Gordon and Barrington Alumni Stories
See where a Gordon or Barrington degree can take you—through the lens of graduates themselves.
Deep Church
Jim Belcher '87
Political studies; author of Deep Church, one of Christianity Today's top books for 2009
Founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California, Jim believes there is a third way between traditional and emerging models of the church. He hopes his recent book, Deep Church, will play a part in bringing greater unity to the Body of Christ.
Because Math Is Beautiful
Andrea Bynum ’09
Mathematics alumna; high school math teacher
Andrea credits Dr. Richard Stout with teaching her not just to understand math but to see the beauty in it. Complicated proofs on the whiteboard were occasionally annotated by Dr. Stout with “BMIB.” All of his students knew exactly what that meant—“Because Math Is Beautiful.” Now Andrea’s high school students know what it stands for too.
Published at Twenty-five
Elisabeth Coen ’07
Art and Music; Freelance Writer
Elisabeth Coen studied music education and art at Gordon, but found that her liberal arts courses gave her the freedom to explore areas outside her majors as well. Her first book, a biography of technological pioneer Kenneth Olsen, was published at age 25.
Picture This
Shaylah DeViney ’11
Social work major
Shaylah loves photography and social work. She is also case manager for a local nonprofit, Girls Inc., where she incorporates her love for art into therapeutic photography with her clients, and into marketing resources for the organization.
The View from the Car
David Ells ’07 and Dan Stevens ’07
Communication arts alumni; film producers
The name for David and Dan's film company, In the Car Media, was inspired by a lengthy road trip, but it was Gordon's liberal arts focus that broadened their creative scope and kept them from feeling bound to typical formulas and traditional aesthetics. As a result, they've been sought out for projects as varied as music videos, runway fashion, slavery abolition, and Earth Day.
Dawn Gadow '09 never thought that a class project would turn into a full time job. But by mid spring of her senior year, she knew that her passions had met a great need in the launching of Cape Ann Art Haven, which was prompted by her advanced writing and public relations class.
For Jessica Hansmeier '07, living, serving and working come wrapped in one package. Hansmeier, an ‘07 biblical and theological studies graduate from Keene, New Hampshire, has served as Gordon’s housing director and as an assistant resident director for the last two years but this month she will move to Palestine to continue her mission of community building.
Spirit of Adventure
Scotland Huber ’09
Philosophy; Researcher at Codman Square Health Center, and Freelance Photographer
Scotland Huber believes Gordon’s environment was “hands-off” enough to allow for intellectual and spiritual growth, yet grounded enough to foster real discipleship. This balanced approach fostered a resilience and spirit of adventure that made it possible for him to do what he’s doing now: medical research in a part of Boston that has a reputation for being dangerous.
A Community of Adaptability
Harold "Dewey" Jones '74
"When I was a student, my teachers and fellow students stood firm on three elements: our faith, our education, and the importance of family," says Dewey Jones. "Gordon was my three-legged stool.” Now working as a teacher at Mid-Vermont Christian School and as a fulltime pastor in New Hampshire, Dewey believes Gordon’s liberal arts curriculum fostered “a community of adaptability, so you could be prepared for many different things." Along with his Bible major he also studied history, German and six terms of Greek. But what Dewey remembers most fondly about Gordon was the unique community formed by students and professors. "You knew you were part of a lifelong community."
Two of Dewey’s sons are also Gordon alumni, and also teachers—one at Trinity Christian Academy in Virginia and the other at Portsmouth Christian Academy in New Hampshire. Dewey’s youngest son, a first-year student at Gordon, is a history major who just took his first Bible course. "It’s been so exciting to share the experience with him."
At the start of each basketball season, Keith Krass '08 was given a pair of brand new Nike basketball sneakers. For most players this would be a welcomed perk to being an athlete, but Krass, an ’08 English and secondary education graduate from Beach Park, IL, spent more time cheering his teammates on from the sidelines than breaking in his new shoes.
Matt Loy '06 works as an architect, safety inspector, carpenter and physicist all in one. As an extra challenge, the ’06 graduate from Essex, Massachusetts, performs the combination of jobs in a harness between 10 and 60 feet in the air, designing ropes courses for outdoor education programs around the world.
Location, Location, Location
Jon Nystedt ’09
Communication arts alumnus
Jon loved Gordon’s location half an hour from Boston—and being even closer to the multicultural city of Lynn, where he was involved all four years with the Gordon in Lynn service-learning program. His internship fueled a passion for urban work, and opened the door to his current position with Americorps, where he helps run a program for youth from a low-income housing development.
During his internship at The Salem News, Jon Phelps '08 was told by a seasoned reporter, “The industry is dead—get out while you still can.” But when Phelps went home for Christmas break and continued submitting articles, the same reporter saw his tenacity. “Well, if no one can stop you from doing it, then it’s what you’re meant to do,” he told Phelps.
Living Out Your Faith Through Your Work
Jason Revilla '01
When Jason Revilla, 01’ studied the health sciences at Gordon College, a vision for a life of service to others was on the brink. “Gordon impressed upon me to consider how I represent Christ in the workplace,” said Revilla. “Its not always having a verbal testimony all of the time, but its also about putting your faith into action.” After graduating from Gordon with a major in Kinesiology, he and co-founder James Grumbine, '01, set out to create a socially conscious lifestyle brand in a secular industry.
Faith & Fortune, which since its launch has been featured on VH1 and Seventeen magazine, believe their company should also help cloth the needy and feed the hungry. “We’re living out our faith in an industry that tends to be superficial,” said Revilla. “Our label puts others' needs over our own.”
When Ryan Stadt '09 graduated from Gordon as a philosophy major in 2009, he fully intended for his next step to be a Ph.D. program. Instead, three months later he flew to Alaska to be a resident advisor at a public boarding high school in the bush town of Galena.