Tamia Fowlkes
Tamia Fowlkes, a 2014 MMS graduate is a multimedia journalist currently working as a Public Investigator at The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Through her work, Tamia is driven to explore intersections of labor, politics, climate, arts, race, and culture.
“Attending a Montessori School instilled a true creative spirit in me at a very young age. I got to try my hand at debate, chess, volleyball, track, science and music. There were unlimited possibilities for what I would learn in a day and how. In my eighth-grade graduation speech, I wrote that I wanted to be a journalist, so my experience helped me envision a pathway toward what I do now, which I love.”
After MMS, Tamia graduated from DSHA in 2018 and went on to the University of Wisconsin - Madison where she earned a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science in 2022. From there, Tamia earned her M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University in 2023 and currently works as a public investigator with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Before joining the Journal Sentinel, Tamia interned with the Washington Post, the Rachel Maddow Show, USA Today - Network, the Wisconsin State Journal and earned an internship position with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Investigative Watchdog Team as a part of the Pulitzer Prize Finalist “Wires and Fires” Investigation. Recently, Tamia was chosen to cover both the 2024 Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
In addition to her journalism degrees, Tamia holds certificates in Gender and Women’s Studies and Leadership and has received numerous awards for excellence in her field. Her work has been featured in several notable publications such as Teen Vogue, Blavity, and Politico.
When she is not out in the world interviewing, Tamia enjoys watching theatre, reading, writing, crocheting, rollerskating, and running. Tamia looks back on her time at MMS with gratitude, especially cherishing her eighth-grade Model UN trip to New York City, where she saw her first Broadway show, made new friends, and developed an early interest in government—a blend of passions that symbolize a culmination of all the things she’s grown to love in adulthood. We are thrilled to celebrate your accomplishments, Tamia! Congratulations on all of your success.