Alumni Updates
Our students of Spanish go on to accomplish great things! Here are some updates for ten distinguished alumni of WCU's Spanish Program.
Patricia Graham
2010, Spanish and English
After graduating in 2010, Dr. Graham earned a masters degree in English from WCU and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Capella University. She taught English language learners at Southwestern Community College for several years before going into semi-retirement to pursue a Christian-based vocation. She took seminary classes for two years to become a certified lay minister with the Methodist church and was confirmed with the Methodist conference earlier this year. She now runs several local ministries that assist families with food insecurity, and she has created a music ministry that plays for charities and visits nursing facilities and hospitals. Aside from using her Spanish in all these ministries, Dr. Graham also uses it to interpret and translate for several families. She enjoys keeping in touch with many of her former students.
René Gámez
2012, Spanish and Accounting
René is a senior associate at Dixon Hughes Goodman, an international accounting firm, in Asheville, NC. He has used his Spanish skills on two major overseas projects for the firm, and he is about to get started on another one in Mexico. René is now married and has two children.
Reflecting on his time at WCU, René says:
My best memories are from my trips with Lori and Alberto (Dr. Lori Oxford and Dr.
Alberto Centeno-Pulido) to Valencia, Spain and to Havana, Cuba!!! Cuba was my most
memorable trip!! I learned so much on that trip, and to be able to see in real life
what we learned in class was incredible.
Michael Sain
2012, Spanish with minor in History
After graduation, Michael joined the US Air Force and served six years on active duty. He moved back to Shelby, NC in October 2019 and now works as a full-time technician for the NC Air National Guard. He married his wife, Victoria, who is also a 2012 WCU alum in Math Education. They moved into their new home this past spring.
Reflecting on his time at WCU, Michael says:
Enjoy every moment that you have while learning from some of the very best instructors.
Don’t fret about any certain assignment, just use your time wisely and it’ll turn
out just fine. I learned so much in my four and a half years there but know I could
have accomplished so much more if I had realized the opportunities I had.
I’m so grateful for all of the films, music, and pieces of literature I was exposed
to. It truly opened my mind to a whole new world. As current students try to see things
as more than an assignment: you’ll get way more out of it. Hasta la victoria siempre. Always forth to victory.
Kelsey Parrish (Stevens)
2015, Spanish Education
Kelsey and her husband left their jobs in the classroom to become the Youth Director and Assistant Director at their church. She also works freelance on social media marketing. She and her husband have a 15-month-old boy, Lyric Judah, and another, Pax Gideon, due in March. They just sold their house in Highlands and are moving to Franklin. Kelsey is still very active in the Spanish-speaking community where she lives, teaching some ESL and translating where needed, which keeps her Spanish fresh.
Trevor Fender
Trevor Fender
2017, Spanish and Criminal Justice
Trevor has been working at the police department in Asheville for almost three years and has been a homeowner for two and a half. Aside from his regular duties as a police officer, Trevor also serves as an interpreter for the department when needed. After he demonstrated his proficiency with a test, he was granted an extra pay incentive for that important skill.
Trevor offers advice to current students in the program:
Study abroad. Find friends in the language department who also really want to achieve
fluency and will practice Spanish with you. Listen to Spanish language music, watch
movies and TV shows in Spanish on Netflix, watch YouTube channels in Spanish.
Andrew Goodman
2017, Spanish and International Studies
Andrew lives in Carcaixent, Spain, where he works for the Spanish government as an auxiliar de conversación at the CEIP Navarro Darás (a public elementary school).
Reflecting on his time at WCU, Andrew says:
I can't believe that five years ago, I was doing the Valencia travel program with
Lori and Alberto (Dr. Lori Oxford and Dr. Alberto Centeno-Pulido)… now I'm living
here in Spain and traveling as much as I can! I highly recommend the Auxiliar de Conversación program to students who want to live in Spain!!
Jahni Gilliland
2018, Spanish and Psychology
Jahni works full-time managing a day program for adults with disabilities. While she communicates in Spanish with some of her clients on a daily basis, she frequently finds herself teaching basic Spanish to some of the others.
Jahni adds:
Shout out to iLanguage Talk, and I hope the club is still thriving! Y a todos los profesores de español: ¡muchas gracias por todo!
Jarod Kirby
Jarod Kirby (he/they)
2018, Spanish with a minor in US Latinx Studies
After leaving WCU, Jarod finished a M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina in May 2020. Soon after that, he moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, where he is currently employed by the University of Lynchburg as the Area Coordinator for Residence Life.
Reflecting on his time at WCU, Jarod says:
My favorite memory is spending Fall Break of 2017 in Havana, Cuba, being immersed
in the culture, and realizing I had learned more about the Spanish Language than I
was giving myself credit for.
To current students in the program, Jarod recommends:
If at all possible, listen to podcasts in Spanish on varying levels, as it helped
me begin to process understanding the spoken language, but also understanding more
about the natural flow of the language as well. Lori (Oxford) also suggested News
in Slow Spanish when I still a student and I still listen to it today.
Jarod sends some shout-outs:
To the students, I see you and the work that you're doing. Keep it up! I am proud
of you! To our wonderful department, I cannot begin to thank each of you enough for
the influence that you had on me during my time as a student, and how that influence
has continued post-grad. You all taught me that grace, while a finite resource, can
be extended in the most challenging of times and in the most pivotal of situations.
Thank you! Un abrazo fuerte. ❤️
Tyler Wright
Tyler Wright
2019, Spanish and International Studies with TESOL minor
Tyler taught English to elementary students in Busan, South Korea for a year. While there, he also spent time hiking and exploring the area. He is now teaching in Guadalajara, Mexico.
To current students in the program, Tyler recommends:
My advice would be to take everyone's advice with a grain of salt.
Annie Vasquez
Annie Vasquez
2020, Spanish with Communications minor
Annie is currently enrolled in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the WCU Biltmore Park campus. Her long-term goal is to become a bilingual nurse.
To current students in the program, Annie recommends:
Take advantage of any opportunity that will push you out of your comfort zone! By
doing that, you’ll find yourself growing in more ways than you ever imagined.
