Here's your first chance to interact with your future alumni network
These Sewanee alumni are excited to hear from you. See where they have gone after leaving the Mountain and reach out with your questions!
Wilson Bonner, C'09
Exploration Geologist at KoBold Metals
Geology Major
Wilson Bonner is an exploration geologist in Salt Lake City, Utah. He got his B.S. in Geology from Sewanee and a M.Sc. in Economic Geology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Since 2014, he has worked for junior and major mining companies exploring for gold, silver, nickel, copper, and lithium. He first got interested in geology from a course he took sophomore year at Sewanee. He's happy to talk to any prospective student who wants to know more about geology or majoring in any of the natural sciences at Sewanee.
James Hewell, C'18
Account Executive at Gusto
English Major / Business Minor
James is a proud Sewanee graduate from the class of 2018. While at Sewanee, James majored in English, lettered in varsity football all four years, and worked in the admissions office as a summer intern, Arcadian, and senior interviewer. After completing a one-year master's program at the Wake Forest School of Business, James began a career in the tech industry and has progressed within the same company since graduation. James remains actively engaged with the Sewanee community. Along with his spouse, who graduated in 2017, they make it a point to spend extended time at Sewanee at least once a year. They also follow the football program and campus happenings closely and are excited to see their sister-in-law start her sophomore year. Eager to give back, James looks forward to continuing to serve the Sewanee community and offering support to anyone who needs it.
Francesca George, C'23
Strategist at BCG BrightHouse
Economics Major
Francesca George, a recent Sewanee graduate, holds a degree in Economics, earned with Summa Cum Laude honors. Her academic journey at Sewanee was filled with community and academic rigor, including the receipt of the Atlee Heber Hoff Award for outstanding performance in Economics and the Ecce Quam Bonum Scholarship for academic achievements and leadership. She was also an active member and leader of various organizations across campus. Francesca’s academic career led her to her current role as a Strategist at BCG BrightHouse, where her passion for driving positive change and strategic thinking motivates her work. She obtained this role after completing an internship with the company during the second semester and summer of her junior year. As a member of the class of 2023, Francesca can offer an up-to-date perspective on the university’s academic rigor, community involvement, and the opportunities it provides. Her close connection with the institution, combined with her leadership experiences, allows her to speak authentically about what it means to be a part of the Sewanee community today.
Jim Boteler, C'89
Partner at Boteler Mahoney & Gray
Russian & Soviet Studies Major
Jim Boteler is a 1989 graduate with a degree in Russian and Soviet Studies. Jim played football and swam for the Tigers. Jim had the honor and incredible experience of studying abroad his junior year at the University of Durham in northern England - during which time he visited the former Soviet Union. After graduation Jim went to law school at Texas Tech. Jim has been practicing law for 30 years and has owned his own firm for the last 17 years. Jim's experience at Sewanee has been invaluable for research, analysis, writing and communicating in the legal arena. Jim's favorite expression is from PhD Harold Goldberg - at Sewanee we do not teach you what to think, we teach you how to think. Jim is a proud Sewanee alumni that is happy to share his insights and experiences. To contact Jim, please see email address below.
Remington Loose, C'06
Strategic Architect at St. Jude's
Economics Major
Remington Loose graduated from Sewanee in 2006 with a degree in Economics. While on campus he built a successful computer support business while helping support Sewanee's campus network as an RCC. Alongside this practical experience he studied the mechanics of any business, industry and government in his economics coursework. His love of reading, learning, and communicating transitioned into seamlessly into the ever changing field of computer networking and information technology. In the last two decades he's supported a wide variety of businesses and customers across most industries and in all possible sizes. He, his alumna wife, and two kids returned to the Mountain for 5 years of living on the Domain. Remington can offer valuable insight into the Sewanee experience, a liberal arts degree and navigating the Technology industry.
Sally Walton, C'78
Retired Forest Inventory Analyst
Forestry Major
Sally Walton graduated from Sewanee with a BS in Forestry in 1978 and continued on to graduate school at Virginia Tech, where she completed her MS in Forest Biometrics. She then worked in Forest Inventory at Weyerhaeuser Company headquarters near Tacoma Washington from 1980 until retiring in 2012. Her career included a wide variety of work from testing growth models to supporting the foresters in WY’s regional offices in GIS and inventory systems. After retiring, she taught Mathematics at Highline Community College. Sally is happy to talk with you about how her Sewanee education led to a challenging and rewarding career.
Gage Petruzzello, C'18
Renewable Fuels Trader at Mercuria Energy America
IGS Major // Russian Major
Gage Petruzzello, Sewanee Class of ’18, graduated with a dual major in International & Global Studies and Russian. After his time on the Mountain, Gage pursued a career in commodities trading and is currently a renewable fuels trader at one of the world’s top trading houses. Gage’s career has taken him to Switzerland, New York, and now Houston, Texas, where he currently resides. His passion for geopolitics, business, leadership, and conservation were fostered at Sewanee through experiences inside and outside of the classroom, propelling him into the world of international trade. Gage’s other experiences included President of Kappa Alpha Order, Vice President of Sewanee Ducks Unlimited, and Treasurer of Sewanee Sportsmen Club.
Robin Kate Davis, C'21
Pre-Construction Manager at Premier Project Management
Mathematics Major / Dance Minor
Robin Kate Davis, a mathematics major, dance minor, and dance fellow ’21, began at Premier Project Management following graduation and has quickly advanced within the project management team. Her four years at Sewanee taught her crucial life skills and qualities of a mathematician which translated smoothly into her current role. These include: attention to detail, ability to analyze and quickly process information, problem solving, and clear communication with high level executives. While she does not utilize it in her professional career, her love of dance remains, and she often spends her evenings taking dance classes. Robin Kate has returned to the Mountain frequently and upholds the University’s traditions, no matter where she is.
Ben Huelskamp, C'10
Executive Director at LOVEBoldy
Pastor at Blue Ocean Faith Columbus
Philosophy Major
(Rev. Dr.) Ben Huelskamp graduated from Sewanee in 2010 with a degree in Philosophy and a passion for working in college and university environments. After earning a masters degree in education he spent almost ten years working in higher education administration. In 2021, following a period of discernment brought on by a case of long COVID, he left education and became the Executive Director of LOVEboldly, an Ohio faith-based nonprofit working to create more spaces where LGBTQIA+ people can flourish in Christianity. In February 2024, he took on a second role as the Pastor of Blue Ocean Faith Columbus, a small progressive congregation in Columbus, OH. Ben is an active writer, speaker, consultant, coach, and entrepreneur. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his puppy, Scout, and with his family, particularly his nephew, who with any luck will be Sewanee C'42. Ben credits his Sewanee education with creating a firm foundation for his success in multiple different areas.
Keisha Phillips, C'22
Assistant Director of College Counseling at Battle Ground Academy
Politics Major // German Major
Keisha Phillips graduated from Sewanee in 2022 with a degree in Politics and German. A dedicated Tour Guide and Arcadian, she spent her first year after Sewanee working in the Office of Admissions at Dartmouth College and has since transitioned to working as the Assistant Director of College Counseling at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, TN. Additionally, her Sewanee experience as Student Government Association President and Women's Basketball player has led her to supporting student life at BGA and serving as the Head Coach for 7th/8th grade Girls' Basketball team. As a proud graduate, Keisha is always excited to talk about her Sewanee experience.
Sandy Geeganage, C'94
VP of Drug Discovery at Prelude Therapeutics
Chemistry Major
Sandy Geeganage was an international student and an international student scholarship recipients at Sewanee. He graduated in 1994 with a degree in Chemistry and went on to get a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After his PhD, he had a successful 20-year career in oncology drug discovery research at the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. After Eli Lilly, he moved to a smaller biotech company, Prelude Therapeutics where he is responsible for precision oncology drug discovery. Sandy credits his science education as well as writing and communication skills he acquired at Sewanee for his success in his career. He is a strong proponent of a liberal arts education and education at small four year colleges that promote strong student-faculty interactions.
Phil Sharp, C'19
Policy and Rule Specialist at Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Politics Major
Phil Sharp was a Sewanee C'19 graduate with a BA in Politics. He was pre-law, a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, and founded an inter-political organization on campus called the Sewanee Inter-Political council. He has worked in the public sector since graduating from Sewanee. He served as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member in Wyoming to help with the opioid epidemic in that state. After that he worked as a policy analyst with the Texas 87th legislature in 2021. From there he transitioned to working for the Texas Health and Human Services commission. He currently works as a subject matter expert for substance use disorder treatment facilities and professionals rules and policies. He also sits on a inter-agency workgroup tasked with organizing and combining mental health and substance use services across the state. During his time as a VISTA he began and have since graduated with a masters degree in Public Administration and Policy from American University. He believes that his time and experience on the mountain has fundamentally shaped mhis career and the direction his life has taken.
Robert Kerr, C'16
Partner at Airlie Ventures
Natural Resources Major
Robert Kerr, a graduate of the class of 2016 with a B.S. in Natural Resources, is a Partner in Airlie Ventures, a Real Estate Holding Company located in Wilmington, North Carolina. He is responsible for sourcing and assessing new investment opportunities and managing an existing portfolio of commercial property. Most recently he worked for a petroleum marketer supplying fuel to heavy civil infrastructure projects, site development projects, industrial sites, and government customers. Immediately after graduating from Sewanee, Kerr worked on Capitol Hill in both the House and Senate, primarily covering Appropriations and Foreign Policy, and managed teams at the Commerce Department. Kerr grew up in Charleston, South Carolina and now resides in Wilmington, NC.
Meredith Tjepkema, C'24
Pursuing Veterinary School in 2025
Integrative Biology Major
Meredith Tjepkema graduated from Sewanee in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Integrative Biology and a minor in History. She has always had a deep love for the school, as her mother, Morgan Meredith, also graduated from Sewanee in 1992. Meredith currently works at an Animal Hospital in North Georgia and has applied to multiple veterinary schools across the country. During her time at Sewanee, Meredith was actively involved in numerous campus activities, including Greek life, the Sewanee Health Professions Society, and Varsity Volleyball, among others. She also gained valuable experience working at several animal clinics and hospitals in the surrounding area, allowing her to pursue her passion for large animal medicine and serving rural communities. As someone who grew up visiting Sewanee and later attended the school herself, Meredith is eager to help prospective students discover and love Sewanee as much as she does.
John Pender, C'93
Chief of Surgery at Billings Clinic
Religion Major
Dr John Pender loves to ask the Operating Room staff and medical students to guess his college major. He is very proud of the Liberal Arts education he received at The University of the South. With his B.A. in Religion he went on to medical school, completing a general surgery residency, and a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery. He now lives in Montana where as Chief of Surgery he helped lead his hospital to becoming the region’s first level one trauma center. As a graduate and parent of a current Sewanee student, John loves to share his thoughts on the Sewanee experience.
Amber Camiul, C'11
Senior Sells Comp Manager at AT&T
IGS Major // Economics Major
Amber Camiul, a proud 2011 Sewanee graduate and former Trustee, was a double major in International Studies (Francophone World track) and Economics. Amber is fluent in French and has lived on or visited 6 continents. Her career journey started in business to business sales, where she exceeded quota year over year. After 3 years in sales, she transitioned to a Finance role in sales compensation, where she audited sales for accuracy. There, she pioneered new methods and procedures to shorten audit delays and trained new and existing teammates in contract interpretation and efficient use of systems and resources. She utilized Excel and data analysis to review sales in bulk (increased monthly average reviews completed by 71%). It was in Finance that she began to champion Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and worked as the Networking Lead for the AT&T Women of Finance midtown Atlanta chapter. After 3 years in Finance, she moved to an operations sales compensation role supporting call centers worldwide. In this role since 2019, she calculates and tracks incentive pay results for 14000 call center employees using Excel, Access, and SQL.
Olivia Fox, C'21
Art Teacher at Norfolk Academy
Am. Studies Major / Art, Spanish Minor
Olivia Fox graduated with a degree in American Studies with minors in Art and Spanish in 2021. After leaving the Mountain, Olivia embarked on her teaching career at Norfolk Academy in Norfolk, VA, beginning as a First Grade Teaching Associate and now teaching art in grades 7-9. In addition to teaching, Olivia coaches volleyball and girls' basketball for Norfolk Academy. Olivia's interest in teaching and coaching began during her time at Sewanee where she took a diverse course load and played on the Varsity Women’s Basketball team. Olivia developed her passion and dedication for education through her role as the Chair of the Student Title IX Committee, leading peer education and advocacy work on campus. Olivia continues to inspire positive change in her current role and was awarded the James B. Massey Award for Excellence in Teaching in the spring of 2024. She is a third generation Sewanee Tiger with her grandfather, who graduated from the School of Theology, and both her parents (C’84 and C’86) and sister (C’19) as undergraduates.
Dalton Fitzgerald, C'18
Dual MD/PhD Candidate at UAB
Neuroscience Major // Pre-Med Program
Natalie Dalton Fitzgerald graduated from Sewanee in 2018. At Sewanee, she was a pre-med student who studied neuroscience, volunteered in multiple neuroscience research labs, and played soccer. Outside of academics, she could be found mostly on the trails hiking and climbing around the plateau, enjoying the sunshine at Dimmick, or hanging out on Theta Pi's lawn. Her research experience under strong neuroscientists, culminating in peer reviewed publications, was so positive that, following guidance from said mentors, she chose to pursue a combined MD/PhD degree. After spending 2 years at Yale, she is currently an MD/PhD student, pursuing both an MD and a PhD in neuroscience, at UAB. Dalton offers invaluable insight into biologic research at Sewanee as well as balancing studying with enjoying all that is unique to the mountain.
Mark Konradi, C'89
Executive Editor at Clarion Ledger
History Major
As a history major at Sewanee, Mark wrote often. When it came to choosing a career after graduating in 1989, Mark wanted to find a path where they could continue working with the written word. He found that path in journalism. He spent more than three decades honing that craft, with most of that time at The Dallas Morning News. Most recently, he accepted the opportunity to serve as Executive Editor over Mississippi's three Gannett newspapers, with a focus on the capital in Jackson. Sewanee has had a great influence on him and his family, with two daughters (C'23 and L'24) and two nieces (C'25, C'28) on the Domain.
Allie Hewell, C'17
Underwriter at PURE
IGS Major / WGS Minor
Allie Hewell (Highfield) is a proud Sewanee graduate from the class of 2017, holding a degree in International Global Studies and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. The confidence she gained at Sewanee was transformative and ultimately led her to an unexpected career in insurance. After serving as a Global Ambassador for Sewanee’s Summer Exchange Program in Charleston, SC, she sought a dynamic, young, and flexible career, which brought her to PURE Insurance—a company that aligns with her love of travel, connecting with people, and balancing work and life. While Sewanee prepared her well for her professional journey, Allie is even more grateful for the lifelong friendships she formed, her deep connection to the outdoors, and the unforgettable experience of living on the Mountain, despite her time in Colorado post-graduation. During her time at Sewanee, Allie also met her wonderful husband, and she cherishes the fact that her two sisters (C’18 and C’27) shared the same Sewanee experience.
John Ruzic, C'10
Real Estate Director at Porchlight, LLC
Political Science Major
John has taken his unique experience in real estate brokerage, economic development, and community development to build a for-profit company specializing in real estate consulting, community redevelopment, and infill housing development. Porchlight, LLC is focused on serving private, public, quasi-government, and non-profits entities with interest in the redevelopment of communities by focusing on development of single family and multifamily housing. Porchlight offers wrap-around services to execute equitable, sustainable, and catalytic community redevelopment from concept to completion.
Chloe Cogo, C'16
Director of Alumnae Engagement at National Cathedral School
Art History Major
Chloe Cogo '16 originally hails from New Orleans, LA but has called the Washington, DC area home for eight years now. Upon graduation from Sewanee, Chloe pursued a career in non-profit fundraising. She has worked for The Madeira School, The Phillips Collection, and now National Cathedral School. Her passion for creating pathways for meaningful engagement within these close-knit communities was fully realized during her time on the Mountain. While at Sewanee, Chloe served as a Bonner Leader and was a member of Theta Kappa Phi sorority. To her, Sewanee was not merely a place to pursue a degree, rather it was a community where all could feel what it truly means to belong. She remains active in University life serving as the 2016 Sewanee Fund Chair and as an Alumni Arcadian.
Parker Van de Water, C'17
Deputy Director for Leadership Development at The White House
Political Science Major
Parker Maillet is a 2017 Sewanee graduate with a major in Political Science. After graduating, Parker moved to Washington, DC, where she began working on Capitol Hill, later at the Kennedy Center, and now at the White House.
James Snover, C'15
OptumRx: UHG Special Strategy Team
MBA candidate, Vanderbilt University
History Major / Religion Minor
James Snover, C'15 graduated with a major in History and a minor in Religion. Sewanee's academic rigor and robust social network positioned him well to succeed in an analytical and managerial role at Eastern Industrial Supplies, where he was a salesperson, participated in e-commerce development, and finally managed all aspects of the Nashville branch. After 8 years, he decided on a career pivot and returned to school at Vanderbilt to pursue an MBA. Even 8 years removed from the classrooms of Sewanee, he immediately realized how much he owed to the school and my professors, as he drew upon lessons learned on the Mountain from Day 1 at Vanderbilt. He did his Year 1 MBA Summer Internship at UHG, on the Specialty Strategy Team within OptumRx, and will be returning to UHG following his graduation in the summer of '25. His wife Mary (also C'15) and he reside in Nashville and still spend tons of time on the Mountain!