Shaquana Suggs
Shaquana Suggs is the Editor in Chief at The Rite Writers LLC, a boutique writing and editorial firm she co-founded with her mother. At The Rite Writers, Shaquana leads a team dedicated to capturing each client’s authentic voice in autobiographies, resumes, cover letters, and other personalized content, blending professional precision with a human touch. She is also pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with a concentration in higher education at Appalachian State University, preparing to leverage her expertise in consulting and transformative educational initiatives.
Shaquana’s journey into higher education was a leap of faith. After earning her master’s degree in English Language and Literature from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she spent two years in marketing before taking a chance as a part-time professor at A&T University in Greensboro. Over the next decade, she held nearly every full-time or part-time instructional role across the UNC system and North Carolina community colleges. Shaquana is drawn to opportunities that shape young adults—helping first-year students develop critical thinking, articulate their voices, and explore social issues. She thrives on transforming educational spaces and helping students grow into confident, engaged learners.
Beyond her professional work, Shaquana is an advocate for social justice, diversity, and community building. She is a published author, having written Honey & Vinegar: A Memoir, and enjoys exploring creativity in her personal life through writing, dancing tango, camping, and celebrating time with family. A lover of the arts and a lifelong learner, she blends her passions for education, storytelling, and experiential living into every project she undertakes, creating spaces where individuals and communities can grow, heal, and thrive.
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro -
Master's degree, English Language and Literature, General
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro - BA, English Art
• National Association for Faculty Diversity and Development (NAFDD)
• Habitat for Humanity
• Red Cross Blood Donor
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say it's between spirituality and my family. I really believe in intuition and trusting the process, even when it's messy. Even when I moved far away which was just 3 hours, but still - my family and the community that I grew up in, that's where I'm at now, and that's how I know I've made the right choice. Even though it's stressful, everything still feels like it's supposed to.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
What I would say is that your career path doesn't have to be linear, and that's something I had to unlearn in the past couple of years. Trust the parts of the journey that feel like dead ends or roadblocks, because there's often a reason. I'm seeing this a lot lately, but rejection isn't rejection - it's just redirection to something else. So I'm holding on to that.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say carpe diem - seize the day, seize every opportunity that you can, as best you can without burning yourself out. Seize opportunity, but have boundaries. And lean into your support system - don't be afraid to ask for help. Because it's really easy to put on the Superwoman cape and never take it off.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would start with students, because that's why many of us enter higher education - we want to see students succeed, especially first gen students, which I am, and students with different backgrounds. The fact that college students have begun to feel like they don't need to go to school anymore is concerning. They're really skipping class and office hours and not using the programs that are available to them. I was all over mine and worked in a tutoring center as an undergrad, so I can't imagine it. But I think it just speaks to a different trend - students would rather just go get a job and make the money that they can instead of finishing their education. There's also instability in the field right now. Knowing where your degree is even going to land in 3 or 4 years is uncertain.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Creativity, empathy, justice, and community. These are the values that guide everything I do.
Locations
The Rite Writers LLC
Durham, NC 27704