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: |
| Brian Adams | 2010-11 | Studying for a MLIS at Valdosta State University (Library Information Systems) |
| Sara Clarich | 2010-11 | Studying Secondary English Education at University of Tennessee |
| Christina Hennecken | 2010-11 | Studying at Georgetown University Law Center |
| Kelly Nightingale | 2010-11 | Working as an executive assistant at Professional Systems, LLC |
| 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 |
| Mary Kathryn Wiley | 2010-11 | She is working as an administrative assistant at the Mentors Project, a non-profit focused on providing community role models for 7th-12th graders in the Bibb Co. school system |
| Jennifer Dawson | 2009-10 | Working as a circulation 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 |
| Jennifer Lunday-Flowers | 2009-10 | Studying for a MLS at the Univesity of Tennessee-Knoxville |
| Meredith Milligan | 2009-10 | Studying for an M.ED in English Education at Vanderbilt University |
| Patrina Mitchell | 2009-10 | Studying for a J.D. at University of Georgia Law School |
| Corbin Parker | 2009-10 | Working as a project coordinator at Donaldson Enterprises |
| Courtney Parker (Bailey) | 2009-10 | Studying for an M.A. in American Literature at Baylor University |
| Jillian Richstone (Isaac) | 2009-10 | Working for Steve Paige State Farm agent |
| Matthew Robinson | 2009-10 | Working at Sacred Heart School |
| Hannah Smith | 2009-10 | Studying for a M.A. in English Literature at Oxford University. She is working as a teacher at the Princeton Review |
| Jessica Andrews | 2008-09 | Studying at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminar in Louisville, KY |
| Samantha Beck | 2008-09 | Working at the Macon Public Library |
| Andrew Bodine | 2008-09 | Studying for a Ph.D. in Quantitative Psychology at Ohio State University |
| Dot Dannenberg | 2008-09 | Studying for an M.F.A. in Poetry at Pacific University. Working as adjunct faculty at Westwood College |
| Danielle Paul | 2008-09 | Studying for a J.D. at Barry University Law School, FL |
| Lyndsey Phillips | 2008-09 | Working as a teacher at Rutland High School |
| Billie Pritchard | 2008-09 | Studying for a J.D. at Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University. Working as summer associaste at McKenna Long and Aldridge |
| Kasey Robinson | 2008-09 | Studying for a B.A. in Student Affairs at University of Georgia. Working as a graduate advisor in the Office of Student Activities at the University of Tennessee |
| Richard Robinson | 2008-09 | Working as ELA teacher at Wayne County High School |
| Meredith Talmage (Mccormick) | 2008-09 | Working as an infant teacher at Indiana University's Campus Children's Center |
| Molly Trover | 2008-09 | Studying for an M.A. in Writing & Publishing Program at Emerson College |
| Elizabeth Wright (Jasperse) | 2008-09 | Studying for an M.Ed. in Language and Literacy Education at the University of Georgia |
| Megan Connor | 2007-08 | Completed an M.A. in Teaching at Wake Forest University |
| Nekia Cordy | 2007-08 | Working as a grant writer and proofreader for the Richmond County Board of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Center |
| Tim Craig | 2007-08 | Teaching at Middle Georgia Technical College as an Adult Education Instructor |
| Katie Derthick | 2007-08 | Studying for an Ph.D. in Human Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle |
| Whitney Gray | 2007-08 | Studying for an M.F.A in Poetry at University of North Carolina in Greensboro |
| Sam Grier | 2007-08 | Studying for a J.D. at Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law |
| Katherine Grimm | 2007-08 | Studying for an M.A. in Library Science at Simmons University, MA |
| Rachel Hasting | 2007-08 | Studying for an M.D. in medical school |
| Margaret Heinen | 2007-08 | Studying for a J.D. at Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law |
| Alicia Jonah | 2007-08 | Studying for a J.D. at Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law |
| Deborah Jones | 2007-08 | Studying for an M.A. in Literary Studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga |
| Sarah Mood | 2007-08 | Working at Layton Chistian Academy in Layton, Utah |
| Michael Umberger | 2007-08 | Studying for a J.D. at Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law |
| John Woodlee | 2007-08 | Studying for a J.D. at Duke University's School of Law |
| Sarah Beverly | 2006-07 | Teaching Latin and English at Northside High School in Warner Robins |
| Tim Durski | 2006-07 | Completed an M.A. in English Literature at GCSU |
| Darcy Fallon | 2006-07 | Studying for an M.A. in English at Valdosta State University |
| Cara Gibson | 2006-07 | Studying for an M.A. in Nonfiction at Johns Hopkins University |
| Sarah Holik | 2006-07 | Studying for an M.Div. at Mercer's McAfee School of Theology |
| Randalle Hughes | 2006-07 | Completed an Affiliated Student degree at St. John's College of the University of Cambridge. Studying for a M.A./Ph.D. in English Literature at Rutgers University |
| Ashley Johnson | 2006-07 | Completed an M.A. in English Literature at Georgia Southern University. Attending the Interdenominational Theological College |
| Leah Kristas | 2006-07 | Completed an M.A. in Education at Mercer's School of Education; teaching at Northside High School in Warner Robins |
| Farran Norris | 2006-07 | Completed an M.A. in English Literature at Texas A&M University. Studing for a Ph.D. in Children's Literature at Illinois State University |
| Nicole Norwood | 2006-07 | Studying for a J.D. at Florida Coastal Law School |
| Starr Rayford | 2006-07 | Studying for a J.D. at Nortre Dame Law School |
| Amy Riddle | 2006-07 | Studying for an M.F.A. in Creative Writing at Illinois State University |
| Katie Still | 2006-07 | Studying for an M.A. in Women's Studies at Georgia 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.