English Alumni News & Events
This Department is proud of the diverse paths pursued by our majors once they graduate from Mercer. Many of our alumni have gone on to professional programs, pursuant to a Ph.D., M.A., J.D., M.D. or other degree; others have entered the teaching or publishing fields.
Here are some recent graduates and what they are doing now.
| Name | Class | Currently is: |
| Kristen Blackwell | 2011-12 | She is currently teaching in China. |
| Eric Brown | 2011-12 | Reporter at International Business Times. |
| Josh Coleman | 2011-12 | Teaching for America--Charlotte, NC. Studying for an MA in Secondary English Education at the University of North Carolina. |
| Matthew Gorgans | 2011-12 | Studying for an MA in English Literature- Victorian Era at Georgetown University. |
| Stephen Kearse | 2011-12 | Studyng for an MA in Sociocultural Anthropology at The New School for Social Research, NY. |
| Cameron Kunzelman | 2011-12 | Studying for an MA in the Moving Image Program at Georgia State. |
| Kyle Shook | 2011-12 | Teaching for America--New York City, NY |
| Shea Simmons | 2011-12 | She currently works for Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia. |
| Sara Clarich | 2010-11 | M.Ed. in Secondary English Education at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. |
| Kelly Nightingale | 2010-11 | Proofreader/copy editor at Booklogix Publishing Services, Inc. |
| Kathleen Quinlan | 2010-11 | She accepted a position as a production assistant for Mike Birbiglia's comedy show and award-winning off-Broadway one-man shows. Events Coordinator at the Library Journal, N.Y. |
| Jennifer Dawson | 2009-10 | Working as a cataloging assistant at Mercer Medical Library |
| Hope Goodner | 2009-10 | Working as an English teacher/softball coach at Wilkinison County Senior High |
| James Hood | 2009-10 | Studying for a Ph.D. at University of Mississippi-Ole Miss. Teaching Assistant at Ole Miss. |
| Patrina Mitchell | 2009-10 | Studying for a J.D. at University of Georgia Law School |
| Jillian Richstone (Isaac) | 2009-10 | Working at Anderson Dailey, LLP. |
| Hannah Smith | 2009-10 | MST in English Literature, Victorian Literature, at Oxford University. J.D. at Cambridge University. She is working as a teacher at the Princeton Review. |
| Jessica Andrews | 2008-09 | Graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminar in Louisville, KY |
| Dot Dannenberg | 2008-09 | M.F.A. in Creative Writing at Pacific University. English faculty at Westwood College. |
| Billie Pritchard | 2008-09 | J.D. at Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University. |
| Kasey Robinson | 2008-09 | M.A. in Higher Education Leadership at University of Tennessee. She currently works as an Assistant Director of Student Involvement and Leadership at Oxford College of Emory University. |
| Richard Robinson | 2008-09 | Working as ELA teacher at Wayne County High School |
| Elizabeth Wright (Jasperse) | 2008-09 | M.Ed. in Language and Literacy Education at the University of Georgia. English teacher at Barrow High School, Winder, GA. |
| Megan Connor | 2007-08 | M.Ed. · Education · Winston-Salem, North Carolina. |
| Whitney Gray | 2007-08 | M.F.A in Poetry at University of North Carolina in Greensboro. Adjunct Instructor at Sevenson University. |
| Sam Grier | 2007-08 | J.D. at Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law. |
| Katherine Grimm | 2007-08 | M.A. in Library Science at Simmons University, MA. Head of Young Adult Services at Sunderland Public Library, Sunderland, Massachusetts. |
| Margaret Heinen | 2007-08 | J.D. at Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law. Associate attorney at J. Scott Key, P.C. |
| Alicia Jonah | 2007-08 | Studying for an M.A. in International Affaris at Florida State University. |
| Michael Umberger | 2007-08 | Studying for a J.D. at Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law |
| John Woodlee | 2007-08 | J.D. at Duke University's School of Law. |
| Tim Durski | 2006-07 | M.A.T. - Secondary English- GCSU. English teacher at Westside High School. |
| Cara Gibson | 2006-07 | M.A. in Nonfiction at Johns Hopkins University. |
| Randalle Hughes | 2006-07 | Completed an Affiliated Student degree at St. John's College of the University of Cambridge. M.A. in English Literature at Rutgers University. |
| Ashley Morris | 2006-07 | Completed an M.A. in English Literature at Georgia Southern University. She currently works as an English Instructo at Savannah Technical College. Owner/founder of "Reaching for Stars Tutoring Services." |
| Farran Norris | 2006-07 | M.A. in English Literature at Texas A&M University. Studing for a Ph.D. in Children's Literature at Illinois State University-Spring 2013. |
| Starr Rayford | 2006-07 | J.D., University of Nortre Dame. Associate at Hinshaw & Culberstson, LLP. |
| Amy Riddle | 2006-07 | Studying for an M.F.A. in Creative Writing at Illinois State University |
| Katie Harper | 2006-07 | M.A. in Women's Studies at Georgia State University. Studying for a Ph.D. in Gender Studies at Arizona State University. |
| Christy Webb | 2006-07 | Studying for an M.A./Ph.D. in English and Comparative Literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She recently completed her masters thesis, titled "Consuming Passions: Class and Consumption in George Thompson's 'Venus in Boston."' |
Congratulations to Billie Pritchard!
Louie D. Newton General Excellence
Medal
The Louie D. Newton General Excellence Medal is presented to the graduating student who best exemplifies scholastic achievement, personal integrity and character, service to the campus community and a commitment to spiritual values. The award is named in honor of Dr. Newton, Mercer alumnus, former Mercer professor, Christian journalist, distinguished pastor and renowned denominational leader.
Billie Barker Pritchard
College of Liberal Arts
Billie Pritchard’s intelligence, curiosity, work ethic, leadership abilities
and high ethical standards make her a deserving recipient of the 2009
Louie D. Newton Award. As a leader in the classroom, she has the
ability to integrate insights she has derived from her study into her
literary criticism. One professor observed that “she has performed at
a level which has rarely been my pleasure to observe.”
Outside the classroom, Pritchard has two other distinctive qualities of
character. First, she does not rely upon her native gifts to carry her
through to success. She is highly motivated and that desire succeed
translates into work that consistently represents sustained effort over extended periods of time. Second, she is a person who combines superior academic accomplishment with a well-rounded extra-curricular life in both academic honor groups and service organizations. Holder of the prestigious Penfield Scholarship for four years, she will ornament her Mercer degree with Latin Honors summa cum laude, a certificate as an Honors Program graduate and departmental honors in both political science and English. She is current president of three organizations: Sigma Tau Delta, Pi Sigma Alpha and the Mercer Embassy. She has engaged in activities ranging from tutoring in various settings to serving as an associate justice of the Honor Council to acting with various local companies. She also participated in a Mercer On Mission trip to South Africa.