“Spain is filling up with Samford students! “says Patry Romero, our 2014-15 visiting Spanish instructor from Instituto Sampere in Salamanca, Spain. Austin Akers ‘15, Kristin Brining ‘15, Kate Holthouser ‘14, Amy Lucas ’14 and Katie Savage ‘14 taught there this year courtesy of the North American Language and Culture Assistants program. This was the second year for Holthouser and Lucas. Holthouser recalls being overwhelmed by “too many options, and too many interests” after graduation. WLAC mentors helped her focus and find direction. “Being open minded about what the future could look like, figuring out where my passions overlapped, and being willing to really push myself, ultimately helped me get to a place where I’m happy to go to work every day and each moment brings something new and exciting,” Holthouser said.
Jake Hamilton ’15 (Latin American Studies minor) is a Special Education teacher at KIPP Indianapolis College Preparatory School, where he created an innovative reading program.
Justine McCarty ’13 (Global Studies/French) spent several months doing mission work in Africa (Mozambique) immediately following graduation. She is currently employed as the International Student and Scholar Advisor at the University of Missouri, where she teaches a course designed to aid new international students in their transition to the U.S. and the American education system.
Sarah Overby ’15 (Spanish) is a forensic technician in toxicology for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in Nashville.
Carson Pyles ’12 (Spanish) spent most of 2013 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and is currently working as a Certified Medical Interpreter at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.
Julie Ann Wallis ‘15 served in the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF,) bringing American cultural education to middle schools in suburban Paris. Her students learned in different ways and were at different levels, and Wallis said those challenges sharpened her teaching skills. “Without this experience abroad,” she said, “I could not have transitioned from college to career with complete success.
