Anansa Benbow ’15 – A Connection that Lasts

Anansa Benbow ’15 graduated from the University of Rochester with a bachelor’s in linguistics. She’s now a lexicographer with Oxford University Press, working mainly on the dictionary of African American English. Like many alumni, her path following graduation was not linear, but she found stability in the alumni community through groups like the Black Alumni Network. She learned she had access to a network of people who’d be willing and excited to help her should she ever need it, and she felt compelled to do the same for others. She’s been involved with the mentorship program, volunteered for her 5th and 10th reunions, and is the co-chair of the Black Alumni Network’s mentoring and career committee.

That spirit of community began during her time on campus as a linguistics student. “I was able to find great community with the Douglas Leadership House, the Office of Mentoring and Student Advocacy (OMSA), and my academic department,” she explains. “I really wanted to stay connected to that community, and I wanted to enjoy being an alumnus. As a student, I always thought it was cool to see alumni come back and get involved.”

Defining language and preserving culture

She’s now able to balance her career with her desire to give back. As a lexicographer, she spends her days researching Black history and writing dictionary definitions for African American English. “My role is primarily centered around content and drafting definitions,” she explains. I get assigned a batch of words, and I research their history and use throughout time.” This process requires thorough research, looking for examples from newspapers, magazines, songs, interviews, letters, and more. “I’m primarily concerned with drafting dictionary entries, which includes the definition, etymology, a paragraph of examples, any relevant notes, and then I move onto the next term.”

Shortly before beginning her role at Oxford University Press, Benbow completed a master’s degree in applied linguistics from Columbia University. Around that same time, she attended a Black Alumni Network event in New York City that reinforced just how valuable alumni connections can be.

“I went to this event, and Karen Chance Mercurius immediately let everyone know I was looking for a job,” she recalls. “It was a reminder of the ways that a network can be leveraged for students and alumni as they enter the world. I think it’s special that we now have that infrastructure through the Black Alumni Network.”

Giving back through mentorship

That experience strengthened Benbow’s commitment to helping others navigate their own academic and professional journeys. She encourages alumni to find opportunities to engage in ways that feel meaningful and manageable for them.

“When there are calls for volunteers, search out opportunities that work best for you. I always do the admitted students call,” she explains. “And for young alumni I would try to go to different events in your region, find people who are open to hearing about your experiences, and take advantage of platforms like the Meliora Collective.”

Benbow is excited about the prospect of growing her involvement in the coming years and sees herself always wanting to give back to students and fellow alumni. “I think as I get more experience in my career, I’ll have more guidance, value, and resources to offer,” she says. “Especially to Black students, because I know affinity groups were something so many of us wanted. I look forward to the years when I can ask who’s studying or has studied linguistics, and I can share my knowledge with them.”

In the end, it is really all about community and staying connected with others who have similar experiences. “I can’t really say exactly why I chose to be involved,” she says. “I just feel a sense of collective responsibility. I do feel like I’ve learned the benefit of community.”

—Ben Vandenberg, May 2026