community she is a member of the Advisory Board for GlobalPittsburgh and a published translator of Macedonian poetry. She resides in Lawrenceville with her husband and son.
“Motherlands” can be purchased through Amazon and Dr. Garrett’s website. For more information about Dr. Garrett or “Motherlands,” please visit natashagarrett.pittsburgh412.com.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, six graduate degree programs and one doctoral program, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential college provides a vibrant campus community for more than 1,500 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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