Successful Graduates

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

  • Virginia Gute '65: President of Catalyst Marketing
  • Louise Miller '65: Vice President of Zuckerman, Fernandes & Partners
  • Nolan Zavoral '65: Religion Writer for Minneapolis Star-Tribune
  • Christine Billinger '65: Writing Instructor, University of Minnestoa/Loft Literacy Center
  • Dennis Hummel '66: Brigadier General, United States Air Force
  • Anne McCabe '66: Assistant Presbyterian pastor, Lakewood Presbyterian Church
  • Theodore Miller '66: Retired Senior V.P. Editorial Director, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.
  • Mary Eley '67: Freelance Editor
  • Gregg Kakesako '67: Assistant City Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
  • Stephen Cone '72: Chief Marketing Officer, Epsilon
  • Honee Hess '75: Director of Education, Worcester Art Museum
  • Pamela Dunn '75: Publications Coordinator, Mercy Medical Center
  • Eliza Ovrom '75: Assistant District Attorney in Polk County, IA
  • Kay Fuglei LaZebnik'77: Actress, McCarter Theater
  • Krisdaporn Singhasen'77: Publications Manager, UN Commission of Refugees
  • Diane Sloan '85: Executive Director, Barron County Campus Foundation
  • Carole Benson '87: Real Estate Agent, Iowa Realty
  • Rebekah Walsh '87: Private Banking Officer, Salin Bank & Trust Co.
  • Mary Wolf '87: Program Analyst for the Department of Defense
  • Scott Rettberg '92: Assistant Professor of New Media Studies, Richard Stockton College
  • Betsy Dougherty '92: Professor of Irish Studies at Southern Illinois University
  • Dustin Floyd '03: Travel Agent, TDG Communications

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.