Scholar Alumni
Dear Southern Scholar Alumnus,
Your lifelong learning has continued far beyond Southern’s campus and your undergraduate
degree. We are very interested in hearing about your adventures and career journey
after Southern.
Please email us a message and send pictures! We would love to share them with faculty, current students, and friends of the Southern Scholars Program.
We hope to hear from you soon!
~ Southern Scholars
2006 Graduates
Hugo Mendez (BA English ’06) completed an MA in Religion (’09) and PhD in Linguistics at the
University of Georgia (’13) and is now an Assistant Professor in Ancient Mediterranean
Religions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in the
New Testament and its early reception.
2016 Graduates
David Orvek (BS Music ’16) completed his MA in Music Theory (’19) at The Ohio State University
and is currently pursuing his PhD in Music Theory at the Indiana University, Jacobs
School of Music Ph.D. in Music Theory, with Minors in Music History and Guitar Performance.
After completing her BS in Biology at Southern, Molly Theus has been studying at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine for
her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. In Spring 2020, she returned to Southern to
give current undergraduates innovative ideas about ways to pursue their academic and
professional career paths.
2017 Graduates
After completing his BA in Theology, Paul-Anthony Turner studied a Masters of Divinity at Andrew University Seminary. He has been accepted
to the University of Kentucky’s PhD in Philosophy program and will be commencing his
research into the intersection of phenomenology, philosophy of religion, philosophy
of language, and sexuality/queerness in Fall 2020.
2019 Graduates
Adeline Piotrowski (BA International Studies and French, ‘19) has been working as a Program Analyst—Pathways
Intern with the US Department of Homeland Security and, recently, has been accepted
as an alternate for the National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren
Fellowship for graduate students in 2020.
Emma Winegardner (BA English Literature, ‘19) has been working on her Masters in Medieval Studies at the University of New Mexico, where she’s also been working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.
2020 Graduates
Michael Baranda (BS Biology, Research) will serve as Southern’s new Assistant Chaplain, beginning
in Summer 2020. As the Assistant Chaplain, Michael will lead in significant ways to
nurture and equip the spiritual lives of all Southern students.