“My social studies and history teachers from eighth grade through high school [Paul Laurence Dunbar] were all African-American. Roz Aikens and Suzie Cavanaugh taught me so much about history – especially those things that were not in our textbook,” Tesha said.

Last fall, the College of Education selected Tesha to receive the Torch Bearer award at the Lyman T. Johnson Alumni Banquet in recognition of her academic success and student leadership. A large part of the reason the college chose her for the honor was for her volunteer service. In addition to membership in the Minority Educator’s Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, with whom she has performed numerous community service projects, Tesha also volunteers at Kid’s Avenue Child Development Center.

She is also a recipient of the William C. Parker and Grace Coleman Scholarships.

“I have always wanted to be a teacher. Even when I was a little girl, I played school. I don’t know why. I just found I liked teaching kids. I love the feeling I get when someone has learned something from me, especially about history. There is so much I have learned through my studies that I want to share,” Tesha said.

Tesha is the daughter of Rona Livingston-Maxberry and Steven Maxberry of Lexington, Kentucky.