Bluffton University communication alumni are involved in a large variety of vocations as communication professionals. Here are some examples of our alumni in action. If you are an alumnus, please send us your story so we can post it!
Shena (Luma '00) Vasko teaches and directs dramatics near Columbus at Newark High School. Her fall production in their 1068 auditorium was "Love, Sex, and the I.R.S." With her comprehensive communication major Shena was able to choose from seven job offers. "My education at Bluffton helped me learn how to learn," she says.
Chris (Harney '00) Nixon serves as personnel administrative assistant at Grace Brethren International Missions in Winona Lake, Indiana, while her husband Mallory attends seminary. She also edits a quarterly newsletter for short-term mission team alumni. She says she is excited about her work and that "It's awesome to see God working in so many different ways!"
Clare Cedoz '00 works as a financial representative for New England Financial in Toledo. She gets to "help people plan for their future, whether it is paying for their kids' college education or having a retirement income." She is the only woman among 25 agents and says she owes much of her confidence to her experience at Bluffton.
Justin Courtney '00 is pursuing his Master's degree in College Student Personnel at Bowling Green University while serving as an intern at Ashland University assisting the Vice President of Student Affairs and as resident director at Jacobs Hall. He says that his courses helped prepare him in his adminstrative style, especially in becoming a more active listener
Jonathan Corbin '00 uses his Communication minor to pastor the youth and young adults of Silverwood Mennonite Church near Goshen, Indiana. Jonathan says his study of communication "not only equipped me for a job, but has prepared me for life."
Donata (Piatek '99) Nelson works as an administrative assistant at an architectural firm in Greensboro, North Carolina. As a communication student, she says she "learned certain ways of talking and listening, and looking at the world that are unique to Communication majors." She plans to apply for law school next year.
Greg VanVorhis '98 is the religion and automotive editor at The Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune. He writes, "At Bluffton, I learned the interconnectedness of everyone and the importance of interacting with individuals from aroundt the world and treating them fairly. My communication major taught me that by allowing me to study a variety of subjects such as public speaking, interpersonal communication, small group communication, business communication, and even how to argue wisely."
Matt Hammond '98 is now the sports editor at the Bellefontaine Examiner, a daily newspaper based in Bellefontaine that carries a daily circulation of 10, 720 readers.
Craig Bennett '98 serves as recruitment coordinator for the College of Communication and the Arts at Regent University. After graduation, he received his master's degree in College Personnel from Miami University and has been able to combine his interest in students with his college major.
Tony Mirones '95 is a videographer at WAZE-TV in Louisville, Kentucky. Tony says that an internship experience at a TV station as a Bluffton College student triggered his interest in journalism. "Now I want to tell that news story, not just with words, but I want to capture the sounds and experiences of people and take viewers to the view I have," he reflects. "I wouldn't be able to do that if I didn't understand communication."
Christine Decker '89 is a teacher at Allen East Public Schools and an adjunct professor of communication at Owens Community College, Findlay Campus.
Keith Nisly '86 enjoys his work as a graphic designer for Edgewood Printing Company in New Holland. He recently was appointed elder in the church he and his family attend in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Sara (Mayes '86) Kisseberth, Bluffton University web site and production manager, oversaw the complete redesign of the university Web site in summer 2004.
