has never been particularly interested in following a conventional path. Whether pursuing opportunities in the entertainment industry, developing creative projects, or launching her own business, the �鶹��Ƶ alumna has built a career around trusting her instincts and finding the courage to pursue her ideas.

She calls that approach “chaotic good.”

Watkins, who studied cinema and television arts, explored that philosophy in a TEDx talk, challenging audiences to reconsider what it means to take risks, break the rules and create opportunities.

“To me, ‘chaotic good’ is having a strong sense of intrinsic motivation, trusting your vision, and having the courage to make it happen,” Watkins said.

Her recently published talk, titled “” was recorded May 8 at TEDxLaSierraUniversity in Riverside, California, as part of the event’s “True Possible” theme.

While the term originated in the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, Watkins has adopted it as a guiding principle in her own life.

“Over the last decade, I’ve challenged myself to try new things, make new connections, and see ideas through from conception to execution,” she said. “Sometimes that means doing things outside the box (or, in earlier cases in my career, breaking the rules and making my own) and creating a new path for yourself.”

That willingness to venture into unfamiliar territory doesn’t mean the process is always comfortable.

“It’s absolutely terrifying because you don’t know what’s on the other side or how your idea will turn out, but it’s about taking a leap of faith and trusting yourself,” she added.

One of the clearest examples of Watkins’ philosophy came this summer, when she produced and moderated celebrating the 10th anniversary of the video game “Watch Dogs 2.”

The idea began in her living room.

While playing the game, Watkins noticed how closely its themes mirrored contemporary conversations about digital privacy, surveillance and technology. With the game’s anniversary approaching, she envisioned a panel celebrating its cultural significance while encouraging discussion about digital rights.

What began as an idea evolved into a five-month undertaking that required Watkins to recruit participants, secure sponsorship and coordinate the event. She connected with actors, creatives and digital rights advocates, securing support from cybersecurity company Malwarebytes. Fellow �鶹��Ƶ alumnus and Madeline “MJ” Johnson helped film the resulting panel.

I had to take multiple leaps of faith to make this happen, but each one pushed me to trust myself and have the grit to bring the vision to life.

– Mia Ginaé Watkins ’16

For Watkins, that mindset began taking shape long before her professional career.

She credits her �鶹��Ƶ experience with providing an environment where she could explore her interests, build relationships, and develop the confidence to pursue opportunities beyond her comfort zone.

“�鶹��Ƶ was actually the perfect space to practice being a chaotic good,” she said.

After high school, Watkins promised herself she would pursue as many opportunities as possible. At �鶹��Ƶ, she connected with classmates across disciplines, pursued creative projects outside her coursework, and sought advice from entertainment industry professionals.

She recalls carrying a camera around campus and spending hours in editing suites, developing projects that eventually became part of the portfolio that helped her land a job in the video game industry.

“�鶹��Ƶ was a sandbox to test out new skills and try new things, equipping me with the growth mindset I needed to flourish out into the world,” Watkins said.

Today, Watkins is channeling that entrepreneurial spirit into , an event strategy company focused on creating in-person experiences at the intersection of gaming, culture, community and entertainment.

As the company’s founder, she hopes to collaborate with brands, organizations and creative partners to develop memorable experiences that bring people together.

It’s another example of Watkins putting her philosophy into practice, building on her background in filmmaking, entertainment and gaming while pursuing a new professional direction.

And through her TEDx presentation, she hopes others will recognize that they, too, have the ability to create opportunities rather than wait for them.

“I hope it inspires people to trust in themselves more,” Watkins said. “To take more leaps of faith and not be afraid to go after the life, goal or objective they envision.”

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October brought the sights and sounds of fall to �鶹��Ƶ, with a month full of celebrations, traditions and opportunities for connection. From welcoming alumni back to campus for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, launching the new School of Engineering, to the changing colors of autumn, the �鶹��Ƶ community embraced all that the season had to offer.

Take a look back at some of the memorable moments from October through the lenses of staff in the Office of University Communications.

‘Everybody’

�鶹��Ƶ Performing Arts presented “Everybody,”  a modern adaptation of the 15th-century morality play Everyman, one of the first recorded plays in the English language.

A transformational education

An opening celebration for the Roberts Academy, the university’s new elementary school for children with dyslexia, featured a special student performance on Oct. 2, and a ribbon-cutting with Marjorie and Hal Roberts, whose generosity helped establish the school in 2025.

The Roberts Academy at �鶹��Ƶ is the fourth private school established by the couple, joining Vanderbilt University, Mercer University, and Florida Southern College in a network of programs committed to the advancement of education for children with dyslexia and related conditions.

Tiny shelf concert

�鶹��Ƶ’s Musical Theatre department hosted a “Tiny Shelf Concert on Oct. 2 in Belk Library.

The ‘biggest’ Rock the Block yet

The Office of Alumni Engagement and the Student Union Board collaborated once again to host the Homecoming concert with DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal) bringing approximately 5,000 attendees to the annual Rock the Block concert on Oct. 9.

Learning everywhere

Assistant Professor of Management Jose Cerecedo Lopez teaches a class outside near the Koury Business Center.

Engineering excellence

Dozens of university leaders, faculty, staff and students were joined on Oct. 30, 2026, by the CEO of the world’s leading accrediting body for engineering education programs, as well as North Carolina’s secretary of commerce, for a morning of reflection on the rise of �鶹��Ƶ’s new School of Engineering and Computing.

Pumpkin playfulness

The �鶹��Ƶ Community Garden Club and the Garden Studio course hosted the 18th annual Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 30, uniting students, organizations, faculty, staff and community members with fall festivities, including live music, fun crafting activities and food at the �鶹��Ƶ Community Garden.

During the ceremony, 40 new members were inducted, including 39 current and recently graduated �鶹��Ƶ nursing students and one community nursing professional. Their induction recognizes academic achievement, leadership potential and a commitment to excellence in nursing practice.

The ceremony featured guest speaker Janice Hawkins, Secretary of Sigma’s International Board of Directors and professor at Old Dominion University. Her participation highlighted the significance of establishing a new chapter and the opportunities Sigma provides for professional development, scholarship and collaboration within the global nursing community.

The chapter’s chartering officers include Stacey Thomas, president; Lori Hubbard, vice president; Amy Tippett, secretary; Jennifer Strom, counselor; and Eric Mulford ’25, treasurer, a graduate of �鶹��Ƶ’s Department of Nursing inaugural Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) cohort. Mulford’s leadership reflects the chapter’s commitment to fostering lifelong connections between �鶹��Ƶ nursing graduates and the university. Together, these leaders envision building an active and welcoming professional community that connects nursing students, alumni, faculty, and practicing nurses through mentorship, service, scholarship and leadership opportunities.

“Our goal is to create more than an honor society that recognizes academic achievement. We want Alpha Gamma Sigma to become a vibrant professional community where nurses at every stage of their careers feel connected, supported, and inspired to make a difference,” said Thomas. “As a newly chartered chapter, we have an incredible opportunity to establish a legacy of nursing excellence at �鶹��Ƶ that will continue for generations.”

The establishment of Alpha Gamma Sigma represents another important step in the continued growth of �鶹��Ƶ’s nursing program. With leadership that includes both faculty and graduates from the program’s earliest cohort, the chapter reflects �鶹��Ƶ’s commitment to building a lasting community of nursing scholars and professionals. Through mentorship, professional development, scholarship, and service, Alpha Gamma Sigma aims to inspire excellence in nursing practice while strengthening connections among students, alumni and the broader healthcare community.

The Homecoming & Reunion Weekend awards event, featuring a live jazz band, full buffet breakfast and mimosa bar, honored Michelle Stephens, Cheyenne Pinkston G ’25, Monty Bumper ’97, Nicole C. Wright ’03, Janay Tyson ’19 and Derrick Luster ’20.

“There is no better way to celebrate the strength of our community than by recognizing the people who continue to show up, lead with purpose, and make an impact far beyond themselves,” shared associate vice president of EBAN’s Enrichment and Engagement committee Ruby Bracy ’99. “The EBAN Awards give us an opportunity to pause and celebrate alumni, faculty, staff, and students who embody the values that make our community so powerful.”

The purpose of the �鶹��Ƶ Black Alumni Network is to build, maintain and sustain collaborative relationships with Black alumni through social events, networking and philanthropic purposes impacting current and future �鶹��Ƶ students.

Award Recipients

Michelle Stephens 

K. Wilhelmina Boyd Outstanding Service to Students Award

Michelle Stephens retired from �鶹��Ƶ in December 2025 after 30 years of dedicated service as a member of the university’s Environmental Services team. Throughout her career, Stephens approached her work with a simple but deeply held belief: every student, faculty and staff member, family and visitor deserves to experience �鶹��Ƶ at its very best. Over three decades, she watched generations of students arrive on campus, grow into young adults, and walk across the stage at Commencement. She formed lasting relationships with students, colleagues, faculty, and staff, many of whom came to know and love her as an important part of the �鶹��Ƶ community.

Stephens’ own educational journey has been different from those of many of the students she served. Although reading and writing have presented significant challenges throughout her life, she has always possessed gifts that cannot be measured on a transcript: an extraordinary work ethic, attention to detail, perseverance, compassion, and genuine love for people. Among Stephens’ greatest rewards were the simple moments when students stopped to notice her work, speak with her, or say, “Thank you.” To her, those expressions of appreciation meant more than any paycheck or credential ever could.

Cheyenne G. Pinkston G’25 

K. Wilhelmina Boyd Outstanding Service to Students Award

Cheyenne Pinkston is the assistant director of presidential stewardship at �鶹��Ƶ and a dedicated advisor and advocate for �鶹��Ƶ’s Renaissance Scholars. Since the program’s inception, Pinkston has been committed to ensuring Renaissance Scholars have a culturally rich, historically meaningful and transformative �鶹��Ƶ experience. Through intentional mentorship and relationship-building, she has become a central source of support, encouragement, and community for program participants.

In her stewardship role, Pinkston supports engagement with presidential and principal-gift donors through personalized communications, recognition, and experiences that demonstrate the impact of philanthropy and strengthen donors’ connections to �鶹��Ƶ. Across both roles, she is passionate about creating experiences that help people feel seen, supported, empowered, and connected to something larger than themselves.

Monty L. Bumper ’97, P’24 

Eugene Perry ’69 Distinguished Alumni Award

Monty Bumper has dedicated his career to educating, mentoring and creating opportunities for young people. A former member of the �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball program, Bumper now serves as a special education teacher and director of football operations at Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia. In addition to his work in the classroom, he plays an integral role in supporting student-athletes through the college recruitment process, helping them stay academically prepared and meet the grade and testing requirements necessary to pursue opportunities at the next level. Bumper is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, where his commitment to mentorship, leadership, and community service continues.

�鶹��Ƶ remains an important part of his family’s story. Monty and his wife, Maria Quinones Bumper ’95, are the proud parents of three sons, and their youngest, Julian ’24, followed in their footsteps by attending �鶹��Ƶ. That generational connection reflects what Bumper values most about his alma mater: relationships, opportunity, community, and a lasting sense of belonging.

Nicole C. Wright ’03

Gail Fonville Parker ’70 Distinguished Alumna Award

Nicole C. Wright earned a Bachelor of Science from �鶹��Ƶ in 2003, and both her Master of Public Health in 2005 and Doctorate of Philosophy in Epidemiology in 2010 from the University of Arizona. She is currently an associate professor of Medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine and director of education for the School’s Center for Health Outcomes, Implementation, and Community-Engaged Science, where her research focuses on musculoskeletal aging epidemiology, including osteoporosis outcomes research, and racial disparities in osteoporosis and its management.

Wright is also a nationally recognized leader in osteoporosis epidemiology and has reached fellow status in the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. She has been an investigator on numerous federal and industry-supported research projects and has held many leadership roles, including a Board of Trustees member of the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. Wright has mentored many students and junior faculty and is dedicated to increasing the presence of women and Black researchers in bone health. In 2024, she was awarded the UAB Graduate Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship.

Janay Tyson ’19 

Outstanding Young Alumna Award

Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Janay Tyson was an active student leader on �鶹��Ƶ’s campus, holding positions in the CREDE, residence life, the President’s Student Leadership Advisory Council, School of Communications, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, among others. After graduating, Tyson immediately moved to New York City and launched her career through Verizon’s competitive AdFellows program. Later, after honing her craft at top agencies, she pivoted to her true passion: experiential marketing.

Today, Tyson is an account supervisor at Team Epiphany, one of the top-rated multicultural marketing agencies in the US, where she oversees large-scale brand activations, influencer campaigns and content shoots across the consumer-packaged goods, nonprofit, fintech and entertainment sectors. In 2024, Tyson founded Curated Conversations, a collective that forges intentional partnerships with local businesses across Brooklyn and beyond to produce events and social experiences for 20- to 40-somethings looking to find their tribe and connect with their neighborhood. With more than 20 brand sponsorships and moe than 10 events already under her belt, Tyson is just getting started and is excited for what the future holds.

Derrick Luster ’20 

Outstanding Young Alumnus Award

Derrick Luster graduated from �鶹��Ƶ in 2020 with a degree in political science and minors in sociology and African & African American studies. During his time at �鶹��Ƶ, Luster served as president of the Black Student Union and as a Student Representative on the �鶹��Ƶ Strategic Planning Committee. He was also an �鶹��Ƶ College Fellow and a member of the Nu Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Luster attended the UCLA School of Law and graduated in 2023 with concentrations in critical race studies and public interest law & policy. Throughout law school, Luster committed his free time and summers to civil rights organizations supporting litigation on behalf of victims of police misconduct, protesters from the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, and students experiencing racial and disability-based discrimination. He currently serves as the director of racial justice advocacy for the national prisoners’ rights nonprofit, Rights Behind Bars, where he litigates cases in federal courts across the country on behalf of prisoners whose constitutional and civil rights have been violated. Prior to joining Rights Behind Bars, Luster worked for a law firm representing survivors of childhood sexual abuse and employees who experienced retaliation and discrimination on the basis of their disabilities, gender, and race.

Also recognized during the program were members of the Sigma Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., celebrating their 35th reunion; the Omicron Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., celebrating their 45th reunion; and the Nu Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., celebrating their 40th reunion. Together, these organizations raised a total of $7,506.96 in support of the Black Alumni Scholarship between March 5, (�鶹��Ƶ Day 2026) and Oct. 5, with committee leads Kennedy Ojimadu of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Lynne Daniels of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Alfred White of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., presenting the amounts each chapter raised.

Attendees enjoyed an evening of recognition, connection and heavy hors d’oeuvres, while honoring Tal Fish ’09, Rev. Dr. Chelsea Yarborough-Gill ’12 and Reese Kimball ’29.

“Tonight is about recognizing the impact of and celebrating the people who continue to create spaces where others can feel seen, valued, supported and empowered,” remarked LGBTQIA Alumni Network President Jonath Monti ’08.

The LGBTQIA Alumni Network and Community Enrichment Awards were established in 2012 to create opportunities to affirm and acknowledge the work alumni, faculty and staff have done to uplift LGBTQIA people and causes on campus and in their communities at large. The Community Enrichment Awards recognize those individuals who have made and continue to make a positive impact and for their dedication to �鶹��Ƶ and LGBTQIA communities.

Community Enrichment Award Recipients

Tal Fish ’09

Tal Fish (he/they) is a queer, neurodivergent licensed clinical mental health supervisor and licensed clinical addictions specialist who believes deeply in creating a world that is inclusive and just, working toward the safety and dignity of all people while dismantling oppression.

He is a proud 2009 graduate of �鶹��Ƶ’s prestigious music theater program and later earned his graduate degree from Wake Forest University. After working as an instructor for Wake Forest’s counseling program for a decade, Fish has spent the last five years supporting �鶹��Ƶ students as a mental health therapist within Counseling Services. This September, Fish moved into a new role as clinical coordinator and staff with faculty rank for �鶹��Ƶ’s new Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program, supporting counselors in training and teaching counseling courses. He has also appeared globally as an out-and-proud cast member on a reality TV show for the last decade.

Rev. Chelsea Yarborough-Gill ’12

Rev. Dr. Chelsea Brooke Yarborough-Gill (she/her) is the associate director of leadership development at the Association of Theological Schools. Dedicated at her core to empowering individuals to find, embrace, and use their voices to foster well-being, equity and the possibilities of flourishing, she earned her bachelor’s degree from �鶹��Ƶ, her Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University School of Divinity and her Ph.D. in Religion from Vanderbilt University.

Yarborough-Gill’s new book, “Proclamation Beyond the Pulpit: The Expansive Homiletical Practice of Black Women,” which considers the preaching insights from Fannie Lou Hamer, Nannie Helen Burroughs and Sojourner Truth, is just one example of how her work seeks to challenge normative power structures and traditional paradigms of proclamation.

Even as an ordained Baptist minister, leadership coach, Enneagram teacher, and poet, Yarborough-Gill values her roles as a wife, daughter, friend, sister, and auntie, above all.

Reese Kimball ’29

A member of �鶹��Ƶ’s Class of 2029, Reese Kimball (he/him), is a member of �鶹��Ƶ’s Nursing Fellows program and plans to pursue pediatric nursing after graduation. He is an active member of the Creative Arts LLC, Club Swimming, Spectrum and the President’s Student Leadership Council.

Only a sophomore, Kimball has had many exciting �鶹��Ƶ experiences, including performing with �鶹��Ƶ’s first show choir, the �鶹��Ƶ Muses, during his freshman year, and coordinating the Adventures in Leadership program this summer with a mission to encourage diversity and inclusion. Kimball hopes to continue to demonstrate the ideals of the Community Enrichment Award as he continues his time at �鶹��Ƶ.

With Rotary’s support, Ecker is currently earning her Master of Science in Food Security from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland so she can fulfill her mission of strengthening local and global food systems through sustainable, ecological practices.

Ecker is the eighth �鶹��Ƶ student in six consecutive years to receive District 7690’s Rotary Club’s Global Grant; the only recipients since 2021 have been �鶹��Ƶ students and alumni. She follows Faith Leslie ‘21, Allison Potter ’22, Kiara Hunter ’23, Megan Curling ’23, Ava de Bruin ’23, Nazaneen Shokri ’24, and Holly Miranda ‘20. All recipients since 2022 have had at least one major in public health, a testament to the Department of Public Health’s ability to successfully prepare leaders who address the most pressing public health concerns of the 21st century.

This opportunity is not limited to public health majors, though, and all interested �鶹��Ƶ students and alumni should contact the National and International Fellowships Office for more information about the application process. Applications will be due in mid-December, and the office will start supporting applicants in early November.

An undergraduate experience ‘rooted in collaboration’

Ecker arrived at �鶹��Ƶ as a Teaching Fellow prepared to major in elementary education, but everything changed for her after taking one course: Introduction to Public Health. She started to observe the intersections between education and public health and realized that a career in the field would allow her to meaningfully combine her interests. Soon after, she declared a double major in public health and international & global studies with a minor in French and joined the Global Partnership Scholars Program (formerly the Periclean Scholars Program) to put her newfound passion into practice.

As a Global Partnership Scholar, an experience she calls “an honor and one of the most meaningful parts of [her] �鶹��Ƶ experience,” Ecker spent three years learning about building ethical partnerships locally and abroad. She traveled to Jamkhed, India twice to work on the Comprehensive Rural Health Project, and served as a peer mentor to a younger cohort of scholars traveling to Sri Lanka. These experiences, paired with Ecker’s semester abroad in Denmark, helped shape her into an ethical, global citizen.

In addition to her international experiences, Ecker also knew she wanted to complete undergraduate research to make a long-term impact locally. Under the mentorship of Scott Morrison, professor of education, Ecker worked extensively with the , a grassroots organization in a historically Black Burlington neighborhood. Founded in 2017 by Lydia Jones and Joyce Moore, MCG’s mission is “to educate, empower and encourage individuals through acts of service and giving.”

Ecker’s project included two years of Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR), an approach that makes community members equal partners in the research process. She spent months attending community meetings, volunteering at the garden, and surveying residents to understand their needs. Ecker then worked in partnership with Morrison and Ashlie Thomas—a gardener, author, and nutrition scientist—to create “Rooted Together,” a free eight-week program for children in Morrowtown that combined gardening, literacy, math and nutrition lessons. She also worked to co-create service-learning opportunities so more �鶹��Ƶ students can get involved with the garden in the future.

“Bringing more professors and students to the table to support Morrowtown and its garden reflects the importance of putting the ‘co’ in collaboration,” she said.

In addition to these impressive achievements, Ecker also served as the co-president for the French Honors Society and an �鶹��Ƶ 1010 Peer Educator. She credits her successes to her wide range of �鶹��Ƶ mentors.

“I am fortunate to have mentors across public health, education, engineering, environmental science, French, and the International & Global Studies Program,” she said. “My primary mentor, Dr. Morrison in the School of Education, profoundly influenced my �鶹��Ƶ experience. My interest in food systems began with our research project, and his mentorship is part of the reason I am pursuing a master’s in food security. Equally as important, Molly Green, Amanda Tapler, Scott Wolter, Jacob Rutz, Sophie Adamson, Olivia Choplin, Mussa Idris, Waseem Kasim and Andrea Sinn also shaped my undergraduate experience through a deeply interdisciplinary lens. They continuously supported and challenged me to reach my full potential, and I would not be where I am today without their mentorship.”

An alignment of values

With these rich experiences under her belt, it only made sense that Ecker would continue to pursue advanced education in the field of public health, which is how she discovered the Master of Science in Food Security at The University of Edinburg, a program that combines foundational training alongside valuable international fieldwork placements. Ecker knew this was the next best step for her but needed support to make it a reality.

By working with the National and International Fellowships Office, Ecker learned about the Rotary Global Grant and the natural ways it aligned with the work she’d already done.

“I was motivated to apply because Rotary’s values and goals align closely with my own values and academic aims,” she explained. “I found a scholarship and a community that truly values serving others, which is what I have tried to do through my work with the Morrowtown community and my on-campus leadership. I chose Rotary because it supports selfless future leaders and global citizens who will make an impact.”

This alignment was also clear to the Piedmont District 7690 Rotary Club, and after a rigorous application and interview process, Ecker heard the news she’d been hoping for: she was the next recipient of the $30,000 grant. Now, Ecker is in the second month of her graduate studies at Edinburgh.

“I am thoroughly enjoying my modules. I am taking two core modules, Frameworks to Food Systems and Sustainability in Food Production, along with an elective called Sustainable Entrepreneurship. It has been amazing to finally study the theories, history, and vulnerability assessments of food security in depth, while also learning about the entrepreneurial and business side of the food system,” she said.

Looking ahead, she is eager to complete her dissertation project and an international field trip with her master’s cohort in April. While her dissertation ideas are still in development, Ecker hopes to focus on topics like sustainable business models in food systems or entrepreneurship and resilience in food-insecure communities. The international field trip will take place in Morocco, where she will learn about a new food system and visit international and local food security organizations.

Outside of the classroom, Ecker has loved exploring Edinburgh with her flatmates and members of the Rotary Club of Braids. One of the hallmarks of the Rotary Global Grant is the connections that are forged with local chapters so recipients feel welcomed and supported during their transition abroad.

“My Rotarian international hosts, Duncan, Paul, and Anne, have been a supportive community,” she said. “Duncan even picked my parents and I up from the airport when we arrived! My family was also invited to attend a Rotary luncheon to meet the Braids chapter. I could not think of a more wholesome welcome to a new country!”

While Ecker is still deciding what comes after the Master of Science program, she might go straight to work within international food security, or perhaps continue on to earn her PhD—her commitment to improving the lives of others is steadfast and clear. She is already well on her way to becoming precisely the kind of “selfless leader and global citizen” that Rotary International seeks to amplify.

Classical studies faculty members Kristina Meinking, Tedd Wimperis, and Brandon Baker hosted the festivities, which featured student-designed commemorative t-shirts, gift bags for attending alumni and a cake celebrating 10 years of the Classical Studies major. Current majors and minors, including members of the Eta Sigma Phi honor society, contributed to planning the event and welcoming the alumni back to campus.

Classical Studies was inaugurated as an interdisciplinary minor by Rosemary Haskell and the late Russ Gill in 2000, housed within the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Megan Sweeney ’16 was awarded the university’s first Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies through the independent major program; she was soon followed by several other students who sought to foreground the study of antiquity in their �鶹��Ƶ education. A dedicated major and revised minor were successfully proposed and approved in 2020-21, and first appeared in the 2021-22 academic catalogue.

The visiting alumni have gone on to a wide range of career paths after �鶹��Ƶ, including accounting, operations, software engineering, medicine, marine research, university advancement and graduate study in chemistry, communications, library science and public history. For all the diverse post-graduation journeys these alumni have taken, they will always have a home under the oaks.

“The Classical Studies program helped me decide what I want to do with the rest of my life, and will always be a part of me,” said Ash Crouse ’26

“One time I took my parents, and they took a picture of me, and I said, ‘I will work here one day,’” Achey recalled.

She was right.

On Sept. 24, Achey joined Professional Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) students and faculty via Zoom in Alamance 318 to discuss her career in international publishing and offer advice to students hoping to enter the industry.

After graduating from �鶹��Ƶ, Achey struggled to find her first publishing job. Through �鶹��Ƶ’s Bridges program, she spent a summer in New York City networking with alumni and industry professionals. A connection she made over coffee eventually led to a position at book distributor Baker & Taylor, where she managed sales in Asia. Another professional relationship helped her land a job at Simon & Schuster in 2017.

Today, Achey manages international customers and helps bring English-language books to readers around the world. Her work takes her to major industry events, including the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany and the London Book Fair.

“When I was at �鶹��Ƶ, I absolutely loved my study abroad experience, so I really wanted to couple my love for reading with travel,” she said. “That’s what led me to international sales.”

Achey also introduced students to the changing landscape of publishing. She described how BookTok and other social media communities can generate sudden surges in book sales, recalling one title that sold roughly 1,500 copies overnight after gaining attention on TikTok. She also discussed the industry’s cautious approach to artificial intelligence, particularly AI-generated writing and artwork, while acknowledging the value of AI literacy for emerging professionals.

Throughout the conversation, Achey emphasized that publishing offers careers well beyond writing and editing, including sales, marketing, publicity, production and design. She credited her PWR education with helping her develop communication skills that remain essential to her work, particularly adapting her tone and approach for different audiences.

For students interested in publishing, Achey recommended following industry newsletters such as *Shelf Awareness* and *Publishers Lunch*, pursuing internships and attending readings and events at local bookstores. She encouraged students to connect with professionals on LinkedIn, maintain relationships with alumni and recognize the value of transferable skills gained outside the publishing industry.

Her own career, she explained, demonstrates why networking matters: both of her major career opportunities emerged from relationships she had cultivated.

“Keep immersed in the thing that you love,” Achey told students. “Whatever’s drawing you to the publishing industry, try to keep a part of that.”

She also urged students to take advantage of resources closer to home, including �鶹��Ƶ’s libraries, book clubs, Writing Center and PWR events. Her own Writing Center experience helped her develop the collaborative communication and problem-solving skills she continues to use professionally.

Nearly 12 years after graduating, Achey said her enthusiasm for books remains unchanged.

“I still love going in bookstores and seeing our books,” she said.

Through a contract with NASA, Graham was an IBM programmer supporting the Apollo missions, processing data for mission controllers and performing computing used to determine coordinates for the missions. When Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the moon, Graham recalled feeling a blend of relief, pride and the realization that something once thought unimaginable was truly happening.

“We just all of us breathed a sigh of relief that this was really happening,” Graham recalled. But as Graham told President Connie Ledoux Book on the latest episode of “�鶹��Ƶ Beyond the Bricks,” she does not believe she arrived at that moment by chance.

A few years earlier, Graham was a student at Queens College, where faculty encouraged her and her peers at the then all-women’s institution to think beyond the roles society traditionally expected of women in the 1960s. One prompt from religion professor Mary Faith Carson asked students to consider the lives they expected to lead and posed a simple question: “Is this then enough?”

“That has been my mantra, I think, probably the rest of my life,” Graham said. For her, the answer was not simply to fulfill what was expected, but to consider what she could do best and how she could continue moving forward.

Graham was still unsure exactly what she wanted to do after continuing her education in mathematics when another mentor suggested she apply for a programming role connected to the Apollo program. She had never taken a computer science course, but IBM trained her to program, and she became one of roughly 30 women among 600 programmers working there at the time.

For Graham, the Apollo missions reinforced the value of contributing to something larger than oneself. “You have to be a part of the team that makes it happen,” she said. “And every part matters.”

Her career continued to evolve after the Apollo missions. Following a move to Tullahoma, Tennessee, Graham worked in technology before spending decades teaching computer science and mathematics. “I didn’t have to change what I know,” she said. “I had to change what I did with it.”

That willingness to adapt has carried Graham through technology’s tremendous advances, from mainframe computers to personal devices and now artificial intelligence. She and Book agreed that each generation faces change, and the challenge is to understand new technology, use it thoughtfully and continue learning.

As the first Queens alumna featured on “�鶹��Ƶ Beyond the Bricks,” Graham sees a similar opportunity in the future of Queens and �鶹��Ƶ. She hopes the institutions continue educating what she calls the “whole person” by giving students opportunities to look beyond a single field, see how disciplines relate to one another and develop a lifelong desire to learn.

Graham believes that breadth helped carry her from Queens to IBM. Mathematics gave her technical knowledge, but art, culture and the liberal arts taught her to communicate and approach problems from different perspectives — skills she believes mattered on a team attempting something that had never been done.

“They were trying to get to the moon,” Graham said. “They wanted a team that could think outside the box.”

Learn more about “�鶹��Ƶ Beyond the Bricks.”

The ceremony brought together students, faculty, staff, family and friends to recognize Elizabeth McKee ’90, Tiffany Grace Perry ’01 and Stephanie Marken ’08.

Dean of �鶹��Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, Hilton Kelly, delivered remarks in Yeager Recital Hall on the impact the recipients have made on their professions and communities.

“These three alumni demonstrate what it means to graduate from �鶹��Ƶ College: the heart of an �鶹��Ƶ education,” Kelly said. “They have used what they learned in �鶹��Ƶ College the College of Arts and Sciences to have impactful careers.”

Elizabeth McKee ’90 – Arts and Humanities

Elizabeth McKee earned her bachelor’s degree in English from �鶹��Ƶ and a master’s in human development and psychological counseling from Appalachian State University.

McKee is the executive director of Leadership Charlotte, where she has served for two decades walking alongside thousands of leaders as they explore their own capacity to create positive change in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region. Prior to joining Leadership Charlotte, she served as director of leadership initiatives at the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte, where she developed leadership curriculum and programs for undergraduate and master of business administration students.

She has been recognized as a leader in the area including receiving the recognition as one of Mecklenburg Times 50 Most Influential Women in the greater Charlotte area

While at �鶹��Ƶ, McKee published poetry and artwork in Colonnades, was involved with intramural water polo, worked in student affairs and worked with a group of students to create and promote a social honor code to accompany the intellectual honor code.

“I’m not sure I knew it at the time, but �鶹��Ƶ taught me about being in a larger community,” McKee said. “It helped shape my ‘real world’ thinking regarding how I want to be in a community and what role I want to play in being a positive force within it.”

Tiffany Grace Perry ’01 – STEM

Tiffany Grace Perry earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from �鶹��Ƶ, a medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She then completed seven years of neurosurgery residency training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including an enfolded orthopedic spine fellowship at Duke University. Following residency, she completed a post-residency fellowship in complex spinal disorders at The Cleveland Clinic, where she remained as a faculty member for two years. She also earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Perry is a neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. She also works with the Los Angeles Rams as a neurotrauma consultant. She is a consultant for Medtronic on anterior and posterior cervical instrumentation systems. Perry leads annual surgical missions to Uganda with a multidisciplinary team from Cedars-Sanai. She is a faculty member with the AI translational medicine PhD program at Cedars-Sanai, working with graduate students to create clinical projects that intersect the progressive power of AI with the clinical needs of medicine. Perry is also a consultant for Medtronic on anterior and posterior cervical instrumentation systems.

At �鶹��Ƶ, Perry was active in the Honors Program, the Lincoln Premed Society, Alpha Omicron Pi, the National Panhellenic Society and Camerata.

“�鶹��Ƶ encouraged me to be curious, explore beyond what was familiar, and say yes to experiences that challenged and shaped me,” Perry said. “�鶹��Ƶ taught me to remain curious, embrace newexperiences and never stop learning. Those lessons have molded not only who I am personally, but also how I approach medicine, leadership, teaching and mentorship. I learned that success is not just about what we accomplish, but about the opportunities we create for others.”

Stephanie Marken ’08 – Social Sciences

Stephanie Marken earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from �鶹��Ƶ and a master’s degree in survey research from the University of Connecticut.

Marken is a senior partner at Gallup leading the U.S. custom research division, which includes research programs Gallup performs on behalf of foundations, agencies, corporations and high education institutions. She is responsible for the strategic direction of Gallup’s research in education, workforce development, climate, technology, and the social sciences, which includes complex, multimode qualitative and quantitative research projects. She previously served as chief methodologist for Gallup.

Prior to joining Gallup, she was a researcher in the education division at Westat, where she worked on large-scale, complex, multimode education studies for the U.S. Department of Education, including the National Household Education Survey, Postsecondary Education Quick Information System, Fast Response Survey System, Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, and other quantitative and qualitative research projects for education foundations and organizations.

While a student at �鶹��Ƶ, Marken was an intern at the �鶹��Ƶ Poll and in Alpha Omicron Pi.

“�鶹��Ƶ was where I found my voice and where I developed a passion for making sure others are heard,” Marken said. “Any success I’ve had since graduation belongs in large part to the faculty and staff at �鶹��Ƶ who took a vested interest in me when they didn’t have to. In that regard, this award feels like an important example of the lasting impact that highly engaged mentors make, oftentimes without even realizing it.”

Recognizing past deans

The three past deans of �鶹��Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, Steven House, Alison Morrison-Shetlar and Gabie Smith, were also recognized at the awards ceremony. Steven House served as the founding dean from 2001-2009 and guided the growth of �鶹��Ƶ’s academic programs. House provided leadership for 17 academic departments and 19 academic programs. The number of �鶹��Ƶ College faculty increased by 50 percent during her tenure as dean and the number of students majoring in liberal arts grew from 37 percent of the student body to over 50 percent. He also helped develop the �鶹��Ƶ College Fellows program.

Alison Morrison-Shetlar served as dean from 2010-2014, where she continued to expand on a tradition of learning-focused achievements. She founded LIFE@ELON and organized the first North Carolina STEM conference at �鶹��Ƶ, where nearly 100 faculty members from North Carolina colleges and universities gathered, making the conference the largest of the state and regional STEM network meeting held across the country.

Gabie Smith served as dean from 2015-2024, providing growth for academic programs and administrative leadership. During her time as dean, she created the bachelor of science in engineering program, developed more than a dozen academic major and minor programs and worked to establish the Innovation Quad. She also enhanced the Fellows and Scholars programs within �鶹��Ƶ College.