Alumni Profiles
Beth Classen Thrush 2002
Alan Thrush 2003
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Since graduation, Beth received a Masters Degree in Special Education from Marymont and Alan a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. Beth worked in special education in inner city Los Angeles. Both were involved in many extra curricular activities at Messiah groups concerned with peace and justice and the Middle East. Beth received the alumni award for the outstanding graduate in 2003.
They currently serve in Nicaragua with the Mennonite Central Committee. Alan serves as an Instructor of Peace Theology & Conflict Transformation at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Managua, while Beth serves as Connecting Peoples Coordinator, coordinating intercultural service and learning opportunities for students. |
Jessica Lee Yutzy 2008
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Jessica worked as a Child Welfare Caseworker before accepting a job as a Veterans Service Representative for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Philadelphia. In the spring of 2010 she began study toward a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership at Eastern University.
"My sociology classes taught me how to examine situations from various perspectives, think analytically, understand government better through sociological theory and learn different concepts on my own. As a sociology student I learned to write clearly, problem solve, and utilize various computer applications -- all skills that have proven invaluable to my work." |
Nate Wright 1996
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Nate is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Bryn Mawr College. While at Messiah College he was actively involved in many service projects. |
Melody Boyd 2004
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Melody completed her Ph.D. degree from Temple University and is doing post-doctoral research. While at Messiah she served as a teaching assistant and plans a career in college teaching and research. She views studying and teaching Sociology as a way to carry out the call in Micah 6:8 to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.
"My experience in Messiah's Sociology department was great preparation for graduate school. Not only did I feel prepared academically, but several of my professors served as mentors in helping me think about graduate school and assisting me with the application and decision process. My time at Messiah allowed me to cultivate a very grounded sense of who I am and what my goals for my vocation are. Who I am is somehow connected to every Messiah classroom discussion about sociology and faith, every chapel service about social justice and Christianity, every late night talk with roommates about living out our faith." |
Rebecca Knight 2002
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Becca Knight is Director of Home Repair Ministries with the Appalachia Service Project. She works with church and student groups to repair houses in Appalachia for persons who otherwise could not keep up repair and maintenance on their homes. |
Sarah Van Cott 2007
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Sarah used her study of Sociology and Anthropology to prepare for service in Wycliffe Bible Translators. She spent the last several years in intensive study learning the nuances of culture and how to translate the Bible so that it "lives" for people who otherwise would not have the Bible in their own language. |
Hannah Edmunds 2008
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Hannah served in Mennonite Voluntary Service in Seattle Washington after graduation.
"I had a great experience with the Sociology Department at Messiah, and I really miss the stimulation of classes and interactions with fellow students and professors. |
Patrick Cicero 1999
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Patrick is a lawyer. At Messiah he was particularly interested in theory and the helping professions. He spent a semester in both Ecuador and Philly. In Ecuador his host father was a lawyer who did civil rights work. In Philly he met a few legal aid attorneys who showed him that low income people can move mountains with a good lawyer.
He graduated from Temple University with a law degree. Upon graduation he worked for Judge Sylvia H. Rambo, a federal judge in Harrisburg. Between 2005 and 2009 he worked as a legal aid lawyer for MidPenn Legal Services, a non-profit law office which serves low income persons and victims of domestic violence. In 2009 he returned to the judge's staff where he is a senior law clerk. Currently, Patrick is a legal aid laywer and works for the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project.
He says, "My sociology degree has been foundational in each of the jobs I have held. It was the beginning of my training to think critically. From providing an understanding of the structural problems plaguing the poor to comprehending that law is a system unto itself, the theories of Durkheim, Marx, Weber, and Berger have stayed with me. I am forever grateful that I chose to be a sociology major at Messiah College." |
Tracy Geist 1992
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Tracy worked as a School Social Worker at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit. She completed a Masters Degree in Community Counseling at Towson University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Work Education at Widner University.
She works at the Top Hill Academy, a school that educates students who are not able to be educated in their home districts because of behavioral or emotional problems. She collaborated with Susquahanna Service Dogs to start a therapy dog program at the school. The dogs greet the students every morning and stay with them during the day.
"Attending Messiah College was one of the best decisions in my life. The faculty taught me the skills and professionalism I would need to accomplish these educational and vocational achievements. The spiritual guidance I received still impacts me profoundly. My Messiah degree in Sociology was an excellent foundation. Sociology taught me to examine life through both a macro and micro lens which is crucial in truly helping others."
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