Andrew J. Skerritt is an assistant professor of journalism and adviser to the FAMUAN student newspaper at Florida A&M University. He is the author of “Ashamed to Die: Silence, Denial and the AIDS Epidemic in the South,” (Lawrence Hill Books).

Prior to entering the classroom, he spent two decades in the newsroom, most recently as an editor and columnist for the St. Petersburg Times. He also worked for newspapers in South Carolina, New Jersey (Asbury Park Press) and New York (Journal News).

Over the years he has covered disasters such as hurricanes Hugo and Luis in the Caribbean and the volcanic eruption in his hometown, Montserrat. When not grading papers, he writes essays and other nonfiction as well as short stories.

He lives in Tallahassee with his wife and two children. Follow him on twitter @andrewjskerritt.