Alumni Achievement
18 Under 40
Southwestern University alumni enter a variety of industries after graduation, leading fulfilling lives that contribute to the well-being of humanity. To honor our youngest graduates, Southwestern celebrates their achievements through the “18 under 40” alumni recognition program.
“18 Under 40” recognizes 18 Southwestern graduates, under the age of 40 by the nomination deadline each year, who are already making significant contributions to their professions and/or communities. The achievements of the honorees are inspirational to Southwestern students and serve as a source of pride for the Southwestern University community.
Who can be selected?
To be selected for the “18 under 40” Award, nominees must be a graduate of Southwestern University, be younger than 40 years old at the time of the nomination, and have:
- attained prominence in their business, profession, or vocational endeavors and/or
- performed distinguished community service locally, regionally, nationally and/or globally
Who can submit a nomination?
Nominations may be made by any of the following:
- Any alumnus/a or friend of Southwestern University, including self-nominators
- Any member of the Southwestern University faculty or staff
Nomination Timeline:
- Applications will open December 1, 2022 for the 2023 honorees
- Nominations will be due by Sunday, March 20, 2023. Click here to nominate yourself or a classmate.
- Selected honorees will be informed by Monday, May 1, 2023.
- The 2023 honorees will be announced to the public in the summer of 2023.
Want to see past year’s honorees?
Visit the class links below or stop in to see the 18 under 40 wall in the Wilhelmina Cullen Campus Welcome Center the next time you visit Southwestern.
- 2022 Class
Alvis majored in economics and minored in business at Southwestern before going on to earn his M.B.A. from Rice University. Today, he is president of NewQuest Properties, a commercial real estate firm based in Houston, where he is responsible for leading strategic initiatives and the day-to-day management of the firm’s development, construction, and asset management activities. Alvis credits his experiences at Southwestern, including playing on the Pirates baseball team and being a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, with helping shape him into the person he is today. He encourages students to think a few steps ahead and plan their career paths carefully: “You will ultimately be most successful in a field that you enjoy, but there is no substitute for hard work and grit.”
A business major and Spanish minor at Southwestern, Arrington earned his M.B.A. from Tulane University. He currently serves as senior manager, financial planning and analysis, at health care company Ro, where he builds financial models and performs business analyses to provide key insights that support informed decision-making. As a member of the Pirates basketball team, Arrington developed the grit and determination that has led to a successful career. He notes that whether in business or in life, action is paramount: “While there’s significant value in analyzing situations to determine the best path forward, executing the plan is what matters the most. History only remembers what you’ve done, not what you planned to do, so take action and be legendary.”
After graduating from Southwestern with a B.A. in English, Cooper worked in the nonprofit sector before earning her Cisco-Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification from Lone Star College. Today, she is an avionics integration engineer at Blue Origin, where she is helping create and implement the network design on the New Glenn heavy-lift rocket. She also is co-host of the podcast The Art of Network Engineering. Cooper credits Southwestern with giving her the confidence to change careers and encourages students to keep their options open: “Over the course of your professional life, you might find several different things you want to do. Don’t let fear stop you from moving in a different direction. Betting on yourself and believing in yourself will always pay off in the end.”
Copeland majored in religious studies and minored in biology at Southwestern before going on to earn her M.D. from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston). She currently is a pediatrician at Forest Lane Pediatrics in Dallas. For the past two years, she has served as a sub-investigator for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trial for children. Copeland appreciates how Southwestern allowed her to study a variety of subjects while pursuing her dream of getting into medical school and becoming a doctor. “My education at Southwestern prepared me for the hard work it would take to achieve those goals,” she says. “It also taught me to ask questions, to think critically, and to problem solve, which are all crucial in caring for patients.”
A double major in accounting and history at Southwestern, Crimm is a partner at Faske Lay & Co., LLP, an accounting firm in Georgetown. He has spent five years on the board of directors of CASA of Williamson County, a nonprofit organization that empowers community volunteers to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Crimm entered Southwestern wanting to be a high school history teacher but decided to pursue a career in accounting after interning at a local firm one summer. “My Southwestern experience turned out to be totally different from what I envisioned for myself, and I wouldn’t change any of it,” he says. “I wound up with a career that I love, even if it wasn’t originally what I thought I would be doing.”
After graduating from Southwestern as a double major in English and communications, Dallas earned her J.D. from the Texas Tech University School of Law. Today, she is a partner at Thompson Coe, where she focuses primarily on appeals and mandamus proceedings and has successfully argued multiple cases in the Texas Supreme Court. Dallas chose Southwestern because of its focus on developing critical thinking and writing skills through a liberal arts education. “When I reflect on my time at Southwestern, I am so grateful for the opportunities to explore new subject matters, take classes that challenged what I thought I knew, and learn from professors who gave me the space and encouragement to explore where new ideas and ways of seeing the world might lead,” she says.
A business major and exercise and sports studies minor at Southwestern, Dumes was a member of the Pirates football team and cofounder of the Established Men Promoting Intelligence, Respect, and Efficacy (E.M.P.I.R.E.) student organization. In 2020, he opened the restaurant Down South CaJJun Eats with his twin brother, Jermaine Dumes ’17. Later that same year he opened his own barbershop, X’Cellence Lounge & Grooming, LLC. Both businesses are thriving today, and Dumes is proud of their success. “These accomplishments have allowed me to inspire so many people around me and given me the opportunity to bless others,” he says. “There is a great reward in seeing how much I have grown and learned over the years while touching and impacting so many lives.”
A business major and communications minor at Southwestern, Dumes always knew he wanted to own his own business. In 2020, that dream came true when he opened the restaurant Down South CaJJun Eats with his twin brother, Jahmaal Dumes ’17. Dumes was a cofounder and vice president of the Established Men Promoting Intelligence, Respect, and Efficacy (E.M.P.I.R.E.) student organization at Southwestern, which was founded to provide positive social and political context to influence the success of African-American males. This experience helped prepare him for starting his own business. “If you have a dream, go for it and never give up,” he says. “There will be failures, but that is only preparing you for greater.”
Enyioha earned a B.A. in communication studies with a minor in environmental studies at Southwestern. She subsequently achieved an M.Ed. in student affairs in higher education and a Ph.D. in school improvement from Texas State University. Currently, Enyioha is the director of research at the Charles Butt Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships. Enyioha specializes in research on education policy, school improvement, college access, and community development, as well as research that brings voice to underserved populations. “At Southwestern, I learned about the inequities in education and access to higher education for historically marginalized communities. It was then that I decided to dedicate my career to eliminating these inequities,” she says.
A philosophy and political science double major at Southwestern, Fox earned her J.D. from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. Today, she is an attorney and the owner of her own law firm, The Fox Firm, where she practices both criminal defense and family law. Fox strives to not only help her clients achieve their best results, but also help her employees and their families achieve their financial, personal, and professional goals. She advises Southwestern students to “go and do”: “Go to the party and make the memories. Take the unpaid internship and explore what it is you think you want to do. These four short years will make up the most formative experience of your life and will never be duplicated again in magnitude of impact.”
After graduating from Southwestern with a major in mathematics and a minor in business, Gebhardt joined Dell Technologies as an inside sales account manager. Today, he is senior advisor of territory planning and design at Dell, working directly with the company’s sales organizations to optimize their territory account alignments so they can grow their business. Since 2013 Gebhardt has served on the board of directors of the Locker, a nonprofit organization that empowers youth to meet the needs of others in their community. He encourages students to master their soft skills early in their careers. “Having a repertoire of technical skills will serve you well, but how you work with people and how quickly you learn new tasks are even more important in progressing your career,” he says.
Gutierrez majored in English and minored in philosophy at Southwestern before earning her M.F.A. from Texas State University. Today, she is a bestselling novelist and the author of the Good Morning AmericaBook Club pick More Than You’ll Ever Know. Her writing has also appeared in Time, Harper’s Bazaar, The Washington Post, Texas Monthly, Texas Highways, and other publications. She is currently working on her second novel. Gutierrez notes that the internships she completed as an undergraduate were crucial to her early professional success and recommends students pursue these valuable opportunities. “Take advantage of every career resource available at Southwestern, especially internships,” she says. “They might jumpstart your career in ways you’d never expect.”
After graduating from Southwestern with a major in political science and minors in history and French, Hukari earned her M.Ed. from Concordia University Texas and her M.B.A. from St. Edward’s University. Today, she is the court executive officer and chief financial officer for the 12th Judicial District Court in New Mexico, where she is responsible for all court operations at five district and magistrate court locations. Hukari says her undergraduate study abroad experience in Senegal was an especially impactful experience. “That opportunity pushed me out of my comfort zone in every way imaginable,” she says. “Learning to survive and thrive in a new country has given me lasting confidence to take on new adventures and always be willing to say yes to new experiences.”
Modglin earned his B.A. in political science from Southwestern and his M.P.Aff. from the University of Texas at Austin Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. He currently serves as president of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, a trade organization that represents independent oil and gas producers, particularly small, family-run operations. He recently joined the board of WorkQuest, a nonprofit organization that links Texans with disabilities to meaningful employment opportunities. Modglin credits his undergraduate internship with the Texas Legislature with deepening his interest in Texas politics. “It was an honor to work with legislators and elected officials from both sides of the aisle as a staffer, and I am grateful to continue to have that opportunity representing Texans petitioning their government,” he says.
An English major and history minor at Southwestern, Quirk earned her M.P.P. from the College of William & Mary. Today, she is the registrar and director of exhibitions at the Arlington Museum of Art, which is committed to seeking opportunities to use visual arts as a tool for inclusivity and positive change. In this role, she plans exhibitions from conception to presentation and works with artists, local organizations, universities, and other community groups. Quirk notes that Southwestern’s Paideia approach to learning continues to benefit her to this day. “I’m often challenged to connect my background in English literature and public policy to my current career in the museum field, and although it may seem like a strange transition to some, the subjects are so connected,” she says.
After graduating from Southwestern with a bachelor’s degree in music, Solomon earned her master’s degree in education from Baylor University. A board-certified behavior analyst, she is the owner and clinical director of ABA Across Environments, which provides trauma-informed and person-centered care to individuals with autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, emotional behavioral disorder, fetal alcohol and drug syndrome, and other behavioral differences. The most rewarding part of her work is seeing powerful and lasting behavioral change that impacts families. Solomon encourages Southwestern students to listen and learn. “When something feels really uncomfortable, go back to what you value. If you don’t know what that is, figure that out first. The rest will fall into place,” she says.
A biology major and Spanish minor at Southwestern, Von Alexander earned her M.P.Aff. from the University of Texas at Austin Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. She currently serves as senior analyst of island health equity at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, where she supports the organization’s island members in developing health equity programs and infrastructure. Von Alexander originally planned on becoming a research scientist, but Southwestern helped her discover her passion for public health and policy. “My main motivation is to make a positive impact on people’s lives using my knowledge and skills. I enjoy working in public health because I can use my science and policy education along with my collaboration skills to make change at a population level,” she says.
Yu double majored in economics and Spanish at Southwestern before going on to earn her master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin. Today, she is the chief operating officer at Avenue Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building affordable homes and strengthening communities. Yu began her career at Avenue designing programs that helped low-income families strengthen their finances; she currently works to build systems that support social equity. She credits Southwestern with inspiring her to pursue meaningful work: “My professors cultivated a deep desire for me to do something big with my life—to contribute to a better society, to see myself as a part of a community, and to use my skills, talent, and knowledge to do good.”
- 2021 Class
After graduating from Southwestern with a B.A. in psychology, Agtarap earned her M.S. in experimental psychology and her Ph.D. in behavioral science from the University of North Texas. She currently is a research scientist at Craig Hospital, which specializes in the rehabilitation of individuals with traumatic brain and spinal cord injury. Agtarap develops and pursues research focused on the psychological well-being and recovery of patients and their family members. She encourages Southwestern students to take advantage of the many experiences available both in and out of the classroom and trust the college process: “The more insight you gain about yourself from these experiences, the more adaptable and prepared you’ll be for life’s many changes.”
Beadle graduated with his B.S. in chemistry from Southwestern and began his career the following Monday as a quality control chemist with Insys Therapeutics. Today he is quality assurance manager for Michael Angelo’s Gourmet Foods, where he leads cross-functional teams responsible for the commissioning of product line extensions, new equipment installations, and other major changes that impact production. Beadle credits his early career success to his unwavering willingness to take on additional responsibilities. While he has many fond memories of his time at Southwestern, graduation day is by far his favorite. “As a first-generation college graduate, walking across that stage with my family in the audience was an unforgettable experience that I will cherish forever,” he says.
A philosophy major and sociology minor, Bryant is the founder and editor of the nonprofit news site BigIfTrue.org, which focuses on inequality in the United States. Previously, she was an investigative reporter for Oklahoma Watchand the Clarion Ledgerin Mississippi, where her work spurred an overhaul of state campaign finance laws. She has received awards for her work from the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors, the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Managing Editors, the Oklahoma Society for Professional Journalists, and the USA Today Network. Bryant was drawn to Southwestern’s interdisciplinary approach to education: “I really wanted to find a community of like-minded folks and pursue an education that would challenge me, both of which I found at Southwestern.”
A communication studies major and business minor at Southwestern, Coleman earned his master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Texas at Austin. He currently serves as the director of education for Phi Delta Theta. Coleman was a member of Phi Delta Theta at Southwestern and says this experience provided invaluable leadership opportunities. He believes Southwestern students have a unique opportunity to gain skills that will lead to personal and professional success. “From student organization leadership experiences to intimate classroom environments and countless opportunities to learn and grow from top-notch faculty, every student can find a connection to enhance their intellectual curiosity, grow as a leader, learn problem-solving skills, and become a better communicator,” he says.
A communication studies major, Grimshaw originally dreamed of working in radio. After an internship his senior year taught him that marketing is a fancy term for professional problem-solving, the board game enthusiast was hooked. Today, he is the chief marketing officer for Smart Marketer, which produces digital marketing education courses. He also is the cofounder of Your Next Move Group, where he works directly with business owners to build strategies that help their companies flourish. Grimshaw notes that Southwestern’s interdisciplinary approach empowers students to not just consume and regurgitate facts, but combine data in new and interesting ways to create insights. “While this is theoretically possible at many schools, it is asked of you at Southwestern,” he says. “And that is the greatest gift the school can give you.”
Matthew Salazar Hall ’13 | Georgetown, TX
Hall became interested in civic technology while studying political science at Southwestern. In 2015, he received a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to build IdeaMapr, an online civic engagement platform that was later acquired by Neighborland. Hall currently is a senior product manager at Ad Hoc, a digital services company that contracts with the federal government. In this role, he leads a group of five product development teams that work on Healthcare.gov and Medicare.gov. Hall chose Southwestern because he immediately felt at home when he toured the campus. “I was also attracted to the high academic standards of Southwestern and felt like the smaller class sizes would help me to get to know my professors better,” he says.
A theatre major at Southwestern, Hancock is an artist who uses her talents to support local businesses, charities, and nonprofits. During the pandemic, Hancock decided to refine her watercolor skills by painting the shops on the historic Georgetown Square. She sold 1,000 prints from the resulting collection through a fundraiser she called Art with Heart, raising more than $10,000 for the businesses she painted. The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce named her the 2020 Citizen of the Year in recognition of her contributions to the community. Hancock encourages Southwestern students to volunteer and help out where they can: “Make a difference, even if it is donating a couple of hours to spread awareness about a new nonprofit.”
After graduating from Southwestern with a major in political science and minors in feminist studies and philosophy, Harris earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston. He currently is a licensed criminal defense attorney serving clients in the Houston area. Harris is a 2016 graduate of Gideon’s Promise, a three-year training program for criminal defense attorneys who represent a large number of indigent people. He is an active member of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, serving as treasurer and producing the organization’s public access television show. Harris was inspired by many of his professors while an undergraduate at Southwestern. “They have each affected the person I am today, and I find myself thinking of and drawing on my experiences with and from them on a daily basis,” he says.
Marshall received her B.S. in biology from Southwestern and her M.D. from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Today, she is a teaching physician at Geisinger, a health system based in Danville, Pennsylvania, where she specializes in pediatric and adolescent gynecology. A fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Marshall teaches students at all levels, from college to medical school and on through residency and fellowship training. She knew she was going to attend Southwestern from the first moment she visited. “The beautiful campus, engaged faculty, unparalleled academic reputation, and authentic and kind people all made coming to Southwestern the easy choice,” she says. “There is no other place quite like it.”
A political science major and history minor, Meek earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia. She currently is senior director of legislative affairs at the American Network of Community Options and Resources, a national trade association for private providers of services to people with disabilities. In this role, she directs the organization’s federal advocacy efforts and manages relationships with Congress and the administration. She credits her academic training at Southwestern with helping her look at issues and problems from many sides and find creative solutions. “My classes taught me to be a critical thinker, which is an incredibly powerful skill as a lobbyist (and as a person in the world),” she says.
Mohammed majored in biology and minored in Spanish at Southwestern before going on to earn her M.D. at Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica. As a medical student, she facilitated the first HIV/AIDS symposium in the island nation. Today, she is a board-certified family medicine physician at a medical practice in Dallas that focuses on geriatric care and providing accessible and equitable healthcare in communities that are underserved. In 2020, she was awarded the Texas Academy of Family Physicians Humanitarian Physician of the Year Award. Mohammed encourages Southwestern students to be open to new opportunities. “I truly believe in stretching yourself in ways you may not have done before. It is in the stretching we learn the most about ourselves,” she says.
After graduating with a B.A. in political science, Scheinman earned a certificate in U.S foreign policy and economics and a certificate in economics of nonprofits from George Mason University. He completed a Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs in St. Louis, Missouri, later serving as the mayor’s liaison to the Board of Aldermen. Today, he is a local policy lead at Square and Cash App, where he collaborates with local and state officials on policies and efforts to support small businesses and entrepreneurs. Scheinman appreciates how Southwestern’s smaller class sizes allows students to debate one another in a respectful environment. “Through these rich discussions and multiple office hours with my incredible professors, I was able to fine-tune my critical-thinking skills and challenge myself to juggle multiple truths simultaneously,” he says.
Stern was a history and political science double major at Southwestern before going on to earn his master’s degree in public affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He currently serves as a specialist in natural resources policy at the Congressional Research Service, where he provides nonpartisan information and analysis on water policy in the western United States for members of Congress and their staff. He has testified before Congress on multiple occasions and regularly helps congressional staff draft legislation. Stern advises students not to get discouraged if they don’t initially land their dream internship or job: “Rest assured that if you work hard and are confident, talented, and—perhaps most importantly—persistent, you are likely to find success.”
A classics and communication studies double major at Southwestern, Vasquez received his J.D. from Stanford Law School. He currently is a law clerk for Justice James Blacklock of the Supreme Court of Texas. At the end of his one-year clerkship, he plans on clerking for Judge Don R. Willet of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit before joining the Office of the Solicitor General of Texas as a Gregory S. Coleman fellow. Vasquez also has served as a consultant for a number of companies in the emerging sector of water technologies. He encourages students to remember that time is the most valuable resource they will ever have: “Every hour misspent is lost forever. Future years cannot compensate for lost days at this period of your life.”
A political science major and anthropology minor, Weedn earned his J.D. from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. He currently is deputy general counsel at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. In this role, he serves as lead attorney for the Petroleum Storage Tank Division, which enforces state and federal regulations to protect the environment and prevent the release of petroleum products from storage tanks. Weedn, who serves as president of the Kiwanis Club of Oklahoma City and as a board member for numerous other organizations, believes strongly in giving back to the community. “If you do that in your profession, fantastic, but even if you don’t, always dedicate time to making your community a better place than it was when you arrived,” he recommends.
After graduating with a B.S. in biology from Southwestern, Weinstein earned his D.D.S. from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California. He served as a dental officer in the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, before joining Landmark Dental Studio in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Weinstein—known as Dr. J.A.W. to his patients—has traveled to Kenya numerous times as a volunteer dentist. In 2012, he spearheaded the largest dental mission in the country to date. He and his team provided dental care to more than 200 people in Nairobi’s Mathare slum. Weinstein recommends that Southwestern students take the time to explore their interests. “You won’t know what your true passion is until you have tried it all,” he says.
Williams majored in religion and minored in English and feminist studies at Southwestern before beginning her career as an alcohol and drugs prevention instructor and elementary school teacher. Today, she is a coach and consultant who works to educate individuals and professional teams on how to make principles of diversity, equity, justice, and liberation an intrinsic part of their daily work and lives. In 2017, she cofounded Conscious Roots, a professional development firm dedicated to helping people understand who they are and what changes they must make to create a more socially just world. Williams encourages students to think about their privileges: “What can you do to share them with those around you? How can you reflect the best of yourself and your community to others?”
A communication studies major and sociology minor at Southwestern, Winkler is a sports and news reporter/anchor at ABC13 Houston. He previously served as sports director and weekend morning news anchor at WTKR News 3 in Norfolk, Virginia, where he played a leading role in relaunching the sports department. Winkler has worked at five stations in three states, won 19 Associated Press Broadcasters awards, and been nominated for 10 Emmys. He has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the 2013 deadly fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas. Winkler appreciates the educational foundation Southwestern provided. “Southwestern challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and truly engage in my education,” he says. “To put it plainly: at Southwestern, I learned how to learn.”
- 2020 Class
An English and education double major with a minor in race and ethnicity studies, Duggins-Clay earned her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law. She currently is an attorney at Husch Blackwell LLP, where she specializes in education law and civil rights. Whether working on behalf of educational insti-tutions or representing disenfranchised and disadvantaged individuals, Duggins-Clay strives to make communities better. She credits Southwestern with helping her turn her passion into her career: “As the daughter of an educator and as an African-American woman, I came to Southwestern knowing I was passionate about education, civil rights, and social justice. Southwestern gave me the amazing opportunity to pursue each of these areas both individually and intersectionally.”
A political science and communication studies double major, Faulkner always knew she wanted to work in the music industry. She worked at a law fi rm in Georgetown while at Southwestern, which led to a position with Warner Music Group as coordinator of contract administration and eventually spearheading Warner’s international licensing program. Today,
she serves as team lead specializing in contractual rights at Facebook, where she is able to combine her knowledge of contracts, licensing, and music. Faulkner appreciates how Southwestern’s flexible curriculum allowed her to forge her own path: “The opportunity to craft independent studies and find internships specific to my interests helped me hone my interests and narrow in on my strengths and further build them out.”
Herrington studied theatre and communication at Southwestern before earning her M.F.A. in acting from The University of Texas at Austin. She currently serves as professor of drama at Central Texas College and is a member of the adjunct faculty at Austin Community College and Temple College. In addition to teaching acting, voice, and the history of theatre, she serves as the resident director at Central Texas College, where she focuses on producing works written by women and people of color. In 2020, she earned a Special Merit Certificate in Directing from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. For Herrington, writing her own one-person show for her capstone project at Southwestern was particularly rewarding. “The sense of accomplishment that I achieved was extremely satisfying and self-affirming,” she says.
After suffering an injury as a member of the Pirates baseball team his sophomore year and completing his journey through the rehabilitation process, Keenan became interested in pursuing a career that would let him combine his love of science with his love of sports. He graduated with a major in kinesiology and a minor in exercise and sports studies before earning his doctor of physical therapy degree from the U.S. Army–Baylor University Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy. Today, he serves as executive fellow to the chief of the Army Medical Specialist Corps. He is grateful for the support and encouragement he received from his kinesiology professors at Southwestern. “They were always gracious with their time, responsive to student (and student–athlete) needs, and demanded excellence from their students,” he says.
An international studies major and art history minor, Knapp earned his J.D. from the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Dedman School of Law. He is currently a partner at Locke Lord LLP, focusing primarily on bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation. He has also served as an adjunct professor of law for the SMU PRO Paralegal Studies Certificate program. Knapp notes that while Southwestern’s emphasis on critical analysis, discussion, and writing prepared him for a legal career, the Southwestern Experience provides additional benefits. “I find the liberal-arts background and exposure to so many areas of study have provided a useful ability to connect with clients and coworkers from a huge variety of backgrounds,” he says.
Knapp earned her B.A. in biology and communication studies from Southwestern and her M.P.H. in behavioral science and health education from Emory University. She currently is the assistant director of the Tulane Prevention Research Center at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, where she helps manage and conduct research on modifying environmental determinants of obesity to influence physical activity and eating behaviors. She also is a doctoral candidate in global community health and behavioral sciences at Tulane. Knapp encourages Southwestern students to explore different intellectual interests. “The beauty of a liberal-arts education is the opportunity to be exposed to diverse topics and areas of study,” she says.
After graduating from Southwestern with a major in chemistry and a minor in biology, Kumar earned his M.D. from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and his M.P.H. from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. He currently serves as medical director at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, where he sees patients for primary care, trans care, and reproductive healthcare. He also serves as medical spokesperson for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and has been an outspoken advocate for reproductive rights. Kumar recalls why he chose to attend Southwestern: “I wanted a college that was close to a bigger city but offered smaller class
sizes and a more intimate experience.”
A communication major with minors in political science and sociology, Lakes earned her J.D. from the New York University School of Law. She currently serves as a director of business affairs and legal counsel for Disney Television Animation, where she negotiates deals to hire talent such as writers, animation directors, and showrunners and acquires new intellectual property to turn into animated television shows. Lakes credits receiving a King Creativity Grant while a student at Southwestern with inspiring her to follow her dreams. She offers some important advice to current Southwestern students: “Don’t be afraid to fail spectacularly. You will learn the most from your biggest disasters.”
Maine earned his B.A. in business at Southwestern and his M.B.A. in sustainable systems at Presidio Graduate School (formerly Bainbridge Graduate Institute). He is a photographer, media producer, and consultant who helps people find, develop, and share their stories. In 2019, Maine founded the We Out Here festival in Seattle, which is a celebration of the existence and excellence of the Black community in the city. He is a current board member and past president of Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking. Maine encourages current Southwestern students to be their authentic selves: “You are the only you that exists. Allow yourself to really be you.”
Mathis began her Southwestern career as a psychology major but switched majors after being inspired by a feminist studies class. She was active with a number of student organizations, including Planned Piratehood, the Sexual Assault Risk Reduction Committee, Muslims and Allies, and the Student Health Advisory Committee. She currently serves on the boards of the Brown Foundation Inc., Bat Conservation International, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Central Texas, where she teaches classes and cofacilitates support groups as a volunteer. Mathis is the director of sales and marketing at Quarter Circle 10, a specialty weapons manufacturer. “All the professors I took at SU contributed to my growth and acted as mentors in different capacities that I continue to value today,” she says.
A studio art major and art history minor, Mayorga is an artist and independent curator who currently serves as development coordinator at Big Medium, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting artists and building community through the arts. She also serves as director of PrintAustin, where she organizes an annual monthlong printmaking festival. Mayorga appreciates how Southwestern encourages students to think, create, and connect in new ways. “The art courses at Southwestern were really quite interdisciplinary, with assignments always being paired with art and art historical literature,” she says. “It inspired me to be able to study various movements, seeing that my work as an artist could be part of a larger conversation.”
After graduating with a B.A. in business from Southwestern, Meltzer earned his M.B.A. from St. Edward’s University. He currently is the managing director of asset management for Vida Capital Inc., where he oversees the acquisitions and sales of all life settlement assets for Vida Capital. Meltzer was one of the first 10 employees of Vida Capital, which is now a multibillion-dollar alternative asset management firm with more than 120 employees. “Entering a start-up as a young utility player and growing with the company to a leadership position has been an invaluable experience and could not have been possible without my liberal-arts education,” he says. “The ability to adapt and grow has been a hallmark of my career.”
After graduating from Southwestern as a double major in political science and Spanish, Meyer began her career as the legislative assistant for Texas State Representative Burt Solomons. She went on to serve in various roles for Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus before pursuing her interest in energy policy by accepting a managerial position at CPS Energy, San Antonio’s municipally owned electric and natural gas utility. Today, she is director of federal and state relations for CPS Energy. Meyer credits her participation in Student Foundation and her job with the Office of Admission while at Southwestern with preparing her for success in the real world: “As a result of these experiences, I was able to enter the professional world with relevant and applicable skill sets and experiences.”
Revelle earned her B.A. in political science from Southwestern, her J.D. from the Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, and her LL.M. from the Emory University School of Law. As a solo practitioner, she focused on immigration law. She is currently serving as a judge advocate for the U.S. Army, where she practices criminal law as a defense counsel for soldiers. While at Southwestern, Revelle studied comparative politics and architecture in Italy. “Studying abroad was the most beneficial and influential experience of my life,” she says. “Living and studying in another country and experiencing a different culture firsthand changed my perspective on every aspect of life.”
An elementary education major and political science minor, Scully interned for U.S. Representative Pete Sessions ’78 before working full-time in his office after graduation. She went on to serve as scheduler for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison for five years, an experience that inspired her to pursue her M.P.P. from George Mason University. Today, she serves as an advisor to the chief of staff for Vice President Mike Pence, directing and coordinating the vice president’s schedule and travel. Scully remembers what attracted her to Southwestern: “The smaller class size and campus layout were both very appealing when I was researching schools. After an on-the-spot tour of the institution, my parents and I were sold on Southwestern.”
Sommer participated in the 3-2 engineering program at Southwestern, earning his B.A. in physical science from Southwestern and his B.S. in biomedical engineering from Texas A&M University. He began his career as a biomedical flight controller for Wyle (now part of KBR), where he supported International Space Station real-time mission operations. He currently serves as Human Landing System human systems integrator at KBR. Sommer advises current Southwestern students to take advantage of all the experiences available to them: “An opportunity that you never expected to show up could be the best opportunity for you and one that you may end up loving to do.”
A business administration major and economics minor, Stoner has been interested in business ever since starting a lawn-mowing service at the age of 12. Today, he is a partner at Bayou City Energy, a private equity firm that provides capital to producing operators in the oil and gas sector. He helps oversee the firm’s investment origination and deal execution and is a frequent presenter at industry conferences. Stoner chose to attend Southwestern because he wanted to be part of a smaller educational community: “I knew Southwestern’s more intimate class sizes would lead to closer friendships, foster more meaningful student–professor relationships, and facilitate a higher standard of personal accountability.”
After graduating from Southwestern with his B.A. in environmental studies, Trawick earned his M.S. in environmental science and public policy from Texas Tech University and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He currently serves as regional criminal enforcement counsel at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), providing legal advice to the EPA’s special agents as they investigate potential criminal violations of environmental laws. Trawick appreciates how Southwestern’s interdisciplinary approach to learning prepared him for his career: “Environmental studies allowed me to take science classes to understand how natural systems function, as well as humanities classes to understand how people interact with and affect the environment.”
- 2019 Class
While studying abroad in Jamaica, Tokyo, and London as an undergraduate, Bailey was able to develop an understanding of international affairs and how to work with different cultures, so he decided to major in political science and pursue a career in international humanitarian law. Bailey is currently serving as a judge advocate for the 25th Air Force. In 2013, he earned the Department of Defense Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious achievement. Bailey appreciates how SU prepared him for his career: “Today, every industry and profession is experiencing rapid changes, so the aptitude to work in an interdisciplinary environment with diverse colleagues is a key skill and is where the Southwestern education really shines.”
Barnes earned his B.A. in biology at Southwestern and his Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame. He is now an assistant professor of natural resources management at Texas Tech University and the editor of invasivore.org, a website that educates the public about invasive species through the culinary arts. He has been awarded grants and fellowships from the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Science Foundation. Barnes relishes his collaboration with his undergraduate mentor, Dr. Romi Burks. “The invitation to work in her lab gave me my first exposure to ecological research and helped me discover my passion and career path,” he says.
After graduating from Southwestern as a history major, Campos earned her executive M.B.A. from the University of San Antonio before studying executive education at Harvard Business School. She is currently the director of government and public affairs at H-E-B, where she advises on executive communications while creating and executing lobbying strategy within local, state, and federal legislatures. In 2015, she was named one of the top political influencers in Texas by Capitol Insider. Committed to her personal growth, Campos recalls why she was originally attracted to the University: “Being challenged and getting to study with some of the best thought-provoking professors drove me to Southwestern.”
After graduating with a B.S. in chemistry from Southwestern, Cox earned his D.D.S. from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA). He is the owner of and an independent general-practice dentist at Cox Family Dentistry in Plano. He has served as president of UTHSCSA’s Xi Psi Phi International Dental Fraternity, participated in multiple medical mission trips to provide free dental care to underprivileged communities in Texas, and volunteered as a coach and mentor for various baseball leagues. His favorite memories of Southwestern are of “hanging out with friends”—fellow members of the baseball team and his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta—“that I would have for the next 12 years and counting.”
A communication studies major and biology minor, DeHerrera is the senior production manager of lifestyle content for the Golf Channel. She also cochairs the Women’s Network at the Golf Channel, a group within the NBCUniversal Diversity and Inclusion team that organizes opportunities to give back to the community. Throughout her career, DeHerrera has traveled to Greece, Italy, China, and England to cover five Olympic Games for NBC, for which she has received seven Sports Emmys. She advises current students to “never stop networking and talking to people” because it’s helpful to “learn how people got to where they are.”
A policy studies and Spanish double major, Duran is currently a partner in mergers and acquisitions at Sidley Austin, LLP. After graduating from Southwestern, she earned her J.D., with honors, at the University of Texas School of Law. She has served as a fellow on the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity as well as a member of the board of directors at both the Dallas Holocaust Museum Center and the Dallas Women’s Foundation. She is frequently cited in lists of best lawyers in the state. Duran appreciates “the totality” of her Southwestern Experience. “I benefited from the broad liberal-arts curriculum and the constant push to think critically about what we were learning,” she says. “I think I really learned how to learn while I was at Southwestern.”
Fitzgerald came to Southwestern wanting to study psychology, but after taking an Introduction to Accounting class, she immediately switched career paths. Fitzgerald has worked for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, DC, and currently, she is the managing director of Hines Luxembourg, where she oversees the European office in investments, management, and accounting. Living and working in Europe have provided her with a whole new perspective on working with various cultures and backgrounds. She advises students “to make the most of your experience in and out of the classroom because the other education is just as important as the classroom experience.”
Franco is a national collector for the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution. An art history major and English minor at Southwestern, he earned his master’s and Ph.D. in art history from Binghamton University. He cofounded the U.S. Latinx Art Forum, where he serves as the secretary and membership coordinator, and he recently conducted an oral-history interview with cultural icon Cheech Marin. As an author, artist, and academic, Franco credits the University with providing him a “strong foundation”: “Southwestern excels at encouraging the curious, and the art history department is second to none. I work closely with many peers from Ivy League backgrounds, and I’ve never felt behind them in our field.”
During his time at Southwestern, Juarez majored in political science, minored in communication studies, and participated in a number of activities and internships—such as the Wind and Chamber Ensemble, Mock Trial, the Bobby Bones Show, and the state legislature. These opportunities allowed him to gain valuable research and writing skills while developing a passion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights. Today, he is a Fisher Fellow and instructional leader at KIPP Texas Public Schools and is pursuing his Ph.D. in educational leadership and LGBT mental health. He appreciates Southwestern “because of its small class size, how specialized the professors are in their field of study, and the ability to explore different fields of study.”
Upon graduation, Keltner left Southwestern with a B.A. in economics and a B.M. in cello performance. He says that the combination of these two seemingly disparate areas was “like having two eyes: it gives depth perception, something a unidirectional education simply can’t give you. I’m eternally grateful that Southwestern provided such an opportunity.” He went on to earn a master’s in cello performance from the University of Massachusetts and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School. Keltner is currently an attorney at Sweetbaum Sands Anderson, PC, in Denver, Colorado, and is the cofounder and treasurer of Peace Notes International, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing music education internationally.
Marienfeld is currently an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), medical director of the UCSD Addiction Recovery and Treatment Program, and program director for the UCSD Addiction Psychiatry Clinical Fellowship. After leaving Southwestern with a B.A. in chemistry, she graduated with honors from the Baylor College of Medicine and joined the Yale School of Medicine, where she founded the Yale Global Mental Health Program. “To this day, much of my academic career involves service on boards and committees, as well as in professional organizations,” says Marienfeld. “So much of my ability to succeed in these roles began to develop during my time at Southwestern.”
A communication studies and art history double major with a minor in French, Matis is currently a senior educational consultant for world languages and a product development manager at Seidlitz Education. After graduating from Southwestern, she earned her M.A. in foreign-language education from the University of Texas. She has published two books, 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive, Foreign Language Classroomand Boosting Achievement: Reaching Students with Interrupted or Minimal Education. Matis now presents at conferences and trains educators across the state. Having studied in both London and Budapest at Southwestern, Matis reflects, “Southwestern truly gives you the pathway to be a citizen of the world.”
Matthews studied psychology and anthropology at Southwestern before earning her M.A. and Ph.D. at Claremont Graduate University, in California. She also served as a visiting fellow at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oxford, in the U.K. Today, as a senior behavioral and social scientist at the RAND Corporation, she helps improve policy- and decision-making by designing and leading research in the areas of political psychology, diversity, and multiculturalism. She looks back fondly on her classes with Dr. Melissa Johnson, whose classes, she says, were “mind-blowing”: “The readings and lessons encouraged me to think about the social world in ways I had never previously considered, and I loved it.”
Shortly after his first year at Southwestern, Nanavati started his training for the Marine Reserves and was deployed to Iraq following his junior year. After returning home, he decided to use his experiences, history major, and philosophy minor to pursue a humanitarian career. Since then, he has quit a corporate job to build a global business, run ultramarathons, and explored some of the most hostile environments on the planet. He is the author of Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth, and Happinessand the founder of the nonprofit Fearvana Foundation. Nanavati says his philosophy and history courses at SU “stand out” because his studies “live with me to this day and still apply to the work I now do.”
A computer science and music double major, Nguyen is a patent attorney in Silicon Valley who has spent nearly a decade practicing intellectual property law. He is also a successful community organizer, advocate, fundraiser, and drag entertainer, chairing the board of directors of the nonprofit Gay Asian Pacific Alliance and serving on the board of directors for Livable City, an organization dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, and plentiful housing and public transportation. He traces his various advocacy roles to a an ethics class, a leadership conference, and an internship he engaged in while at SU: “Before, I was a mere spectator, but because of those three experiences, I am no longer on the sidelines and am dedicated to correcting social injustices I see in the world.”
Parmet majored in kinesiology because she had always wanted to work in the healthcare field and was interested in a focus on rehabilitation and helping others. Today, she serves as her hospital system’s clinical fieldwork coordinator and senior occupational therapy assistant. Parmet has garnered a number of awards for her efforts, including the Harris Health System Occupational Therapist of the Year in 2014. She shares that “Coach Francie Larrieu Smith was a wonderful mentor. … A world-renowned distance runner, she demonstrated to her students and athletes the importance of achieving that same level of excellence inside and outside the classroom. She also showed the importance of being a lifelong learner.”
A communication studies major and political science minor, Rose is currently the senior learning and development consultant at Texas Christian University. After graduating from Southwestern, she earned an interdisciplinary master’s degree from New York University in African-American cultural studies and cinema and media studies. She serves her community as vice president of the Tarrant Literacy Coalition and as the mayoral appointee for the Community Development Board in Fort Worth. As a first-generation college student, “Southwestern taught me possibility,” reflects Rose. ”My story would not be what it is had it not been for the moments I learned what was truly possible thanks to the experiences I had at Southwestern.”
Born in Austin to parents from Spain and Mexico, Berdion-Straub majored in business and political science. She earned her J.D. at Southern Methodist University and served for nine years as an in-house litigation and trial attorney for Andrews Kurth Kenyon, LLP. She is currently lead counsel at TEP Barnett USA, LLC, an affiliate of Total, the fourth largest oil and gas company in the world. She says that she “fell in love” with Southwestern’s beautiful campus, liberal-arts focus, and small, personal environment. “Studying abroad my junior year in Salamanca, Spain, was one of the most impactful experiences of my life,” she adds. “It helped me connect more deeply with my culture and was likely another piece of the puzzle that led me where I am today.”
