Winning for Children

Empowering Youth Voices Through Writing

For Susan Weinstein, the MacCurdy Distinguished Professor of English, the journey to Baton Rouge began in Bolivia, where an early teaching experience ignited a lifelong passion for education. Since joining LSU two decades ago, Weinstein has become a central figure of the English Department – where she serves as chair – and is dedicated to helping students discover their voices through literature and creative expression.

“I’ve been an English person since I was born. I came out of the womb reading a book, much to my mother’s dismay.” Her lifelong obsession with reading and writing eventually led her to a doctorate in English, and now she focuses her research on English education and new literacy studies. During her tenure at LSU, Weinstein has also authored two books: The Room Is on Fire: The History, Practice, and Pedagogy of Youth Spoken Word Poetry (2019) and Feel These Words: Writing in the Lives of Urban Youth (2009), the latter based on her experiences at a Chicago alternative high school.

Weinstein's impact extends far beyond the classroom. She currently serves as president of the Board of Directors for Humanities Amped, a nonprofit in Baton Rouge focused on youth engagement, critical thinking, and community-based research. The program empowers local high school students to explore pressing societal issues through writing, research, and public presentations, guiding them to understand the importance of their contributions to their communities.

“Through Humanities Amped, we help students explore issues in their communities, ask critical questions, and even present their research at LSU,” Weinstein said. The organization’s mission is to cultivate civic engagement, build students' critical thinking skills, and provide a space for creative expression, fostering a sense of agency in youth who may feel disconnected from traditional education systems.

Weinstein said she believes the humanities play a crucial role in helping students understand the complexities of the world around them, an outlook she has carried into all aspects of her career. “The humanities remind us of who we are and why we do the things we do,” she emphasized.

Her research, often centered around youth writing and performance, seeks to give young people a platform to share their stories, challenge societal norms, and make meaningful connections with their peers.

Philanthropy, she noted, has been vital in elevating her work. “Private support allows us to take on projects and ask questions that might not get funded through traditional means,” Weinstein explained. These contributions enable faculty and students alike to engage in research that directly benefits the community, bringing LSU’s academic resources to bear on real-world issues facing Louisiana and beyond.

Weinstein’s students often go on to extend this impact – one former mentee now serves as a professor at Southern University, inspiring a new generation of young writers. For her, watching her students flourish is one of the greatest rewards of teaching: “Building teams that win means creating a supportive environment where students and faculty can work together toward shared goals. Philanthropy helps us do that by providing the resources to attract top talent, foster innovative thinking, and connect with the wider community.”

Looking ahead, Weinstein envisions LSU as a place where the humanities continue to thrive alongside other disciplines, strengthening the university’s commitment to student success and community engagement. “I want LSU to be known as much for its academics as its athletics,” she says. ”We have incredible scholars here doing important work that deserves to be celebrated.”