Alumni Archive 2019
December 2019
Name: Kara Funkhouser
Major, Minor: English, Journalism
Year Graduated: 2010
Job Now: Professional Development Program Developer for Workforce Development and Community Education at Delaware Technical Community College
What have you been up to since graduation? I moved back home to Delaware after graduation and married my best friend, Charles Funkhouser, in 2011. I worked several part-time jobs until I was hired as an Office Clerk for Conference Planning and Facilities Reservations at Salisbury University. While there, I completed my Masters in College Student Personnel online at Arkansas University in 2014. Afterwards, I was hired as an Administrative Assistant at Delaware Technical Community College. I was quickly promoted to Senior Administrative Coordinator for Workforce Development and Community Education. I held that position for over four years until I was recently promoted to my current position within the same division. On a more personal note, my husband and I have spent our free time serving our local community through the local fire company and church as well as taking road trips and family vacations. We welcomed our first child this fall and are looking forward to the crazy adventure called parenthood.
What is the best/most interesting part of your job? The best part of my job is getting to do what I love. I have the creative freedom to develop courses in any trending area to offer programs that will help students gain employment or improve their career. Knowing that my work creates life-changing opportunities for others is the most rewarding part of my job.
What has been your favorite and/or most memorable on-the-job moment? While working in this division, over the past four years, I am sure I could share many moments, but one that always seems to stand out is a moment that I only observed. I remember a student walking into our office asking to speak with one of our managers. He stopped in just to tell her his exciting news, that he had finally passed a certification exam. The manager celebrated his achievement with a high-five and short congratulatory chat. After the encounter, I learned more about the student’s background and how many times he had previously taken the exam and failed. This was truly a great accomplishment that our division helped him achieve and one that would tremendously improve his career and financial security. Capturing little moments of student success are my favorite.
How did our program help you prepare for your current job? While completing my degree, I knew I didn’t want to teach. My holistic college experience sparked and shaped my passion for pursuing a career in education and student affairs. Pushing aside the list of commonly acquired skills, many of which can assist in any job, developing the ability to think critically as well as creatively and learning how to be resourceful instead of dependent, are two of the main reasons I was promoted. I truly believe my time at Shepherd helped me find my passion and gave me the skills to pursue a job that I love.
What advice would you give current students? Never think any job is beneath you because you can always learn and grow from any experience, and you can make a difference no matter what you are doing. Be patient while building your career. It took me eight years of working several jobs as an administrative assistant to get to my current position. While you are waiting for that “dream job,” always look for opportunities that can help you get to where you want to go. Never underestimate the power of networking and always take pride in your work. No matter what life brings your way, take care in how you choose to react, especially in the workplace. A positive attitude, kindness, and willingness to help can go a long way.
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November 2019
Name: Emily Womeldorff
Major, Minor: English, Gender and Women’s Studies
Year Graduated: 2017
Job Now: Field Organizer for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic in West Virginia
What you’ve been up to since graduation? After graduating, I moved back to Morgantown, where I began an internship with Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and have been with them since, working on reproductive healthcare access and rights in WV! Basically, I use grassroots organizing to engage communities, supporters, and volunteers around the state that impact reproductive healthcare, access, and rights in a lot of different ways. I also became a dog mom to a German Shepherd named Gus!
What is the best/most interesting part of your job? Getting to travel across this beautiful state and meet so many people who are doing amazing work to make my home state a better, happier, and healthier place to be. It’s an incredible privilege to know all of these folks and get to be a small part in this huge fight to change our state. Plus, working for Planned Parenthood is just pretty cool!
What has been your favorite and/or most memorable on-the-job moment? I wouldn’t exactly say my favorite, but absolutely the most memorable moment in this position so far has been the fight against Amendment 1 during the 2018 election cycle. It taught me a lot about how to find common ground with folks who may not be so friendly towards Planned Parenthood, but want to see our people be safe and healthy. Also, we recently held a candidate forum in South Carolina all about reproductive healthcare issues and 20 of the Democratic candidates attended. I helped staff this forum and got to meet some really awesome people and candidates that day!
How did our program help you prepare for your current job? I think both programs provided me with a lot of tools that have made me successful in this field. Not only have my writing skills come in handy a few times, but the ability to look at problems critically and have conversations about difficult/touchy issues in a way that is logical and understanding of another’s perspective have helped tremendously. The professors in this department constantly challenged me to question myself and my own thoughts and being comfortable doing so has really allowed me to grow in this role. Additionally, the exposure to so many different/diverse types of literature, film, etc. has helped me understand how to and why it’s important to apply an intersectional lens on this kind of work.
What advice would you give current students? Don’t limit yourself to jobs that are solely in the writing/teaching world. The skills that you learn as an English major are extremely transferable to so many different fields, and you’re much more of a desirable potential employee than you may think. Also, if I hadn’t explored other paths, I wouldn’t have found a career I am so fiercely passionate about and enjoy every single day. Write and teach if that is your passion, but also explore other opportunities that may be out there! The non-profit world always needs good writers, readers, and critical thinkers.
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October 2019
Name: Kellie Sansone
Major, Minor: Spanish, Education
Year Graduated: 2018
Job Now: Spanish Teacher at Spring Mills High School
What have you been up to since graduation? Grading a lot of papers!! Mostly enjoying each day in the classroom spent with my 140 “adopted” students!
What is the best/most interesting part of your job? The best part of teaching is being able to inspire and promote young students to have a passion for learning a foreign language. However, the most interesting part has to be my students teaching me something new every day. It is very entertaining when the teacher becomes the student!
What has been your favorite and/or most memorable on-the-job moment? The most memorable moment I have so far is the activities my classes participated in during Día de Los Muertos Week (Day of the Dead). Another Spanish teacher and I joined our classes together to create a week filled with culture, dancing, and singing for the students. It was truly a great experience to see the students laughing and learning about different Spanish cultures.
How did our program help you prepare for your current job? The Spanish Program at Shepherd University is filled with amazing professors who pushed me to expand my speaking skills and cultural knowledge and watched me grow as a student from my first ever Spanish class to my final class before graduating. The classes were rigorous enough to keep me on my toes and always thinking outside of the box, which are two very important skills that teachers need to learn before entering the teaching field.
What advice would you give current students? Take advantage of the amazing professors and opportunities that Shepherd’s Spanish Program offers to you. You will never have the chance to learn from a greater, more supportive group of educators.
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September 2019
Name: Nicole (Nicky) Barnes Lucas
Major, Minor: English (Literature), Psychology
Year Graduated: 2016
Job Now: Jury Coordinator at the Montgomery County Circuit Court
What have you been up to since graduation? That is a loaded question! The week after graduating from Shepherd, I interviewed for an intern position at the Montgomery County Circuit Court’s Jury Office in Rockville, Maryland (say that ten times fast). Two months later, I was offered a full-time position as an Office Coordinator. Ever since then, I feel as if I have pushed a massive fast-forward button on life. I married my childhood sweetheart, Aaron Lucas, saw my younger sister, Taylor, through a year-long battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma, purchased a new home closer to work, and used some of the profits from the sale of our first home to pay off my student loans. Life since graduation has been a whirlwind, but I am so fortunate to be where I am.
What is the best/most interesting part of your job? Honestly, working with the public has always been my passion, so my position in the Jury Office is a perfect fit for me. My co-workers and I assist roughly 500 people a week with their jury service. We perform a juror orientation, teach the community about one of the most important civic duties we as American citizens are privileged to have, assist the court by sending panels of qualified jurors to courtrooms, process mail, and answer phone calls when jurors have questions about their service. We are one of the smallest offices in the building with only four full-time employees, which can be chaotic at times, but I love the busy environment.
What has been your favorite and/or most memorable on-the-job moment? My most memorable on-the-job experience was, in general, my entire first year at the courthouse. When I started in my department, the office was under new management. There had been a complete turn over in employees, and the office had just started processing jurors on a new system. As a team, we not only had to learn how to run the office from a general standpoint, but we also had to learn how to troubleshoot and solve daily issues with the new processing system. My first year was both thrilling and nerve-wracking, but my confidence in my abilities to work in a professional setting grew exponentially, as did my ability to rely on my co-workers. On a more humorous note, I have two favorite on-the-job moments to share. The first has to do with Shepherd’s very own, Dr. Nixon. The fun thing about jury duty is everyone is required to serve when called upon. Imagine my surprise when I saw Dr. Nixon in the jury lounge one day, prepared to complete his civic duty! I must admit, there was a certain sense of pride that came from having one of my mentors at my workplace. I certainly sat in my chair a little taller that day! My second favorite memory is one that I share with many of my co-workers. Please know I am in no way condoning this behavior, or encouraging anyone to try it out for themselves, but someone decided to show up for jury duty in a bear costume. No joke. Obviously, we had to have a serious conversation with the juror on proper courthouse attire, and we rescheduled their service to another day, but at the time it was very entertaining.
How did our program help you prepare for your current job? The Department of English and Modern Languages can be largely credited for my professional success. It is entirely fulfilling to know that I utilize the communication, multi-tasking, and speaking skills that I gained during my time in the English Literature program at Shepherd. I have confidence presenting orientations in front of large groups of people, directly related to the number of projects and public speaking opportunities I was given while studying at Shepherd. I am more mindful of those in my work environment who require ADA accommodations due to disabilities (thank you, Dr. Wenger). I am not afraid to show passion and emotion in my workplace (thank you, Dr. Lewin). I felt knowledgeable and at ease during the interview for my current position due to the mock-interview practice and résumé building techniques that I learned in my Capstone course (thank you, Dr. Messenger.) I strive to evolve my thought processes and continually push myself to become better at what I do so that I can be the best version of myself (thank you Dr. Hanrahan and Dr. Nixon). I am extremely grateful for my time spent at Shepherd University, and I will always cherish the invaluable life lessons I learned while getting my degree.
What advice would you give current students? First and foremost, study what you think is going to make you happy and bring you fulfillment! When I would tell people that I was an English (Literature) major, most would assume I was trying to become a teacher. When I would explain that was not my goal, they would generally ask, “Well then what’s the point?” The point was, discussing literature was (and still is) my passion. I knew there were many other benefits to getting my Bachelors in English; however, my main reason for deciding which courses to study related to what I enjoyed. Second, build relationships with your fellow students and the faculty! Some of the best years of your life will be spent as a student, so surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed. Do the work, try not to procrastinate, and read as much as you can. Be involved in your classroom discussions. Utilize the library and the other tools that Shepherd provides you with. Spend your free time enjoying Shepherdstown. Eat with your friends at Kazu and Betty’s and the Blue Moon Café. In the words of the wonderful Mr. Edward Magorium, Avid Shoe-Wearer, “Your life is an occasion. Rise to it” (Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium).
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August 2019
Name: Anna Deeny Morales
Major, Minor: English, Piano Performance
Year Graduated: 1995
Job Now: Adjunct Professor for Georgetown University’s Center for Latin American Studies
What have you been up to since graduation? After graduating from Shepherd, I studied theater at the Accademia Nazionale d’Arte Drammatica Silvio D’Amico in Rome. Although I was studying theater, I have to say that what is most memorable for me of those years was the job I took to make ends meet. I gave tours at the Catacombs of Priscilla. These are the largest catacombs in Rome with the most ancient known image of the Christian Mary who holds a small baby Jesus on her lap. When the people at the Vatican found out there was a tour guide at the catacombs who spoke Spanish and English, they asked me to give tours of the necropolis beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. This was the Holy Grail, an epicenter—literally—of the Catholic world because it’s where, supposedly, St. Peter was buried. At the same time, I wrote La straniera, an adaptation of Medea by Euripides, and another play called Tela di ragno, based on the story of Arachne in Ovid’s Metamorphosis, for a contemporary dance and theater company called Il Balletto di Spoleto. All this research to write the plays and make a few bucks in the necropolis made me realize I was ready to come back to the US to get my PhD. I also realized that in Italy I would always be a foreign woman. With lots of help from our wonderful professors in the Department of English and Modern Languages—Dr. Ellzey, Dr. Tate, Dr. Dwyer, and Dr. Shurbutt—I began to apply to graduate programs and ended up at Dartmouth College, where I received an MA in Comparative Literature. Then I went on to the University of California, Berkeley, and received a PhD in Hispanic Languages and Literatures. Because my partner was living in Boston, I wrote my dissertation at Harvard and began to teach there in the History and Literature program, where I stayed for eight years. While teaching and writing my dissertation, I began to translate poetry. The same year I finished my PhD, the University of California Press published my first book in translation, Purgatory, by Raúl Zurita. This book was followed by other translations of Zurita’s poetry as well as other Latin American writers, such as Mercedes Roffé, Alejandra Pizarnik, and now Gabriela Mistral. One unexpected result of translating poetry has been the opportunity to give bilingual readings. In the meantime, I’ve returned to my roots in music and theater by adapting two zarzuelas, which are Spanish operettas. The most recent one, La Paloma at the Wall, debuted at Gala Hispanic Theater in DC. My next two writing and research projects include finishing my own book, Other Solitudes: Essays on Poetry and Consciousness and translating Tala (1938) by Gabriela Mistral, for which I am grateful to have been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship.
What is the best/most interesting part of your job? Teaching is wonderful. As I age, I have the opportunity to listen to and learn from young people. As a translator and writer, the most interesting part of my job is trying hard to understand the emotions, thoughts, and experiences of other people, and learning how to convey them through this extraordinary thing we call language. As a researcher, I love analyzing what others are writing, synthesizing ideas, and learning a new way to think about the world.
What has been your favorite and/or most memorable on-the-job moment? My work is who I am; it is being alive in the world. So I feel very fortunate about that. What has been most gratifying and, at the same time, challenging is finding my own way. That is, finding my own way of being in the world and doing what I do. Also, through my research, teaching, translating, and writing, I never denied the human processes I was experiencing. So what has been equally memorable, gratifying, and challenging was, for example, as I wrote my dissertation and had a child at the same time, I allowed the knowledge I was gaining as a new mother to influence how I engaged and questioned theoretical concepts, how I evaluated linguistic and aesthetic forms. This was extremely gratifying for me. Similarly, all of my personal experiences influence how I think about language, teaching, and translation.
How did our program help you prepare for your current job? The professors in the Department of English and Modern Languages were and continue to be extremely dedicated to what they do. They came to class prepared to teach, taught us how to write, gave us extensive feedback on our essays, and welcomed our comments. This takes a tremendous amount of time, patience, integrity, and dedication. The classes were a combination of lectures and guided conversations. The professors from the Department were never patronizing to students. They respected us, our range of experiences, and diverse ways of expressing thoughts. Our professors taught women writers and writers of color. They did not limit themselves to canonical works, and this also impressed me. They became my model for teaching as well as collegiality and scholarship.
How has speaking another language helped you in your career and life overall? The foreign language I studied in our department was English. Dr. Ellzey taught our linguistics course, and she also taught Old English (Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote . . . ). This experience helped me tremendously in my analysis of poetry as well as my work in translation. When I got to Shepherd, I already spoke Spanish fluently because my mom is from Puerto Rico, French decently because I studied it in middle and high school, and then went on to learn Italian after college. I would not have had a career if I didn’t speak another language, including English as a foreign language. And what is most important about another language is not the accuracy of grammar or vocabulary; it’s the basic concept that there is always an other way of thinking about the world.
What advice would you give current students? Learn with passion for two reasons: 1) you are going to die; and 2) there are others who would die so that they might have the opportunity you have.
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July 2019
Name: Emily Spangler
Major, Minor: English (Creative Writing), Sociology
Year Graduated: 2016
Job Now: Library Services Supervisor at McKeldin Library at the University of Maryland, College Park
What have you been up to since graduation? Lots of stuff! During my last semester at Shepherd, I was offered the unbelievable opportunity to work at the Library of Congress as a Library Technician. It was a chaotic Spring semester—I had classes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and would take the MARC train down to DC on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I would write papers in Union Station! That opportunity allowed me to graduate with a job already lined up, but it was a contractual position, so a few months after graduation I landed a position as a Library Services Specialist at Priddy Library at the Universities at Shady Grove, where I really came into my own as a library professional. During my two years at Priddy Library, I oversaw the circulation desk, student assistants, social media, and many other aspects of the library’s day-to-day functions. During that time, I also began my MLIS (Master’s of Library and Information Science) degree at the University of Maryland, College Park, and I graduated in May! On a personal note, I also got engaged! And we met at Shepherd, the first week of freshman year, so shout out to Shepherd for fulfilling my personal life.
What is the best/most interesting part of your job? The best part—or most rewarding part, rather—is knowing that at any given moment, anyone can approach me about seeking knowledge, and I can help him or her. Simply knowing that people are actively searching for information makes me happy. As for the most interesting? Libraries see a variety of social issues at play—homelessness, lack of internet access, immigration issues, unemployment. Many times, we interact with patrons at their lowest point, and we are a lighthouse. Hearing the stories is definitely the most interesting part, and sometimes it is the hardest part. Oftentimes, I wish I could do more.
What has been your favorite and/or most memorable on-the-job moment? My supervisor retired abruptly at the beginning of this year, so I was a one-woman show for about eight months, managing my department that consisted of about thirteen employees by myself. I’m so proud of myself for everything that I accomplished during that time. That was the most challenging period of my life. It tested me emotionally, physically, professionally—I had never done anything like that and wasn’t prepared for it initially, but it made me a better supervisor. It forced me to believe in myself, to not fall apart completely, even when all I wanted to do was break down and cry.
How did our program help you prepare for your current job? Let me tell you a story. Freshman year (first semester), I was in Dr. Nixon’s amazing Witches and Witchcraft in Literature class. My first paper, I got a D. I think I cried. The next paper, I got a C. Not good enough. The last paper, I got a B. Dr. Nixon literally wrote on one of my papers, “I know you are better than this” (I look at this when I need motivation). Basically, the Shepherd University Department of English and Modern Languages taught me growth. It motivated me to try harder—way past my comfort zone, way past the bare minimum, way past my own mediocre standards. They taught me that failure is a tool: use it to fuel your desire for something. The first time I applied for a paid Library of Congress internship, I didn’t get it. It broke me a little bit. The next year, I tried ten times harder, pushed way past the expectations, and got it. That is what every great job or experience wants from you, for you to push way past what they expect of you, and honestly, the English program taught me that.
What advice would you give current students? Be respectful in creative writing classes, even when you don’t love the story. Submit the paper you worked really hard on to a conference, even if it scares you. Go to the library, even if you haven’t been before. Try to meet new people, even if you’re shy (unless you hate people, which I totally get). This one might be the most important. Many of my lifelong friends I met at Shepherd (we still have a running Facebook chat with thirteen people in it and hang out all the time, two years later!). I met my soulmate at Shepherd—still not sure how that happened. I met my people in the English program though. Only they know how hard it is to dissect a single line of Shakespeare to create a well-written, amazing point in a twenty-page paper. They are your tribe, and it is so heartbreaking that it disappears after four years, but it doesn’t have to completely if you keep in touch. Finally, challenge yourself, always. You don’t know how high you can fly.
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June 2019
Name: Miranda Beahm
Major, Minor: English (Literature), Spanish
Year Graduated: 2014
Job Now: Admissions Officer at the University of North Georgia
What have you been up to since graduation? I was offered my first full-time position as a Financial Aid Support Team Specialist at American Public University System six months after graduating. I learned a lot about the inner workings of higher education on the financial aid side and feel this position helped me grow my skill set and make both professional and personal connections for which I am very grateful. After about three and a half years in this position, I felt it was time for a change and new adventures awaited! I made my way south to Georgia. I now reside in northern Georgia, about an hour outside of Atlanta, and have greatly enjoyed getting to know the area and everything the state has to offer. I started my current position as an Admissions Officer for undergraduate admissions at the University of North Georgia. I am continuously learning new things about the position and how I can best perform my job. This position has pushed me out of my comfort zone in just a short time, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunities provided to grow in both knowledge and in forming important connections. I am excited to experience each season at this institution as I grow to understanding a more traditional layout of the college experience.
What is the best/most interesting part of your job? My current position allows for new experiences each day. No two days are alike, and it keeps me on my toes. I work with an amazing group of people who have been so helpful in my learning process and welcoming me to the campus and university as a whole! I also really enjoy meeting prospective students and walking them through the process of beginning their higher educational journey. It is satisfying helping a student in a way similar to the way so many Shepherd faculty and staff helped me at the beginning of my journey and throughout my time as an undergraduate student.
What has been your favorite and/or most memorable on-the-job moment? Overall, I think my favorite part of my job is having the opportunity to be there to witness that initial step that a student takes towards his or her goals. This process is most evident in some of the events I get to attend. I take part in a few recruiting events with some of the local high schools and really enjoy being able to connect with the students and seeing their excitement at graduating from high school and the prospect of chasing their dreams.
How did our program help you prepare for your current job? The process towards getting my degree taught me so much, not just in knowledge but also in skill set and outlook. My experience in the Department of English and Modern Languages taught me how to communicate effectively across a variety of formats, and this has been immensely helpful in each area where I have worked. An English degree has proved to be quite useful across many fields and allows for some creativity in a career path, which I wasn’t aware of prior to my studies. I am so grateful for my choice in major and how it has furthered my endeavors.
What advice would you give current students? Read all of the books and short stories and poems and plays that you can! Take advantage of the wealth of knowledge that stands at the front of the classroom! You will miss your professors when you are no longer able to stop by their offices and ask them about what you should do with your life. Take the time to enjoy the campus and the student experience. I get to experience a university campus on a daily basis once more, and it brings back such fond memories. Remember that your path is not limited to one profession, and get creative in how you use your degree. Perhaps most importantly, maintain the connections you have made. They will prove extremely valuable and will hopefully forever hold a special place in your heart and memories.
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May 2019
Name: Keira Cale
Major, Minor: Psychology and Spanish (Double Major)
Year Graduated: 2017
Job Now: Interim Coordinator for Multicultural Student Affairs
What have you been up to since graduation? I decided to pursue my Master’s degree in College Student Development and Administration at Shepherd University. During my time in college, I found that I loved working with college students, and I really felt like I could make a difference in the college environment, so I decided to make that a career. I graduate from my program in May 2019, which I am really excited about. I also bought my first house with my current partner, and recently we just got a new puppy.
What is the best/most interesting part of your job? Personally, I love seeing students grow and self-author their own college experience. Some students come into college very unsure of what they want to do, and after a few semesters, they really start to explore who they want to be and where they want to go in life. The college experience is about more than only getting a degree. Students are able to really discover their passions and create the person they want to be for the rest of their lives. I think that their development is a really profound thing to see.
What has been your favorite and/or most memorable on-the-job moment? Recently, the Multicultural Student Affairs Office hosted the second annual Diversity and Inclusion Conference at Shepherd University. The purpose of the conference is to educate students on issues of social justice, equity, and inclusion. It was really inspiring to see all the conversation and dialogue take place on these types of issues.
How did our program help you prepare for your current job? In my current position, I serve as an advisor to students who are involved in a club or organization that is through our office. Many times, students or parents of students identify as Latinx or Hispanic. Having a degree in Spanish, I am able to connect with those students and parents in a way that I would not have been able to if I did not have a Spanish degree. It goes beyond being able to speak their native language; it provides important context to what this specific population may need to succeed in college.
What advice would you give current students? Challenge yourself to experience things that you may not otherwise choose to do. College is all about shaping who you want to be, so make sure that you expose yourself to all types of thoughts, opinions, experiences, and ideas in order for you to be the most well-rounded individual that you can be.
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March 2019
Name: Hannah Williams-McNamee
Major, Minor: English, Art
Year Graduated: 2011
Job Now: Success Coach in the Office of Student Success at Shepherd University
What have you been up to since graduation? I took a year or so after graduation to work and focus on my graduate school applications. My husband and I moved to Frederick, Maryland once I was accepted into American University’s M.A. in Literature program. I worked as a teaching assistant and writing tutor all through graduate school. It became clear to me that working with students was something I enjoyed, so I sought those opportunities whenever possible. After AU, I returned to Shepherd to teach English 101 and 102 as an adjunct. I loved teaching writing and doing so at Shepherd specifically. Still, I felt ready to move forward and devote my energy to a full-time position after three years of balancing teaching with the freelance copywriting and social media work I did on the side.
What is the best/most interesting part of your job? It’s interesting how much feels familiar to my time in the classroom, but the lens through which I see any given student is wider. For instance, I still use a syllabus and give assignments and projects, and I still meet with students one-on-one just like I did when I held conferences for my English classes. I knew then that conferencing was so beneficial to how students connected with the course. Now, too, this kind of one-on-one work helps me meet students’ needs on any given day. I appreciate that the SSA creates that space for them. One of our guiding principles is that students should leave their meetings feeling better than they did when they came into our office. The best part of my job is having a role in that. I’m all for students working on their priorities and becoming more empowered by having the consistency and support of the academy. I enjoy being a part of the team in the Office of Student Engagement and Student Success, too. Everyone is hardworking, big-hearted, and creative.
What has been your favorite and/or most memorable on-the-job moment? I can’t be too specific here, but several moments come to mind. Every time students tell me how they worked through some issue—maybe they did well on a test they were worried about, or talked with a professor even though they were really nervous—I am reminded all over again how much this work matters to me. These conversations, even the tough ones, offer something memorable.
How did our program help you prepare for your current job? I’ve been involved with the Department of English and Modern Languages as a student, an alumna, and an instructor, which is a testament to how wonderful it is. Their support has never failed to be clear-eyed and gracious no matter how my role changed. The Department of English and Modern Languages helped build the character, patience, and communication skills I use in my job every single day. Reading and writing about literature in those classes was a test in discipline, creativity, and aiming high. I learned how to express myself clearly and persuasively and take pride in my work. The same goes for when I taught in the Department. The program offers the kind of thoughtful and versatile thinking, writing, and public speaking skills that are not only advantageous to my current job—I don’t see how I could do this job otherwise. What a gift!
What advice would you give current students? Treat every class you take as an experience worthy of all of your integrity. You will get back what you put into these courses, and they are training grounds for professional experiences and relationships. Plus, don’t forget to have fun! Cherish the sense of community that English classes offer! Also, seek work that means something to you and feels right in some meaningful way, whatever that looks like for you. You may need time for things to come together while you try out different opportunities. (This advice was always tough for me to follow, but it is so important.) Ask for help when you need it, and extend all the gratitude you can for the help you receive. Be creative and open-minded about how the skills gleaned from this program can apply to jobs you’ll have. You have it in you to be a great asset in many kinds of careers.
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February 2019
Name: Stephen McKenzie
Major, Minor: English, Appalachian Studies
Year Graduated: 2013
Job Now: Claims Specialist with the Social Security Administration in Corning, NY
What you’ve been up to since graduation? I was working as an intern for the Harpers Ferry Center (a branch of the National Park Service that specializes in media development) while studying at Shepherd. After graduation, I transferred to another federal agency only to be closer to family since I already had two young children. Since graduation, I had three more kids. We have four boys and one precious daughter.
What is the best/most interesting part of your job? The best part of my job is helping people retire and plan their futures. It’s so great to see how thrilled most folks are to stop working or, at least, to collect another check while they keep working. It makes me dream of my own retirement some day surrounded by dozens of grandchildren.
What has been your favorite and/or most memorable on-the-job moment? My job can be very high-stress and feature depressing lows when dealing with customers who are impatient, angry at the Federal Government, or have a problem that can’t be fixed. However, my favorite on-the-job moments involve providing help to those who truly need it: when the cancer patient is approved for disability, when the married couple celebrates 30 years and retires together with plans to travel the world, when a disabled child is able to get assistance receiving medical treatment. These moments are few and far between, but we must actively “stop and smell the flowers” as golfing great Walter Hagen is quoted. Putting smiles on people’s faces is my favorite part of my job.
How did our program help you prepare for your current job? The Appalachian Studies program taught so much on the unknown history of the region. I was blown away by the information and inspired by the professors teaching these subjects. I actually used a brief timeline of Appalachia in my Social Security job interview which I believe actually won me the position. The interviewers were shocked and intrigued by what I laid out before them when they asked: “Choose a subject you know well and talk to us about it for five minutes.” However, if I could jam the entire Appalachian Studies program into five minutes, that wouldn’t do it justice. Furthermore, the English program at Shepherd was phenomenal. I have used my writing, speaking, and research skills to communicate with the public clearly, interpret complex federal policies as they relate to even more complex scenarios, and assist in the training of other coworkers even though I’m only in my fourth year (the Agency says it takes 5-7 years to become a journeyman).
What advice would you give current students? Pursue your goals with passion. Whatever you’re passionate about at the moment should be the topic that you form ideas around. If your collegiate-level work is mundane and you try to come up with generic topics, it will be a bland experience. If you truly pour your passion into your work, it will be worthwhile and engaging so that you’ll be disappointed to leave the college and enter the workforce. I allowed my Judeo-Christian worldview to strongly influence nearly every piece of work that I authored. This doesn’t mean everyone will agree with you—perhaps no one—but you will be more satisfied when you allow your passions to flow through your work.
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January 2019
Name: Shannon Holliday
Major, Minor: English, Women’s Studies
Year Graduated: 2000
Job Now: Coordinator for Students in Transition and the First Year Experience (FYEX) program at Shepherd University
What you’ve been up to since graduation? I’ve explored different careers, gone back to school, bought a house, and married my longtime partner (Jesse Shultzaberger, B.F.A, 1999). We chose to remain in the area after graduation. We travel a lot but still call Shepherdstown home. My husband is a full-time musician, and I earned a Master’s degree through Shepherd’s CSDA program and work for the University as a clinical faculty member now. I teach one or two courses a semester and direct the Common Reading program, which I often describe as “a campus-wide book club,” so the English major in me loves those aspects of my job.
What is the best/most interesting part of your job? It is so rewarding to work with college students, especially during their first year, which is such a crucial time in one’s life. There’s nothing better than watching students find their stride and really start to embrace their own identity, personal growth, and intellectual development.
What has been your favorite and/or most memorable on-the-job moment? The annual academic ceremonies of Convocation and Commencement are the highlight moments for me. Inducting new students into the campus community at Convocation and then seeing those same students graduate a few years later is such an inspiring cycle. I like the pomp and circumstance, the regalia, the emotions, and the excitement of those two bookend occasions. It’s evidence of people who are pursuing and achieving their dreams, and it is amazing to witness.
How did our program help you prepare for your current job? It challenged me to become my best self in so many ways. I realized quickly that to become a successful student I would have to engage in deeper research, careful reflection, and embrace the editing and revision process. I would have to stay focused, value constructive feedback, and seek support or help when I needed it. Those skills translated into valuable life lessons that I continue to use every day even now.
What advice would you give current students? Giving advice to current students is essentially my job description, so this is what I tell them: 1) Get to know your professors and let them inspire you. The faculty at Shepherd are phenomenal, and the relationships I formed with many of them over the years were life-changing. 2) Take advantage of all the campus and region have to offer. Get to know the area then keep exploring an ever wider radius. We’re so lucky to have DC, Baltimore, and even New York City all within close proximity. I learned the most valuable lessons in life from travelling, whether it was close to home or on the other side of the planet. 3) Live on campus, then live on your own. 4) Believe that you belong here and that you can succeed. 5) Give it your all and always give back.