Successful Careers

Here is a sample list of Coe English graduates from the last half-century.

• Virginia Gute '65: Director of Marketing and Promotion at Book Partners Inc.
• Louise Miller '65: Vice President of Zuckerman, Fernandes & Partners.
• Nolan Zavoral '65: Religion Writer for Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
• Christine Billinger '65: Assistant Director of Admissions, Wingate College.
• Dennis Hummel '66: Brigadier General, United States Air Force.
• Anne McCabe '66: Assistant Presbyterian pastor.
• Theodore Miller '66: Editor of Kiplinger Personal Finance.
• Mary Eley '67: Freelance Editor.
• Gregg Kakesako '67: Assistant City Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
• Honee Hess '75: Director of Education, Worcester Art Museum.
• Pamela Kress '75: Public Services Librarian at Loras College.
• Eliza Ovrom '75: Assistant District Attorney in Polk County, IA.
• Kay Fuglei '77: Actor, McCarter Theater.
• Huguet Krisdaporn '77: Information Assistant for UN Commission of Refugees.
• Diane Sloane '85: Employee Communication Specialist at Jerome Foods, Inc.
• Carol Benson '87: Owner & President of Elan Models.
• Rebekah Walsh '87: Branch Manager for Manpower.
• Mary Wolf '87: Program Analyst for the Department of Defense.
• Scott Rettberg '92: Prize-winning co-designer of WWW.ABOUT.COM.
• Betsy Dougherty '92: Professor of Irish Studies at Southern Illinois University.
• Dustin Floyd '03: Marketing executive, co-author of Digital Deadwood web site and An Insider's Guide to South Dakota's Black Hills and Badlands.

This sampling of our alums indicates the wide range of jobs English and Creative Writing majors take up successfully, and this is just a small sampling. Coe English alums also have worked as: advertising writers, an American Express Vice President, day care professionals, elementary and secondary teachers, a federal drug enforcement officer, doctors, homemakers, farmers, a fund-raiser for public television, politicians, and salespeople. Were we to look at lists of executives, astronauts, politicians, artists, entertainers, and social leaders, we would find among them also a fair proportion of English majors. Some of them, of course, had second majors, but most have learned their jobs since graduating, and their English skills have helped them to learn effectively and to advance in their fields.

English at Coe helps students hone their interpersonal and communication skills, preparing them to succeed in any profession where those skills are valuable.  Coe English majors become active, life-long learners.  Reading literature continuously calls attention to the ethical and spiritual dimensions of life, helping us to live thoughtfully and richly, whatever professions we find our homes in.