��ɫ��Ƶ: Where are They Now?

Graduates of Philosophy

Shells Libby, Class of 2019

After graduating with her B.A. in Philosophy at ��ɫ��Ƶ, she continued with her passion and went to Stetson Law School. Shells now works as an associate in law. She writes, "Next year, I hope to start working on my Master of Library and Information Science degree with the goal of becoming a law librarian."

Reagan Strout at graduation holding degree

Reagan Strout, Class of 2022

Rea is currently getting her M.A. in Industrial Organizational Psychology. She writes, "My background in philosophy allows me to understand people with more compassion and seek out more holistic solutions. I was first drawn to philosophy because it forced me to challenge my own perspective- which is an invaluable tool I gained from this program."

Brian Fullford standing in dreary wilderness

Brian Fullford, B.A. Class of 2003, M.A. Philosophy 2019

Brian leverages his critical thinking skills in information technology as a Microsoft 365 cloud engineer. He is also an adjunct instructor at ��ɫ��Ƶ. Brian's passion for philosophy has led him to teach in the Florida Prison System and in local high schools.

Shells Libby, Class of 2019

After graduating with her B.A. in Philosophy at ��ɫ��Ƶ, she continued with her passion and went to Stetson Law School. Shells now works as an associate in law. She writes, "Next year, I hope to start working on my Master of Library and Information Science degree with the goal of becoming a law librarian."

Reagan Strout, Class of 2022

Rea is currently getting her M.A. in Industrial Organizational Psychology. She writes, "My background in philosophy allows me to understand people with more compassion and seek out more holistic solutions. I was first drawn to philosophy because it forced me to challenge my own perspective- which is an invaluable tool I gained from this program."

Brian Fullford, B.A. Class of 2003, M.A. Philosophy 2019

Brian leverages his critical thinking skills in information technology as a Microsoft 365 cloud engineer. He is also an adjunct instructor at ��ɫ��Ƶ. Brian's passion for philosophy has led him to teach in the Florida Prison System and in local high schools.

Graduates of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Brittany Mills, Class of 2015

Brittany graduated from ��ɫ��Ƶ in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Spanish and Political Science. She writes, "One of my best decisions to date was declaring Spanish as my second major at ��ɫ��Ƶ. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to use Spanish in my career as a lawyer. I started my career in legal aid doing immigration law where most of my clients could only speak Spanish. Even without being a native speaker, I was able to communicate with my clients and guide them through the complex immigration process. And now, doing civil litigation, I find that the legal field is lacking in diversity and there is a strong need for bilingual and multilingual lawyers to better serve our community. My hope is that more students will invest in learning a second language to create a more connected world."

Kiana Gonzalez, Class of 2016

Dr. Gonzalez writes, "During my time in the Department of Language, Literature, and Cultures, I received incredible mentorship from the Spanish faculty that informed my career choices after undergrad. I loved being a student at the ��ɫ��Ƶ, and have the fondest memories of my experiences there. I loved reading work that reflected my lived experience as a Latina in the US and a first-generation Puerto Rican. While the field might seem limited, a degree in the humanities is expansive, and truly opens a limitless amount of possibilities for future careers. I graduated from ��ɫ��Ƶ in 2016, and went on to earn my M.A. and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. I am now an Assistant Professor of Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies at Texas Christian University."

Former ��ɫ��Ƶ student, Mary C. Lavissière

Mary C. Lavissière, B.A. Class of 2006

Dr. Lavissière writes, "I studied French and Spanish at the ��ɫ��Ƶ between 2002 and 2006 as an Honors student. While I started as a biology major at ��ɫ��Ƶ, I switched to languages because I was especially interested in travelling and reading works of literature in their original language. I had the privilege of doing a short study aboard in France (Strasbourg) and a year of international exchange in Spain (Alicante) with ��ɫ��Ƶ’s language department. Following those experiences and my graduation, I moved to Europe where I completed two master’s degrees in linguistics at Sorbonne Université (one in Spanish linguistics and one in English linguistics). I then went on to receive a doctoral degree in linguistics at Sorbonne Université. I now work at Nantes Université as an associate professor in applied linguistics. My research institute is the Centre de Recherche sur les Identités, les Nations et l'Interculturalité (CRINI), where I currently coordinate the research team on applied modern languages."

Brittany Mills, Class of 2015

Brittany graduated from ��ɫ��Ƶ in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Spanish and Political Science. She writes, "One of my best decisions to date was declaring Spanish as my second major at ��ɫ��Ƶ. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to use Spanish in my career as a lawyer. I started my career in legal aid doing immigration law where most of my clients could only speak Spanish. Even without being a native speaker, I was able to communicate with my clients and guide them through the complex immigration process. And now, doing civil litigation, I find that the legal field is lacking in diversity and there is a strong need for bilingual and multilingual lawyers to better serve our community. My hope is that more students will invest in learning a second language to create a more connected world."

Kiana Gonzalez, Class of 2016

Dr. Gonzalez writes, "During my time in the Department of Language, Literature, and Cultures, I received incredible mentorship from the Spanish faculty that informed my career choices after undergrad. I loved being a student at the ��ɫ��Ƶ, and have the fondest memories of my experiences there. I loved reading work that reflected my lived experience as a Latina in the US and a first-generation Puerto Rican. While the field might seem limited, a degree in the humanities is expansive, and truly opens a limitless amount of possibilities for future careers. I graduated from ��ɫ��Ƶ in 2016, and went on to earn my M.A. and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. I am now an Assistant Professor of Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies at Texas Christian University."

Mary C. Lavissière, B.A. Class of 2006

Dr. Lavissière writes, "I studied French and Spanish at the ��ɫ��Ƶ between 2002 and 2006 as an Honors student. While I started as a biology major at ��ɫ��Ƶ, I switched to languages because I was especially interested in travelling and reading works of literature in their original language. I had the privilege of doing a short study aboard in France (Strasbourg) and a year of international exchange in Spain (Alicante) with ��ɫ��Ƶ’s language department. Following those experiences and my graduation, I moved to Europe where I completed two master’s degrees in linguistics at Sorbonne Université (one in Spanish linguistics and one in English linguistics). I then went on to receive a doctoral degree in linguistics at Sorbonne Université. I now work at Nantes Université as an associate professor in applied linguistics. My research institute is the Centre de Recherche sur les Identités, les Nations et l'Interculturalité (CRINI), where I currently coordinate the research team on applied modern languages."

Graduates of History

Andrew Pemberton in front of black background

Andrew Pemberton, B.A. Class of 2018, M.A. History 2020

Andrew writes, "As a history student, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, I learned and fostered the skills that have come to define my professional identity. As I navigate my journey as a doctoral student, my latest venture, I am grateful for the ��ɫ��Ƶ history program’s rigor and for holding me to the highest standard. Because this, I am comfortable in research, writing, and managing my workload—all vital competencies for any doctoral student. Furthermore, my mentors at ��ɫ��Ƶ pushed me to present at conferences and publish my research in peer-reviewed journals. The value of a history degree lies in how you market your skills, and I continue to recommend a history degree to anyone who is prepared to take their education to the next level and become a uniquely qualified professional."

Imani Phillips, M.A. Class of 2020

Imani writes, "In 2020, I graduated from the ��ɫ��Ƶ with an MA in History. The research skills I gained from the program have helped me to help researchers from elementary school students to professionals. My participation in conferences built up my confidence and public speaking skills. The connections and friendships I made through the program strongly influenced my career choices. All of the internships I experienced put me directly in contact with humanities professionals which helped me see that I could have a future in libraries and archives. The best lesson I took from ��ɫ��Ƶ's History program is the value of applying lessons learned in class to professional goals."

New Student Coming!

Andrew Pemberton, B.A. Class of 2018, M.A. History 2020

Andrew writes, "As a history student, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, I learned and fostered the skills that have come to define my professional identity. As I navigate my journey as a doctoral student, my latest venture, I am grateful for the ��ɫ��Ƶ history program’s rigor and for holding me to the highest standard. Because this, I am comfortable in research, writing, and managing my workload—all vital competencies for any doctoral student. Furthermore, my mentors at ��ɫ��Ƶ pushed me to present at conferences and publish my research in peer-reviewed journals. The value of a history degree lies in how you market your skills, and I continue to recommend a history degree to anyone who is prepared to take their education to the next level and become a uniquely qualified professional."

Imani Phillips, M.A. Class of 2020

Imani writes, "In 2020, I graduated from the ��ɫ��Ƶ with an MA in History. The research skills I gained from the program have helped me to help researchers from elementary school students to professionals. My participation in conferences built up my confidence and public speaking skills. The connections and friendships I made through the program strongly influenced my career choices. All of the internships I experienced put me directly in contact with humanities professionals which helped me see that I could have a future in libraries and archives. The best lesson I took from ��ɫ��Ƶ's History program is the value of applying lessons learned in class to professional goals."

New Student Coming!

Graduates of English

Holly Coleman, M.A. English, Class of 2023

Holly earned her B.A. in English and began a decade-long career as a copywriter and freelance editorial writer before switching to content design at a large tech company. They recognized the inherent value in the humanities and fully funded her enrollment in ��ɫ��Ƶ's English M.A. program to further advance her writing, storytelling, and research skills. Now, as an English Ph.D. candidate, she's deepening her expertise and expanding these abilities even more.

Athena Salinas, B.A. Class of 2022, M.A. English 2024

Athena is a graduate student in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition. She is also the Treasurer of the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) and has presented her work at several conferences. Additionally, she has dedicated two semesters to a teaching practicum with Dr. Bart Welling. After graduation, she looks forward to adjuncting and spending more time with her cat.

Joshua Smith, B.A. Class of 2022, M.A. English 2024

Joshua is a recent graduate from the ��ɫ��Ƶ’s (��ɫ��Ƶ) English Graduate Program. In 2022, he graduated with his B.A. in English, and, two years later, he received his M.A. in the same subject. Due to his undergraduate minor in Digital Humanities, he has worked extensively with the Digital Humanities Institute (DHI) and developed skills in videography, photography, and podcasting. His love for books, writing, and learning will suit him well as he embarks on a new path as an instructor at ��ɫ��Ƶ in the Summer.

Holly Coleman, M.A. English, Class of 2023

Holly earned her B.A. in English and began a decade-long career as a copywriter and freelance editorial writer before switching to content design at a large tech company. They recognized the inherent value in the humanities and fully funded her enrollment in ��ɫ��Ƶ's English M.A. program to further advance her writing, storytelling, and research skills. Now, as an English Ph.D. candidate, she's deepening her expertise and expanding these abilities even more.

Athena Salinas, B.A. Class of 2022, M.A. English 2024

Athena is a graduate student in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition. She is also the Treasurer of the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) and has presented her work at several conferences. Additionally, she has dedicated two semesters to a teaching practicum with Dr. Bart Welling. After graduation, she looks forward to adjuncting and spending more time with her cat.

Joshua Smith, B.A. Class of 2022, M.A. English 2024

Joshua is a recent graduate from the ��ɫ��Ƶ’s (��ɫ��Ƶ) English Graduate Program. In 2022, he graduated with his B.A. in English, and, two years later, he received his M.A. in the same subject. Due to his undergraduate minor in Digital Humanities, he has worked extensively with the Digital Humanities Institute (DHI) and developed skills in videography, photography, and podcasting. His love for books, writing, and learning will suit him well as he embarks on a new path as an instructor at ��ɫ��Ƶ in the Summer.

Graduates of Interdisciplinary Programs

Taylor Weatherly, Class of 2025

The Interdisciplinary Studies program has allowed Taylor to curate a unique major theme specific to her interests in Culture and Marketing, so she did not have to choose between her passions nor desired career paths. Her personalized major in International Cultural Marketing grants me the ability to explore intersectionality through a variety of topics in Anthropology, Business, International Marketing, and World Cultures.

Katelyn Renzi standing in front of poster at conference

Katelyn Renzi, Class of 2025

On her experience as an IDS student, Katelyn writes, "Although I have only been an IDS major for about a year, I have been afforded the opportunity to take courses that otherwise would not fall under the requirements of my other two majors. This allowed me to present a research paper at the Southern Sociological Association’s conference in New Orleans this April, as well as a separate presentation at the American Sociological Association’s Honors Program in Montreal this August. The IDS program fosters critical thinking and autonomy in students in a way few other programs do and I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful program!"

New Student Coming!

Taylor Weatherly, Class of 2025

The Interdisciplinary Studies program has allowed Taylor to curate a unique major theme specific to her interests in Culture and Marketing, so she did not have to choose between her passions nor desired career paths. Her personalized major in International Cultural Marketing grants me the ability to explore intersectionality through a variety of topics in Anthropology, Business, International Marketing, and World Cultures.

Katelyn Renzi, Class of 2025

On her experience as an IDS student, Katelyn writes, "Although I have only been an IDS major for about a year, I have been afforded the opportunity to take courses that otherwise would not fall under the requirements of my other two majors. This allowed me to present a research paper at the Southern Sociological Association’s conference in New Orleans this April, as well as a separate presentation at the American Sociological Association’s Honors Program in Montreal this August. The IDS program fosters critical thinking and autonomy in students in a way few other programs do and I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful program!"