Humanities Scholars Alumni
As with any academic program, the true measure of our success is our ability to produce professionals who are ready and willing to take on the world beyond Pacific's classrooms. Whether they have moved on to graduate school or are already taking steps to forge their own career, our alumni serve as a true tribute to the impact that the Humanities Scholars Program aims to produce. Whether their paths have led them into publishing or writing, business or education, it is an honor to have such strong, driven, and accomplished individuals representing our legacy.
Kathryn Harlan-Gran
The Humanities Scholars Program was initially what drew me to Pacific. I was enchanted by the idea of being surrounded by students and faculty who shared similar passions and aspirations while simultaneously being exposed to a diverse array of new ideas and unique perspectives. As a double major in English and Spanish, I'm incredibly grateful for the academic environment that Pacific's humanities departments foster. The small class sizes and personal relationships with my professors allowed me to nurture my interests and participate actively in my education, transforming me from a student into a scholar. Since graduating, I have remained on campus working as an Administrative Assistant with the Scholars program and as a writing mentor for Pacific's Student Writing Center. In the fall I will be attending graduate school to obtain my PhD in English Literature, with a focus on American Cultural Studies.
Ever since I was a child, my greatest aspirations have been to teach and to write. Becoming a college professor will empower me to make an impact on students' lives while also contributing to the very scholarship that informs curriculum nationwide. Education is an incredible leveler-a good instructor is capable of positioning students from disparate backgrounds, circumstances, and interests on an even playing field. By working in academia, I hope to facilitate this leveling through both research and pedagogy, producing scholarship that breaks down and reconstructs mainstream expectations to recenter marginalized voices. This is how I understand the power of the humanities: they offer us the tools to provide a compassionate, thorough, and humanized educational experience for the next generation of scholars and citizens.
Emily Olson
As a graduate student at University of Oregon, I am still coming to appreciate the full extent to which the Humanities Scholars Program helped to shape me as a thinker, a writer, and a citizen. At Pacific, I majored in English and Pre-Law, but being a Humanities Scholar pushed me to broaden my education even further. I am now studying Journalism, and each day I find myself questioning the value of my career in modern society. In the end, I always return to what I learned as a Humanities Scholar: that good storytelling has the power to shape the world.
The Humanities Scholars Program gave me the courage to pursue journalism in a time when society needs strong journalists (and journalism needs strong voices) more than ever. I am proud to say that my experience as a Humanities Scholar not only put me on the path I walk today, but continues to shape where my journey will go next.
Greg Shin
After graduating with a major in Philosophy and a double minor in English and Chinese, I surprised my peers by turning down an acceptance to law school. My hope was to get my feet wet in the working world, though many of my colleagues criticized this decision and questioned where a degree in philosophy would take me. However, my major had taught me how to take a step back and observe the bigger picture. The skills I learned in the Humanities Scholars program at Pacific helped me to emerge as a leader, thinking outside the box while using my unique analytical perspectives to excel in the professional world.
I spent my first year after graduation working for MRC Xerox doing sales for outsourcing IT and software/hardware solutions. During that time, I was promoted twice, was honored with the Rookie of the Year award, and developed the company's first ever sales internship program. Shortly thereafter, I was recruited by ADP to join their 401k division, and I obtained licenses in FINRA Series 6 and Series 63 to become a licensed mutual fund and 401k wholesaler. By 2020, I hope to be pursuing my MBA. My experiences in the Scholars program and in leadership positions at Pacific distinguished me as a leader no matter what environment I enter. My education shaped me to excel in the working world, and every year I find myself excited for what's in store!
Sarah Yung
The Humanities Scholars Program was absolutely instrumental both in securing the achievements that I attained at Pacific and structuring my future endeavors. I am now a second-year Masters of Fine Arts Candidate in Creative Writing at The New School in New York City. In my first year of graduate school, I interned at HarperCollins Children's Books, and this year I am the Editorial and Marketing Intern for Tor Teen, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers. I can honestly say that without the influence of the Scholars Program I likely would not be here. The advice, assistance, and compassion from my professors at Pacific fortified my efforts to pursue goals that I had previously considered unattainable.
As an undergraduate, I was an English and Film Studies double major with minors in Chinese and Gender Studies. The Humanities Scholars Program offered me the resources and support I needed to intern with a national fashion journalism company, to study abroad, and to participate in numerous excursions that would become some of my fondest memories of university. More than that, the Scholars Program aided me in cultivating some of the closest friendships that I had at UOP, friendships spanning years and disciplines and connecting me with people with whom I never would have come in contact otherwise. Ultimately, the Humanities Scholars Program has left an indelible mark upon my character and my career path alike, and I am overwhelmingly grateful that I was given the opportunity to be a Humanities Scholar.