Terence Aldo Halligan

For most of his life, Dominique was raised by a single mother. In the months after Dominique’s mother married William, Dominique resented his new step-father for making him share the only parent he’s ever had. After Dominique’s crush asks him to the winter formal, the black West Virginian teenager decides to track down his biological father who he hopes will teach him how to tie a tie before the dance. When Dominique tracks down his dad, the man berates him demanding to know if he’s “a faggot”. Unable to answer, Dominique’s dad publicly disowns him. Determined to live in his truth, Dominique heeds his mother’s advice and resolves to finally connect with his step-father and learn how to be his own man and how to tie his own tie.

At a major university, the first woman of color to become chair tries to meet the dizzying demands and high expectations of a failing English department.