Alumni Profile

Earlham Bonner Scholar '19, Sophia Lombardo, Profiled on Gen Z Career Choices

Earlham Bonner Scholar '19, Sophia Lombardo, Profiled on Gen Z Career Choices

workers have a preference for informal work styles, tightly defined schedules, and are unlikely to settle for subpar pay. As a young professional in civic engagement, Sophia Lombardo shared her thoughts, as a Gen Zer herself, that Gen Z prioritizes their own health and happiness and are hesitant to commit to all-consuming, low-paying positions in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits need to tap into the good feeling toward the sector and offer competitive benefits to attract young workers. However, integrating Gen Z into the charitable world can be challenging due to their demands for change and potential tensions with older nonprofit leaders. The revamped Public Service Loan Forgiveness program could be one way to attract young workers to the nonprofit sector.

Living Berry’s Purpose: Bonner Alum Improves Communities Where She Lives, Works and Serves

Living Berry’s Purpose: Bonner Alum Improves Communities Where She Lives, Works and Serves

In 2023, Genny Castillo was listed in Georgia Trend’s 40 under 40 — recognized as a leader with experience in policy, community outreach and administration. Currently, she’s the regional director of the Southern Economic Advancement Project, facilitating its local programming to improve economic security and access to health care. Previously the senior advisor to Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial campaign, Castillo led one of the most engaged Latinx constituency programs nationwide, earning recognition as one of the top five Latinas reshaping U.S. politics in 2020.

Here she shares Berry’s significant influence on her life choices while touting the value of Berry’s vast network: "I tell people Berry has a small student body, but that student body becomes an alum network with generous reach.”

Castillo adds, “From day one, Berry gave me the space to be an advocate. I was in the minority and felt different, but there was always space to be myself. People call Berry a bubble, but that does not mean there isn't room for different voices.”

Spelman Bonner Alum, Destinee Filmore Named as The Met’s Assistant Curator

Spelman Bonner Alum, Destinee Filmore Named as The Met’s Assistant Curator

Spelman college Bonner Alum, Destinee Filmore is a curator, art historian, and writer dedicated to telling a more complex history of American art that centers women and historically marginalized makers. She has published and presented research on an assortment of artists and topics, including the work of Alvin D. Loving, Nellie Mae Rowe, and Mildred Thompson; and she continues to explore research topics ranging from vernacular African American artistic traditions, the reception history of identity-based exhibitions, and the visual and material culture of Afro-Cosmopolitanism in the early 20th century. As a Mellon Curatorial Fellow at the Williams College Museum of Art, she led efforts to define and expand the museum’s ethical collecting practices, and curated exhibitions and permanent collection rotations.

Davidson College Bonner Xzavier Killings '16: Channeling Community Engagement into Healthcare Excellence

Davidson College Bonner Xzavier Killings '16: Channeling Community Engagement into Healthcare Excellence

Discover the enriching journey of Xzavier Killings '16, a Davidson College Bonner alum, who has seamlessly blended his passion for community service with a professional endeavor in healthcare. This feature not only delves into Killings' collegiate experience but also unveils how the Bonner program played a pivotal role in shaping his career path. Through a curated collection of photos and narratives, explore how Killings' time at Davidson transcended the classroom, fostering a lifelong commitment to community engagement and healthcare excellence.

Bonner Scholar Lirio Morales, Berry College '23, Enters Harvard With Plans to Impact Youth Education

Bonner Scholar Lirio Morales, Berry College  '23, Enters Harvard With Plans to Impact Youth Education

Lirio Morales Ibarra ‘23, a Bonner who majored in sociology and anthropology at Berry College, was accepted into Harvard's Educational Leadership, Organizations and Entrepreneurship Program. Her experiences at Berry, particularly in serving the community, played a significant role in her success. Lirio's goal is to be in a leadership role at a youth-serving nonprofit and to create a scalable, transformational, and financially sustainable social enterprise to empower students from marginalized communities to attain educational success.

Bonner Scholar Camryn Carter, University of Richmond '23, Finding Chemistry on the Way to MIT

Bonner Scholar Camryn Carter, University of Richmond  '23, Finding Chemistry on the Way to MIT

UR Bonner graduate Camryn Carter will delivered a speech at the Beckman Symposium in California before starting her doctorate in chemistry at MIT. Carter started as a computer science major but found her passion in chemistry through the University of Richmond Integrated Science Experience program. She conducted full-time summer research all four years at UR and was part of a research team that studied the COVID omicron variant. Carter was named a Beckman Scholar and received a Rising Black Scientist award. She graduated with a double major in chemistry and computer science.

Bonner Scholar John Hoang Joins 30th Class of Emerson Hunger Fellows

Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, John continues to cultivate what he has learned from the legacies and infrastructures left by justice and equity pioneers of the past and present into accessible, approachable, and active actions for positive and transformative restitution as change.

As a Bonner and McNair Scholar, John has worked within his community and the broader communities he serves by expanding community capacity concerning political action and civic engagement while focusing on identity, place, and policy.

Davidson College Bonner Alums Are Helping Preserve the Traditions of a Remote Georgia Island

Davidson College Bonner Alums Are Helping Preserve the Traditions of a Remote Georgia Island

Victor-Alan Weeks, an Atlanta native, visited Sapelo Island for the first time as a student just a few months before Tropical Storm Irma. As part of an Africana Studies course at Davidson College in North Carolina, Weeks had taken a tour of Hog Hammock, learning more about the history of the Gullah Geechee people. “I never heard about Sapelo Island before,” Weeks said, who was majoring in both digital media and ethnography. “My first impression was: This is a place of serenity, restoration, and with its past, there are a lot of stories to be revealed from the land and the people.”

Berry College's Bertha Nibirgira '18 Embraces Peacebuilding and Empowering International Youth

Berry College's Bertha Nibirgira '18 Embraces Peacebuilding and Empowering International Youth

Bertha Nibigira ’18, who majored in sociology and anthropology, graduated with a Master of Arts from American University’s School of International Service, with an emphasis on international development,  peacebuilding and youth empowerment. Her perspective on international issues began early in life, as her family fled from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Tanzania and eventually resettled in the United States.   

Nathan Hand, DePauw '03, Lending Help to Worthy Causes

Nathan Hand, DePauw '03, Lending Help to Worthy Causes

He grew up in a service-oriented family, undertook activities required to become an Eagle Scout, won Bonner and Holton scholarships at DePauw for service and coveted a life of helping others.

But Nathan Hand ’03 wasn’t convinced he could make a career in philanthropy, at least not one that would enable him to comfortably raise a family and have the earning potential that his peers pursuing more lucrative fields would enjoy.

He thought about becoming a patent attorney. Or going into biology. He spent time pursing education studies, then geology. He ultimately landed on a communication major and political science minor, and undertook enough internships, volunteer opportunities and extracurricular experiences to persuade himself that working in nonprofits would bring him joy and a comfortable life, if not necessarily riches.

“I just felt like there was an urgency there to get my career started, but also explore as many different causes as possible to find what I liked,” he said. “I needed to prove to myself that I could make a living doing this, the idea of volunteering and nonprofit service. It’s a big shift to go from a fun side hobby … to want to make a career out of this.”

Connections Through Healthcare: Olivia Pelaez '21 Davidson College

Connections Through Healthcare: Olivia Pelaez '21 Davidson College

Today, Pelaez, a Davidson Bonner Scholar, works at the Charlotte Community Health Clinic, bringing healthcare, testing and more to low income and underinsured populations in Charlotte, as she prepares to apply to physician assistant programs.

Jack Kelly, Stetson '11: Tracking Illicit Nuclear Material In Europe

Jack Kelly, Stetson '11: Tracking Illicit Nuclear Material In Europe

It sounds like the makings for a Hollywood action movie:

Good Guy wonders where all the missing bits of nuclear material have gone. He joins a think tank in Europe to learn how to stop the bad guys from getting their hands on it. He brings back everything he’s learned to the U.S. and saves the day!

But this isn’t a Hollywood movie. It’s reality for Stetson University Bonner alumnus Jack Kelly ’11.

Madison County School honored Bonner alum as principal of the year at school board meeting

Madison County School honored Bonner alum as principal of the year  at school board meeting

Mars Hill University alum, Marshay Huskins '01, was honored as Madison County principal of the year. Ms. Huskins plays a crucial role in the success of our district. She is always a strong voice on our district leadership team. One of the most powerful components that Ms. Huskins exhibits is her knowledge and research around teaching to trauma and poverty.

Berry Bonner Alumna has been selected for Georgia Trend 2021 40 Under 40

Charlotte Collins Davis, Bonner 2014 alumna from Berry College has been selected for Georgia Trend's annual "40 Under 40" list of the state's top young leaders. The Deputy Director of Governmental Relations at the Georgia Municipal Association spends her days lobbying in the State Capitol, volunteering as a track coach and mentoring student-athletes at Berry.

Alicia Painter, Earlham ‘11, named CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County has selected its next leader. Alicia Painter will become chief executive officer in January following Bruce Daggy's December retirement, according to a news release. She will be only the fourth leader — and the first female leader — in the Boys & Girls Clubs' 64-year history. Painter graduated from Earlham College '11 and was a Bonner Scholar at the school. She has served multiple roles, including camp director, program director, unit director, senior unit director and, most recently, director of operations, during her 10 years with the Boys & Girls Clubs.

These Nursing Alumnae Created a “LifeLine” for Aspiring Medical Professionals

After successful nursing careers at Widener, two graduates joined forces on social media to share their medical journeys and mentor future health care professionals.

Bonner alum from Widener University, Ricki Boateng ‘21 and Priscilla Adenugba ‘21 are the creators behind LifeLine, a social media account aimed at offering guidance and day-to-day insight for aspiring medical professionals. The former classmates launched the platform in their final year at Widener to shine a light on the often hard-to-navigate path to medicine, particularly for minorities.

Bonner Alumni Networking Platform Goes Live!

Bonner Alumni Networking Platform Goes Live!

With the click of a button, Bonners alumni and students can have access to thousands of Bonners drawn together by the common thread of their Bonner values and experiences. Through Bonner Connect our new online community, alumni and students can now stay abreast of what’s going on in the Bonner Community, as well as exclusively connect with each other. No matter where you live or how busy your schedule is, you will be able to connect with other alumni and keep up to date with the latest Bonner Network news.

Bonner Summer Service in France Launched Teaching Career

Bonner Summer Service in France Launched Teaching Career

This 2009 graduate is grateful to the Bonner Scholars program for the chance to first study abroad.

Lindsay Pulfer Langett teaches French at Jefferson-Forest High School in Bedford County, teaching French II, III, IV and AP classes “while advocating for the cultural importance of language study in a secondary language.” 

“My experience at Emory & Henry, especially as a Bonner scholar, prepared me for my future career and adult life. Volunteering taught me the importance of interacting with the community.  With the assistance of Bonner, I was able to go to France for the first time the summer after my Freshman year to do volunteer work. This opened my eyes to international travel and led me toward study abroad. When I was ready to take on that adventure, administration permitted me to personalize my own experience by allowing me to choose my own study abroad program and provided me with the accommodations that I needed. Upon returning to campus, my education classes and student teaching experience were instrumental in preparing me for my career. I am forever grateful for Emory & Henry!”

Davidson Bonner Serves in Dominican Republic

Davidson Bonner Serves in Dominican Republic

The Princeton in Latin American Fellowship connects recent college graduates with one-year, service-oriented positions at nonprofit and community-based service organizations in Latin America. The fellowship is designed to promote education, leadership, and engagement within communities all throughout Latin America. Elizabeth Prosser, a current Princeton in Latin America Fellow based in the Dominican Republic, shared her experience in the program and gives some application tips.

Elizabeth Prosser recently graduated from Davidson College with a B.A. in Hispanic Studies with a minor in Francophone Studies.  Over the course of her college career, she held multiple internships and service positions aligning with her passions for education reform, nonprofit work, Spanish, and international relations. She now explores her love for these subjects through a Princeton in Latin America Fellowship, working as the Operations and Development Fellow at Yspaniola, an education-based nonprofit in the Dominican Republic. Afterwards, she will pursue a Master’s in Latin American Studies at Stanford University in order to gain a more holistic understanding of Latin America and its history, culture, and challenges.

Read full story here.