Photo of the Week

Orr Chapel

While currently in need of renovation, the Orr Chapel includes several stained glass windows, including one thought for a long time to possibly be a Tiffany Window.

Rev. Carol Mead: Alumna of Mississippi University for Women

I have the privilege of interviewing Carol Lynn Mead, MUW class of 1977, who is currently serving  as Episcopal chaplain at Mississippi State University and assistant priest at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Starkville, MS.


In what extra-curricular activities did you participate at the W?  
I worked on Spectator staff, worked on staff and served as editor of Dilettanti, played intramural sports, was in Lancer Social Club, Hottentots, and honor societies.

I understand that you have an internet ministry as well.  Can you tell me about it?
 It is called "Holy Ordinary," and I send out a meditation each weekday by e-mail.  The meditations, which take a metaphor from everyday life and use it to speak of spirituality, have been turned into two devotional books: Holy Ordinary and Practically Holy. 



Were you raised in the Episcopal Church?
I grew up in the Roman Catholic Church, and even attended parochial school through the sixth grade.  As an adult, I still enjoyed going to the Catholic Church when I went to church, but didn't really connect in a deep way.  If I had known about the Episcopal Church earlier, I would've gone to it long before 1999.

Is there a major conversion story about your life that you would like to tell us? 
I had always read a great deal about spirituality and philosophy, and tried to "study my way" to God. My head was filled with facts. Then a friend told me a story that changed my life. A strong Christian, she had been discussing God with me in depth for a week or so. One night, she said she felt as if she were facing me, and that I had my back to the most beautiful sunset in the world. She kept telling me that I needed to turn around because it was beautiful, and I kept telling her, "Prove it." She said, "If you just turn around, it will prove itself." 

The story didn’t sink in that night, but the next morning, it did. God was ready for me, and He was simply waiting for me to turn around. My friend was right; the view did prove itself. From that moment on, I have developed a powerful and passionate relationship with God.

Did your time at the W lead you to your ministry, or had you already made the decision, or did you do so later?  
Church and ministry weren't even on the radar for me when I was in college.  I enjoyed going to vespers on Sunday evenings, but didn't really go to church much.  Mostly out of complacency, I worked for the State of Mississippi in economic development for 28 years.

When did you first decide to go into this type of ministry?  Why?  
After my epiphany in 1999, I became deeply involved in church: teaching Sunday school, taking the Education for Ministry course, becoming a lay worship leader.  People started talking to me about going to seminary, but I couldn't bear the thought of moving away and making wholesale changes in my way of life.  I also saw the examples of some priests who abused their spiritual power over others, and I feared having that kind of power myself.  Finally, a friend/priest/mentor named John Stone Jenkins showed me that the priesthood could be a very rewarding, meaningful way of life, so I went into the discernment process with the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi.  I had always loved my jobs working for the State of Mississippi, but I have to admit I loved the idea of doing something that could make a difference in others' lives day to day.  I loved the idea that I might go home at the end of a day not having simply done "my job," but maybe having helped
someone else catch a glimpse of God.

How has your MUW experience helped you? 
From friends I met there, I have learned about deep and abiding faithfulness.  I also learned, by living in an environment where women held the leadership positions, that I can do anything I feel called to do.  Because of my time at MUW, I've never bought into female stereotypes.  I saw enough strong women there who had made a tangible difference in the world that I had the confidence to think I might do something important, too.

What schooling have  you had since graduating from MUW? 
I took a lot of courses at Jackson State University's English department, simply because I love language and literature.  I received no degree there.  I went to seminary at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut in 2006, and graduated with a Master of Divinity in May of 2009.

What do you enjoy most about your ministry? 
 I love the vibrance and energy of being around college students.  I love the idea of being with people at this crossroads time of life, when they're deciding the kind of adults they will be.  I also love trying to preach and write in ways that bring the Gospel into everyday life.  

What do you find most challenging?  
The fragmented, instant-gratification mode in which our culture operates.  It is very difficult to get people--and not only college students--to commit time to activities and to show up.  To get them to church or spiritual activities, we have to give them some reason to choose those activities over the hundreds of other possibilities being marketed to them.

What advice would you have for MUW students considering a ministry like yours? 
To read a wide range of spiritual authors at the outset to explore the depth and breadth of human spirituality.  Also, I would advise any person who wants to deepen his or her own spirituality to honor the voices within.  Sometimes the things we're called to do--in our own pursuit of God or in ministry--don't make much sense to the human world. That approach, though, has to be tempered with prayer and with discernment in community with others.  As someone told me once, "You should be very suspicious if God's will happens to coincide with your will too often."

If I moved to your town and shared your basic beliefs, why should I join your church (rather than the one down the street)? 
Our church (and I speak here of both the Episcopal Church in general and our local church in particular) includes a great many people who use intellect in the service of Christian faith, rather than setting intellect and spirituality at odds with each other.  The Episcopal way doesn't discourage questions and doubts by saying, "You have to simply have faith."  We know that God gave us "memory, reason, and skill," as it says in our liturgy, and we embrace the questions rather than pretending to have all of the answers.  The people of his particular church are marvelously welcoming and loving, non-judgmental, always seeking a deeper understanding of self and God.

Do you have any advice for those trying to find their spiritual path?
Don't be afraid of doubts and questions.  Don't play it safe, but try to find the courage to ask hard questions.  True faith is having confidence that God can handle any question we might throw heavenward.

Does your church have a website?  
Yes:   http://www.resurrection.dioms.org .  The website for Holy Ordinary is http://www.holyordinary.com

Do you have any hobbies?  
Yes, I love GOLF and enjoy writing and reading.

Tell me about your family.
I have a brother, Mike, in Santa Barbara, CA and three nephews (Kevin, Jeff, and Chris) in central Illinois.

What is it like trying to mix ministry and family responsibilities?
 I don't have family here, so it's easier for me than for most people.  I do have trouble finding balance; since I'm single, it's easy for me, and other people, to think that I am always available.  I try to combat that lack of balance by honoring my day off and by remembering that the Church got along just fine without me for millennia.

Thanks Carol for spending time with us today.

A Little About Blogs

As someone who has been blogging (writing a blog) for almost five years, it is easy to forget that this is some folks' first experience with them (all you whippersnappers quit your giggling, its not polite to laugh at those not as techo-savvy as you.).  I'm going to devote this post to telling you about blogging and how to get the most from this blog.

The term "blog" is short for weblog.  A weblog is a website that is designed to be updated frequently.  While some blogs have adopted complex layouts, the most basic, and still most-used format is reverse chronological.  In short, when you go to a blog's homepage, you see the most recent content at the top, and as you scroll down, you see older content.  A blog post can consist of text and/or pictures and/or videos and/or some other gadgets.

To become the owner/author of a blog takes no money and less than ten minutes.  You can write about anything -- and people do.  If there is a topic in which you are interested, chances are there are blogs about it.  Some people use them to share childhood milestones with far-off family and friends; others use them as integral parts of small businesses.  MFAeA uses its blog to circulate good news about MUW and its alums and to build a sense of community.

So, now you are here.  You love our blog, you love the content, and you'll be sure to come back, at least sometimes, if you remember--but good grief, how many websites are you supposed to check daily?  Your email,  your facebook, this blog, the blog you just found about your hobby, your kids' blog,  your best friend's blog....  That's where a  feature called RSS (Really Simple Syndication) comes in handy.  RSS allows the content of this blog (and other blogs too) to be "pushed" to some central location so that you only have to check one website rather than multiple ones.  If you are a facebook junkie, you know that this blog feeds through to facebook, so that by checking your facebook account,  you will know if new content has been posted here, and if so, you can read it there.  Not all blogs offer that feature however.

What about those that do not?  Well, that's where RSS feed readers come in handy.  Go to google.com and click on "more" and then on "reader".  If you have a google account already, sign in.  If not, create one.  This is where you can read feeds from multiple blogs all in one place.  Now, look on the right hand side of this page (assuming you are reading it at our site, rather than on facebook--if you are on facebook, just double click on the post title and it should take you to our blog) and scroll down until you see the box with followers pictures in it.  Above it is a button that says "follow".  Push it, and follow the directions.  Now, go check your Google reader.  You'll see we are there.  Now, for fun, take a look at the blogs on our sidebar.  They are all written by alums.  Click on one.  Look at it.  Think you want to read it regularly?  Well look for the follow widget, and do the same thing.  No follow widget?  Look for a button that says "subscribe" and push it.  Google also has another handy way to keep track of RSS feeds--their iGoogle homepage.  If you use that as your homepage, you can subscribe to RSS fees through it.  Feedmyinbox is a service that emails RSS feeds to you.  They allow you five subscriptions on the no-fee account.  I've never used them, but if you do, and like it, leave a comment and tell us about it.

Speaking of comments, blogs can be interactive sites.  Under each post you'll see a link that says "comments".  You don't see this from a feed reader, but for this blog, and most blogs, its always there on the original post (and to get to the original post from the feed reader, just double click on the post title).  If you like a post, say so.  If you have  a question or a related comment, speak up.  Blog writers LOVE comments--they reassure us that someone is actually reading all this stuff we write.  So, did I clear things up, or just muddle the water some more?  How do you usually read blogs, if you are a regular blog reader?

Catholic Leader and MUW Alumna, Vonda Tedford-Keon

Usually when one thinks of Catholic women in ministry, the first image that comes to mind is a nun in an old-fashioned habit. Some of those are still around, but today's parish is far more likely to be staffed by someone like Mississippi University for Women Alumna, Vonda Tedford-Keon, Class of 1975. Vonda is Director of Religious Ed. /Cantor/Music Minister / Liturgist and Co-Director of Our Daily Bread Food Pantry at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Bruce, Mississippi.

Though raised Southern Baptist, Vonda became interested in the Catholic faith when she studied art history at the W. She joined the Catholic Church in 1991. She and her family moved to Bruce in 1996 and started planting the Catholic community there. She found herself having to step out in front of the crowd and become the person in front, and her call to ministry started to evolve. Though she had previously been in choirs, she found herself as the acapella cantor leading singing. After four years they finally had a member join who could play the piano, so Vonda donated her piano to the church, so they would have music. She credits the "you can do anything" attitude fostered at MUW with helping her to do what needed to be done with the fledgling parish. "To be a Catholic in a mission church" said Vonda "is a challenge that some people might find intimidating. There has to participation from everyone in our small community. So if you don’t mind being called on to read or cook or to teach or to study the latest things that we think are pertinent to the Christian Faith then come on down. We have got a spot for you!"

Since graduating from MUW Vonda has continued to take art classes of one sort or another. In May 2008 she received her Masters of Theology focusing on Pastoral Ministry in the rural church. When asked what she enjoyed most about her ministry, Vonda said "Studying the Church Fathers and reading about their faith and their insights into Christianity. I also love to sing and praise the Lord. I cannot sing anything other than worship related music. I don’t have the voice unless I am singing worship music. My husband and I also helped establish a food pantry here 10 years ago and we stay very busy with it." Her biggest challenge is occasionally lead the church service, something that happens when the priest (a circuit rider who comes twice a month) and the Sister who staff the parish are both unavailable. She leads what is called Sunday worship in the absence of the priest. It seems that no matter how much she prepares, inevitably she changes what she was going to say because something will occur that shows her she needs to be talking about something else. Also the food pantry is a ministry that can be overwhelming at times. Dealing with people is always a challenge and trying to do it in a non-judgmental way is very hard.

For MUW students considering church ministry, Vonda recommends they pray about it and listen for the whisper to know the path the Lord wants. She has pretty much the same advice for those seeking their spiritual path " Don’t force it. I had a ministry and didn’t even realize it. I had started studying in the LIMEX program and thought my ministry was one thing and after a while it evolved into something else. I had to sit in my ‘cave’ and listen to the storm raging all about me and then in the silence I heard the whisper and realized where the Lord was using me the most. "

When not busy at church Vonda enjoys reading, watching movies, her art, spending time with her Mom, teaching art to her little niece Bella, writing her blog and newspaper articles, and writing a book that one day she will publish. She has been married to Scott for 21 years and is Mom to Ariel, who a W girl, Communication Major and Blacklist Baby 7 and Erin Michelle who is a high school junior and future W girl.

When asked what is it like trying to mix ministry and family responsibilities, Keon said "At times it’s hard. But we all have our jobs in the church and we do them because we know that is what we are supposed to be doing. Everything I do is as a volunteer and I put in many many hours. It would be nice to be paid a salary but I think the rewards that I get in other ways are much more enriching to the soul than to the bank account"

Lynn Miller: Art and Ministry Combine for this MUW Alumna

Usually when one thinks of the ordained ministry, the pastor and  his/her assistants come to mind.  However, Lynn Miller, MUW class of 1984 is  an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the PC(USA), whose current assignment is to supply preach around the presbytery (most recently at Trinity Presbyterian in Meridian, where she averages  3 Sundays a month).  She also does art-related programming for congregations. She designs  textile pieces and stained glass for churches, writes arts-related curriculum, serves as artist for various church conferences, and presents workshops on the arts in congregational life and worship. She has presented lectures, written articles, led retreats, etc.   She is also the Head of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Madison-Ridgeland Academy in Madison, MS where she teaches  middle and high school art (like many artists, she doesn't find that art pays the bills).  She teaches all week and then on weekends does art programming or preaching somewhere.      

Lynn was raised in the Presbyterian Church and as she said, she has  "chosen it ever since. :-)",  She considers herself a product of the theology in which she was raised, and  always knew the love of Jesus Christ.

During her years at The W (1980-1984) she attended First Presbyterian Church in Columbus (out on Bluecutt Road). While she didn't have any ministry leanings in Columbus, she was nurtured by that congregation.

After getting her BFA from The W, Lynn got an MA in art history from the University of Georgia.  Her original decision to attend seminary was to get a theological education to accompany her art degrees.  Said Lynn "I realized in grad school that much of the history of art was tied to the church, but none of my professors were people of faith (and that's not my judgment, it was their assertion...one of the professors concluded a lecture on a particular church's iconography with the statement 'If you believe that sort of thing'). I thought it would be helpful for me as an artist/art historian to have a theological education to support my art studies, and I also thought it would be important for someone in my church to be able to talk about the arts."

While attending Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA, she began to think about ministry in a sense broader than just a theological education.

While at Mississippi University for Women, Lynn was involved with SGA, Kappa Pi, Honors Program, Silhouettes and Jesters.  She credits  MUW and the friends she made there  for a huge part of who she is.  Lyn said "I know the old standard line about leadership opportunities for women may seem rehearsed, but, really, having the opportunity to do the things I did (which I never did in high school) was invaluable in making me believe that I could do whatever I set my mind to. My love of art history was nurtured by the esteemed Mary Evelyn Stringer. She was such a formative influence. I can't overstate how much of who I am I owe to The W."

The thing she enjoys most about the art portion of her ministry is its  ability to combine the two things she loves: art and faith. Says Miler, "It's delightful to help people put their faith in conversation with the arts. Remember the overquoted line from 'Chariots of Fire' that when he ran, Eric Liddell felt God's pleasure? You'll never catch me running, but when I'm creating and leading others to create I do feel God's pleasure. The 'punch line' of Frederick Buechner's (also probably overquoted) comment on vocation is: 'The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. '"

Lynn finds being "on" at least 6 days a week is difficult. She has to do lesson preps for 6 classes 5 days a week besides studying and writing liturgy and a sermon every week.  The  required energy and focus, she says, are sometimes found at the end of the rope.

"Do what you love -- even if you have to explain yourself everywhere you go." is her advice to today's students.  " I had to explain faith to the UGA faculty, and I had to explain art to the Union faculty. When I applied for the D.Min. program and talked with the program director about possible doctoral project subjects, the program director said, 'You already know more about that than any of our faculty do.'  But it was a good experience nevertheless, and I both learned from and, I think, taught the faculty."

Lynn's website gives the general idea of her work, along with some images of it. 

When not working she enjoys sleeping, cooking, reading,  and watercolor painting.

Lynn has two "W" stories to tell us.   

When I was in seminary in Virginia, there was an action for which the students were pushing, but it was slow going. I was in a meeting about the situation, and I said, "I believe it's time to put on our pearls and pumps and go to Jackson." The other students looked at me.  I had to explain about the continuing lobbying of the legislature in my W years to keep the school open and that students and alums alike would "put on their pearls and pumps and go to Jackson"...and return as victors. That phrase became a code for any time my classmates got really serious about something. Even the guys would "put on their pearls and pumps and go to Jackson." Go, W Girls! 

and

 Back in December I was asked by a church member at one of the churches where I preach if I would officiate at her mother's funeral. I didn't know her mother, but she really wanted me to do the service. So I met with the member and her brothers before the service and said, "Tell me about your mother." They told wonderfully warm and funny stories about their mother. I thought for a minute about their ages and her age and I asked, "Where did she attend college?" Of course, it was The W. You can identify us anywhere, and I love that. 

Mississippi University for Women Alumna Courtney Ballard Murtaugh

Today I'd like to introduce you to Courtney Ballard Murtaugh, MUW Class of 1978.   A music major at MUW, Courtney decided while still in high school to attend a seminary after college so as to be able to share the joy of music, nurtured though choir membership,  with others.  Though raised Southern Baptist by her faith-filled grandmother (Courtney Lucius Best, IIC '18),  Courtney had always been drawn to ritual worship and desired regular Eucharist.  Those desires, along with her desire to care for the poor, drew her to the Catholic church.  She advises those trying to find their spiritual path to follow their hearts. 

 After graduating from MUW, where she was a member of the Gauntlet Social Club, a Junior Usher and a member of the Chapel Choir and Tour Choir, she went on to get her Masters Degree from Loyola University Chicago with a concentration in liturgical studies.  Her last full-time job with the Church was  on the worship staff of Cardinal George.   Their responsibilities include providing worship catechesis to parishes and preparing all the episcopal liturgies at the cathedral.   Working in the Catholic church means working in a primarily male environment.  Murtaugh credits her MUW days with helping her  to become a confident woman with the ability to work with a diverse group of people.  The up-side of her job was making music and inspiring those who hear it.  Her main challenge was dealing with difficult personalities in the parish. 

When asked if she had any advice for MUW students considering a ministry like hers, Courtney said “ In order to be successful in church ministry you will need to pursue graduate studies in one of these areas: music, liturgy, theology, scripture or education.  If ordination is a route opened to you, you will need a Masters of Divinity and most likely a doctorate after a few years of professional pastoral work experience.”

If you are in Barrington IL, Courtney invites you to join her parish, St. Anne, ( http://stannebarrington.org) which she describes as a very hospitable parish that has a strong social justice ministry and engaging liturgy.  She is no longer in full-time ministry, but does serve St. Anne as a cantor, environment and art coordinator, wedding coordinator, as well as assisting with the children’s choir and training children as cantors.

Courtney's husband of 32 years, Barry, is a retired corporate executive and works full time as the Director of Finance and Operations for a large Catholic Urban Grammar School.  Her son Liam is a graduate student studying in London while her son Rory is an out of work high school Latin teacher who currently he lives in Portland, OR where he is writing music and singing professionally.  Her youngest son,  Keefe recently graduated from the United States Naval Academy and is a 2nd Lt in the Marine Corps, based at Quantico, VA.  While her sons were young she was a working mom married to a corporate executive.   She and her husband shared parenting in every way....school, athletics,   parent meetings, etc.   While it got  tricky at times, and  she did miss a few events, she was always there when it counted most, so  doesn't feel guilty about missing a few things.  Her boys are well adjusted grown men who  treat women with equality and respect.   What more can she ask for!!  When not working, she enjoys travel, shopping, and socializing with friends and family. 

 In 2006 she decided to start her own business as a meeting and event planner.   Her business focuses on assisting religious non-profits with their meeting and conference needs. One of her clients is the North American Academy of Liturgy.  The academy is ecumenical and includes scholars of liturgy as well as practitioners.  Many of the members of the academy wrote books that she used in her graduate studies. Courtney can be reached via email at murtaughs@ameritech.net or visit LinkIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/murtaugh60010   Also feel free to take a tour of CBM Meetings Plus at http://web.mac.com/murtaughs

 

Fur Baby Friday

Nope, no picture of a cute fur baby today--but if you send in a picture, next week we will have one.  Fur Baby Friday is a chance to get to know each other by getting to know our fur babies.  If you are a MUW Alum, send a picture of yourself, with your fur baby, to mfaeablog@gmail.com.  Give your name and class year, and your fur baby's name.  If you want to write a caption, that would be great too.  That's all, that's easy.  We'd love to hear from YOU.

MFAeA Congratulates Nursing Graduates

Mississippi's First Alumnae Association would like to congratulate these graduates of MUW's nursing program.  It is a jewel of which our alma mater can be justifiably proud.


(From MUW Press Release)

MUW nursing graduates nominated for Nightingale Awards

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Nine graduates of Mississippi University for Women’s College of Nursing were recently nominated for Nightingale Awards sponsored by the Mississippi Nurses Association and the Mississippi Nurses Foundation.

Winning Nurse of the Year was 1996 graduate Lisa Byrd, who is a board certified family nurse practitioner at the Bolton Family Clinic in Madison. Sister Mary Trinta Eddington, a 1994 graduate, was inducted into the Mississippi Nurses Association Hall of Fame. She is a board certified advance practice nurse at St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson. Both recipients graduated from the Master of Science in Nursing Program at MUW.

Other MUW graduates who were nominated: Debra Rhinewalt and Johnny Judson of Columbus, Monica Loden of Amory, Emily Fite of Goodman, Michelle Palokas of Brandon, Contessa Fields and Shellie Burks of Tupelo.

Dr. Sheila Adams, dean of the MUW nursing college, said, “We continue to have our nursing graduates recognized at the state and national levels with prestigious awards such as the Nightingale Awards.”

In 2009 and 2008, Dr. Mary Ware and Dr. Mary Pat Curtis, prior program directors, as well as other MUW graduates were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Last year, Dr. Marcella McKay, a prior graduate and vice president of the Mississippi Hospital Association received the award for nurse in a non-traditional setting. Adams and the MUW College of Nursing were recognized and honored in 2007 for administrator and school of the year.

“This type of recognition attests to the ongoing excellence of our graduates and our nursing programs. We are proud of all our graduates and of their many accomplishments and recognitions,” Adams added.

Mississippi University for Women Alums in Ministry

While women have always been deeply involved in local churches; the clergy, until recently, was a male-only domain, and for some groups, it still is.  Many alumnae/i credit the W with giving them the confidence to look beyond traditional gender roles, and for some alumnae, that means giving them the courage to follow a call they felt from God, a call to serve not as a Sunday School teacher (important as we all know they are) or organist, but as an ordained minister.  Others serve in non-ordained leadership positions--positions that really didn't exist a generation ago.

One of the purposes of this blog is to celebrate the achievements of Alumnae/i of MUW.  During the course of the year, we will be asking alums with various things in common to submit to written interviews so we can learn about you and how Mississippi University for Women has helped you achieve your goals.  The first group we are going to meet consists of alums in full-time ministry.  Some are ordained, some are not.  While some men volunteered to be interviewed, as of this writing I've only received completed interviews from women (guys if you see this, please send those interviews in; we want to learn about you too!--and that goes for the women who haven't returned their interviews yet too).  So, stay tuned until tomorrow...

Future Alumnus: Jon Wright

It is no secret that MFAeA supports maintaining the current name of The W and maintaining a mission of providing extra support to women.  However, we do listen to the other side.  Today's guest, a member of MUW's class of 2013, is Jon Wright.

Name:  Jon Wright

Hometown: Lake View, AL

Planned Date of Graduation: May 2013

Major: Psychology

Social Club/Sorority/Fraternity affiliation(s)None

Other extra-curricular activities: Intramural Sports

Why did you choose The W? They offered an outstanding Honors Program as well as a friendly staff and campus.

Has it lived up to your expectations? Absolutely

What surprised you the most? The ease of which I found a social niche.

What qualities would you like to see in Dr. Limbert's replacement? A fighting spirit.

What changes do you believe should be made to the W in the near future? The name, and more male living quarters.

Was the fact that the W was primarily female and has historically provided
special support to women a factor in you choosing to attend? No.  Many people assumed that the ratio of girls to guys swayed my opinion to attend, but that isn't the case.

Do you support the maintenance of a women's mission at the W, or do you believe
the W's future is as a fully-coed liberal arts school? The W's future needs to be a fully-coed liberal arts school.  It will fail otherwise.

Do you support the present name or would you prefer to see it changed? It has to change in order to achieve a more diverse student body.  I discarded the first few advertisements for fear of a mix-up.  I thought I had been placed in the books as a female, and ignored invitations.  If the name of the university changed, more people will attend.  Tradition be damned.  This school has undergone many more changes - name and  otherwise - in the past, a simple change of title won't affect the legacy.

Thank you Jon for taking the time to complete our survey.

Calling SAHM's, Housewives, Homemakers, SAHD's etc....

Starting soon MFAeA's blog is going to be running features on alums in full-time church work.  We are going to be running features on alums in other types of work as well during the year; those whose job is parenting will be featured during May (or June, around Father's Day for dads).  If you are or have been a Stay at Home Mom, Dad, Homemaker, Housewife or whatever the favorite term of the day is or was for a parent whose main job is taking care of the home and family, then I want to interview you about it.  I'd love to get parents of all ages, whether or not you are still home full time.  I'm not going to say how much outside work disqualifies you, or how long you had to have stayed home; but what I'm looking for is alums who, even if they do (did) work some, generally consider(d) their job to be the family and home, at least during that part of their life.   If willing to be interviewed, please send me an email at rnfaeablog@gmail.com

Photo of the Week: Zouave Drill

W Professor Nominated for MIAL Award

Dr. Kendall Dunkelberg, professor of English at the W since 1994 and director of the Creative Writing program, has long garnered recognition for his (to paraphrase Mississippi poet Angela Ball) eloquent, "skillful" poetry. He has released two collections of poetry: Landscapes and Architectures (2001) and Time Capsules (2009), as well as Hercules, Richelieu, and Nostradamus (2000), the first English-translated volume of the poetry of Flemish poet Paul Snoek.

Having been nominated in years past for such honors as the prestigious Pushcart Prize, Dr. Dunkelberg was recently recognized again with a nomination for the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters (MIAL) award for poetry.

What was your reaction upon hearing that you had been nominated for the MIAL prize?

Of course, I was thrilled and honored to learn I had been nominated for the MIAL award. It is very rewarding to have my book recognized in the state with this nomination and to be in such good company as D. C. Berry, Ann Fisher-Wirth, Greg Miller, Larry Johnson, and Jack Crocker.

Tell us about your recent poetry collection, Time Capsules (available from Amazon). Is there a central theme that connects these poems?

One of the main themes that runs through Time Capsules is the cycle of the seasons, the cycle of rebirth and death in the natural world. The first poem is a winter poem, followed by "Ishtar," a poem about the Babylonian fertility goddess. Many poems deal with spring fertility in the form of wildflowers or migrating birds. Related to the seasonal fertility theme are themes of love, marriage, and fatherhood. Death comes back in poems on the death of my father and on a broader scale in poems that deal with war, genocide, or mass murder. Memory and storytelling help to tie these themes together, as the stories that we tell or the poems that we write today fulfill the function of myth in the ancient world, creating narratives that I hope help us to deal with our world.

You became director of the annual Eudora Welty Writers' Symposium two years ago. How has your directorship been so far, and do you have any plans yet for this year's event?

I have been very pleased with the success of the Symposium both years, thanks to all the assistance I've received from my colleagues and to the gracious and talented authors who came to read. While I have a dream list of authors for this coming year -- ones I have found and ones that others have suggested -- I am not ready to name any names yet. I can say that the Symposium will be October 21-23, 2010, and that we will have an excellent group of about a dozen writers. [Check out the Symposium website for more information.]

I am always amazed at the good will the Symposium has garnered over the years and the number of truly fantastic writers who are willing to make time in their busy schedules for us. And I am also always open to suggestions about authors! I love to find out who people are reading, and even if I don't invite those authors this year, I keep a list of suggestions and often go back to it from year to year. 

There has been some debate recently among alums about the importance of preserving the W's women's mission. In the past, you've spoken out quite eloquently in defense of the women's mission; is there anything you would like to add to the discussion now?

If there were any doubt that the W's mission to provide the highest quality education for women is still relevant, one would only have to look back over the often vitriolic comments against this mission to see that women are still discriminated against, especially in Mississippi. It seems that in the past six months (and more) every sexist comment imaginable has been aimed at this institution and its historic mission. Women have been  characterized as insignificant and hysterical, blue-haired and bickering. The men (primarily) who have used this language do not seem to realize that they provide more ammunition for our mission than they provide against it.

One fact that these critics conveniently overlook is that MUW has consistently attracted male students -- before we admitted men as degree candidates and afterward. One reason for this is the strength of our programs, but another surely is that a woman's emphasis fosters a style of education that is attractive and beneficial for many men as well as women. Though the old slogan "and smart men, too" may have seemed patronizing and a bit degrading to some, the spirit of that tag line was true. The smart men who were able to look past our name and the social prejudices against it found an educational environment where they could thrive.

If we change our mission, then we will change that educational environment, because if we change our mission, we will lose our identity. Certainly, we must find ways to provide the best education for all of our students, and we face new challenges to do that, given the changing demographics of our student population. Yet the challenge is to maintain our identity, our unique sense of mission, by maintaining a woman's emphasis at the same time. The other challenge is to find new ways to market this to both women and men, to traditional and nontraditional age students, regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, or nationality. These are challenges we can and must face.

What is up next for you in regards to your writing and scholarship?

I am very pleased that four of my poems will appear in the Southern Poetry Anthology, Volume II: Mississippi, due out soon from Texas Review Press.

This year I am serving as President of the Southern Literary Festival Association. Each year students from a group of Southern schools gets together to listen to authors read their works, take part in workshops, read from their own work, and listen to discussions on the craft of writing. This year the Festival will be hosted by MUW, so that has kept me very busy over the past few months! I'm in the midst of organizing the student workshops, and I applied for and received two grants from the Mississippi Humanities Council and the Mississippi Arts Commission.

As part of the Festival, we will host public readings by three authors. On Thursday, April 22, the poet Jeanie Thompson, who is also the director of the Alabama Writers' Forum, will read at 7:30 in Carrier Chapel, and on Friday, April 23, nonfiction writer Alan Huffman and novelist Dedra Johnson will read from their works, also in Carrier Chapel. A reception will follow each evening's events.  [For more information about the Southern Literary Festival, click here.]

This April, I will also be presenting a paper and moderating a panel on assessing creative writing programs at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference in Denver. It will be a very busy month!

Thank you, Dr. Dunkelberg, for answering our questions and sharing your recent accomplishments!

You can follow Dr. Dunkelberg's blog here.

Follow MUW's Languages, Literature, and Philosophy Department on Facebook.

Future Alum: Madeleine Gardiner

As alums, we are the W's past.  Today's students are its present.  We are going to be running interviews of today's students so we can get to know the alums of tomorrow.

Name: Madeleine Gardiner

Hometown: Madison, AL

Planned Date of Graduation: May 2013

Major: Elementary Education

Social Club/Sorority/Fraternity affiliation(s) Troubadour Social Club

Other extra-curricular activities: Hearin Leadership Program, Honors Council

Why did you choose The W? I first looked at the W because of the scholarships but quickly fell in love with the small campus and the friendly atmosphere.

Has it lived up to your expectations? It has lived up to my expectations.

What surprised you the most? I think what has surprised me the most is how people don’t just love the

W for 4 years, they love it for life.

What qualities would you like to see in Dr. Limbert's replacement? I would like a president who understands the mission and people of the W and strives to make it a better place for the students.

What changes do you believe should be made to the W in the near future? I think the W needs to recruit more effectively. I never received any information from the W while I was looking at colleges. If they were to send out more information to prospective students, more people would consider the W.

Was the fact that the W was primarily female and has historically provided special support to women a factor in you choosing to attend? It didn’t influence my decision initially, but as I researched the W I quickly liked the women’s focus the school has.

Do you support the maintenance of a women's mission at the W, or do you believe the W's future is as a fully-coed liberal arts school? I think the focus should stay on a women’s mission. More women than men are going to college, so why not focus on them.

Do you support the present name or would you prefer to see it changed? I do support the current name, I believe a name change would not help the W, but make it even more unknown.

I'd like to thank Madeleine for taking the time to respond to our survey.  She's a lovely, bright young woman whose mom just happens to be a friend of mine.  

Photo of the Week

Now that's a smart man!

Do you know these folks?  Leave their names in a comment, please.

The Long Blue Line at Homecoming

Usually when we think of Homecoming and The Long Blue Line, we think of Convocation, which is not being held this year.  This year, the term refers to a play written and directed by Sarah Hickox, which is based on oral histories in Bridget Pieschel's Golden Days.  It will be a collection of monologues and stories portraying W alums from 1926 to the present day.  Peppy Biddy is handling the technical end of the production.  The show will be presented in the Black Box Theater in the Cromwell Communications Building, April 16 at 7:30.  At this time we do not know whether this is included in the registration fee, or if admission will be charged.

Spring Break Challenge

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tostie14/ / CC BY 2.0

Here is my challenge to all W students and alums.  Students (and I know a bunch of you see this on Facebook), I know you'd like to be someplace like this, but I'll bet a lot of you are doing what I did on spring break back in the Stone Ages--you are at home, catching up on sleep and hunting for a summer job.  If you are at home, that means you have access to teens just a few years younger than you are.  Stop by your church youth group, call a friend, meet the younger members of your high school crowd at the mall, or wherever teens in your community gather.   Tell them how great The W is.  Tell them why you love it, and why they should consider it, despite the fact that it isn't a member of the SEC.  Tell them about the professors who know your name, the school traditions, the dorm rooms on front campus, and how wonderful the alums are, of course.  Post good points about MUW as a facebook status.

Alums, pick up the phone.  Call the guidance office at your local high school.  Ask the counselor if she or he is familiar with MUW.  If not, give a short pitch for the school, mention its strong points and offer to get more information.  Then contact admissions with the counselor's name and address and ask that information be sent.  If you can do so, offer to speak with prospective students.  Budget cuts mean less money for recruiting, but we can pick up a lot of the slack.  If you know teens, make sure they know about the W.  

Leave a comment letting us know what YOU have done (or will do) to let the world know how great the W is.

W Alumna, Juanita Hight, Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Read Full Article Here

Life Time Achievement

State Senator Giles Ward had the privilege of handing out a special award for the evening as he presented a lifetime achievement award. As Ward noted the award is not given out every year and that some years more than one person may receive the award. This year he presented "a truly most significant award" to 97-year-old Juanita Hight.

Ward noted that Hight had been involved in almost every worthwhile endeavor in the community for a lengthy time span and had covered many roles in the community. He noted her roles as a teacher and successful business person as she and her husband owned and operated the Winston County Journal for many years.

"She is one of MUW['s] most outstanding alums and still one of the most active," said Ward.

--The Webster-Progress Times

Official University Homecoming Schedule

Homecoming Weekend at Mississippi University for Women is April 16, 17 and 18.  The schedule was announced this week and you can register online.  While there is a $35.00 mandatory registration fee, all events are priced a la carte.  Friday begins with a luncheon to honor the Golden Girls (Golden Girls free, others $15.00), who are later invited to join classmates at Puckett House for a reception ($20.00).  Those of us who are not Golden Girls are invited to a Homecoming Bash in the Cochran Ballroom.  Your $40.00 buys heavy hors d'oeuvres, prepared by MUW's Culinary Arts students, and cocktails.

Saturday, after a complimentary breakfast at the Wesley Foundation, those who are still hungry may attend a brunch in the Pope Banquet Room, where there will be special presentations and recognition of this year's reunion classes (tickets $15.00). Unfortunately, it appears that Convocation has been dropped from the schedule.  It looks like the afternoon is free for social club parties or just hanging out with friends (no fee).  I understand that the Alumni Association is meeting in the afternoon as well, so put that on your schedule, if you have completed your application, been approved and paid your dues.   In the evening, Golden Girls have the privilege of having dinner with Dr. Limbert at her house ($25.00) while the other attendees gather on Shattuck Lawn for food and entertainment (there is a $15.00 charge, but it says that entertainment and fellowship are free, so I guess you could brown bag it).  Some of the reunion classes are meeting for dinner at local restaurants.  We'll try to get a schedule up soon.

The Foundation is sponsoring a complimentary farewell breakfast Sunday morning.

Mississippi's First Alumnae Association will be holding Homecoming events the same weekend.  Our schedule will be posted shortly.

Hope to see everyone there!

The Census Bureau Mentioned The W!

WASHINGTON, March 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

TUESDAY, MARCH 9: FIRST STATE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN

Profile America — Tuesday, March 9th, noting Women's History Month. The first state college for women was created this week in 1884 in Mississippi. Classes opened in the fall of the next year on the campus of a former college in Columbus. Known as the Mississippi Industrial Institute and College, it was later renamed as the Mississippi State College for Women. Now, the school is called the Mississippi University for Women. While it has been co-educational nearly 30 years, the curriculum continues to stress opportunities for women. Across the U.S. today, women students outnumber males on college campuses by just over 2.5 million. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, conducting the 2010 Census beginning April 1st.

Sources: Kane's Famous First Facts. 2954

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 216

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

Photo of the Week

The Kissing Rock is not far from "The Old Maid's Gate", an entrance to the campus from College Street.  Tradition has it that a W Girl had to walk through the Old Maid's Gate backwards, or she'd find herself an old  maid.  However, the companion tradition is that if she forgot, and went through forward, she could immediately head to the kissing rock, and kiss it, saving herself from that fate.

Perspectives: Recent W Graduates

One question most recent Mississippi University for Women graduates ask themselves after receiving their diplomas is, “What next?” The next step after college can lead young alums in many different directions, in ways that are not always clear as students scramble to complete their final classes at the W. Will their post-graduate journeys lead them into further education or into the “real world” as they begin their first jobs in their chosen fields? Will they travel far away, or is the road to the future a little closer to home? And how does one make those decisions, anyway?

In search of answers, I spoke with ten recent inductees into the Long Blue Line: 2007 graduates Christie Collins, Lauren Dodd, Stephanie Evers, Rachel Forester, Erin Gioia, and Carrie Pate; 2008 graduates Irene Miller, Leigh Pourciau, and Megan Stoner Morgan; and 2009 graduate Lydia Coffey Pierce, all of whom offered advice about taking those all-important next steps and reflections upon their own recent journeys since leaving the W gates.

Part One of this series can be found here.

PART TWO: ENTERING THE JOB MARKET

Graduate programs can provide MUW graduates with the direction, experience, and scholarship necessary to make them more competitive in the job market once they receive those postgraduate degrees.  For some graduates, however, the end of their time at the W means the end of higher education (at least, for the time being) as they immediately move into the workforce in their respective fields.  But with a fluctuating economy and overall heightened competition for jobs, how do W grads tend to fare as they try to make the switch from student to employee?

Erin Gioia (’07), who graduated with degrees in Accounting and Management Information Systems, decided to move back home to Birmingham after leaving the W, and the hunt for her first post-graduate job became a somewhat drawn-out process.  “When I graduated, I really wanted to work in a tech services job where I could eventually move up into database design, which is what I really want to do,” she explains.  “But very quickly, I realized that there is no such thing as entry-level database design, so I had to expand my search to include tech support jobs.  I still did not have much luck because of the area I was living in, so eventually, I had to expand to search for an accounting job.”  Soon after, Erin was hired by a temp agency to assist Regions Bank with cleanup from their recent merger, and three months later, she transitioned into full-time employment with Regions.

Erin cautions students to be realistic in their career goals upon graduation.  “You need to be willing to take a job that is not quite what you are looking for at first,” she says.  “The thing to remember is that just because you get a job, it does not mean you have to stay there for the rest of your life.  It just means you can pay your bills until your ideal job comes along.”  She also advises new graduates, “Take advantage of any training available to you once you get into a new job.  The more you know, the more valuable you are.”

However, some graduates move directly into their dream jobs right after graduation.  Since she was a teenager, Leigh Pourciau (’08) has known that she wanted to teach middle-school English.  Last August, Leigh began her first teaching job at Germantown Middle School in the Madison County (MS) school district, teaching seventh-grade Language Arts (specifically, writing).  “I am both anxious and so incredibly excited to finally be able to do what I’ve always wanted to do in a wonderful, supportive school district,” she says.

Leigh advises new graduates to focus on their strengths and spend a significant amount of time preparing for interviews.  “I am not a natural networker, so it was very difficult for me to walk into a crowded job fair at one of our state’s most competitive school districts and toot my own horn!” Leigh says.  “You’ve just got to walk up to the table like you’re the one they want, shake their hands firmly, and have something for them to take home. I made folders with copies of my Praxis test scores, my resume, a cover letter, and a sample lesson plan. I must have made 30 or so, and I handed them out to every principal I met.”  Leigh’s preparedness more than paid off in the end.  She explains, “I think I turned down about 7 schools. Because I made so many contacts, I had a variety of options to choose from when it came to choosing a job. The school I chose even gave me my choice of a couple of teaching positions.”  Leigh further suggests that students take advantage of the W’s close-knit nature to build strong relationships with the faculty.  As she states, “Regardless of your major, you’re going to need some positive recommendations. Getting an A in your instructor’s class doesn’t guarantee a glowing recommendation letter. Your teachers are incredible resources, so get to know them now so they remember you later!”

In some cases, taking the giant leap into the workforce also means leaping far away from home.  Rachel Forester (’07) and Irene Miller (’08) both made the decision to move to Washington, D.C. to pursue their career goals, having found their respective callings in the world of politics.  After graduation, Rachel worked for Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign during the primaries, first acting as a volunteer in Iowa, Tennessee, and Mississippi, and later serving as a paid staffer in Indiana and Kentucky.  After Obama won the Democratic nomination, Rachel was hired as a field organizer for the campaign, returning to Indiana for the general election and helping the state turn Democratic for the first time in 44 years.  After the election, Rachel moved to D.C. in January and scored an internship on Capitol Hill.

Rachel’s decision to pursue her goals in D.C. did not come easily.  She explains, “Immediately after graduating from the W, I worked at a dermatology clinic and was paid very well.  But I was not happy. When the campaign contacted me, I had two days to uproot my life and travel to another state.”  Though it was difficult to leave most of her family and friends in Memphis, Rachel has no regrets about her decision.  “I’ve met some of the most amazing people in the world.  I helped get a guy elected President!  Despite the long hours and the bad diet and the exhaustion and the naysayers, that may have been the best choice I ever made.  It was absolutely worth it.”  Her advice to other students who may be faced with such a difficult choice is simple: “Follow your heart, as corny as it sounds. And take advantage of being young and mobile while you can.” 

When Irene graduated from the W in 2008, she found that the network of contacts she had begun to build as a freshman was invaluable in helping her eventually land a job in D.C.  After graduation, she says, “I was working as a Staff Assistant/Press Assistant/Caseworker in Congressman Travis Childers' Tupelo district office.  Once I moved to D.C. (in January 2009), I met a friend, who had a mutual friend whose girlfriend worked at the Democratic Governor’s Association (DGA), and she let us know about a position that had opened up.”  After a month and three intense rounds of interviews, Irene was hired as a Finance Assistant at the DGA.  As Irene states, “I believe it was a combination of networking, resume, and interview know-how that landed me the job.”

Irene advises new graduates to tap their own network of contacts, no matter how small, in order to gain the most momentum in the job hunt.  “After you identify connections or network possibilities,” she stresses, “reconnect with those people, catch them up on your life, request their assistance, and prepare them for a call from your potential job (just identifying them or listing them on a resume is not enough).”  Irene continues, “After you have identified the job you want and your contacts are lined up, touch up your resume.  Then it’s all up to the interview.”  Irene recommends that graduates immerse themselves in as many details as possible about the company and the job for which they are applying.  “Be confident and be prepared.  You can never know too much about the organization,” she says.  “At the same time, be ready to improvise, think on your feet, and steer the conversation to areas that highlight your skills, experiences, and knowledge of the organization.”  

Sometimes, the perfect job is one you create for yourself, as Lydia Coffey Pierce (’09) has discovered.  Having recently moved to Hattiesburg with her husband, Jared, Lydia works as a part-time guest service representative for Marriott.  The relative freedom of this position allows Lydia to maintain not one, but two of her own businesses: as a successful Independent Consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics and as a wedding coordinator for her developing consulting company.

Though setting up your own business takes time and an overabundance of energy, this busy W girl is more than up to the task, having already directed her first wedding last October while developing plans for several more this summer.  While she states that her worst enemy has always been “procrastination,” Lydia explains, “Having my own MK business has helped me overcome this horrible ‘disorder.’ I set up daily challenges for myself in order to succeed.”  Although founding your own company can be difficult, Lydia welcomes the opportunity—and the perks of being your own boss: “I’m the best boss I've ever had!” 

Adapting to the workplace straight out of college can seem daunting, but these alumnae demonstrate that W graduates are more than ready for the challenge.  Through preparation, hard work, and motivation, these women have already begun to make great strides in their chosen fields, and all five agree that their W education has not only laid the groundwork for success, but has facilitated endless possibilities for their careers.

Women's History Month at MUW

As noted in previous posts, March is Women's History Month.  How is it being celebrated at MUW?

The Center for Women's Research and Public Policy sponsored a Girl Scout History program which allowed them to introduce the new CEO for the Heart of the South Girl Scout Council, Angela Woods.  Ms. Woods is a graduate of  Spelman College (a women's college) who has an MBA and a law degree from the University of Georgia.  Accompanying Ms. Woods was Elizabeth Upchurch, who portrayed Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scout founder.  MUW alumna, Elizabeth Gwin (class of 1930) planned to speak about her experiences as local Girl Scout executive director, but she was sick (which almost never happens, even if she IS 101 in May). However, a clip was shown of an interview done last summer in which Elizabeth talked about her long experience with Girl Scouting and what it did for her, her daughter, and her grandaughter.

The Center is  also  supporting the MUW international film series, which is focusing on women's experiences in China this month.  That program is Thursday night at five p.m. in Martin Hall. 

Bridget Pieschel is  teaching Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility this month to the Honors Residential Learning second year students, and they are talking about her depiction of courtship and marriage, putting in the context of 19th Century women's history.   

If you know of other on-campus events celebrating Women's History Month, or of off-campus events featuring MUW alums, please tell us about them in the comments section.

Birmingham Chapter Meeting

CALLING ALL MUW ALUMS FROM THE BIRMINGHAM AREA!  This photo shows last MFAeA chapter meeting.  Are you in it?  Leave a comment identifying the name and class year of these lovely ladies.

The next meeting of the Birmingham chapter of MFAeA is March 27, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. at Brio Tuscan Grill  located on the perimeter of Brookwood Mall off of Highway 31 in Homewood.  Bring your W friends and meet at 11:30.  So arrangements can be made, please RSVP to Erin Goia at Wgirl84@gmail.com  by March 20.  The website for this location has links to their menus, times and map.

Perspectives: Recent W Graduates

One question most recent Mississippi University for Women graduates ask themselves after receiving their diplomas is, “What next?”  The next step after college can lead young alums in many different directions, in ways that are not always clear as students scramble to complete their  final classes at the W. Will their post-graduate journeys lead them into  further education or into the “real world” as they begin their first jobs in  their chosen fields? Will they travel far away, or is the road to the future a  little closer to home? And how does one make those decisions, anyway?

In search of answers, I spoke with ten recent inductees into the Long Blue Line: 2007 graduates Christie Collins,  Lauren Dodd, Stephanie Evers, Rachel Forester, Erin Gioia, and Carrie Pate;  2008 graduates Irene Miller, Leigh Pourciau, and Megan Stoner Morgan; and  2009 graduate Lydia Coffey Pierce, all of whom offered advice about taking  those all-important next steps and reflections upon their own recent journeys  since leaving the W gates.

PART ONE: HIGHER EDUCATION  BECKONS*

W alumni who choose to undertake further education beyond the undergraduate level—whether in law school,  medical school, or other graduate programs—generally do not choose to do so in a lackadaisical or hasty manner.  Much thought, preparation, and planning goes into the choice to take up postgraduate studies. 

Megan Stoner Morgan (’08) has known for some time that she wished to pursue a Master’s in English, and in fact began completing her applications several months before they were due because, as she  reveals, “the application process was very long and complicated.”  Megan  suggests not only beginning the applications as early as possible, but also making school visits a  priority during the decision-making process: “Visit as many schools on your final list as you can.  You have to remember that you're committing between  2-6 years of your life to a place, and particularly if you have family  coming with you (I was engaged at the time), you will need a place that you can  stand to make your home in for that length of time.”  Megan adds that speaking  with students in each program can also provide invaluable information,  explaining, “Ask questions about what they like, what they hate, and where they hang  out. If you don't like the answers you're getting, you may not want to choose  that program, regardless of its ranking.”  After careful consideration, Megan enrolled in the Master’s of  English program at the University of Georgia, and she currently serves as a  graduate assistant in the English department.

Once you begin your chosen program, Megan advises that fostering relationships with graduate faculty is a must.  “Try  and feel out professors and start thinking about who you might want as your major professor and who might  be good for your thesis committee,” she says. “The earlier you build rapport  with faculty, the smoother things will go.” Lastly, Megan stresses the  importance of building friendships within the program.  “Your friends and some semblance of a social life will be your  salvation and likely the only way you'll make it through grad school alive,” she quips.

Though some students have few doubts about their choice to continue higher education, pursuing graduate studies is not always part  of a student’s original plans. Stephanie Evers (’07) says that the desire to continue in academia led to her choice to attend graduate school.  “I  actually never planned to go to graduate school,” she admits, “but when I saw my undergraduate days coming to an  end, I panicked.  Like any good academic, I dealt with my panic by applying to another school.” Stephanie chose the University of South Alabama for her further studies both because of its location closer to home and the  influence of a favorite teacher at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. The  decision to pursue a graduate degree paid off; Stephanie completed her Master’s  degree in English last May, and has accepted a position as an intern instructor  at USA, teaching English composition courses. 

Stephanie’s initial advice for students looking at graduate programs is to search for one which reflects their interests.  “However,”  she adds, “unless you’re dying to work with a particular professor at a large university, I recommend  looking for a small program.  At South, the English graduate program is quite small, so the classes rarely have more than ten people in them and the teachers  are very accessible.”  Working in close quarters with professors, Stephanie stresses, becomes very important when looking  for a job post-graduation.  “Consider the connections you made while in school.  A good teacher or mentor can  often help you find meaningful work,” she states.  “Eventually you will want  to move beyond the safety of your alma mater, but as you take your first  shaky steps into the professional world, it helps to be surrounded by people  you trust, people who already know your strengths and weaknesses.”

Not everyone who decides to pursue higher education, however, makes an immediate move from undergrad to graduate student.   Christie Collins (’07) decided to take a year off before beginning graduate school in order to spend more time  researching her choices.  She chose to pursue her Master’s degree at Mississippi State University in part because of its  location close to home, but more importantly, because it allows her flexibility  in mapping a course of study.  “I discovered that of all the programs I looked at, MSU was the only one that would  let me concentrate in more than one area of interest,” Christie explains.  “Upon  contacting the program and beginning the application process, I found the faculty and the current graduate  students to be helpful and friendly.”

For Christie, the ability to pay for her education was another large factor in the decision to go to MSU.   “I  applied and interviewed for two assistantships from two different departments and I was offered both.   My position as a graduate teaching assistant has essentially paid for my education,” she states.  “I  would advise students to consider funding over prestige. It is always good to be accepted into a great program,  but funding should, in some cases, outrank a name.”  According to Christie, in the end, choosing a graduate program  comes down to the individual student’s interests and academic goals.  “Make  sure that you find the right program for you. You shouldn't have to compromise what you want,” she says.  “If  you look hard enough, you will find the perfect place to continue your education.”

Carrie Pate’s (’07) journey to graduate school also took a brief detour in the year following her graduation from MUW.  After  moving back home to the Coast, Carrie began working for her mentor as an assistant at an outpatient counseling center.  “I got really lucky with that job,” Carrie explains. “The practical experience has been extremely valuable.”  Carrie recommends that other alums consider taking some time away from  academia before pursuing further education.  “The year off  helped me make my graduate school decisions, and it gave me time to take the GRE and do my grad  school applications.”  Carrie now attends the University of  Georgia (in the Master’s of Social Work program) and interns at Central  State Hospital in Milledgeville, GA.

In choosing a graduate program, Carrie stresses the importance of research in finding the right program for you. “Research,  ask around, and learn all you can,” she says.  “Sometimes what you want may not be what you expect.”  Like  Megan, Carrie also recommends visiting schools before accepting any offers.  “Talk to students. See if professors share your interests (particularly  research), and ask how much teaching attention they give students.”  Most  of all, she says, it is important to be open to the possibility of change.  “Remember, even if you choose a program, that still doesn’t mean that choice has to  be forever, so don’t stress yourself out too much. Don’t believe that you  actually have to know for certain what you want right this minute, because it’s  just not true. Direction is good, but even that can change.”

As one young alumna discovered, being open to  a change in direction can lead to the perfect career.  Lauren Dodd  (’07) left the W for York University in Toronto, Canada, in the fall of 2007 to pursue a Master’s  in English. However, upon entering her program and beginning the  coursework, Lauren came to realize that English was no longer her primary academic interest.  Though she enjoyed living in Toronto, Lauren decided to move back home and begin the coursework for a Master’s of Library and Information Studies degree at the University of Alabama.  “There were several library programs I thought of applying to, including two programs in Canada, but  I stuck close to home for in-state tuition,” says Lauren.  Plus,  she adds, “I knew UA has a good program, and that experience counts more in applying for library-related jobs  than school rankings.”  Lauren successfully completed her first semester of MLIS work in May 2009 and spent a month studying abroad  in London last summer.

Lauren strongly believes that prospective applicants to graduate school should concentrate much of their energy on creating a  solid statement of purpose.  “The statement of purpose is one of the most crucial parts of the application, and even if  one is a great writer, this is unfamiliar territory,” she cautions.  “Different  schools, not to mention different disciplines, have varying expectations, and it's important to have  someone experienced help you decipher what they are.”  Lauren recommends asking experienced writers and professors to  help revise any statement before including it with the graduate application.   “I had one of my English professors look over my first statement when I had no idea what I was doing, and it was a  huge help,” she explains.  “The second time around, I got a Writing Tutor peer to read my draft and offer advice.”

As these five alums demonstrate, much thought, preparation, and planning goes into the choice to take up postgraduate studies.   Those who choose to undertake further education beyond the undergraduate level—whether in law school,  medical school, or other graduate programs—are in for a long, sometimes  difficult ride.  Thankfully, though, as all five alums agree, taking advantage of the strong education provided by the W prepared each of them for the challenge of graduate school in  exceptionally useful ways.

Part two of this series can be found here. 

*A condensed version of this installment was published in the fall issue of the MFAeA newsletter.