Alumni Stories

Dan Thompson '06: Community At The Core

New Hampshire isn't renowned for its large cities or teeming populations, so when Dan Thompson entered Gordon College as a freshman, he discovered a new perspective on community. Thompson graduated from Gordon with a major in communication arts in 2006. As part of the A. J. Scholars program, he was ambitious about academics at college, "but," he says, "relationships are what shape your experience."

Still unsure about colleges in his senior year of high school, Thompson applied to Gordon "just for the heck of it." Despite several hiccups, like encountering a surprise phone interview from an admissions office, or dictating his A.J. scholarship application over the phone from a mission's trip in El Salvador, Thompson received acceptance letters from both Gordon and the A. J. program.

As part of the A. J. program, Thompson was required to work with mentors, the first of whom was Stephen Leonard. Leonard coached him through track, cross country, and many areas of life. Thompson learned how indispensable his mentors were, saying "They gave me a perspective that I wouldn't have been able to get from my peers."

Thompson's community of peers was also crucial to his experience. While experiencing the shock of coming to a college bigger than his hometown, Thompson quickly discovered the importance of community. "Choosing my friends," he says, "was choosing who I was going to be influenced by."

While relationships were one of the most important aspects of Thompson's college experience he was also dedicated to his academic pursuits. As a member of a panel discussion with new students Thompson was asked, "Do professors expect students to read everything assigned? Do you [read everything]?" Thompson's answer highlights his commitment to academics: "Heck yeah!" He went on to ask the student, "Why else would they assign them?"

After graduating, Thompson continued an internship he began during his senior year, going on to work at PAN Communications in Andover, Massachusetts. He has worked there since shortly after his marriage to Samantha Gerry in July of 2006.

Tricia Chan '09 is a communication arts major from Concord, NH.

Jessica Somerville '06: Learning Theme--Cross-Culture

With mild uncertainty, Jessica Somerville went to her first International Student Organization (ISO) gathering in the fall of her sophomore year. Somerville--a white suburbanite--had been invited by a classmate from another country. Through her involvement with the ISO Somerville helped to redefine the "international" aspect of the title to include not just those at Gordon who are from another country, but also those who have a passion for understanding the world.

Somerville says of her experience with the ISO, "…it was awesome to get to know the international students…" She joined the group for a variety of activities on a regular basis, including worship and Bible study, as well as soccer with both international and American students. This involvement fostered a new sense of cultural awareness for Somerville.

Her cross-cultural interests and sensitivity for social justice issues as a student inspired Somerville to chose a career with World Vision, a Christian relief and development organization. "[Without my Gordon education], I wouldn't care the way I do about poverty and justice issues," she says. Somerville's cultural understanding was fostered in many ways during her time at Gordon.

As a French major Somerville developed her cultural understanding through language courses. She appreciated the foreign language department's dedication to teaching students to understand the cultures associated with the language they were learning. Somerville took advantage of many opportunities Gordon offered to engage in those cultures, spending her junior year in France, and traveling to Mexico and Africa on student-led missions trips, leading the one to Africa. She also was involved in Gordon in Lynn, at that time called the Lynn Initiative, working with Hispanic students through the La Vida YES program.

Somerville found that her interests and involvement at Gordon raised sociological, political, and anthropological questions. She enrolled in courses related to these concerns in order to learn from faculty who have made it their life's work to study questions similar to the ones she faced.

Somerville found that these classes were not just academically challenging. She noted this in particular about Professor Ivy George's class, saying, "Her class was difficult academically, but also intellectually and emotionally. She opened my eyes to injustice in the world…"

Daniel Hayner '09 is a communication arts and history double major.

Erin Ovalle '05: In the Elements

"The Midwest is a different experience," says Erin Ovalle,'05. Growing up in New England, she did not expect to become a general assignment reporter for NBC in Traverse City, MI. Two qualities Ovalle says are crucial to life as a reporter were also crucial to her life at Gordon College: flexibility and tenacity.

In addition to being a member of both the tennis and dance teams, Ovalle completed three internships, and was a member of the Gordon College Student Association, serving as president of her class both her junior and senior years. She looks back on her time with GCSA fondly. She appreciated the opportunity that GCSA gave her to work with her fellow students and professors.

While she balanced her extra-curricular activities, like many college students, she was undecided on what educational field to pursue. Unsure of her future goals and wavering between the communication arts and education majors, she settled on communication arts because of the broadness of the major and the many opportunities it offered.

Ovalle also cites the encouragement of her professors as helping her to decide her major. While Professors Rini Cobbey and Curt Wanner, two professors in the communication arts department, had different styles, they both played important roles in her time at Gordon. Wanner pushed her to be a better public speaker, a skill that she has utilized as a reporter. Cobbey encouraged her to reach out and take as many opportunities as she could. Additionally Ovalle says of Cobbey, "She made me think in a whole different way."

As a general assignment reporter, each day Ovalle has a story, idea, or breaking news to cover for the five and six o'clock news. She sets up interviews and gets video footage of the scene. Then she writes and edits her story before going live in the field, newsroom, or studio.

Militza Richard '09 is a Communication Arts and English double major from Lancaster, Ohio.

Susan Brown DeBake '05: Working at a Winery

Susan Brown DeBake's favorite wine at the Alfalfa Farm Winery in Topsfield, Massachusetts, is the Red Zinfandel. DeBake never suspected when developing a passion for film and theater at Gordon College that she would be so well-prepared to be an event coordinator and wine demonstrator at Alfalfa Farm.

DeBake's love for film began when she took an introduction to film course at Gordon College. In light of her budding interest, DeBake was surprised to find that many Christians have negative attitudes toward the film industry. DeBake comments that while some voiced that involvement with Hollywood was a surefire way to loose one's morals, her professors maintained that, "'It will never change unless you learn about it and change it from the inside out.

"The reason why people create is so we can learn from life," says DeBake. Her experiences at Gordon, both with faculty and endeavors to bolster her acting abilities, led her to study at the Los Angeles Film Study Center for a semester.

"I liked to take all aspects of film and try to make them work as a cohesive unit," says DeBake. While in L.A. DeBake realized that a career in film was not for her. However, she notes that in many ways film and event planning are very similar, both requiring close attention to detail and the collaboration of multiple people to construct a unified work.

DeBake comments that, since her current job is deadline-oriented, "I appreciated the fact that… professors [in the communication arts department] were sticklers for deadlines. You have to get into the attitude of getting things done on time. If you show up late or you're not making a deadline in the real world, there is no grace." Additionally, when faced with ethical dilemmas in her professional life, she has found the senior seminar she was required to take in the communication arts department to have prepared her invaluably. She says, "My class at Gordon informed my decision. I didn't have to face that [ethical dilemma] without considering it beforehand. The Communications department did a great job getting us to realize life struggles we will have in the future," she said.

Though as a film student at Gordon, DeBake would never have imagined a career in event planning, her future is directed toward continuing in that path.

Tania Green '08 is a communication arts major.

Nicole McCarthy '05: To Live and Really Enjoy Doing So

Nicole McCarthy heard about Gordon at a church camp at age 12, and was drawn to Gordon for its location, beautiful campus, and its reputation. After McCarthy was accepted, she was excited to be part of a Christian school, having attended public schools her whole life. In spite of her initial excitement about being part of a Christian community, she admits she found it difficult to adhere to its rules and regulations. In hindsight, she realizes that God used those situations to teach her about compromise. She found a deep sense of community and accountability at Gordon and feels that her overall experience has helped her to conduct herself in a more edifying way.

As a student she found herself attracted to the psychology program, specifically neuroscience, and was influenced heavily by Dr. Auday. The challenging nature of the program held her interest and inspired her to consider becoming a neurological psychologist. However, once she graduated from Gordon God changed her path. She began to feel strongly about becoming a middle school guidance counselor. Seeing her sister going through the things that she went through herself as an adolescent, she was made aware that helping others deal with the social hierarchies of middle school was something she was ready to take on. McCarthy experienced a difficult adolescence, which she feels God has used to bring her to where she stands today. She feels if she doesn't "use her past experiences they would have been in vain."

McCarthy has begun a Master's program at Cambridge College in Massachusetts for counseling psychology, after which she plans to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology. She feels guidance counselors are tools that need to be easily accessible, objective, and more importantly, morally engaging people who want to support students. McCarthy hopes to become a guidance counselor who will help people not only to survive middle school, but "to live and to really enjoy doing so."

Jenna Frank '08 is a communication arts major from Westbrook, Maine.

Marc Frigon '05: Unexpected Change

Sometimes that which you avoid transforms you. In the case of Mark Frigon, such irony defined his college years as his turning point to a Christ-led life. Gordon was "the natural thing to do" for Frigon, a North Shore native and student of Christian schools. He liked his life, beliefs, and friends neatly packaged within his comfort zone, which was what he expected to find at Gordon college.

Frigon admitted that the reasons he went to Gordon were not the reasons that made him glad he went. Both Gordon's community and academics challenged his comfort zone and inspired his pursuit of a career as an English professor. The inspiration to challenge students in the manner he was challenged began developing freshman year. 

Frigon entered expecting it to be a continuation of past Christian community experiences--friendly facades and cliché piety. However, during his first floor meeting in Lewis Frigon recalled meeting his future friends and that they had "a genuine concern about each other." 

While his floor challenged each other's characters and comfort zones, Frigon was encouraged to evaluate his Christianity within community. "Gordon opened my eyes to working out your own faith. It was the place that helped me to start wrestling with what it means to be a Christian in the world," he said. 

Frigon sought "to be a mover and a shaker and leave my mark on things." He joined choir, theater, and student government. "I loved it--to go back to [my] hall tired at the end of the day and then invest in the guys on the floor…I had something that a lot of people don't have," he says.

While Frigon's relationship with community developed, academia also challenged his comfort zone. One class that transformed his thinking was Dr. Paul Borgman's Contemporary American Literature, which encouraged him to wrestle with the material rather than to accept a hollow interpretation. "…Professor Borgman and I think alike; we approach a text similarly…yet he really challenged my thinking in that class." 

It was this class that encouraged his desire to be an English professor, which Frigon is currently pursuing at Salem State University. "It's hard to enter a secular environment, but Gordon taught me how to discuss things with an open mind; they gave me the tools to develop the strengths of myself," Frigon says. 

When Frigon came to Gordon as a freshman, he hoped to avoid change. Ironically, he claims, "Gordon got me out of my comfort zone…." Now he has an honest desire to live out the Bible's teachings and "to help people to think about things, not just take them at face value."

By Helen Vetrano

Sarah Cathey '04: Choosing, Arriving, Knowing

"I was a film major at Gordon," Sarah Cathey says, "but I liked talking about film better than making it." It took a lot for Cathey to come to this realization. Though Cathey was often behind a video camera as a student, she was unsure whether her interest in film was more than a hobby. Complicating matters, Cathey had a deep interest in more traditional forms of art.

"God took care of me along the way," Cathey says, reflecting on her decision-making process. However, God's guidance did not make the choices any less confusing. In making the decision between film and art, Cathey was grateful for the freedom to explore that Gordon presented her with. "Gordon offers connection to people of faith," she says, "And you need that community." She found that at Gordon, students could be "random and silly" while still asking serious questions. It was the combination of independence and instruction that finally led Cathey to choose between art and film, and to choose a career. When she decided to forgo the Los Angeles film semester and pursue art in Orvieto, much of her confusion disappeared.

Upon graduating, Cathey traveled to Nairobi, Africa. Her encounter with poverty formed clear priorities in her mind. "I wanted to learn to be in the ministry," Cathey said. After applying for several jobs, she accepted her current position in Andover, Massachusetts. Cathey is the communications assistant in charge of print media, website design, bulletin outlines, and community outreach at Free Christ Church.

Cathey is satisfied with her decisions, and enjoys her current work. Would she have done anything differently? Cathey smiles at the question. Recalling T. S. Elliot, she comments on how strange it is to return to a cafeteria you remember from years ago. "We arrive where we started," she says, leaning forward, "and know the place for the first time."

Stephen Bascom '09 is a communication arts and English double major from Bow, NH.

Francis Vigeant '04: The World Beyond The Classroom

Amid balloons, party favors, and the company of ten 8-year olds, Francis Vigeant '04 stumbled upon success as an entrepreneur. Vigeant, whose degree is in Economics with a minor in math, never saw himself working with kids long-term. He began working as a math teacher in Lynn, viewing the job as a transition between graduation and a small-business opportunity. "I always asked myself 'What's next?'" he said.  

A friend of Vigeant approached him after returning from vacation in Canada with his children. This friend, whom Vigeant describes as "bright" and "entrepreneurial," visited an aquarium, saw a hands-on science exhibit, and noted his children's overwhelming enthusiasm for the subject. He asked Vigeant if he knew anyone who could replicate a similar presentation at his son's birthday party.

When they could think of no one, Vigeant's experience as a teacher made him a likely candidate to do the job. "I initially could not see it. I was like, 'You're kidding! I don't want to wreck anyone's birthday!'" he said.

His presentation was a hit, and his passion for making science accessible to every child was born. He began conducting after school hands-on science classes. At first, about 10 children attended. The number doubled within weeks. Soon, Vigeant developed a curriculum for the summer, which was the beginning of his science programs. Over the course of the first summer, Vigeant worked with about 200 children. As numbers grew, so did Vigeant's excitement for the subject.

After that first summer's success, Vigeant evaluated his career. He decided to take on his science program as a full-time job, opening Knowatom. Vigeant now works with about 7 schools on the North Shore, using their space and complementing the school's science curriculum with after school programs. The program is supported by the parents of the children that attend.

He teaches most of the classes and is also in charge of researching and developing curriculum. "In order to develop curriculum, you must think like a child, and know your audience." The success in Vigeant's young company is due in part to this type of creativity. 

Vigeant believes it is important for children to see science and engineering as career options. "We are all life-long learners. Most people like to read or research history as they grow older. When it comes to science, very few people recognize the importance of life-long learning."

"Learning can be accessible to anyone if you present the material to someone properly," says Vigeant. Through struggles and learning experiences at Gordon, he gained a passion for helping people learn and overcome academic obstacles. "Everyone is capable of learning. People are naturally inquisitive, we are just trying to bring that out," he said.

By Elisabeth Coen '07

Mary Astolfi '03: From the Gordon Bookstore to Camp Berea

Mary Esther Astolfi keeps a rubber chicken on her desk. "Everyone in my position needs a rubber chicken," she says. That position is Assistant Director of Programming at Camp Berea in Hebron, NH. Astolfi, a native of Littleton, Massachusetts, graduated in 2003 with a degree in communication arts.

Astolfi arrived at Gordon because of what it didn't offer. Three years before Astolfi had to think about college, her brother visited Gordon, only to discover that they did not yet offer the computer science program he was looking for. However, Astolfi's parents instantly thought of her. When the time came she visited Gordon and instantly fell in love with the school. She applied only to Gordon and, she says, "got lucky and got in."

While she majored in communication arts because she found it fascinating, life outside the classroom influenced Astolfi most, helping her get where she is now. Working both in the Gordon bookstore and in dining services, she learned to take responsibility and recognize the extent of her abilities. Between being a student and an employee Astolfi learned to be self-sufficient, balancing classes and work and setting priorities, skills necessary after college.

Another aspect of her Gordon life Astolfi said has influenced her was her participation in the Ultimate Frisbee Club. "I've never met a Frisbee I didn't like," she says, "And it all started at Gordon." She still plays frequently, because in her position at Camp Berea, Ultimate Frisbee is not only acceptable, but also encouraged.

Astolfi's job at Camp Berea is not all Ultimate Frisbee and rubber chickens. It is filled with great and numerous responsibilities. Currently she is managing the summer hiring process, but is also in charge of camp rentals throughout the year. As her title implies, she also works on programs, which consists of running and participating in games, and helping to problem solve and implement plans in all aspects of her job and of Camp Berea. There is, she says, "such a variety, which I totally dig. It keeps me on my toes, which keeps my job interesting."

Initially, Astolfi started working at Camp Berea out of desperation for something to do after she graduated from Gordon. She feels that it was God that put her at Berea, with recognition of her gifts and talents. Her passion to help people see God through trying times has kept her there. Of course, she admits that her love for being outside and being with people didn't hurt either.

"I love the view from the top," Astolfi says in respect to her affection for hiking. "It's amazing." The same can be said about looking back over where her life has taken her so far: "It's amazing."

Melinda Elliott '08 is a Communication Arts major from Everett, MA.

Jonathan Busch '03: The Man Behind The Lawn Ornaments

Communication Arts graduate Jonathan Busch, '03, has the ability to win his audience's attention with a lighthearted exposition on life in the suburbs, where front lawns are transformed into seasonal wonderlands. His success as a writer began in his second year at Gordon. When Busch took a course in Western Literature with Dr. Anne Blackwill, she urged him to pursue an advanced course in writing. "Dr. Blackwill said it would make a man out of me as a writer," he fondly recalled. By the end of that year, he added an English major to his existing major in Communications.

With the support of his professors and his love for words, Busch discovered his talent with each writing class. Busch formed relationships with a select number of professors while at Gordon, including Stevick. They pushed him in his writing as experienced professors, while encouraging him, as mentors and friends. 

After spending a year working for EBSCO, an information resource company, he decided to pursue further schooling. Busch knew he did not belong working in an office, and asked himself "What do I love to do?" The answer was as obvious as his wry sense of humor, and after submitting a ten-minute play he wrote in a class under Stevick to Boston University, Busch was on his way to receiving a Master's Degree in creative writing.

Currently, Busch has worked as an adjunct professor at Boston's Northeastern University, teaching a college writing course, and advanced writing for business majors. "I always wanted to teach," Busch said, speaking of his students enthusiastically.

Busch meets with a writers' group on a weekly basis. Busch is also working on a black comedy musical, and is writing a sitcom with some friends and fellow graduates. Wherever his talents lead him next, his insight on interpersonal communication and life lessons will remain, enlightening and amusing those whom he comes to know.

By Meredith Longo.

Barbara Beebe '03: Basketball Star, Caring Counselor

It was orientation before her freshman year and Barbara (Goodwin) Beebe, '03, had left the comfort and familiarity of Litchfield, CT. In a new school, she sought out a familiar place: the basketball court. After making numerous baskets in a row, she got stuck in the rim. She had no other way to get it down than to ask another player for help. Scott Beebe, '03, a men's basketball player, helped her, and a friendship was formed.

Beebe now works with students in a Connecticut high school, helping them make decisions about where to go to college and what they might want to do for a career. She uses her knowledge of the college experience and the reasons for choosing a college and applies them to her work.

Beebe credits meeting both her husband (Scott Beebe) and her good friends to her involvement in basketball. "I met some of my best friends on the basketball team," she says. "Without playing basketball I probably would never have met them. The basketball team made me into the person I am today. I learned how to become a leader, spiritually and physically. One of the things that made playing basketball so enjoyable was being on a team that loved the Lord. We really strove to make each other into stronger Christian women." The women on the team formed close bonds, staying close even today. They still get together for homecoming and for the alumni game where they scrimmage the current women's basketball players.

Things she learned from being a part of the basketball team helped her in her studies of psychology. Beebe has a great love for people and wanted to help them in any way she could. After graduating from Gordon with a degree in psychology, she decided to attend graduate school for school counseling and education.

Beebe said her time in college was positive overall. She grew in many areas of her life and learned a lot. The basketball team was a key contributor to her college experience. The relationships she made and the skills she developed were mostly from being on the team.

by Stefanie Brueggeman.

Ryan McDonnell '03: Working with Poverty

Ryan McDonnell recently returned from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he earned a Master's degree in international development at the University of the Witwatersrand. While there he worked to analyze the effectiveness of participation-based programs empowering AIDS and HIV communities on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Since his graduation from Gordon, McDonnell has spent much time outside of the United States learning about poverty. Of studying in South Africa McDonnell comments that, "The process of studying development was important to do in a non-Western setting." Of his work on poverty he says, "I think ultimately you have to look at individuals and see how they are impacted. A 'macro' perspective often misses the stories of hope that happen on an individual level."

McDonnell believes his time at Gordon exposed him to the need for a Christian response to poverty. In light of the fact that his current work is a departure from his double major in political studies and communications, he notes that "very few majors in the social sciences exactly line up with careers." He adds, "Although I didn't go into politics or communications I found that Gordon's rich social science tradition allowed me to pull from many disciplines to form a nuanced perspective about our world... Ultimately I decided to embark on a career that allowed me to thoughtfully assist the poor in developing economies."

During his time at Gordon Dr. Cliff Hersey's Christian Perspectives on Communications class helped shape the way in which he now interacts with the world. McDonnell says of this class, "It really set the tone for ethical communication." His year-long term as a junior in Gordon's Oxford program also helped shape his perspective on the world. "The challenging environment boosted my confidence in my academic abilities while exposing me to many core issues about our world," he says. "Through conversations and through my studies I began to see the world in a new light."

Brad Parker, '08, is a communication arts major from New Hampshire.

Krista Knowles '02: Marching on with the Salvation Army

When Krista Knowles walked onto campus as a freshman, she had only been a Christian for a few years and had no idea what attending a Christian college would be like. Knowles graduated in May of 2002 and has been in full-time ministry with the Salvation Army as Youth Ministries Coordinator for Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Krista is assistant director for the Army's summer camp for low-income families as well as leader of a discipleship program for camp staff under 18 years old. The discipleship program, which she named "Inside Out" after the Message translation of Romans 12:1, which reads "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out." What is remarkable to her is that she sees Christ transform the lives of her friends.

While at Gordon Knowles gained valuable experience by leading the Word Made Flesh drama group for three years and writing several one-acts for chapel. "The experience helped refine my leadership skills and unleash my creativity," she says.

She has utilized those skills leading a drama troupe for The Salvation Army, writing short scripts for The Salvation Army in Old Orchard Beach, and teaching children of all ages how much fun drama can be.

She credits Gordon's youth ministries program for successfully preparing students to be youth pastors. Knowles says Dr. Roger Green, Dr. Marv Wilson, Dr. Elaine Phillips and Professor Robert Whittet taught her to be a youth pastor and inspired her in courses such as Greek, Hebrew, Biblical Origins, Counseling Youth, Modern Jewish Culture, and Strategies for Teaching Youth.

You can tell Knowles loves Gordon--even a few years removed--simply by the way she widens her eyes and talks faster about how life was for her here. "The Lord has allowed me to make a difference in the lives of young people in New England, and it consistently amazes me that He would choose to use me. Without my time at Gordon I don't think I would be as effective for the Kingdom. I look back at my years at Gordon with great joy and will forever be blessed to be an alumna."

Dave Kelly '08 is a communication arts major from Scarborough, Maine.

Katherine (Kohler) Wiebe '01 On a Formative Gordon Experience

When Katherine (Kohler) Wiebe was growing up, she never thought she would attend Gordon College. Wiebe's grandfather, Dr. Bill Buehler, was a professor of biblical studies at Gordon and Barrington Colleges, where her parents met. She remembers spending summers visiting her grandparents and swimming in Gull Pond, but these experiences never enticed her to make Gordon her college. Kate felt attending a Christian college was unnecessary, but her parents remained firm that she was to do so for at least two years. A conversation with then-professor Ron Waite changed her perspective, showing her how Christianity and business, the field she intended to enter at that time, could fit together. She decided to give Gordon a chance, and eventually enrolled.

During her time at Gordon it was the people who made an impact on Kate. Kate developed deep relationships with many peers, faculty and staff. She grew to know a wide variety of people through her roles as student, resident advisor, and assistant director of CEC. During her senior year Kate and her husband participated in the Gordon in Oxford program, where Kate finished the requirements of her English major, began exploring the field of counseling, and realized that she desired the theological foundation a seminary education could offer.

After graduating from Gordon College, both Kate and Erik went on to get Masters of Divinity degrees at Princeton Theological Seminary and are currently working on doctorates at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University. Kate and her husband now have two children.

The message that Gordon provided Kate was to invest in people, life and the world around her. She emphasized the investment the faculty and staff made in her and their enthusiasm and patience with her. "I've flown on that," Kate says. She shared that she can handle all the roles she now plays largely due to the foundation she received at Gordon.

Ashley Bowdich, '08, is from Minnesota and is studying communication arts.

Lori Evans '99: Planning for a Living, Living Without a Plan

Lori Evans, '99, isn't the sort of person who could tell you exactly what she'll be doing in ten years. "I have no desire to nail down what I want to do for the rest of my life. And that works for me," says Evans.

It might come as a surprise that for someone so comfortable with the ambiguity of the future, Evans' career is built on the skill of planning. From media production to event planning, she has been in the business of preparation since she graduated from Gordon with a degree in Communication Arts. Currently, Evans applies her knack for organization and preparation as the sales and functions manager at Finz, a trendy seafood restaurant in Salem, Massachusetts. The position involves selling and planning functions.

She has made several career transitions in the years since she graduated. Evans has worked as an assignment editor at an NBC affiliate station, an account executive at an advertising and public relations firm, and as the production manager for Gordon's "Cry Innocent" theatre program.

Evans says these career moves were generally unplanned. "I have rarely pursued anything, because I don't really know what I'd like to pursue," says Evans. One thing that allows Evans to transition so well from one position to the next is her ability to grow and develop from the experience she gains at each location. Evans says that a great deal of the valuable experience that she has taken with her so far in her career is that which she acquired during her time at Gordon. 

The time she spent working in the theatre at Gordon has proved especially valuable for the practice in planning it offered Evans. As production coordinator, Evans was involved with all the administration work of the theatre, advertising plays around campus, designing programs, helping to build sets and scheduling rehearsals. Evans felt at home in this work. "I felt like I found my niche," she says.

Through her time at Gordon and at her past jobs, Evans has learned a lot about the value of planning and how to do it well. However, planning for Evans is a profession not a lifestyle. Evans says that although she doesn't know where she will go, her career will probably continue to change. She's planning on it.

Jessica Trask '08 is a communications arts major from South Royalston, MA.

Kristina Wacome Stevick '97: Artistic Director of History Alive!

One year shy of her tenth reunion, Kristina Wacome Stevick, '97 became Artistic Director of History Alive!, the professional acting branch of the Department of Theatre, which presents Cry Innocent: the People versus Bridget Bishop, the longest continuously-running show north of Boston.

After a semester of art school, Stevick transferred to Gordon even though there was not an art major at the time. Still loyal to the field, Stevick got involved in theatre and became a devotee of the theatre department. 

As an introvert, becoming a student performer was a big leap for Stevick. "I think the immediacy of making theatre was a good antidote for me because I had gotten a little too precious with my drawing and painting. You can't paint over or erase your acting. How well you've prepared, how truthful, or not, you are out there for everyone to see."

Activities and areas of study outside of theater also influenced her life. "Working on plays and acting in Cry Innocent were big events in my life at Gordon, but outside the realm of theatre there was plenty that had impact," she said. She cites core classes as making a difference. "The core writing class I had with Patty Hanlon was thrilling and life changing." Well on her way to reaching her goal, she decided to graduate with a social work degree. "Since I was fourteen, I had planned to create a therapeutic community," she said.

Professors Sybil Coleman and Janice Holton, social work professors at the time, also impacted Stevick's life. The reasons were simple but refreshing while a student goes through a moment of uncertainty or confusion regarding a topic or an issue: "their generosity with their time and wisdom."

After Stevick graduated, she was able to continue pursuing a career in the art field. Her first job after graduation was as an interim activities-director at John Betram House in Salem, Massachusetts. At the same time, Stevick was putting together a voice demo and started recording commercials. After that she worked with her parents, who are custom builders, as an interior decorator. Stevick said: "Most of these things overlapped as working in the arts often requires."

By Mylka Bezerra.

Kelly Greenhalgh Plosker '94: The Drug Court Lady

From Gordon College, to child protection, to the drug court, Kelly Plosker has made her mark on this world. The well-traveled 1994 graduate found her calling while at Gordon College. Having transferred her sophomore year because she wanted a school that was "Christian and not too far from home," Plosker majored in social work and quickly became involved in extracurricular activities. Soccer and the Campus Events Council became a part of her life, as did relationships. To this day, one of Plosker's best friends is Sarah Wadhams Seiler ('93), whom she met while at Gordon.

During her senior year at Gordon Plosker was able to complete an internship at the Department of Social Services in Haverhill, Massachusetts. She was hired by DSS after graduation and worked in the Salem office. After working at DSS for seven years, Plosker returned to school to pursue her master's degree in social work and helped start the juvenile drug court in Salem, Massachusetts. She worked with the Essex County Juvenile Court, CAB Health and Recovery, and the District Attorney's office to establish a program for juveniles who came through the court system due to issues involving substance abuse. She became the program manager in 2000. Of the program Plosker says, "It was a success...to see these kids off of drugs for a period of time gave them an opportunity to succeed in school and in the community. It was a collaborative effort with the judges, counselors, schools and parents etc., and was just great."

Plosker was the Program Director for a year and a half before she had her first child, Logan, after which she found her way back to Gordon to teach as an assistant professor in the social work department. She taught for four years and was also the Internship Coordinator.

Now a full-time wife and mother of four, Plosker remains connected to the Gordon community by hosting a Bible study for Gordon students and providing premarital counseling to engaged Gordon couples.

Patricia Ribeiro '09 is a communications arts major from Falmouth, Maine.

Steve Peters '94 Uses Psychology at State Street Bank

Steve Peters, class of '94, graduated with a psychology degree, wanting to help children with developmental disabilities. After taking a two-year break from school to work at a brokerage firm, Peters discovered a passion for the world of business. After Peters realized that his Psychology degree required more school, he decided to pursue business. Now he uses his knowledge of people to deal with coworkers and employees at State Street Bank in Quincy, MA, where he was recently promoted to officer of the Funds Management department.

During Peters' college application process, Gordon stood out to him because it had everything he desired: a faith-based community, diverse student backgrounds, and many educational opportunities. "Gordon helped me prepare for the real world because it expected a lot out of me, both academically and recreationally…It taught me to multitask," he says.

Location was also a factor as he considered schools. "I grew up in Connecticut, about two hours from New York City, a city that was just too big, but Boston, I fell in love with Boston," says Peters. His former pastor recommended Gordon.

While at Gordon, Peters participated in the La Vida program, a two week wilderness adventure involving camping, solitude, intense exercise and a lack of indoor plumbing. "… [W]ith all the rock climbing and high ropes stuff--I just kept wanting more, more, more! I was a four-sport athlete in high school, but never had the opportunity to do anything like La Vida," says Peters. He jokes that the hardest part of his adventure was the food. "It was tough at times," he says. "I'll admit my worst experience was the beef stroganoff. To this day the smell of it makes my stomach turn."

Many things about Gordon have changed since Peters' graduation in '94. For instance he vividly remembers attending hockey games in the gymnasium, now the Barrington Center for the Arts. However, many of the professors that had the most profound impact on Peters' academic experience remain at Gordon, among them Dr. Kaye Cook, Dr. Bryan Auday and Dr. Marv Wilson. Peters often finds it useful to remember Dr. Wilson's explanation that Christianity has its roots in Judaism.

Heather Johnson '09 is a communication arts major from South Easton, MA.

Robert Kerns '90: Broadening The Horizons

When Robert Kerns '90 was a student at Gordon College, he was determined to gain real-world experience that would benefit his future career. A native of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, Kerns graduated from Gordon with a Political Studies degree. During his college years, Kerns took advantage of the many off-campus programs Gordon had to offer.

"The programs definitely enriched my experience," said Kerns. Kerns first participated in the European seminar, a program that takes students to various parts of Europe for eight weeks during the summer. "Those places gave me a completely different view of the world…It gave me a sense of the world as being diverse and it expanded my world view in terms of who I am," says Kerns.

During the spring of his junior year, Kerns participated in the American Studies Program, which places students in internships in Washington, D.C. Kerns interned at an agency for international development. He says the experience helped him grow academically as well as spiritually. "The American Studies program challenged me in terms of how I, as a Christian, can apply my faith in life…" Kerns said. Kerns says another benefit of participating in off-campus programs was the relationships that he formed during that time. Kerns became close to many of the other students in the American Studies program.

After graduation, Kerns moved to Los Angeles, where he did voluntary community economic development work for the Mennonite Board of Missions. Although he loved working in Los Angeles, Kerns returned to Pennsylvania to attend graduate school. "My work in L.A. solidified my interest in further academic study," Kerns said. Kerns earned a masters degree in city and regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania and went on to work at the Montgomery County Planning Commission, located in Lansdale. Kerns later accepted a position as a community planner at a private international planning firm located in Philadelphia.

Kerns believes that Gordon's off-campus programs helped him prepare for his future. "I think it's valuable for every student to get off campus. It adds to the educational experience," said Kerns. "You might miss the occasional party or activity on campus, but what you gain is much greater."

By Michelle Zeigler