Best-selling novelist, UNC alum Sarah Dessen reflects on her ‘Change of Plans’

Posted Jul 29, 2026
At UNC, Sarah Dessen initially chose psychology as her major. But after she took a creative writing class with the late Doris Betts, she was hooked. “I always tell students to follow what interests you, to take all kinds of classes,” Dessen said. “In Doris’ class, I knew this was what I wanted to do.” Dessen’s books have sold millions of copies worldwide. (UNC.edu)

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