The Class of 2013 leaves the College of Charleston as published researchers and entrepreneurs ready for the next challenge. They have presented at international conferences, won countless awards, served in the military and accepted positions at prestigious graduate schools and organizations. They have found their inspiration and passion at the College, and are now ready to change the world. Congratulations Class of 2013!

Undergraduate Class of 2013

Graduate Class of 2013

UNDERGRADUATE CLASS OF 2013: BY THE NUMBERS*

1,545 graduates
41 states (including D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands) are represented
26 countries are represented
5 students are graduating with top honor (a 4.0 GPA)**
10 students are graduating with an A.B. degree**
20 age of youngest graduate
65 age of oldest graduate
200 School of the Arts graduates
399 School of Business graduates
204 School of Education, Health, and Human Performance graduates
671 School of Humanities and Social Sciences
102 School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs graduates
131 Number of students accepted to medical, nursing, and veterinary schools
302 School of Sciences and Mathematics graduates

* These numbers may change once final grades for spring 2013 are posted.
** as of fall 2012

UNDERGRADUATE CLASS OF 2013: HONORS COLLEGE BY THE NUMBERS*

  • 105 graduates
  • 30 double majors
  • 37 School of Sciences and Mathematics graduates
  • 11 School of Arts graduates
  • 12 School of Business graduates
  • 19 School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs graduates
  • 53 School of Humanities and Social graduates
  • 3 School of Education, Health, and Human Performance graduates
  • 76% of graduates are receiving Latin Honors
  • 2 Division I student athletes
  • 56% studied abroad in 26 different countries
  • 57% completed internships
  • 100% completed original research projects
  • 6 will be teaching English abroad
  • 5 are attending law school
  • 5 are attending medical school
  • 13 are attending other graduate programs, including 2 Ph.D. programs
  • 3 will be attending Teach for America

Beverley (Liza) Wood (political science and biology) will attend the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands on a Fulbright grant to study sustainability science and policy. While at the College, she interned at the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium and Lowcountry Local First and served as an Honors Peer Facilitator. Through undergraduate research in both political science and biology, Liza studied the impacts of water contamination on frog life cycles and alternative agriculture movements in Thailand. She presented her work at both national and international conferences, and currently has a manuscript in the final stages of review. Liza was recently awarded the College’s most prestigious award, the Bishop Robert Smith.

Levi Vonk (international studies) will intern at the University of Maastricht School of Governance with support from a William Aiken Fellows Society Summer Enrichment grant. Following his internship, he will attend the University of Sussex on a Rotary Global Scholar grant. He started his own organization in Charleston, Hispanic Outreach and Literacy Advancement (HOLA), working towards bettering the lives of migrant Hispanic workers. During his summers, he interned with Student Action with Farmworkers in North Carolina. Levi was recently awarded the College’s most prestigious award, the Bishop Robert Smith.

Dyanne Vaught (economics and mathematics) recently accepted a position as a research assistant at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston starting after graduation. Last summer, Dyanne interned with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in their Research and Statistics department. While at the College, she served as an Honors Peer Facilitator, a tutor in mathematics and economics (she holds the College Reading and Learning Association Tutor Certification), as a crisis counselor for People Against Rape, and a member of the Schottland Scholars. She also had the opportunity to study abroad at the London School of Economics. Dyanne was a finalist for a UK Fulbright grant.

christin-newmanChristin Newman (exercise science) became the first College of Charleston women’s tennis player in program history to be named Southern Conference Player of the Year as a senior. She led the nationally-ranked Cougars to three consecutive SoCon Women’s Tennis Championship titles and NCAA Tournament appearances from 2011-13. Newman is a three-time All-SoCon First Team and two-time SoCon Player of the Week selection playing at No. 1 singles for the Cougars. She recently won the prestigious J. Stewart Walker Cup, which is the highest award given by the College of Charleston athletics department to a deserving student-athlete in 2013. Read a College of Charleston Magazine article about Christin and her sister. Off the court, Christin boasts an impressive cumulative 4.0 grade-point average, was the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board and a community volunteer at numerous local sporting events. She interned with the Body Balance Pilates Studio studying the body balance rehabilitation experience. Although accepted to physical therapy school, Christin will take the next two year’s to teach math with Teach for America (TFA). Following her years with TFA she will attend physical therapy school. 

Jeffrey (Jeff) Brooks (international business and Spanish) is in the process of applying and interviewing for jobs in the corporate finance and banking industry. Thanks to funding from the School of Business, Jeff studied abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico. While there he worked as a research intern studying lean thinking in area hospitals. During his time at the College, Jeff served as a peer instructor for Spanish conversation courses, was a member of the College of Charleston Swim Club, was a member of the Schottland Scholars, was a statistics tutor in the School of Business Student Learning Center. His Bachelor’s Essay focuses on supply chain management practices and he is doing an internship conducting international marketing research in the Global Business Resource Center.

Amber Cantrell (women’s and gender studies) was actively involved in the National Organization for Women and Girls Rock Charleston, a summer program for youth. She studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa during her junior year. Her research focused on the critical intersections of fat and disability studies and she presented at two regional conferences, and recently submitted a manuscript for publication in the Disability Studies Quarterly with Dr. Alison Piepmeier. She will attend Rutgers University to pursue her Ph.D. in Women’s and Genders with full funding.

Sarah Schaidle (biochemistry) left an indelible mark on the College of Charleston women’s soccer program as well as the College itself and the community. She was twice named the Cougars’ team Most Valuable Player in addition to being selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Women’s Division I All-Southeast Team and the All-Southern Conference First Team. She coached soccer camps with the Special Olympics and volunteered with MUSC Children’s Hospital. Her bachelor’s essay research examined the dangers of drug interactions among stimulants, common medications, and alcohol use in college students. She will attend pharmacy school at the University of Colorado starting in the fall to pursue her career goal of working as a pediatric oncology pharmacist.

Seth Bostrom (political science) will be participating in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) and then will attend Ohio State University Moritz College of Law beginning in the fall of 2014.

Claire Beadling (communication) completed her Bachelor’s Essay on “Coffee and Craft Beer: The Culture of Success,” where she looked at attempts to define one organization’s culture and how it translates to the overall financial and social success of the business. Claire is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society as well as the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society.

Lauren Krouse (English) will be graduating in three years. This fall, Lauren will move to Lebork, Poland to teach English. During her time at the College, Lauren published several stories in local publications. A travel memoir of her study abroad experience in Spoleto, Italy was featured in the College of Charleston Magazine.

Chelsea Michael (arts management and studio art) is currently applying for arts-related jobs in Charleston and plans to apply for a graduate program in the arts management field beginning in 2014. Last summer, she earned a fellowship to intern at the Sotheby’s Institute in New York City. Through the Arts Management Program Chelsea has interned with two local galleries including the Halsey Institute. Along with her work in arts management, she also served as an Honors Peer Facilitator and a member of Phi Eta Sigma honor society. She also received the Presidential Scholarship and an Honors College Scholarship.

Chelsea Montgomery (political science and German) who discovered her passion for medicine over the past year and will spend the next year completing her pre-medicine course requirements and studying for the MCAT. She plans to combine her interest in global studies with medicine by eventually working with refugees and displaced persons. While at the College, Chelsea studied abroad twice in Germany (once on a William Aiken Fellows Society Summer Enrichment Grant) and spent a summer in Peru teaching English. She has been an active member of the German Club and the Baptist Collegiate Ministries.

Lydia Nickolas (geology) will continue her work in campus sustainability through an internship with the Office of Sustainability and apply to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in water resources. Lydia’s involvement with sustainability and water issues extends both locally and internationally. At the College, she has served as the president of the Geological Society, a volunteer with the Green Heart Project, and an intern with the Office of Sustainability. Through a program with the geology department she traveled to India to explore issues of water pollution and with the Center for Civic Engagement she participated in two service trips centered on food security.

Mallen Urso (political science and women’s and gender studies) is pursuing a position working on a campaign following graduation. Mallen worked on numerous campaigns as an undergraduate, most recently with Paul Tinkler’s campaign for S.C. state senate. Through the Honors College Washington Semester program, she was able to combine her interest in politics and women’s issues with an internship at the National Women’s Caucus. She also served both as the president of the Honors Student Association and the Student Alumni Associates.

Alice Van Arsdale (classics major) will move to New York City to gain experience through an internship at an area museum. She will then apply to graduate school in either art history or museum management. While at the College, Alice interned in marketing and events management at the Gibbes Museum of Art. She also served as the treasurer of the Classics Club and was a member of Center Stage. During the summer of 2011, she explored her interest in roman architecture through a study abroad program in Rome, Italy.

mary-paulsonMary Hood Paulson (sociology and history) completed her Bachelor’s Essay on the Anti-Opium League in China and how effective it was as a social movement in getting opium banned in China. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Delta, the sociology honor fraternity, and Golden Key.

Anneke Wilder (biology) hopes to return to Spain to teach English for a year through a Spanish government program. She will then pursue graduate studies either in scientific illustration or environmental studies. While at the College, Anneke was able to study abroad in two different countries, Spain and Panama. She completed internships with both GreenBy3 and the Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy. Through support of a National Science Foundation grant she studied the effects of environmental contaminants on frog reproduction.

Catherine Marshall (anthropology) is in the process of applying for a Rotary Grant to get a master’s degree in environment and development at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. While at the College, Catherine studied abroad in Barcelona and Guatemala. She also completed two large research projects: one looking at the factors leading to successful legal status among immigrants from Central America and Mexico, the second focuses on the impact of the widening of Mt. Pleasant’s Highway 17 on the Sweetgrass basketmakers.

Kelcey Davis (health and human performance) designed and implemented a wellness program for the physical plant employees for her Honors College Bachelor’s Essay.

Morgan Zipperly (psychology) will work as a research specialist at the Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs at MUSC. She will take the next year to apply to M.D./Ph.D. programs to pursue her career in academic medicine. Since the summer after freshman year, she has been a researcher at MUSC. Her research has mainly focused on addiction studies. During the summer of 2011, she participated in a summer neuroscience seminar in Germany with other College students and faculty. She received a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Research Grant in 2010 to study the effects of caffeine on locomotor activity and conditioned place preference in zebrafish with Dr. Mark Hurd. On campus, she has been actively involved as the president of the Neuroscience Club, a member of the Psychology club, and a volunteer with numerous organizations.

James von der Lieth (economics) was an active member of the Student Finance and Investment club on campus. He completed internships with the Hawkes Learning System and with the Southeastern Management Company. During his sophomore year he founded Bookkeeping Be Gone, a company that manages bookkeeping accounts and provides consulting. He now trains and employs other College of Charleston students. After graduation he will stay in Charleston to grow his business.

Elizabeth Conwell (political science) established the Pulsera Project and served as president for three semesters. As a sophomore, she was recognized with the Pi Sigma Alpha Best Paper Award for the analytical essay category and as a junior, she was awarded the Harper B. Keeler Award for outstanding rising senior in political science. She is in the application process for a Rotary Foundation Global Grant to study community development through the context of food production and consumption.

Samantha Denning (French, international studies) will graduate as a Global Scholar. She studied abroad in both France and Senegal, and while in Senegal she interned with a micro-finance organization. On campus she was active with the Center for Civic Engagement, as part of the Volunteer Corps and was an alternative spring break participant. She has received an appointment through the French government to teach English in the Nantes, France starting in the fall. She hopes to pursue graduate studies in international affairs.

Victor Imko (theatre, English) was heavily involved in the theatre department since his arrival on campus, both has an actor and as a writer. He studied abroad at the University of Nottingham in Ningbo, China during his junior year and presented his bachelor’s essay entitled “Homosexual Panic’ in Turn of the Century Gothic Literature” at the University of Georgia English Graduate Student Organization Conference. Next year he will be teaching English in Japan.

thomas-wernerThomas Werner (communication) is a student representing all things food. He interned at Bon Appetit in NYC, as a web editor, and the Local Palette in Charleston, in addition to being a music reporter for Creative Loafing Charlotte. He also conducted case study research on fast-food industry marketing practices, specifically McDonald’s Corp., by interviewing McDonald’s executives. He’s looking at how the corporate culture at McDonald’s has changed since everyone has become a foodie, asking “if the all-American meal isn’t the cheeseburger, then what is?”

*All information was submitted by faculty and staff. It is deemed to be correct, but was not verified.

UNDERGRADUATE CLASS OF 2013: AWARD WINNERS

  • Bishop Robert Smith Award
    Levi Vonk
  • Bishop Robert Smith Award
    Beverley Wood
  • Bishop Robert Smith Award
    Katherine Shidler
  • Alexandar Chambliss Connelley Award
    Jessica Cantrell
  • Theodore S. Stern Cup
    Brenna McNamara
  • Theodore S. Stern Cup
    Thomas Werner
  • Alumni Medal
    Laura Johnson
  • The Thomas A Palmer Award
    John Prevost
  • Alyson and Grace Jameson Award
    Sarah Johnson
  • John Lewis Gervais Jr. Award
    Christin Newman
  • Phi Kappa Phi Merit Award
  • Laura S. Griffin Memorial Educator Award
    Kelsie Pharr
  • Lucille Whipper Award
    LaQunya Baker
  • Septima P. Clark Award
    Jordan Holland

See the Departmental awards.

UNDERGRADUATE CLASS OF 2013: A CLOSER LOOK*

The most common male names are: Matthew, Michael, William, and Christopher

The most common female names are: Sarah, Lauren, Amanda, and Elizabeth

The following students are graduating with the Global Scholars designation: April Adams, Victoria Allen, Jonathan Black, Nancy Blayney, Alexandra Bocai, Phillip Braun, India Broadwater, Jeffrey Brooks, Stacy Calhoun, Celena Courchaine, Martin Dawson, Samantha Denning, Catelen Duerr, Stephanie Ferrell, Emily Gooding, Benjamin Graf, Jordan Greenway, William Holt, Mark Kadoshnikov, Julie King, Rebecca Krell, Mary Emily Lee, Arianna Megaro, Molly Moore, Signe Moore, Catherine O’Neill, Pooja Patel, Alyssa Pirolla, Stephanie Rhodes, Celeste Seymore, Sarah Stertz, Johanna Von Meister, Levi Vonk, Karahn Washington, Katherine Whiting, Blake Williams, and Brieanna Winkelmann.

Hunter Hegler (computing in the arts and computer science) researched in Dr. Jim Bowring’s Cyber Infrastructure Research and Development Lab for the Earth Sciences for three years where he developed a new software testing framework and published it online as an open source project (ObsidianTest.org) and wrote a journal-submitted paper about it. He works with Charleston Pecha Kucha (2011-present) as the lead for video and technical production and post-production and does event planning, worked with Barcamp CHS 2011 and 2012 on event planning and marketing strategy, with TEDx Charleston in event planning and technical production, with the College’s in!Genius event in event planning and presentation design.

(Anthony) Shane Gibson (psychology) recently completed research on race and helping behavior, which will be published in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, along with his fellow research team. He was selected for two internships over the past two years; one with Charleston City Police and one with South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon. He is also active in the community by volunteering with the American Humane Society and won a Citizenship Award in his hometown of Spartanburg.

Darren Boulton (business administration) packed as much as he could into the past two years, and it is paying off. Boulton transferred to the College as a junior. A dedicated entrepreneur, he volunteers with YEScarolina, is a Schottland Scholar, won the Rady Venture Open National Business Plan Competition in San Diego, competed in three iGo Business Plan competitions (winning one), competed in the Taziki’s Marketing Challenge, played intramural basketball and football, and started a club, the College of Charleston Entrepreneur’s Organization (CofCEO). Boulton is also the 2013 recipient of the Schottland Business Leadership Award.

Karley Rae Petracca (hospitality and tourism management) recently completed an international internship in London, England. While there, she served as an assistant to the revenue management team, which manages more than eight British real estate assets, totaling millions in annual revenue. She lead their project to improve efficiencies in their data management program. When she returned, she completed an additional revenue management internship at Charleston Place Hotel. Karley was also treasurer and president of theChucktown Trippintones, a student-run a cappella group. Karley worked as a student researcher, for a two academic-year period, with Dr. Wayne Smith in partnership with the Office of Tourism Analysis.

Bailey Barnes (psychology) saved the life of a friend while on vacation in 2009, and an S.C. Bill named after him was just passed by a Senate committee (S-160). Bailey’s family was vacationing with the Namess family in St. Maarten and Bailey (then 18) and Coleman Namess (then 16) went out on jet skis and Coleman didn’t return. Bailey went looking for him, found him facedown in the water and performed CPR for 15 minutes in the ocean while the jet skiis floated away. They were picked up by a small boat and brought to shore. Their story inspired S-160, which would require all high school students to learn CPR. They have also been featured on the “What Would You Do” TV show, and have helped to raise thousands of dollars for the American Red Cross.

Alanna Berdanier (biology) will begin a three-year Masters in Public Health Program specializing in epidemiology at the Indiana University Richard Fairbanks School of Public Health. While at the College of Charleston she was an active member in Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, serving as president. In addition, she held the position of treasurer in Rho Lambda Honors Society. She also traveled abroad to Salamanca, Spain to complete her minor in Spanish the summer between her junior and senior year.

andrew-lawrenceAndrew Lawrence (public health) became the first-ever men’s basketball player in program history to earn a spot on an Olympic team roster as a member of the 2012 Great Britain National Team. He was the youngest player for the UK and one of only two collegians selected to an Olympic Team among the 12 countries who qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in his hometown of London, England. Lawrence helped Great Britain to its first-ever Olympic win over China in tournament pool play. A two-time Bob Cousy Award candidate, which is given annually to the nation’s top point guard, he closed out his four-year career being recognized by the league’s head coaches on the All-Southern Conference Team as a senior. Lawrence became the 30th player in school history to gain entrance into the 1,000-Career Point Club and ranks 22nd all-time in career scoring with 1,219 points, tied for sixth in career three-pointers made (207) and seventh all-time in career assists (393) in the College of Charleston record books. He looks to join the professional basketball ranks after graduation as well as continue his international playing career for Great Britain.

Cara Beth Heath (English) has been accepted into MFA Playwriting programs at University of California Riverside, Texas Tech University, and Western Michigan University, and has yet to decide where to attend. She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honor Society. While at the College, she attended two regional Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Conferences, one as a regional finalist in playwriting and again as a competitor in the dramaturgy competition.

Marc Difronzo (health and human performance) is an officer in the U.S. Army Rangers.  He has completed two tours oversees with the Rangers with most recent being last year in Kuwait.  He took time off from his studies at the College to participate another tour, partially so he could graduate with a new exercise science major.

Dan Mathenia (health and human performance) is in the US Marine Corps and after graduation he will return to the Marines to become a Marine Corp pilot.

Taylor Sleaford (physical education) completed a formal strength and conditioning internship at the University of South Alabama during the summer of 2012 working with their national championship football team.  He has applied for a summer position with the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs but he has not heard yet if he has been selected or not.

Peter Gibbons (biology) became the first male diver in the history of the College of Charleston’s swimming & diving program to compete in the NCAA Regional Zones meet. He completed his senior campaign with two Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) championships in the one-and three-meter diving events as well as a new conference record in the one-meter dive. A school-record holder in every diving event, Gibbons was named three times as CCSA Diver of the Meet and twice as CCSA Diver of the Year as a junior and senior. He closed out his storied career as the most decorated diver in school history.

Taylor Sleaford and Sarah Thomas (physical education) took the Sport Physiology and Marathon Training class as freshman and now are serving as TAs for the same class. They are conducting a research study examining the “Anti-Inflammatory Responses to marathon training in Aerobically Fit Individuals” for their capstone research project.

Bennett Jones (urban studies) interned at the Charleston Music Hall where he learned that the urban landscape is more entwined and confusing than ever imagined. He applied systems theory and knowledge gained in the classroom to help develop a more sustainable community in Charleston

Kathy Boehm (communication) was a member of the German Junior National Team, before putting those credentials to work as a consistent starter on the College of Charleston women’s golf team by way of her hometown of Munich, Germany. During her freshman year, she made three Top 10 finishes in 12 starts for the Cougars and finished sixth at the Southern Conference Women’s Golf Championship. She was also a member of part of the College’s 2010 NCAA Regional Championship squad. A two-time All-SoCon Team selection, Boehm claimed individual medalist honors at the 2012 Cowgirl Desert Intercollegiate tying the tournament scoring record with an even-par 216.

jason-byersJason Byers (political science and history) has been accepted at both the University of Georgia and the University of Florida to continue his studies in American politics with a focus on presidential and legislative politics. He has yet to decide where he will attend.

Alyssa Hydar (public health) transferred to the College after earning her associate’s degree from Trident Technical College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Associate Program. While at the College, she became a member of Tau Sigma, the national honor society for transfer students, engaged in countless hours of community volunteer work, and interned at Franke at Seaside. Upon graduation, Alyssa will be working full-time at Kindred Hospital in Charleston as a physical therapist assistant. Her long-term career goal is to manage a therapy clinic. Read more about her experience.

Eric Craig (historic preservation and community planning) finished his athletics career on a high note helping the College of Charleston men’s swimming & diving team win the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship in 2012 and runner-ups in 2013. Craig could also be found hard at work in the Greater Charleston community, volunteering as a firefighter with the Folly Beach Fire Department. He also interned with the College of Charleston EMS and Fire Safety Department. After graduation, he looks forward to working full-time as a firefighter in the Charleston area.

Ciera Jones (psychology) found her passion at the College of Charleston after researching sex trafficking in Cambodia with Psychology Professors Helen Delfeld and Jen Wright. After gradution, she will again travel to Cambodia to conduct research. Ciera has also been very active with the Higdon Leadership Center and volunteers with People Against Rape.

Bart Benton (communication) is a self-described political junkie and a high performer in the classroom. He qualified for the communication department’s Mentor-Protégé Program, in which he was paired with Tucker Eskew, a Republican political consultant and major player in President George W. Bush’s administration. Last spring, Benton earned strength-and-conditioning All-America honors. And next year, he’s off to law school in Georgia. Read more in a College of Charleston Magazine article.

David Lappin (political science) will be attending American University School of Law beginning in the fall of 2013.

Thea Kozakis and Laura Stevens (astrophysics) discovered a planet while conducting research with Astronomy Professor Joe Carson. The planet’s name is Derek, or, to be technical about it, kappa Andromedae b. It exists 170 light years away from Earth, within our galaxy, and is part of the Andromeda constellation. Read more in a College of Charleston Magazine article. Additionally, Canadian brewer Howe Sound has honored Stevens and Kozakis by naming its grapefruit-tinged “Super Jupiter” India pale ale after the newly discovered planet. Apparently, the brewery was looking to make a beer that was “out of this world,” if not also our solar system.

Lindsay (Chandler) Davis (public health) was an active member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, which opened the doors to many philanthropic opportunities and events, such as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. She also found time for various opportunities, such as volunteering at the MUSC Children’s Hospital, acting as co-coordinator of the annual College of Charleston Health Fair, and interning with the College’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety. Chandler also worked part-time at The Extra Mile, a local King St. running store. Upon graduation, Chandler will be pursuing a Masters in Public Health, possibly with a concentration in emergency management, with a career goal of working in an administrative position involving emergency management in a hospital or institution of higher education.

Daniel Cloy (business) is not your usual, run-of-the-mill athlete. Actually, he’s the furthest thing from it. If you’ve seen him pitch, you’d remember it. You’d talk about it. Daniel was born without a left hand and has two prothetic legs. Despite not making the College’s team, Cloy still harbors dreams of playing ball – perhaps going to graduate school and walking on its Division II/III team or maybe landing a tryout with the Charleston RiverDogs (a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees). Read more in this College of Charleston Magazine article.

Devi Raheja (women’s and gender studies) interned at the Department of Probation and Parole, worked as a Diversity Advocate, and found empowerment through sculpture classes. At the College, she developed a deep interest in self-care, art therapy, decolonization, independent media production, and community organizing.

Sarah Goad (English) worked as a consultant in the Writing Lab, studied abroad in Spoleto Italy, and is a poet. Sarah was also the emcee for a Poetry Out Loud contest in January, when the School of Humanities and Social Sciences hosted a regional contest for Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation competition for high school students. She also participated on the College’s Quidditch team.

Rachel Stevens (marine biology) was one of two undergraduate students on a research cruise to Iceland with Professor Jack DiTullio. She chased phytoplankton blooms with DiTullio’s research team and other scientists interested in coccolithophores like Emiliania huxleyi, or Ehux. Read more in the College of Charleston Magazine.

Georgia Schrubbe (communication) spent a semester studying abroad in Cuba through one of the longest-running Cuba study-abroad programs at the College of Charleston. The program has been under the direction of Doug Friedman, associate professor of international and intercultural studies, since 2000. Read more in the College of Charleston Magazine.   Schrubbe was also a popular Zumba instructor for campus recreation services.

Terrell Davis (business administration and accounting) is the student coordinator for PAL program, which brings highly visible student volunteers in bright yellow jackets out and about from 10 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Friday nights to help other college students get home safely – whether that means walking students home, getting them on the Cougar Shuttle or just being present to remind them to walk in groups and look out for each other. Davis is planning on going into law enforcement after he graduates – with hopes of first attending the U.S. Marine Corps’ Officer Candidates School and eventually joining the FBI. It’s a career path he would have never dreamed of when he first arrived on campus as part of the SPECTRA Summer Transition Program for incoming multicultural and first-generation freshmen. Read more in the College of Charleston Magazine.

Natasha Pavlovich (public health) initiated the CofC Clean Eats Club, and interned with the Green Heart Project, a local farm to school program. She was a recipient of the Laura S. Griffin Health Service Scholarship, and received a Scholar-Athlete award during her tenure with the cross-country and track teams. During summer 2012, Tasha spent three months wwoofing, aka working on organic farms in Tuscany and southern Italy, in exchange for room and board. This experience helped her develop a deeper interest in the agricultural aspects of health. Upon graduation, Tasha plans to stay in Charleston to work as an apprentice through Lowcountry Local First, where she will continue her involvement with the Green Heart Project. Tasha is also an avid runner, she just qualified for the Boston Marathon through the Sport Physiology and Marathon Training course, and a Certified Fitness Trainer and Spin Instructor.

Haley Thomas (political science) will be working as the Volunteer Coordinator for the non-profit organization World Camp Inc. in Malawi (Southeastern Africa).

shawn-fergusonShawn Ferguson (biology) has been a great leader for the College of Charleston men’s soccer program throughout his four years. He typically leads by example, but over the progression of his career, he also evolved into a more vocal leader and was voted as a team captain his senior year. Ferguson’s ‘winning mentality’ is what has allowed him to excel on and off the field as a Cougar. He was rarely seen off the playing field during a soccer game until an unfortunate senior-season injury, but his determination got him back on the field and will make him successful throughout life. Ferguson was a standout student in the biology and chemistry departments and shared his expertise as a pre-health peer advisor to assist fellow students with decisions regarding healthcare professions and course work. He received the opportunity to extend his playing career at the professional level as a member of the Charleston Battery, a minor-league soccer team in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division.

Caitlin Altman (public health) is working with Health and Human Performance Professor Matt Page on an independent study project to assess and improve hand hygiene among students attending four South Carolina schools. Caitlin developed a flyer to promote proper hand hygiene and posted flyers in the bathrooms, cafeterias, and classrooms of two of the four test schools. She will then analyze the occurrence of illness-related absences in schools receiving her intervention relative to the occurrence of illness-related absences in schools not receiving her intervention.

Kayla Brown (arts management) earned a MAYS grant, which allowed her and Dance Professor Gretchen McLaine to travel to Berlin, Germany 10 days to conduct research on the use of ausdruckstanz (German expressionist modern dance, popular in the 1920-1940s) as propaganda by the Third Reich. Kayla experienced the value of investigating primary sources, including personal correspondence, films, and pictures by some of the leading figures of ausdruckstanz and of the Third Reich.

Amber Joyner (history) plans to apply for a Ph.D. program in African history, with a focus on the late colonial period of Lusophone Africa. While at the College, she participated in the National African Union in Washington D.C. and was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society. She has also been researching Mozambican history since her sophomore year.

Kelly Kolich (communication) played both varsity indoor volleyball and sand volleyball, while also serving on the College of Charleston athletics’ multimedia crew. Kelly did color commentary for women’s basketball broadcasts, served as a utility for men’s basketball broadcasts and is one of the College’s best baseball/softball camera operators.

William Coffman (political science) has accepted a job as a Litigation Assistant at the Hellman, Yates & Tisdale Law Firm in Charleston, SC.  He was named Greek Scholar of the Year this year.

Aaron Gruber (communication) is an Eagle Scout, who continues to be actively involved in community service; he has been accepted into MUSC’s Master in Public Health program; he drums for a rock band; and, what makes his many and diverse accomplishments all the more remarkable, Aaron has Tourette’s syndrome, but he doesn’t let that slow him down one bit. Some of his service while at the College includes his volunteer work as an English and math tutor for Teach My People, a community based program in Pawleys Island; as an organizer and runner for both the Cooper River Bridge and the James Island Connector charity runs; as an ambassador and scholar for the Gavalas Kolanko Foundation; and as an advocate and fundraiser for the Tourette Syndrome Association.

Sarah Steinberg (early childhood education) has been very involved with JSU/Hillel, and in particular has worked with leukemia outreach and education. Sarah helped to bring Gift of Life to campus.

Beth Uhlig (public health) took ten years to decide she wanted to finish her undergraduate education, and she found a great fit at the College of Charleston. As a nontraditional student, she found it quite challenging being a hairdresser, community volunteer, and stellar student all at once.  As a volunteer and intern for Louie’s Kids and the Cannon Street YMCA, respectively, Beth had opportunities to work on a local obesity prevention program and plan health-related programs for children. Both opportunities allowed Beth to gain experience in her interest areas of childhood obesity and nutrition. Upon graduation, Beth will be getting married (May 17th) and plans to pursue a career encompassing obesity prevention and nutrition in the Charleston area. She is also considering continuing her education to obtain a Masters in Public Health.

Cathryn Hardy (communication) set the tone for how hard players should compete and her leadership and work ethic fueled the College of Charleston women’s basketball team on-and-off-the-court, says Head Coach Natasha Adair. During her senior campaign, Hardy set the College NCAA Division I record for offensive rebounds in a single season (115) and finished third all-time on the school career D-I list for offensive rebounds (271).

Megan Schaeffer (arts management) has been selected to receive the 2013 Sotheby’s Institute of Art Summer Study Award in New York City. She will travel to New York City this summer to participate in the classes.

Justin Allran (political science) will be working as a United Nations Young Professional.

Chloe Cunagin (arts management) served as the 2010/2011 Entertainment Co-Chair for the Dance Marathon. This event raised more than $62,000 for MUSC Children’s Hospital.

Elizabeth Bruce (public health) was able to merge her love of medicine, with her passion for health as one of the first public health graduates. She spent her collegiate career as an active member in the Zeta Sigma Kappa Delta sorority. Aside from her strong dedication to scholarship, Beth also devoted about 300 hours of her time volunteering or interning at the Medical University of South Carolina, Riverside Health and Rehabilitation Center, and Camp Happy Days. Her professors and peers view her as ambitious, dedicated, insightful, and kindhearted, and a true asset to the Public Health program. After graduation, Beth plans to stay in the Charleston area to pursue a career in pharmaceutical or medical equipment sales.

Zachary Aaron (arts management) is a 2013 recipient of the Leadership Certificate from the Higdon Student Leadership Center.   Zachary is also a member of Student Alumni Associates and the Cougar Executive Board, serving as the Executive Director for 2011-2012.

Latisha Harris (sociology) played in 111 career games for the College of Charleston women’s basketball team and set the College NCAA Division I record for most rebounds in a single season (265). As a senior, Harris also led the Cougars in scoring and rebounding averaging 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. In the fall of 2012, she completed an internship with the Charleston Police Department and hopes to work with them in the near future.

John Duke Hudson (business administration) was a four-year member of the College of Charleston men’s golf team and participated in nearly every tournament for the Cougars with seven career Top 10 finishes. In 2009, he qualified for the U.S. Amateur and was tied for second after the first round. Hudson claimed individual medalist honors at The Invitational at The Ocean Course during his sophomore campaign and was honored as a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar, an award combining athletic and academic performance, in 2012.

Lauren Laird (public health) interned at Camp Happy Days, a nonprofit organization offering comprehensive, year-round support for children diagnosed with cancer, which helped her realize she wanted to pursue a career as a child life specialist. Upon graduation, Lauren will be enrolling in classes to achieve this career goal and spending time in a hospital setting to gain clinical experience.

paul-bradleyPaul Bradley (political science) will be attending Georgia Southern pursuing Master’s Degree in Counselor Education with a concentration in student Services beginning in fall 2013. Paul won an EXCEL award for Diversity Service and was named ROARScholar of the Year for 2013.

Miriam Kavalerchik (political science) will be attending Brooklyn Law School beginning in the fall of 2013.

Matthew Priester (political science) will be attending Graduate School at College of Charleston for his Masters in Public Administration.

Vanessa Koechli (communication) was a four-year member of the College of Charleston women’s golf team and made a career-best second-place finish at the Pinehurst Fall Challenge as a freshman in 2009. A three-time All-Southern Conference selection, Koechli was also a member of part of the College’s 2010 NCAA Regional Championship squad and named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team. Her best postseason individual finish was ninth at the 2012 SoCon Women’s Golf Championship.

Joseph Bradshaw (history) has been accepted to a Ph.D. program in African history at Michigan State University with five full years of funding. He plans to continue studying Africa’s connections to the Atlantic World and eventually become a professor of African history. Joseph is currently working on a project called “Coasting Lower Guinea African Markets and Atlantic Connections,” that examines the transatlantic trade in gold and slaves along the Lower Guinea Coast in the early 18th century.

Hyesun Lee (political science) will be an intern with Equal Opportunity Schools in Seattle, Wash

Rachel Davis (English, religious studies, and teacher education) spent summer 2012 visiting farms in the Upstate as part of a research project supported by the College’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fund. For Davis, the research support helped her investigate the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of South Carolina farmers. Many of the farmers Davis interviewed – 13 of 15, to be exact – claimed that farming was a religious or spiritual experience for them, or that it played a meaningful part in their so-called lived religion. To put it another way, farming and faith are deeply integrated into the lives of these men and women. Read more in a College of Charleston Magazine article. Her interviews with farmers contributed to her Bachelor’s Essay on “Hallowed Ground: The Shared Space of Religion and Agriculture in South Carolina,” which she presented at the Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion Conference in Greenville, S.C. Rachel plans to return to her home in the upstate and teach English to high school students.

Alex Pappas (hospitality and tourism management) received the School of Business Frank H. Stoll Service Award for her work with the James Island Connector Run supporting the Gavlas Kolanko Foundation.

Ambar Mendez (communication) is graduating in three years, while working two jobs and completing internships for the past three semesters. Ambar is also a first-generation college graduate.

Mary C. Shields (accounting) is the recipient of the School of Business William F. Muckenfuss Award.

Sallie Funderburk (communication) was a member of the Club Tennis Team and played in the 2013 National Championship Tournament. She also completed internships in the College’s Division of Marketing and Communications and athletics department, as well as working on marketing for the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament (through Obviouslee Marketing).

Jamie R. Johnson (accounting) is the recipient of the School of Business William Young Warren Ripley, Jr. Award.

Christopher “Mac” Mace (business administration) and Ben Spector (economics), both natives of Southern California, skippered the College of Charleston coed sailing team to a No. 1 national ranking during their sophomore, junior and senior years. Mace is a two-time Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) All-American, while Spector earned All-America honors in 2012. Last season, both led the College to its first-ever ICSA/APS Team Race National Championship title in program history and the Leonard M. Fowle Trophy, awarded annually to the best overall collegiate team in the nation. After graduation, they will spend a month in England representing the College of Charleston and the ICSA on the BUSA Tour, which is a competition between the U.S. and British college sailing programs. Upon completion of the tour, Mace will move to Miami to start his Olympic 49er campaign, while Mace and Spector will reunite with former College teammate, Zeke Horowitz, to vie for the US Sailing Team Race Championship in October in Newport Beach, Calif.

Anita Ard (religious studies) participated in the McNair Scholars Program and in the fall she will enroll in a MA program at Montana State University at Bozeman.

Benjamin Hockett (political science) has accepted a job with Teach for America in Charlotte, NC.

lucy-andersonLucy Paige Anderson (religious studies) was recognized as a HSS Scholar and an Outstanding Student in Religious Studies, served as president of the Religious Studies Club, and she completed a research project on “Aids and Suffering: The Religious Construction of AIDS in America.” She plans to work in a non-profit organization on women’s health issues for a while before she pursues further graduate work in religious studies.

Andrew Gradison (sociology) plans to work on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide. During summer 2012, he completed an internship with Patton Boggs LLP in Washington D.C. where he monitored legislation, covered committee hearings from the lobbyist perspective, actively lobbied congressional offices in support of tax legislations and drafted presentations for use in pitches to prospective clients. In summer 2011, he interned for Senator Rob Portman’s Washington D.C. office, and in 2010, he interned for the House Committee on Financial Services.

Hannah Booth (religious studies) was recognized as an Outstanding Student and she plans to travel to Europe (Spain, Italy, France) and India to study different religions in their cultural setting.

Matt Echols (psychology and religious studies) will participate in a two-year psychology research project with Professor Jen Wright on the moral development of humility, funded by the Templeton Foundation. After completing this research he plans to apply for Ph.D. programs in developmental psychology.

Tyler Ray (religious studies and philosophy) was a McNair Fellow and completed research on the role of conceptual metaphors in the Daoist philosophy of Zhuangzi, which he then published in Chrestomathy, the annual review of undergraduate research at the College. Tyler plans to move to China in 2014 and study more Mandarin Chinese before he applies to American graduate programs in Asian philosophy of religion. 

Hannah Wathen (religious studies) completed an internship at the Sophia institute, a center of learning that cultivates wisdom and the conscious feminine and masculine. She earned Outstanding Student honors and plans to work in the non-profit sector in an organization that promotes cross-cultural understanding before applying to graduate school.

Juan Maegli (business administration) will go down in school history as a two-time college sailing national champion having won the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) Singlehanded Championship titles in 2009 and 2012. A two-time Olympian in the Laser Class event representing his home country of Guatemala, Maegli was given the honor of being the national team’s flag bearer during the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. He placed an Olympic career-best ninth overall in the medal race of the Laser Class in 2012 and will continue to train for another Olympic campaign in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Maegli, who also made a 2008 Olympic bid in Beijing, China, and earned ICSA All-America honors in 2010, will compete at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Championships in Kiel, Germany, in June and the Laser North American Championships in Canada in late July.

Kaitlin Fitzgerald (political science) has accepted a job with the Farm-to-Schools Program in Charleston, S.C.

Heather Habecker (anthropology) plans to research identity formation in a neurological and anthropological context in order to illumination how perception of personal identity and group identity influences individual behavior.

Elizabeth Thompson (political science) will be working for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Hawaii.

Zoe Merritt (business administration) has been an integral part of the College of Charleston equestrian team’s success in recent years through her expert riding abilities in the ring, her leadership and character, and her genuine care of the animals. She has won her class 14 times while riding for the Cougars and placed in the Top 10 at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championships in 2010. Merritt will work in event planning in the Charleston area post-graduation.

Dillon McDougald (philosophy and classics) will attend the University of South Carolina School of Law starting in the fall. While at the College, Dillon wrote “Freedom as Self-Legislation in Hegel’s Philosophy of Right,” which was published in Chrestomathy, the College’s undergraduate research journal.

Matthew Hoyt (political science) is going to be a City Corps Member in Boston, MA.

Stephanie Saylors (business administration) has always worked tirelessly towards improving her abilities and those of her teammates, and her career numbers are a testament to her work ethic as a star pitcher for the College of Charleston softball team. Her career numbers rank in the top five in program history for ERA (2.55), opponent batting average (.237), wins (50), starts (86), strikeouts (423) and complete games (40). Saylors plans to continue her softball career by playing overseas in Austria, while gaining international knowledge and experience which she can apply to her future career in business.

Emily Shelton (communication) became just the second College of Charleston volleyball player to record 2,000 digs in a career (2,161) which ranks second all-time in school history. The libero helped lead the Cougars to a first-round victory over No. 23-ranked Miami (Fla.) in the NCAA Tournament this past season which marked the College’s first-ever win over a nationally-ranked team. Shelton completed her four-year career with a 108-31 record winning the Southern Conference regular-season or conference tournament every season. She hopes to stay in the Charleston area and work in hospitality management following graduation.

Jessica Dick (theatre) directed not one but two productions for the College’s Center Stage, the student-run theatre company. She directed BLACKBIRD and Sarah Kane’s 4:48 PSYCHOSIS. During her senior year she was busy networking during winter and spring breaks. In London she had a one-on-one meeting with Katie Henry, the assistant director for WAR HORSE in the West End and in New York City she was able to talk with theatre artists who knew Sarah Kane, and brought stories back to the College’s cast. She also assistant-directed off-off-Broadway at Ensemble Studio Theatre during her spring break, working on a reading featuring actress Lucy DeVito. Jessica will be moving to New York City in the fall and has her choice of internships with several different theatre companies.

Tiffany Kingston (political science) will be interning with North Carolina Solar Inc. in Raleigh, NC.

Chelsea Taylor (elementary education) was a four-year member of the College of Charleston women’s track & field team and is the school-record holder in the indoor pole vault event (3.51 meters) which she cleared at the Clemson Games in 2010. During her freshman year, she was named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team and finished fourth at the SoCon Outdoor Track & Field Championship. Taylor is currently student teaching at a local elementary school and plans to attend graduate school next year.

*All information was submitted by faculty and staff. It is deemed to be correct, but was not verified.

GRADUATE CLASS OF 2013: BY THE NUMBERS

125 master’s degree candidates
4 M.A. in communication
11 M.A. in English
4 M.A. in history
10 M.A.T. – early childhood
8 M.A.T. – elementary education
10 M.A.T. – special education
6 M.Ed. – science and mathematics for teachers
2 M.Ed. – languages
7 M.Ed. – teaching, learning and advocacy
14 Master of Public Administration
9 M.S in accountancy
3 M.S. in computer science and information systems
5 M.S. in environmental studies
12 M.S. in historic preservation
8 M.S. in marine biology
1 arts management certificate
1 statistics certicate
3 urban studies and regional planning certificate

GRADUATE CLASS OF 2013: AWARD WINNERS

Outstanding Graduate Scholar

  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Andrew Rosen (accountancy)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Louisa Charpia and Darian Lunne (early childhood education)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Eily Zimmerman (elementary education)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Joseph Ford and Andrea White (performing arts)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Sarah Risher and Abby Sharpe (special education)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Kristina Held and Courtney Proffitt (English)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Laura Coggins and Amanda Szwarc (environmental studies)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Jessica Stollenmaier and Megan Valentine (history)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Katie Anweiler and Timothy O’Donnell (marine biology)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Alaina Cordes (communication)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Morgan Collins (teaching, learning and advocacy)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Catherine Tumbleston (public administration)
  • Outstanding Graduate Scholar – Kathryn Schertz and Alice Sorensen (science and math for teachers)
  • Broadcast Education Association Top 3 Paper Award – Rachel Adams and Alaina Cordes (communication)
  • LaGrant Foundation Scholarship – Jose Aviles (communication)

GRADUATE CLASS OF 2013: A CLOSER LOOK*

genericKristen Young (MPA) has been awarded a Rotary International Grant to conduct research in Morocco.

* All information was submitted by faculty and staff. It is deemed to be correct, but was not verified.