Denver Payne ’20 describes herself as a 30-year-old non-traditional transfer student who finally found the courage to finish the degree she started many years ago. Having grown up in Perry, Georgia, Denver attended Georgia Military College in Warner Robins for two years and graduated with her associate’s degree in pre-nursing in 2007.

Following suggestions from Wesleyan faculty, Melissa Rey ’20 worked with the Center for Career Development to research and apply for REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) opportunities in her field of chemistry for the summer of 2018.

The multi-talented Rawlanda Hercules ’20 has been performing all her life. Growing up, she listened to and sang the music her mother, a child of the 1970s, loved. Performing religious skits at church and later full-fledged productions in elementary school was the foundation of Rawlanda’s love for acting.

Wesleyan biology professors Dr. Holly Boettger-Tong and Dr. Jim Ferrari led a study abroad trip to Belize where the group visited Mayan ruins, spotted birds, and spent three days at Tobacco Caye exploring reef ecosystems at Glover’s Reef and Mangrove ecology at Southwater Caye Marine Reserve.

Biology Professor and Arboretum Director Dr. Ferrari lead a group of volunteers in planting a grove of longleaf pines in the Wesleyan Arboretum. The longleaf is among the most endangered ecosystems in North America and provides habitat and a food source for wildlife and purifies the air. 

Nursing Program Director Fritz and nursing faculty annually take a group of senior nursing students to Jamaica for a week-long medical mission trip. The group visits and assists patients at hospitals and at children’s homes. Students describe the experience as “life changing.”

In 2017, Harvey was hired by Bloomsbury Publishing, New York, to proofread Memento Mori, the eighth novel in the bestselling “Medicus” series by Ruth Downie. Bloomsbury, with offices in London, New York, Sydney, Oxford, and New Delhi, is perhaps most famous for publishing J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books.

Fatima graduated in 2017 with majors in international relations and biology. While taking time off before heading to graduate school she has worked with several non-profit organizations in the fields of human rights and community organizing. Fatima also interned for six months with the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 

After an internship at Andersonville National Historic Site, Jennifer produced a documentary called “Andersonville Prison During the Atlanta and Savannah Campaigns.” Today she works at the site in her dream job as a park guide.