Jill Pickering and Kate Rapier, Class of 2004
Gordon's Communication Arts program allowed us to explore our interest in the music industry, both in our experience at the Contemporary Music Center for a semester and in our senior thesis project. We were able to gain hands-on experience, as well as take time to look intently into the ethics and culture of our field.
Jill and Kate are currently traveling on tour as back-up singers for Kelly Clarkson. They are also working on their second album; their first album East Coast Bound is available on iTunes. When they are not touring the U.S. playing schools, clubs and colleges, they reside in Nashville, TN. You can visit their website at www.jillandkate.com
Pete Holmes, Class of 2001
The creative community at Gordon was essential in helping me achieve my dream of becoming a comedian. As a stand-up comic, cartoonist and improviser, no one has ever asked for my resume, but without the support of my professors (Professor Mark Stevick was the first person to really push me to try standup and his plays Cry Innocent and Goodnight, Captain White!, which were my first paid performance jobs; Professor Norm Jones' acting classes still help me on auditions to this day, never mind the incredible theater trips to England and Ireland), Gordon's school paper The Tartan (where I first became a regular cartoonist and columnist and learned how to be creative with a deadline) and Gordon's improv team the Sweaty Toothed Madmen (where I really discovered my passion), I'm pretty sure I would be handing someone my resume, most likely at an Arby's.
Pete has since gained notoriety in the New York City stand-up scene as well as in regular appearances on Comedy Central and VH1's Best Week Ever. As an improviser, he has studied and performed at Boston's Improv Asylum, Chicago's Improv Olympic and Playground Theaters, and NYC's Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Holmes is also a t-shirt designer and cartoonist for The New Yorker.
Joe Bartley, Class of 2004
The fall semester of my senior year I did a full-time coop in the New Media Department at the Peabody Essex Museum, which extended into the spring semester and eventually into a part-time position. The education I received at Gordon was not technically based; I had to learn a lot through experience. Instead, I learned how to research, to write in a variety of formats, to reach an audience through multiple media, and to respond to forces outside my control. The education I received at Gordon established a foundation, one that I have been building upon ever since.
Joe graduated with a BA in Communication Arts and Biblical Studies, concentrating in Media Studies. Currently he is the Media Services Coordinator at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, managing daily activity, student workers, a budget, media equipment and policies at multiple campuses.
Sarah (Chase) Bartley, Class of 2005
One thing I appreciated most about the Communication Arts major was the freedom to pursue my own interests. The curriculum allowed me the freedom to fuel my passions while honing my skills. It was the perfect environment to develop both the ability to communicate effectively as well to become a person with ideas and experiences worth communicating.
Sarah coordinates development for Catholic Charities North in Lynn, managing special events, direct mail, and other fundraising efforts that allow the social service agency to help 17,000 people in need on the North Shore each year. She also maintains a part-time business providing graphic design services.
Brooke Whicher, Class of 2004
Gordon's Communication Arts department provided me with a strong foundation in Media Studies and Print Communication. They prepared me by increasing my confidence in public speaking, whether it be to a crowd of hundreds or with an individual at a major business trade show. The possibilities are endless when you have amazing and creative staff that provide you with a wealth of knowledge that can fit any sector in today's work force.
Brooke is currently employed as an account manager at Copyright Clearance Center in Danvers, Mass. CCC aids in protecting copyrighted works by facilitating permission to reuse copyrighted text-based materials. She recently completed her master's degree in Business Administration at Endicott College.
Ryan Scott McDonnell, Class of 2004
The applied nature of Gordon's Communication Arts program allowed me to develop skills that gave me greater confidence when entering the professional world. The department curriculum encouraged a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic nature of contemporary communication while being thoroughly grounded in classical rhetorical theory. Interactive classes enhanced my ability to articulate myself, through the written and spoken word.
Ryan graduated Gordon with a BA in Communication Arts and Political Studies. He is currently completing his master's in International Development from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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