Alumni News

Two Wesleyan alumni participating in Wesleyan Artist Market later this month

4/19/2022

When the Wesleyan Artist Market opens next week, two of the professional artists selling their work will be familiar faces- Wesleyan alumni!

Mikayla Coombs ’17 named SEC women’s basketball scholar-athlete of the year

3/2/2022

Congratulations to Wesleyan alumna Mikayla Coombs ’17, who was recently named the Southeastern Conference women’s basketball scholar-athlete of the year! Coombs is in her second year playing for the University of Georgia (UGA) after transferring from the University of Connecticut, and she is pursuing a master’s degree in sports management. While at Wesleyan, Coombs led the varsity girls basketball team to a state championship in 2017, as well as state runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2016.

Alumni spotlight: Q&A with Carter Hall '15, certified MLB agent

2/3/2022

Share a little about your story- what experiences or opportunities led you to your current role?
My story really started the day I was born. I have had the privilege to watch my dad coach at Georgia Tech since the day I was born, and I watched him impact so many lives. The days spent on that campus growing up and as a student-athlete is where my passion blossomed. After a spinal fusion my junior year at Georgia Tech, I knew my playing career was over, and I started to inquire about potential jobs in Major League Baseball front offices. I had conversations with a couple different teams, but I ultimately settled on the Blue Jays due to the thoroughness of their vetting process. I knew that if they took hiring this seriously, it was the place for me.

Alumni spotlight: Q&A with Vic Moore '01, CEO of Jets Aquatic Club

2/1/2022

Share a little about your story- what experiences or opportunities led you to your current role?

As a student at Wesleyan, I was involved in all kinds of activities – I lettered in swimming, football, soccer, cross country, and track and field, and I even lettered for being the statistician for the basketball team. I was also involved in men’s chorus ensemble and various theater productions, and I learned the value of multi-activity training compared to single-activity specialization.

After graduating from Wesleyan, I earned a spot on a college team where I competed and placed at NJCAA Nationals and was co-captain of a national runner-up team my second year, while also working as an assistant for the local youth swim team.

I returned to Atlanta for graduate school and served as a community coach for Wesleyan football, swimming, and track and field.

Since the fall of 2018, I have served as the CEO of the Jets Aquatic Club, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit specializing in providing swim programming to northeast Arkansas. I manage and direct day-to-day business operations, create and monitor monthly and annual budgets, oversee all Jets employees, fundraise, engage with the local business community, recruit and retain participants, and have a lot of lunch meetings. Additionally, I serve as head coach, so I train 25-30 elite athletes ranging from 10 to 40 years of age and work directly with assistant coaches to ensure development of future talent.

WPC Red Cross Blood Drive to benefit 267 patients

1/31/2022

On Friday, Jan. 28, the Wesleyan community came together to support the Red Cross by donating blood. The WPC event, led by parents Kirsten Bowen and Michele Venkatesan, welcomed 107 donors to Yancey Gymnasium, and the event yielded 89 pints of donated blood. On average, each pint corresponds to three patients receiving necessary and possibly life-saving blood, so the Wesleyan community will positively impact 267 patients! The Red Cross is experiencing the worst blood shortage in over a decade, so we are especially grateful for the Wesleyan blood donors.

Maggie Smith ‘11 recognized as Foreign Language Association of Georgia Teacher of Promise

1/26/2022

Maggie Smith '11, high school French teacher, was recently named the Foreign Language Association of Georgia (FLAG) Teacher of Promise. This award recognizes a teacher in his or her first, second, or third year of teaching who shows the promise to be an outstanding teacher and leader in foreign language education. Smith is in her fourth year of teaching, but she was nominated last year when no award was given due to the pandemic. FLAG extended the award's term by one year.

Alumni spotlight: Q&A with CaraMia Tsirigos ’13, digital specialist for Nike

1/21/2022

Share a little about your story- what experiences or opportunities led you to your current role?

After completing my career as a student-athlete playing softball at Indiana University, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in sports industry management at Georgetown University. While there, I worked three jobs: at the local Nike retail store, as a social media intern at an editorial startup SportTechie, and as a hitting instructor. I had always had big dreams of working in sports and hoped one day it would lead me to Nike corporate. When the MLB All-Star Game came to D.C., I volunteered with the hope of networking myself into a job in baseball. As luck would have it, my introductions lead me to take a job at Blast Motion, a sports tech startup in southern California. After almost three years at Blast Motion and a boss who pushed me to expand my social media skills into digital marketing and branding, I landed a job with my dream company, Nike. Life is funny that way. You can make all the plans you want, but I would not be where I am today without the support of my family, my friends, and my faith.

Alumni spotlight: Q&A with Charles Mack ’13, University of Virginia football graduate assistant coach

1/18/2022

Share a little about your story- what experiences or opportunities led you to your current role?

Growing up, I was always involved in the game of football. I always looked up to my coaches as mentors, leaders, and role models for good character. After graduating from the University of Richmond, I knew I wanted to stay involved in the world of football and leave a lasting impact like the men before me did. After working for a few years in various areas of college athletics like events, operations, and recruiting, I received the opportunity to be a graduate assistant coach for the football team at the University of Virginia. After earning my master’s degree this fall, I hope to take my experiences to full-time coaching.

Alumni spotlight: Q&A with Betsy Smith Freeburg ’08, University of Alabama at Birmingham volleyball head coach

1/18/2022

Share a little about your story- what experiences or opportunities led you to your current role?

After graduating from Wesleyan in 2008, I started at the University of Florida (UF) where I was a member of three SEC championship volleyball teams and went to four NCAA Sweet 16s and one NCAA Elite 8. We had seven freshmen on the team during my redshirt senior year, and part of my role as captain was getting them acclimated and accustomed to our system. During that year, my coach told me that I would make a great coach someday, and I promptly told her I would never put my livelihood in the hands of 17-to-23-year-old women.

Meet the new varsity head coaches

12/1/2021

With winter sports shifting into high gear, we welcome two new varsity head coaches to Wesleyan athletics this season. Jeremy Oliver is our varsity boys basketball head coach, and Josh Tolman ’10 is our varsity wrestling head coach.

“We are so excited to add Jeremy Oliver to our coaching staff as our head boys basketball coach and to welcome Josh Tolman back to campus to lead our wrestling program. Both men are extremely passionate about coaching and leading their programs, and most importantly, helping our student-athletes grow in faith and character,” says Lacy Gilbert, director of athletics.

Both Oliver and Tolman recently shared about their transition to Wesleyan and goals for their programs.

Alumni spotlight: Chad Hall ’04 uses Air Force background to coach NFL wide receivers

11/18/2021

When Chad Hall ’04 graduated from Wesleyan, he matriculated to the Air Force Academy and played as both a running back wide receiver for the football team. Following a few years playing in the NFL, Hall is now in his fifth season coaching with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

Caroline Mitchell ’15 leads acting workshop for Wolf Theater Guild

11/17/2021

On Friday, Nov. 12, Wesleyan graduate Caroline Mitchell ’15 led workshops for the Wolf Theater Guild in Lencke Theater. The workshops were focused on helping students understand what it means to be in each other’s space on stage and how to engage with one another effectively and respectfully as a cast.

“We were so grateful to spend time with Caroline,” said Stephanie Simmons, high school theater director and sponsor of the Guild. “Knowing how to engage with one another in scenes that call for a lot of togetherness and often comedic behavior can be a challenge for many young actors. Caroline brought great perspective to our students and led them through exercises to help them anticipate how to best approach these situations on stage.”

Alumni from the class of 2018 shine in Auburn University fine arts programs

10/25/2021

Literally and figuratively, Wesleyan alumni are making their mark in various fine arts programs at Auburn University. Ashton Cameron, Jon Hunt Ficken, Grace Halley, and Natalie Hamlin, all members of the class of 2018, won annual awards recognizing their talent, creativity, and hard work.

Audrey Short '15 reflects on her journey with dyslexia in video for Dyslexia Awareness Month

10/18/2021

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month! In honor of this and to broaden our community's awareness of and support for dyslexic students, the Academic Resource Center team shared with faculty a resource produced by Made by Dyslexia.  Made by Dyslexia is a global charity led by successful dyslexics with the purpose of helping the world understand, value, and support dyslexia.

Wesleyan graduate Audrey Short ‘15 recorded an intro to the video and shared some of her own experiences as a dyslexic.  Audrey shared her journey from detection and diagnosis in lower school to two years attending The Schenck School in Atlanta to returning to Wesleyan and then graduating as valedictorian.

Alumni spotlight: Cardo Gottlich ’20 continues Texas A&M tradition

9/23/2021

Congratulations to Wesleyan alumni Cardo Gottlich ’20, who was recently named a key member of a unique tradition at Texas A&M. Gottlich is one of three handlers for Texas A&M’s mascot Reveille X, the Rough Collie who famously runs onto the football field in advance of the team and represents the university at various events. Gottlich was selected after a yearlong tryout process that assessed his responsibility, mental fortitude, and public speaking skills.

Alumni Spotlight: Anne Noland ’11 shines behind the scenes for Miami Dolphins

9/14/2021

When the Miami Dolphins took the field Sunday against the New England Patriots, Wesleyan alumni Anne Noland ’11 was in her element, but you might not see her on your television while you watch the game. Noland serves as the Senior Director for Football Communications for the Miami Dolphins, and she is one of only three women running the football side of an NFL public and media relations department. Her hard work and professionalism recently earned her a spot on the Athletics’ “40 under 40” list, a collection of the rising stars in the business of football.

Alumni Spotlight: David Joyner '05 publishes second book

9/13/2021

Congratulations to Wesleyan alumni David Joyner ’05 on the release of his second book, The Distributed Classroom. Joyner, executive director for online education at Georgia Tech’s College of Computing, and his co-author Charles Isbell explore how the “distributed classroom” can offer remedies to various problems in higher education, including rising tuition costs, reduced access for underprivileged groups, and limited availability of subject matter experts in cutting-edge fields.

Alumni Zoom in to encourage faculty

9/2/2021

Four Wesleyan alumni recently Zoomed into our monthly, all-faculty worship to share parts of their Wesleyan experience and encourage faculty. John Adent ‘14, Avyonce Carter ’20, Nick Eversbusch ’17, and Kelsey Rappe ’18 reflected on what they miss most about Wesleyan, how Wesleyan has prepared them for success in college and career, and the impact of the dedication of faculty members.

Noah Young '17 speaks at student chapel team kickoff

8/31/2021

Wesleyan alumni Noah Young ’17 recently spoke at the Wesleyan student chapel team kickoff and workshop. During the workshop, Matthew Means, assistant director of Christian life for worship and discipleship, also shared the chapel team’s vision and purpose, and student leaders facilitated group games and fellowship. The team began their planning and preparations for this year’s chapels.

Alumni Spotlight: Ashby Foltz '07 named to "40 under 40" list

8/13/2021

The Georgia Tech Alumni Association recently named Ashby Foltz ’07 to their "40 under 40" list recognizing talented Georgia Tech alumni who have made significant contributions in their industries at an early age. Motivated to enhance and streamline generous giving opportunities, Foltz co-founded Charityvest, and he currently serves as the organization’s chief operating officer. Charityvest seeks to simplify intentional charitable giving, and the organization has facilitated more than $20 million in charitable contributions.

Alumni News

List of 20 news stories.