Moeller has made a name for herself as a 5x Emmy-nominated senior producer at E! Entertainment Television, who now works as a producer at Entertainment Tonight.

“Back in high school, I used to watch all the red carpets and read all the entertainment magazines,” she explained. “I knew I wanted to work in entertainment television, and I knew ������Ƶ had one of the best schools for communications in the country.”

Recognizing that ������Ƶ was the perfect fit for her academic and personal aspirations, it became clear that she had to attend. Upon arriving at the school, Moeller dove right into her classes and even picked up a minor she had never considered.

“I majored in broadcast communications and minored in theater arts because I was told the Theatre Arts minor would be helpful with an on-camera presence,” she said. “My junior year in 2007, I studied abroad in London, and I now credit an entire career in entertainment news, due to ������Ƶ helping me acquire an internship abroad.”

Moeller remembers ������Ƶ asking her to choose her top three companies she would want to work for in London, and E! Entertainment was her first pick. With ������Ƶ’s help, she secured exactly what she’d hoped for.

The initial internship with E! during her London study abroad changed her trajectory for the better.

“I kept in touch with the London office, so when I did ������Ƶ’s inaugural ‘������Ƶ in LA’ program in the summer of 2008, I was able to land my second internship at E!,” she explained. “One week after graduation in 2009, I moved back to LA without a job. I hustled and kept in touch with the E! team, getting my first paying gig with them in 2010, working in the international department, all thanks to my first internship in London.”

Moeller made the switch from the international department to the domestic department at E! News and then rose through the ranks, from intern to senior producer. Over her 15 years at E! News, she was nominated for five Emmy Awards, and interviewed people like Steve Carell, Charlize Theron and 50 Cent. She also had the privilege of working on the red carpet at the Oscars and Golden Globes.

“I think one thing that’s gotten me far in this business is realizing celebrities are just normal people too, and they want to be treated that way,” she explained.  “When working with and writing scripts for celebs and hosts, I’ve always had success connecting with them on a personal level and not treating them like royalty.  They will always feel more comfortable around people who treat them normally and give them honest feedback, good or bad.”

Moeller credits her continued success to strong relationships with her coworkers, interviewees, and former hosts, always keeping in contact with them even after some of their shows had ended.

When reflecting on her favorite experiences so far in her career, she recalls being able to work on one of the biggest pop culture stages as a top moment.

“I recently worked the Golden Globes red carpet this year with our host Keltie Knight, and it was my first time doing a major awards show red carpet; we were positioned right at the limo drop where we saw all the celebs exiting their cars, like George and Amal Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Leslie Mann, to name a few.”

This unforgettable experience solidified for her that she was in the right career.
Another memorable project was producing live coverage for Kobe Bryant’s memorial service in 2020, outside of the Staples Center.

“It was just me, my host Will Marfuggi, and a cameraman. We were reporting live from downtown LA, getting footage and statements of the fans showing up to mourn his death.  It was a surreal experience to be in the presence of that historic moment,” she said.

Moeller’s journey at E! News was marked by steady growth in leadership, as she took on a variety of roles throughout her time at the company. When E! News was cancelled in September 2025, she unexpectedly lost her job. However, the strong professional relationships she had built over the years quickly became a source of support and opportunity.

“One meaningful connection I made along the way was with Jerry O’Connell, who at the time was hosting ‘The Talk.’ After our interview, he followed me on Instagram and has been a huge supporter of my career ever since. When E! News was cancelled in September, we went out to lunch to talk through opportunities and strategies. He even reposted my Instagram announcement when I shared that I had landed a new job at Entertainment Tonight,” said Moeller.

Building on her professional network, she transitioned from a freelance role at Entertainment Tonight in October to a full-time position in January of this year. She credits this milestone to her connections and a pivotal, “game-changing” internship in London.

������Ƶ’s top-notch curriculum and amazing professors helped her feel prepared for the real world, knowing she could succeed outside the classroom. ������Ƶ’s study abroad center helped many students, including Moeller, afford transformative international experiences. Opening doors to life-changing internships and meaningful global connections while abroad.

Moeller has come a long way through courage and perseverance, and now she works for a nine-time Emmy Award-winning nationwide show.

“This business, especially out in LA, is 100% about who you know, but it’s how good you do that is what keeps you there,” she explained.

“My main advice is to take the internships, do the study abroad, make the connections, and always keep in contact with people and never burn bridges,” she said. “You never know who’s going to end up where and who can help you down the line. And when you’re on top, know that it can always change in an instant, so always be kind to the people below you, as one day you may be working for them.”

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online.

At ������Ƶ, she majored in environmental and ecological science and minored in statistics, laying the foundation for her career in public service.

“I found ������Ƶ while I was touring colleges in the South, and if I’m honest, what initially captivated me was the beautiful campus,” says Nighswander. “It was quaint, but not too small, and I immediately felt comfortable there. I also learned that they offered the environmental science program I was interested in, as well as plenty of extracurricular activities, so it was a pretty easy choice.”

Once on campus, Nighswander immersed herself in student life and began shaping her sense of self, playing on the women’s rugby club team and working as a referee for ������Ƶ’s Campus Recreation intramurals program all four years.

Beyond extracurricular involvement, ������Ƶ also nurtured her academic and professional growth.

“I received a scholarship through the ������Ƶ College Fellows program, which gave me financial aid as well as a program that really helped me succeed at ������Ƶ,” she said. “The program itself was fairly rigorous, and I credit the academic standards and research requirements for starting me on the path that got me into graduate school and ultimately, my career at the EPA.”

Through the ������Ƶ College Fellows program, she spent her junior and senior years conducting undergraduate research on wetland ecology, an experience that sparked her passion for environmental research.

She continued her education at the University of Florida, earning her master’s degree while discovering a new passion for CrossFit and the strong sense of community it fostered. After graduating in 2019, she moved back to Washington, D.C., to live with her parents and begin her job search. When COVID-19 upended those plans, she adapted, taking on side gigs and consulting work while also teaching CrossFit once gyms reopened.

“I met some members at CrossFit who worked at the EPA. I had told them that I really wanted to work there, and they sent me a few positions that were hiring,” she said. “The positions were in the Office of Pesticide Programs, which I wasn’t sure I was qualified for since I had very little knowledge about pesticides,” she explained. “When I interviewed, I leveraged my experience with statistics, entomology, and data analytics, and was lucky enough to get hired and start working there by the end of 2020.”

Today, her work at the EPA remains fast-paced, with priorities shifting quickly and requiring constant adaptability. “I work in pesticide regulation, and more specifically, I manage both public and proprietary pesticide usage data and analyze said data as part of assessing the benefits and risks of a given pesticide active ingredient,” Nighswander said.

Her time at ������Ƶ continues to influence her professional approach.

“My experience conducting research at ������Ƶ helped me a lot. It helped refine my skills in developing and testing hypotheses, technical writing and public speaking,” she said.

She is especially energized by projects that blend science and technology.

“My favorite project currently is using a mapping software called ArcGIS to develop Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs) to protect endangered species from pesticide exposure,” Nighswander said.

Her career as a public servant has been complex, but she explains that it also makes her work rewarding.

“What gets me to work every day is knowing that I am working to help protect human health and the environment. I have always wanted to have a successful career where I can still balance my love for the environment. At the same time, I also must make members of the industry, the general public, and environmental groups happy, which is very challenging,” she explained.

The past year has brought additional demands amid broad changes across the federal workforce. Even so, she feels grateful to remain in her role and grounded in the purpose behind her work to safeguard the environment.

Looking back, Nighswander offers simple but powerful advice to her younger self: “Know that you have all the tools you need to be successful. You don’t have to be the smartest kid in the class or the loudest voice. Just trust your instincts, love yourself, and you’ll find your way.”

She approaches the future with the same openness. “I have no idea where I will be in my future, and I kind of love that,” she said. “There was a period last year where every week, I was worried if I would still have a job. A year later, I am still here, serving the public, and I am grateful for that. I trust myself enough to know when it is time to move on and make a change, and I am sure that time will come, but for now, I am enjoying the work that I do. The uncertainty, while scary at times, can be the most beautiful part of life.”

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online.

While much of the marketing world is obsessed with algorithms, Weickert focuses on the “science and soul” of human interaction. Her work aims to combat the modern “loneliness epidemic” by creating spaces that foster psychological safety, trust and a genuine sense of belonging.

“In today’s world, people aren’t buying the product anymore,” Weickert explains. “They are buying identity and how a brand makes them feel. That’s the future of experiential.”

Her expertise has earned her a spot on the 2024 Women We Admire’s Top 50 Women Leaders in North Carolina, a testament to her influence on the up-and-coming industry.

“There’s not a ton of experiential representation in our state, so it was nice to put our agency and our industry on the map,” she said.

Weickert’s reach extends globally as well through her work with the World Experience Organization, where she collaborates with fellow creators to design experiences that connect people.

“Experiences are the best form of ads and will be the only channel that matters in a world that is being inundated with AI, mistrust, a loneliness epidemic and a polycrisis,” she said.

Her rise to the top of the experiential marketing world began with a deep-seated curiosity about the human experience. Her career started in traditional advertising, where she quickly became exposed to the greater marketing ecosystem. Seeing all the many facets of marketing allowed her to find her true calling in experiential work.

“There was something soulful about experiential marketing; it was much deeper than a human being exposed to a digital ad on the screen, and I was drawn to that,” she said. “I felt instantly connected to this idea of using brand stories as a powerful tool to create connection and belonging amongst strangers.”

Weickert’s career was heavily influenced by her experience at ������Ƶ. She credits her classes at ������Ƶ for helping her thrive in her current role.

“My Business Communications class and my Public Speaking class both taught me how to effectively communicate with others in a concise yet compelling way, with lessons that I still use in my current role today,” she said.

Winter Term ended up being one of the most meaningful parts of her experience at ������Ƶ, especially due to one class centered on Woodstock.

“My Winter Term class explored the music surrounding the Woodstock era, both the cultural and artistic influences that led up to it and the ones that emerged in its wake,” she said. “What struck me most about the class was how deeply it invited us to reflect on the creative act itself. It taught me the biggest lesson above all: to always engage in experiences that leave you inspired, stay curious about the human experience, and expand your world into new realms of thinking.”

That mindset has stuck with her, and she now makes a point to seek out experiences that spark inspiration and bring those insights into her everyday work. Her work as head of strategy at XD Agency involves working with her team to discover “how people make sense of the world and turn it into category-shifting advantages for brands,” she explains.

Her job also consists of constant travel and high-pressure environments. For Weickert, she maintains a level head with a disciplined sense of gratitude, reminding herself how lucky she is to feel tired from a long week of traveling the world and how fortunate she is to meet unexpected people around the globe. She also looks to stay present through mid-day meditation or simply appreciating the moments.

Weickert points to one standout project as her favorite: Camp Poosh at the 2025 Coachella Festival, created for Kourtney Kardashian Barker’s brand Poosh.

The team transformed a massive Palm Desert estate into something entirely immersive, blending “color, texture, sound, nostalgia, and ritual” to create a space that tapped into what people crave most: novelty, belonging, and pleasure. What made the event especially memorable for Weickert was its carefully crafted sensory journey, which Weickert was a main part of creating. Guests flowed through an environment filled with contrasts, moving between workout classes, cold plunges, sound baths, DJ sets, and late-night celebrations that blurred self-care with nightlife.

“The brain loves contrast, so we leaned into it,” she explained, highlighting how each moment was designed to keep energy and engagement high. That philosophy culminated in a surprise performance by Heidi Montag, which, “turned the entire house electric.” The result was a perfectly balanced experience: “wellness that didn’t feel preachy” and “indulgence that didn’t feel guilty,” capturing what she calls a seamless blend of inscape and escape.

Her advice for those following in her footsteps? Put down the phone and connect with others.

“The only way you can understand what it means to be human is by exposing yourself to things that fundamentally make us human,” she said.

Weickert emphasizes the importance of prioritizing time outdoors to stay grounded. As algorithms increasingly shape our digital lives, it is essential to nurture a curiosity for the physical world, enabling us to become better communicators.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online.

Emmanuel Tobe ’21 always knew he wanted to major in communications, but the success that came after his graduation was something he never saw coming.

“When I was in high school, I was looking at schools, knowing that I wanted to go into communications,” Tobe said. “I started out as a journalism major because, in high school and middle school, the only career option I knew of in communications was journalism. It wasn’t until I got to ������Ƶ and started taking some more classes that I was able to see the different levels of communication and the large number of fields and work that you can do in communications.”

After getting into ������Ƶ and experiencing all the majors and fields the university offered, Tobe switched to a double major in media analytics and cinema and television arts, with a minor in political science. Tobe got involved with campus organizations from the start. During his first year, he joined ������Ƶ Phoenix Weekly, and by his second year, he and his roommate were producing.

“Being involved in Phoenix Weekly gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “There are a couple of things I did there that I’m really proud of. For one, we strapped the camera to the back of a golf cart for an interview. We also did some really fun stuff, like when we traveled to South Carolina and did a feature on kids who were BMX bikers. We also interviewed David Stern, who’s the commissioner of the NBA.”

“I’m really thankful to Max Negin (the advisor of Phoenix Weekly) for letting us make mistakes and letting us learn from them. I think that it’s so easy to stay in a lane, but I think that is a disservice to both yourself and also to whatever you’re creating,” said Tobe.

Tobe says it’s important to get involved on campus early on and look for the smaller campus and off-campus organizations to offer your expertise.

“One thing that I also recommend is utilizing the community,” he said. “I think that a lot of people underestimate the connection that ������Ƶ and Burlington have. I worked at Ace Speedway, a racetrack 40 minutes from campus. I was the communications intern, and I did that for a summer, and it was a great experience that not many ������Ƶ students know about.”

Tobe was a communications fellow and credits the program for allowing him to explore multiple fields in communications and meet industry professionals.

“To be a freshman and to get the chance to go to a bunch of advertising agencies and hear from account directors and producers and listen to them talk was so cool,” he said. “At the time, I wasn’t planning on working at an agency, but things shifted and moved, and now I am working at an agency. I never expected going to those agencies to be as beneficial as it was, but I think that’s the cool thing about being exposed to a lot of different things as a communications fellow.”

Immediately after college, Tobe was thrust into the professional world with a three-week internship for the Tokyo Olympics, which faced a lot of adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, he began working for the NBA in broadcast operations.

One of his top experiences while working for the NBA was being able to work out of Las Vegas.

“I was able to go to Las Vegas and help out with the summer league tournament, which was incredible,” he said. “I’d never been to Las Vegas, and my dad actually came out as well. So it was really cool to be out there and have him there as well. He was really excited!”

Tobe does warn that some challenges can come from working for a legacy company like the NBA, such as how it can be easy to feel like “another cog in the machine.”

While Tobe has also started his own company, Ecsetera, the effort is on hold for now. He is currently working for Droga5, an award-winning advertising agency based in New York City. His favorite work to date with the company is working on a video for a charity called HT40.

“We had a video for the NHL, and it was for this charity called HT40, which was founded by these two parents whose son was a high school hockey player who unfortunately committed suicide,” he said. “The thing they wanted to get out of the video was that hockey is this very masculine sport where people are, a lot of times, afraid to be who they are, or they are afraid to reach out and say they need help or need someone, but that doesn’t have to be the case.”

The agency created a video for this charity with the NHL that had high schoolers and then a couple of NHL professional players singing “Lean On Me” while skating on the ice. Tobe says the message was that, if you need someone to lean on, there are people around you, and there’s no struggle you have to go through on your own.

Tobe also worked on the for this year’s Super Bowl, which starred Guy Fieri and aired during the game’s second quarter. The ad centers on Guy Fieri becoming “Justaguy,” a boring version of himself. After using Bosch appliances, “Justaguy” transforms back into his exciting counterpart, Guy Fieri. The ad was a major success, even winning the “Readers’ Choice Best Ad” award from Ad Age.

“I was responsible for producing some of the digital banners and social media for the campaign,” said Tobe. “It was an incredible experience and gave me such insight into how large campaigns are made and what happens when people work together to accomplish a goal.”

Tobe says working in advertising is different from how it used to be, but it makes the field exciting.

“We can fast forward, we can skip, we can go on a streaming service, we can pull out our phones and look at something else,” he said. “Because of how technology and the media have changed and evolved with us while growing up, we are a generation that must be really advertised to and marketed in creative, cool ways.”

Tobe has taken the lifelong learner approach when it comes to his career. His advice to recent graduates is to stop stressing about titles and roles you see on LinkedIn, what he called “LinkedIn watching.” He says that everyone is on their own path, and it’s important not to get distracted by others and to be true to yourself.

Are you enjoying our Alumni in Action series? Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online.

Della Marie Vickers McKinnon ’62 remains deeply rooted in ������Ƶ, a place that defines her family’s legacy and her upbringing.

“Not only did my grandparents, my parents, my husband, and I attend ������Ƶ, but also my brother, his wife (who was a librarian for over 30 years at the college), and their two boys,” McKinnon explained.

Growing up in the town of ������Ƶ, she saw the college not just as an institution, but as her neighborhood, her backyard and her daily reality. Her neighbors were often professors and staff of the college. The people who taught classes during the day were the same people she would see on her street later that night.

She watched the university evolve from her back window, witnessing its transformation over the years. One example is the property behind her house that was once used as the college farm, which later became a place that housed different families as the university expanded.

McKinnon was a part of ������Ƶ life and tradition from a very early age.

“I was in the College May Day as a flower girl when I was very young,” McKinnon recalled.

May Day is the celebration of the return to spring, and at ������Ƶ, the festival was always held on the first Saturday in May and consisted of dancing and other entertainment.

“There was a court selected by the student body which had a May King and May Queen along with their attendants and escorts, and they would ask different children in the community to be younger attendants,” she shareed.

When McKinnon looks back on those who shaped some of these early memories growing up, she notes the influence of professors at ������Ƶ, particularly the late president emeritus, Dr. J. Earl Danieley. In her younger years, she babysat Danieley’s son when Danieley was still a chemistry professor at the university. He later became president of ������Ƶ and held that position during McKinnon’s time as a student at ������Ƶ.

Her ������Ƶ experiences were very different from most because of her close connections to campus from a young age. She recalls even small memories like going to watch movies on Saturday nights with her mother in Whitley Auditorium.

������Ƶ has seen many changes throughout the years, and McKinnon was there for all of it. But of those early years, she holds fond memories of the way ������Ƶ once was.

“The ������Ƶ Community Church met in Whitley Auditorium for church, and I attended Sunday School in classrooms in the Mooney Building. My boyfriend and I would go downtown to Garrison’s Soda Shop on the days we didn’t have chapel and buy a Coke in the small bottle for 10 cents. The Student Union was also in the Mooney Building, and we would gather there between classes, and on the weekends, my sorority would have social occasions with our fraternity brothers,” she recalls.

McKinnon’s family is forever woven into the very fabric of ������Ƶ’s history.

“I learned from my mom, Gladys Simpson Vickers, that her dad, Henry Simpson, helped finish building the wall around the campus and was one of the students in the very first graduating class,” she said. “My great-grandmother on my mom’s side and her whole family moved from Graham to build a house on the west side of the campus so that my grandmother, Mary Crawford, could go to ������Ƶ. It came full circle that when I became a student at ������Ƶ, that same house was then the Student Health Center.”

But it was her father, Earl Wright Vickers, Sr., who solidified ������Ƶ’s continued influence in McKinnon’s life. Her father dedicated much of his time to the town of ������Ƶ and the college, forever leaving his mark. He served as a member of the Board of Aldermen for ������Ƶ College, held the position of Town Clerk for several years and also worked as Deputy Sheriff for a period of time. But at the time of his passing, he was employed as the superintendent of the college power plant.

“Early in the 1940’s, ������Ƶ was designated as the location of the 325th College Training Detachment of the Army Air Corps, and since the college did not have a lot of finances, someone from Virginia offered to give the college a station wagon to provide transportation for the recruiters,” she said. “My dad offered to go to Virginia after work to obtain the vehicle and drive it back.  He was on the way to Virginia when a truck hit the vehicle.  He was the only one who died in the accident. After my father’s accident, ������Ƶ came to my mother and told her that her children’s education would be taken care of by the college. They honored that for my brother and me.”

During her first year as a student at ������Ƶ, McKinnon had the benefit of her former ties to the town and college that most of her peers did not have, and where she lived on campus was no different.

“Both my mother and her sister had lived in West Dormitory, and when I decided to stay on campus my first year, I also lived in West,” she said. “We even lived on the same floor, but at opposite ends of the same hall some 30 years later!”

������Ƶ was there for so many important moments of her life, even the naming of her own daughter.

“We could not decide on a name until we were on campus at the O’Kelly Monument, and both my husband and I agreed on Kelly as her name,” says McKinnon.

Five generations of her family have attended ������Ƶ, each leaving their mark on the campus and the surrounding community. Today, McKinnon is proud to be an alum of ������Ƶ.

“I am especially proud of the latest visionary investment in the Robert’s Academy for children with dyslexia,” she said. “I cherish the lifelong friends made while at ������Ƶ. I have enjoyed going back to ball games, homecomings, and participating on committees. I am so proud of ������Ƶ and the school it has become.”

Are you enjoying our Alumni in Action series? Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to online.

“This, this is it,” he said to his dad, solidifying his decision then and there.

������Ƶ was the only school he applied to and what followed was a college journey filled with creativity, experimentation and initiative that would ultimately shape his path into one of the fastest-paced and influential spaces in media.

While at ������Ƶ, Buckley made an effort to stand out, helping to co-create “WIN Stuff,” a campus game show born out of ingenuity and a couple of borrowed laptops.

“We were essentially running PowerPoint on 12 laptops and had someone behind the wall hitting the space bar to advance the graphics,” he recalls.

The project became a crash course in running a show, live coordination and producing content under pressure, all skills that would prove invaluable years later in the newsroom. “WIN Stuff” still airs today on campus and is a testament to all the hard work Buckley put into the program.

That hands-on, do-it-yourself energy never left Buckley. Today, he is a senior writer for “Erin Burnett OutFront” at CNN, where he crafts the show’s nightly monologue — Erin’s take on the top story of the day. One of his proudest achievements was when he was a part of the Emmy award-winning team recognized for Outstanding Breaking News Coverage during the Israeli conflict.

“You’re flying by the seat of your pants, but that’s what I love about TV news– creating news as it unfolds,” says Buckley about breaking news coverage. “The coverage on the Israeli conflict was especially challenging, requiring live updates to the script, with rockets flashing across the screen and the control room shouting, ‘I’ve got something new!”

He recalls updating the copy moments before everything aired. But, he says it’s in this fast-paced and adrenaline-fueled environment of breaking news that he truly excels.

Buckley didn’t stop at the writer’s desk. He saw an opportunity where there was a void– CNN’s lack of presence on TikTok. On his own time, without institutional backing, he launched a TikTok account for “Erin Burnett OutFront” that racked up thousands of followers in just a year. “It was important that people who don’t watch CNN on television still see our work,” he says.

One TikTok that did immensely well, the first to make over one million views for them, was coincidentally one of his favorite stories to date. The California wildfires had picked up pace in the news, and many people were already devastated by the damage, losing their homes and belongings. In the video, Erin Burnett returns to one of the homes, owned by a fireman and his wife, that was destroyed. Upon arrival, the fireman begins sifting through the debris, looking for anything remaining. Suddenly, the fireman miraculously pulls out a wedding ring from the rubble and runs to show his wife, and they both break down in tears.

The control room where Buckley and the other staff were sitting broke down in tears as well, so touched by the emotional event — a brief glimpse of something good amidst heartbreak and tragedy. Buckley recalls feeling inspired and fortunate to have been able to witness such a moving event.

Even with his many successes, Buckley remains humble about the challenges he’s faced. Producing segments on unfamiliar topics, like economic policy, requires a sharp learning curve, and the added task of making that content digestible for everyday viewers can be demanding. But he embraces it all, crediting CNN’s global reach and his team’s dedication to the success of the show.

As for the future, Buckley is all in: “News will always be important,” he says.

Whether it lives on cable or flourishes through new digital channels, Buckley remains optimistic about CNN’s future.

His advice to the next generation of storytellers is simple but powerful: “Be versatile. You need to be the person who can write, produce, and also clip that moment for TikTok. Don’t be afraid to try everything.”

The guests started the night mingling to the tune of smooth jazz at an event reception before being ushered to their seats to watch a video showcasing the connections alumni continue to foster with their alma mater. Kelsey McCabe ’16, New York City alumni chapter president took the stage to share her love for the university as well as congratulate the New York chapter on the community they’ve built.

“This year we’ve thrown some of our classic happy hours, amped up Women of ������Ƶ activities even more, including the Central Park Walk scheduled for May 17, and have increased our social media presence,” said McCabe.

After thanking the guests for their generosity towards the current students, she introduced President Connie Ledoux Book to the stage.

President Book began her university update by thanking Joan and Trustee Ed Doherty P’07 as it was their generosity that helped ������Ƶ plant the roots of this gathering in New York years ago.

“These evenings have a certain rhythm to them,” said Book. “The energy is warm and the conversations easy. There’s always this sense that we already know each other because at some point in our lives, we were shaped by the same place. That place on the bricks, in the classrooms, in the late nights and early mornings of our own becoming.”

Book pivoted to speak on Boldly ������Ƶ the university’s strategic plan for 2030. She noted that the plan has already driven significant improvements, resulting in ������Ƶ being ranked #1 nationally for undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.

“The nation’s best faculty are at ������Ƶ—ahead of Brown, Princeton, and others. That distinction speaks to the core of who we are: a university that puts students first—and backs that promise up every day, in every classroom, in every interaction,” said Book.

Her remarks also covered the improvement across campus. ������Ƶ’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, which was ranked #38 overall and in the top 25 among private colleges and universities in the nation by Poets&Quants’, is welcoming Haya Ajjan as the new dean of the school in June.

In the School of Communications, ������Ƶ has added a new major in digital content management. Finally, in the arts, ������Ƶ is one of the top 10 most-represented colleges on Broadway. That kind of recognition Book reflects is not just by talent but brought on by a community where artists are deeply supported—and prepared to perform.

Attendees also learned that the Eco-Village is thriving as a living-learning community developed with a sustainable design and a leader in the university’s sustainability efforts. On the heels of the Eco-Village, ������Ƶ launched a new Sustainability Master Plan, doubling down on efforts to be carbon neutral by 2037 leaving the community a cleaner, healthier place for all.

Book wrapped up by touching on HealthEU the second largest capital project in ������Ƶ’s history, a campus-wide center for wellness before introducing Stephanie Ainsworth ’21 and Reagan Ogle ’18 to the stage.

Stephanie Ainsworth ’21 and Reagan Ogle ’18 performed their rendition of “Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again” originally sung by Barbra Streisand and featuring Judy Garland.

Jim Piatt, senior vice president for university advancement and external affairs, provided closing remarks, focusing on growing stronger together, ending the night with the well-known song, “New York, New York.”

“I just really fell in love,” she recalled. “It was the community, the culture, the energy — it all felt right.” What she didn’t know yet was that her time at ������Ƶ would set her on a path she hadn’t even imagined, a career amplifying voices across the country through public opinion.

Marken started out undeclared for her major, feeling the pressure that many first-generation students face in finding a secure, practical career. She leaned toward business, hoping it would guarantee job stability, but a pivotal conversation with her advisor, Professor of History Charles Irons, changed everything.

When she visited Irons to declare her major in business, he asked her a simple but powerful question, “What do you love learning about?” Marken recalls telling him about her love for polling after taking an introductory to public opinion polling class. In response, he told her that if you study what you love, the rest will fall into place. So, she pivoted and decided to declare a degree in Political Science instead.

Her interest in polling took shape into a passion after her internship with ������Ƶ Poll. She found herself doing real-world work on campus.

“It was such a gift,” she said. “Especially as a student balancing financial strain, it helped me imagine a future career in polling that I wouldn’t have otherwise considered.”

Her experiences at ������Ƶ — from her internship and rigorous political science courses to her leadership in her sorority — gave her the confidence and tools to keep going. With the encouragement of her professors, Marken pursued graduate school in survey research at the University of Connecticut.

“When I went on to U-Conn’s graduate school program, I felt incredibly prepared to be successful academically there, and I think so much of that was due to the rigor of the political science department at ������Ƶ,” said Marken.

From there, she worked at Westat before landing what had always felt like a dream role for her– working at Gallup. She recalls feeling drawn to Gallup with their mission of helping people be heard. With such a diverse group of clients focused on so many distinct and pressing world problems, there were so many areas of impact she felt she could focus on.

Today, Marken is a leader in U.S. research at the renowned polling organization, where she oversees projects on some of the most pressing issues of our time — healthcare access, climate concerns and higher education. What drives her most is the power of giving people a voice.

“To provide people a voice and elevate lived experience is a real privilege in public opinion polling,” explained Marken, “Reporting on an unexpected finding is the most rewarding part of my work, while the most challenging part is staying ahead of research trends. When I started at Gallup in 2012, most people were still using telephone surveys. Now, it’s very rare that we would use a telephone survey to conduct a public opinion poll. It’s an exciting challenge keeping up with technology and making sure that we’re evolving our methodology so that we can still represent most Americans in the end.”

Marken credits ������Ƶ, and especially faculty members like Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Laura Roselle, former ������Ƶ Professor Hunter Bacot, and Irons, for shaping both her career and her purpose.

“They took a vested interest in me, and they didn’t have to. If not for those three people, I very much doubt I’d be at Gallup today,” she says.

She recalls how Roselle, taught her how to write with clarity and impact– something that was essential for her success in graduate school. Bacot first introduced her to the polling center and encouraged her to explore a career in public opinion research, and it was Irons who challenged her to pursue her passions.

“I credit any success I’ve had since graduation to the incredible advisors and mentors I had at ������Ƶ,” Marken said.

Emery’s enthusiasm for service allowed her to help create a home for others at ������Ƶ wanting to give back. Her passion was ignited through projects like Habitat for Humanity.

“Working side by side with the family we were striving to get in their new home for the holidays was inspiring and empowering,” said Emery.

Through Habitat for Humanity, Emery met John Barnhill, now associate vice president for University Advancement, a great friend and coworker who would eventually convince her to change career paths and help her start ������Ƶ Volunteers.

“This project and friendship with John Barnhill set me on a path to switching my major from Business to Social Sciences, where I could study human services, psychology and business together,” said Emery.

Her north star

After graduating from ������Ƶ in 1993, Emery initially entered the corporate world, working for an investment banking firm in the Washington, DC area for five years. Then, she felt a pull back to her north star: service. She took on the role of director of program services at the Arlington, Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 1999, she and her husband moved to Colorado, where she transitioned back into the private sector, working for a communication program company.

Her commitment to community service remained strong, leading her to start a food allergy-friendly baking mix business in 2006, donating a portion of each sale to local nonprofits. In 2015, she became the volunteer manager for a local performing arts nonprofit, which evolved into a larger role in 2017 with a sister nonprofit, Ovation West Performing Arts. There she helped found a children’s performing arts non-profit that is flourishing today. In 2020, she was promoted to Managing Director at Ovation West, guiding the organization through the challenges of COVID-19 and leaving it in a stronger financial position than when she started.

In 2022, an opportunity arose for Emery to return to her human services roots with EChO (Evergreen Christian Outreach), and she embraced it. Now serving as the director of finance and operations, she works across multiple departments, including the food pantry, client services, shelter, and ReSale Store. Her role involves ensuring that facilities, human resources, finance and administration align to best serve the community.

“My team and I are proud to play a key role in serving 20% of the residents in our community who rely on us for food, firewood for heating their homes, financial assistance and shelter,” said Emery.

“The most rewarding part is when a client feels empowered to take those next steps toward success,” she said. “Sometimes it’s the big wins when they receive housing, or the small ones, assisting with that interview outfit and helping them feel confident.”

Nurturing the next generation

Emery said she’s proud to be part of an organization that treats people with dignity and offers personalized support. But “the constant change” can be challenging.

“The truly most touching part is when our clients share their journey with us and tell us how our staff treating them with dignity and respect gave them the power to move toward their personal success goals,” said Emery. “No day is like another, and we deal so much with crisis management, plans for the day often get derailed and we deal with the issue at hand and then circle back to the original plan.”

However, these moments also foster teamwork and connection, reinforcing her dedication to the nonprofit sector.

Looking back, Emery credits her time at ������Ƶ for shaping her path. The experiential learning opportunities, unique at the time, helped her develop critical thinking skills that proved invaluable throughout her career. She is proud to have played a role in fostering a culture of service at ������Ƶ, knowing that ������Ƶ Volunteers continues to empower students today.

“It’s amazing to see where ������Ƶ is today and I feel very proud that something I helped nurture is empowering the next generation of students,” said Emery.

Emery said her favorite service projects at ������Ƶ were Habitat for Humanity, the first Pre-Serve session, Conferences on Service, the park rehabilitation project, and Week of Service. These events and projects were community-building experiences, challenging me mentally and often physically.”

For those interested in nonprofit work, Emery advises choosing a mission that aligns with personal passion. She says the work can be mentally and emotionally stretching, requiring creativity, adaptability, and a willingness to go beyond a job description.

“Seeing the impact of your work on others is tremendous,” Emery said. “I love seeing a child get on the stage for the first time and light it up, celebrating when you coach a team of kids to compete and grow. Seeing that dog placed in their forever home. I have been there to hold the hand of a woman who just lost her home in a fire and provided her with assistance with clothing and food. I want to be there to support the stressed mother in need of food and show her that we have her back so she can take that next step on her path to success.

What connects us

Emery continues to volunteer with arts organizations and the Salvation Army, staying true to her lifelong commitment to service.

“It teaches you to do more with less and I continue to learn and grow as a person,” said Emery on why she still chooses to volunteer.

Apart from the work, Emery also values her coworkers just as much.

“One of my favorite things to do is to chat with our volunteers around the building,” she said. “They are a tremendous source of light and inspiration. I feel incredibly honored that hundreds of community members choose to be part of our mission and share their time with us.”

It’s that connection with others that always brings Emery back to service.

“We live in a world where there is less personalization and more detachment, I like being part of what connects us and brings us together, and that’s what volunteerism and nonprofit work is all about,” said Emery.

In November 1953, while serving in the military aboard of ship of over 5,000 other U.S. Army servicemen, Troutman recalls hearing about ������Ƶ for the first time. Below deck with the other soldiers, he was enjoying a movie when intermission arrived and Troutman stood up to stretch his legs and chat with those around him. It was during this moment that he encountered someone who would profoundly impact his life: an unknown solider who shared his love for baseball.

“It was during my brief conversation with this soldier, whose name I don’t remember and who I never saw again, who first spoke the words ‘������Ƶ College’ to me. He casually referenced this revered small college in North Carolina, that just happened to have a strong baseball program,” said Troutman.

Little did Troutman know ������Ƶ would become a central part of his life. Six years later, in 1959, Troutman was able to transfer credits from Penn State University to attend ������Ƶ. Having received financial assistance through the GI Bill, Troutman was able to afford the college of his dreams. He recalls feeling gracious for the opportunity to attend college, as many people he knew couldn’t afford it.

“As a small-town farm boy, growing up in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and one of seven children, financial assistance was the difference between a college education or not,” he said.

Troutman remembers feeling genuinely accepted from the moment he stepped foot on campus to unpack his belongings on the second floor of Carolina residence hall. Even being a few years older than his classmates, Troutman still felt the kindness and support of his peers.

“These relationships served as my family away from home and opened the door for a place in the campus community. Classmates, professors, and campus employees offered me an opportunity ‘to belong’, and I accepted it,” he said.

To pay for college, Troutman worked in the school cafeteria. He learned many useful skills there, like responsibility and hard work, but his biggest takeaway was the people that he met along the way.

“I was privileged to encounter one of the most remarkable, endearing, one-in-a-million individuals I have ever met,” said Troutman, about a woman he referred to as Miss Mary. “A hug from her would fuel my energy tank for the whole day. For those at ������Ƶ who write its history, she deserves more than a paragraph.”

At the time, Troutman recalls Miss Mary being one of the few African American personnel working at the school. She was largely responsible for the smooth running of the school cafeteria that served an all-white student body. Troutman remembers her larger-than-life presence and personality, which he describes as having, “an enormously positive impact on my collegiate career.”

While at ������Ƶ, Troutman had many interests and passions such as history, English, and competitive athletics. It wasn’t until another cafeteria worker, Sharon Glew, introduced him to the arts that he found his real calling. His first experience with the arts was in an oral interpretation class taught by husband and wife, Mel and Betty Wooten.

“In retrospect, it was their patience, instruction, guidance, positive attitude, encouragement, and supportive friendship that led me to become excited and interested in performing arts,” he explains.

The arts were where Troutman thrived, he was able to play several lead roles and showcase his talents. He notes that the most demanding role of Sganerelle in Moliere’s “The Doctor in Spite of Himself” was also the most rewarding. The director, Ray Day, created an amazing show Troutman was proud to be a part of. In February of 1961, all of his hard work paid off when he won the Jerry Dalton Strader Award ‘Eppie’ for his outstanding performance as Sganerelle. This award helped him solidify his passion for the arts as well as validate the sacrifices and hard work he put in to succeed in the theater.

“The impact of my relationships with professors Mel and Betty Wooten, director Ray Day and the student members of the ������Ƶ Players cannot be measured. They will remain as life-altering treasures,” he says.

A memory Troutman reflects on fondly during his time at ������Ƶ is that of his Spanish professor, Francis Muldrow. She pushed him to succeed and never gave up on him during his time at ������Ƶ.

“Her message was that if I was capable of memorizing so many pages of dialogue, there was no excuse for me being a ‘C’ grade Spanish student. She expressed her disappointment and challenged me to better myself. She arranged for a study partner in Alan Foster and thanks to them I raised my grade to a responsible ‘B’,” he said.

Troutman built himself a home at ������Ƶ and found role models, friends, and mentors.

“Now in 2025, at the age of 92, retired but forever an ������Ƶ graduate, I salute and acknowledge members of the ������Ƶ faculty who served as positive role models who encouraged me to be the best that I could be, and convinced me that I belonged as a vital member of the ������Ƶ community,” he said.

Bill Troutman’s journey to ������Ƶ exemplifies the power of unexpected encounters, the transformative nature of higher education, and the importance of the people you meet along the way. From his military service to meeting the unknown soldier who introduced him to the possibilities at ������Ƶ, his path was unconventional.

At ������Ƶ, he not only found lifelong friends but also discovered a newfound passion for acting—one that would forever shape his personal and professional life. The impact of ������Ƶ on Troutman is profound, proving that sometimes the most meaningful chapters of our lives are written through the connections we make and the passions we uncover along the way.