ALUMNI NEWS
If you are a graduate of our Department, whether a major or a minor, and wish to update us on what you are doing, provide us with a current mailing or email address, or simply tell us about your time in the Department, then please send us an email (bjerken@cofc.edu). Here is some news from Religious Studies alumni who have kept in touch with us. If we haven’t heard from you, lately, write to us and let us know what you’re doing too!
Dorrell Addison (2001) earned a Masters of Divinity degree from the Interdenominational Theological Seminary, Atlanta, and went on to serve in the community in a variety of ways. He has worked as hospital chaplain in Marietta, and he became the first African American Chaplain/Associate Dean of Students at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur Georgia. After serving there for a year he became Assistant Pastor of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Macon. In the Fall of '07 he will begin study towards a Doctor of Ministry degree at the United Theological Seminary in Trotwood Ohio.
Andrew Aghapour (2007) will be attending Cambridge University in the Fall of '07 to complete a MPhil in the History and Philosophy of Science. Afterwards he intends to study the intersection of science, philosophy, and religion for his Ph.D.
Emily Altman (Steinichen, 2006) enjoys living in Raleigh NC where she works for the SPCA of Wake County as an adoption counselor. She is helping sentient beings find homes on a daily basis.
Mike Altman (2006) is completing his MA at Duke University in the "Religion and Modernity" program. He will be applying to Ph.D programs in American religions during the Fall of '07.
Lauren Barna (2002), entered the MA program in Buddhist Studies at Naropa University in Boulder CO, Fall '03. Now she works for Backroads, a Berkeley-based adventure travel company, guiding outdoor trips.
Karen Briggs (2002) lived in NYC for three years after graduation, where she worked full time in fashion merchandising and part time as a photo stylist. Since then she has returned to Charleston, where she has been working as a freelance producer for still editorial shoots in the Southeast.
Erin Burke (2003) spent a year in Lhasa, Tibet, studying language and literature at the University of Tibet, upon graduating from the College. She recently earned a MA in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia, and now lives in Seattle WA.
Jackie Burney (Uhlhorn, 2000) earned a MS in Education from the University of New Haven and is currently teaching 8th Graders in Bainbridge GA.
Lauren Chism (2000) earned a M.S. in Higher Education Administration in '03 from Indiana University. She has been teaching with Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis since 2002. She teaches a variety of courses for freshmen in the University College & the School of Liberal Arts, and she has just been named the Director of Themed Learning Communities. She plans on starting doctoral coursework in January '08.
Justin Clark (2000) earned a Master of Divinity degree in '05 from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville KY. He plans to pursue a MBA from the University of South Carolina in the Spring of '08.
Mary Louisa Cleveland (2007) is working for Teach for America in Glendale Arizona. She is teaching Language Arts to junior high students.
Mary Clune (2004) now works in Washington D.C. for PBS in their Education Department as a Project Coordinator.
Cathie Crawford (2003), is studying at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta GA. There she is pursuing a M.Div degree, with a year of graduate school left.
Mike Despeaux (1991, PHIL) founded the Religious Studies Club at the College back in 1990. He is now working at Western Carolina University as an Advisor and Career Counselor, specializing in the Humanities; he also teaches Freshman Seminars in the Arts & Sciences program.
Kerri DeYoung (December 2003) graduated from the New England School of Law in May 2007, and is currently studying for the Massachusetts Bar Exam.
Crafton Dicus (2003) works as a professional tennis coach in Charleston, but he also serves as a travel guide for Adventures Cross Country on trips to South and Central America.
Priscilla Estrada (2000) earned a Master’s degree in Sacred Theology and Christian Ministry at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH in 2003. She also studied for a semester at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. After teaching theology at Bishop England High School on Daniel Island, she now works as Director of Evangelization and Adult Education at Prince of Peace, a large Catholic Church (over 1,900 families) in Greenville, SC.
Adam Floyd (December 2006) has been saving money for a trip to Bali and India next Fall. He plans to pursue a MA degree in Folklore studies when he returns.
Jacquelyn Franklin (2004) is currently the Operations Assistant for Nelson, Mullins, Riley and Scarborough, LLP where she has worked for the past two years. She is also working on a Master Herbalist Certification through the Global College of Natural Medicine with the hope that one day she will be able to open her own shop to dispense home-made lotions, salves and tinctures.
Rachel Garrett (2005) teaches ballet, jazz and musical theater at "Once Upon a Ballet" in Charleston. She plans to return to the College for a Theater degree, which will give her ample opportunity to take more fun Religious Studies classes.
Jeanette Marie Halberda (2001) lives in Gainesville FL with her husband Todd LeVasseur (1997). She is studying herbal medicines and nutrition.
Amy Hammond (2002) is currently the Administrative support for I.M. Systems Group which contracts through the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center.
Chad Houfek (2002) lives in Boulder Colorado where he is studying acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine at Southwest Acupuncture College.
Jason Houser (2001) has worked as a chef at many fine restaurants in Charleston. A post-graduate trip all around the Mediterranean created a religious fervor for the people and foods of the lands once ruled by the Roman Empire. Now is the executive chef of Muse, a Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar in Charleston.
Jay Hughes (2003), entered the MA/Ph.D program in American Studies at the University of Alabama, Fall 03.
Alec Kean (1999) lives in Charlottesville VA, where he serves as the Middle School Chaplain and teaches Bible classes at the Covenant School.
Rodney (Roddy) Knowles (2001) is completing his Ph.D exams at Boston Univerrsity before he begins research on his disssertation. His dissertation topic will examine contemporary American evangelical understandings of what happens after death, bodily resurrection and judgment.
Jay Laughlin (2003) earned a MA degree in the Comparative Religion program of the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. Jay enjoys living in Seattle and plans to continue on for a Ph.D.
Jenni Prueitt Laughlin (2004) is working for a computer firm in Seattle.
Todd LeVasseur (1997) earned a M.Sc. from the Centre for Human Ecology, University of Edinburgh, and is now enrolled in the Ph.D "Religion and Nature" program at the University of Florida.
Jason Maglaughlin (2004) has extended his Peace Corps service in Tanzania, after living in a rural village for over two years. He was recently selected to design a Cross-Sector Programming Initiative, and he returned to Charleston in August '07 to raise money for a rural water initiative in Tanzania.
Amber Maines (2004) will be working at Addlestone Hebrew Academy beginning Fall 2005, and has applied to C of C’s M.A.T. program.
Jacklyn Martin (December 2006) will be attending the University of South Carolina in the Fall '07, where she will study in the Department of Health Services Policy and Management for a Masters of Health Administration.
Lara Masters (Bodenhamer, December 2000) attended graduate school in Public Administration at North Carolina State University.
Katie McGinnis (2006) was recently certified as a massage and bodywork therapist from the Charleston School of Massage and Healing Arts. She now works as a LMBT at a yoga studio in Greenville, SC.
Anne Myers (2004), entered the Master’s program at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, Fall 04.
Maura Nelson (2003) completed her MA in Islamic Studies in the Religious Studies Department at University of Georgia. She wrote her MA thesis on the intellectual lineage of Wahhabi Islam and its modern manifestations in America.
Alicia O'Brian (1999) is completing her MA program in Religion at Miami University in Ohio; last we heard (a year ago), Alicia was back in Charleston, doing field research on Gullah religion for her MA thesis.
Jenny O'Donnell (2001) has been working in Bali, Indonesia, for an NGO since shortly after her graduation, organizing volunteers to work with rural children on health and education.
Kendall Ostendorff (2005) served in AmericCorps in the Western region after graduation. She spent most of her time in the Gulf region doing disaster relief from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. She is now working at Kinnikinnick Farm in Caledonia IL and loves her work.
Lindsay Page (2004) completed her Masters degree in Psychology, specializing in Counseling and Human Relations, from Liberty University in 2006.
Amanda Pearce (2006) works at the City Marina in Charleston and will begin Medical School at MUSC in August '07.
Andi Perullo (2003) is completing her final year of graduate school at the College of Oriental Medicine in NYC, where she will earn a M.S. in Chinese Medicine. Her focus is on Auto-Immune Disorders, with a specialization in AIDS/HIV. Last summer she worked in South Africa with infected patients (on a trip sponsored by the National Collegiate Honors Society) and in August '07 she returns to China for a third trip to study. She plans to use her training to work with Acupuncturists Without Bordrs once she is licensed.
Becky Pittenger (2006) was accepted to the NYU School of Social Work Masters program, but has decided to defer a year for financial reasons. She is currently working as the assistant manager of Eco Fitness Day Care Center in Charleston.
Jason Purvis (2005) completed his first year in the MA Religion program at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he has worked as a Teaching Assistant and pursued further research on Buddhist rituals for pregnancy loss in Japan and in the United States..
Rebecca Rathburn (2004) earned her MA degree in the Religion and Literature program at Boston University in May '07.
Kimberly Richey (2004) earned a Masters degree in Library Science from USC in May '07. She is now working as a school librarian at Springfield Elementary School in Charleston.
Stacey Rickard (2005) has continued in her career position with the National Park Service at Fort Sumter here in Charleston. She will complete a MBA in Public Administration from the University of Phoenix in October '07.
Amber Sacco (2004) enrolled in the Community Counseling program at Clemson University in January '07 for a Masters degree.
P. J. Schwartz (2007) is enrolled in the Rabbinical Program at Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion, and is spending the '07-'08 year in Jerusalem. There he is immersed in the study of Hebrew, participating in field trips, textual and historical study, and community service in Israel, and learning Reform Jewish liturgy.
Carissa Stephens (Lentz, 2002) went to nursing school after graduating from the College and then moved to Austin TX, where her husband Jason Stephens (2002) is pursuing a Ph.D. She now works as a RN in the pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the newly built Children's Hospital in Austin.
Stephanie Tabb (2006) is the manager at an artisan bakery/cafe in Louisville KY, and she works part time as a Special Events Coordinator for a non-profit organization called "Adelante! Hispanic Achievers," which creates programming for a group of Latino middle school children and their families.
Jessica Toan (2004) had a number of adventures while traveling through Asia, Africa and South American after she graduated. Now she has settled down in Asheville NC (a mecca for RELS graduates!) and recently completed the program at the Asheville School of Massage and Yoga. She is currently starting up her own business in Yoga and Massage Therapy.
Robert Ticknor (2002) is currently enrolled in the history PhD program at Tulane University with a focus on medieval Europe. He is currently finishing his MA thesis, which is a project that examines the categories of the magical and the miraculous in Medieval Theology..
Lauren Trexler (2003) ) served in AmeriCorps National Civilian Corps in the Western Region for two years before landing her current job at a small but flourishing Reform synagogue in Vancouver WA. She serves as the Religious School/Education and Administrative Coordinator.
Jill Yarnall (Tompkins, 1997) is the assistant director at the Public Information Office at UNC-Asheville. She was the winner of the "Best of the Mountains Award" for the top press release of the year in Western North Carolina.
Laura Zagby (2003), is working in public relations for the Low Country Division of the American Red Cross.