Dr. Tessa Pyles

Tessa is a proud UMA grad! She graduated from UMA in 2012 with a major in Liberal Studies and minors in Women’s Studies and American Studies. She went on to earn a MA in English from UMaine (2015), and a Ph.D. in American Culture Studies (2020) from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Tessa is an experienced academic advisor and classroom instructor. In both roles, she loves working with students, and finds joy in helping them find and/or stay their own course. As a non-traditional and first-generation student, Tessa faced many challenges in her life and education, and she brings this knowledge and experience to her work at UMA.
While she recognizes the hard work and sacrifices it took to reach her academic and career goals, Tessa credits the advising, mentorship, support, and encouragement she received during her time at UMA for providing her with the foundations she needed to stay the course, both at UMA and beyond. She is thrilled and honored that her own course has brought her “home” to UMA.

Tessa is “mom” to her son, Ethan, and is a newly minted “empty nester.” Though she recently discovered the title “parent of a free-range adult” and much prefers it. She is also “mommy” to her furry son, Hiccup, a nearly 8-year-old Shorkie. Tessa enjoys cooking, baking, cross-stitching, gardening, and spending time with small gatherings of close friends.