Sherman, Texas -- The Austin College Professionalism and the Humanities Leadership Program (PATH) will welcome four alumni as panelists for the semi-annual Humanities Alumni Panel on Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Wright Campus Center, Mabee Hall. The event is free and open to the public, with online registration closing on Saturday, November 9, 2024.
The panel, titled “Humanities Alumni Share their Career Path Stories,” explores how humanities degrees have benefited Austin College alumni Paola Maria Rheus ’20, Blaine Cowart ’10, Jake Tidwell ’21, and Zoe Rheus ’20 in their respective careers ranging across industry lines. The Humanities Alumni Panel is supported by the generosity of PATH and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's Humanities for All Times Project.
Organizers hope to demonstrate how an Austin College education in general and a humanities degree in particular can lead students to make a difference post-graduation. Dr. Claire Wolnisty, Associate Professor of History and Director of PATH, describes the event, "This reception and panel discussion is a wonderful opportunity for generous humanities alumni to share with our current AC community how they have employed their humanities degrees in meaningful, fulfilling, and creative ways."
The panel has been primarily organized and arranged by PATH marketing interns Ella Owens ’25 and Alora Uva ’25, further emphasizing the career engagement Austin College’s humanities courses can foster. "This event itself is the work of current AC humanities students, who are organizing and moderating this program," says Wolnisty.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
