Alumni Updates

Alumni Class Notes are a way for alumni to share any sort of short announcement with fellow alumni.  Examples include additional degrees, job changes or promotions, exhibitions or awards as well as personal information such as marriages, births or relocations.

Class notes will be posted by graduation year.

Have something to share?  Email Lisa Dill at ldill@watkins.edu with the subject line Class Notes.  Don’t forget to include your First and Last Name, Maiden Name if appropriate, Class Year and Major.

Questions? Call 615.277.7403.

Class of 2009

Lisa Stevens, Interior Design (posted 7.16.09)

Lisa is working at Thomas L. Anderson Architect in Old Hickory as their principal Interior Designer and recently began working with a team of developers and contractors to rehab and restore historic homes in the Nashville  area.  She passed the LEED exam on June 30th, earning her LEED-AP accreditation (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Accredited Professional). She is already working with clients to attain LEED certified projects and build in a more sustainable manner.

Class of 2008

Ryan Harmon, Graphic Design (posted 8.20.09)

Ryan is a full time graphic designer for Brentwood Baptist. In this position, he works on a wide variety of projects including newsletters, identities, signage, packaging, flyers, brochures, and web. He also is going to be a father soon - he and his wife Sarah are expecting their first child, Austin in Sept. 09.

Abby Whisenant, Photography (posted 8.20.09)

Abby was awarded a position as a National Teaching Fellow with the nonprofit organization Citizen Schools [more info here: citizenschools.org]. She is one of 60 that were selected nationwide to serve at one of their 20 campuses. She was placed in Charlotte, NC at Eastway Middle School, which is an inner city school with a very diverse population of students that has been facing many challenges concerning students’ academic performance. Her role on campus is to track the progress, academic and otherwise, of all 150 students in our afterschool program and create solutions with parents, teachers and colleagues to improve upon the students’ performance. She also coordinates events concerning the afterschool program and helps recruit and support our Citizen Teacher volunteers, who dedicate their time each week to teach their passions or skills to the students.

According to Abby, "I feel very fortunate to have found a position that allows me to work creatively to make a difference in the lives of our youth and our community, locally and beyond. Many of the faculty and staff at Watkins were very supportive and encouraging of the atypical path I had chosen, and I thank them for helping to prepare me for where I am right now."

Class of 2006

Jill Mullins, Photography

Jill is pursuing her MFA in Photography at the University of Florida.  She holds a graduate assistantship as the gallery coordinator for the WARPhaus gallery. WARP (Workshop for Art Research and Practice) is an interesting program that allows her to work with the students in the open studio time and also coordinate the shows going up in the gallery.

Jeff Green, Graphic Design (posted 8.20.09)
Jeff is currently exhibiting his mixed media collages at Cumberland Gallery. Learn more by clicking here.

Class of 2005

Katie Bean deSouza, Graphic Design

After graduating from Watkins in 2005, Katie Bean deSouza landed a job with redpepper, a Nashville-based advertising agency. At redpepper, Katie uses her eye for color, attention to detail and passion for creativity to win over clients and consumers. Speaking of winning, she has also won a couple of Addy’s for her whimsical designs.

Last year, Katie was inspired to do more for our community, and she led redpepper to get involved with CreateAthon. CreateAthon is a 24-hour creative blitz in which redpepper provides free marketing and creative services to local non-profits. Because it was such a great success, redpepper has now made CreateAthon an annual event. 

Katie lives in Franklin, TN with her husband, Aias deSouza, and her twin boys, Ethan and Griffin. And she believes with all her heart that she will eventually get a full night’s sleep.

Iwonka Waskowski, Fine Art

Iwonka is currently exhibiting her drawings at the Renaissance Center Visual Arts Gallery in Dickson, Tennessee. Along with members of Off the Wall art group, the work can be viewed from January 23 through March 14, 2009. More information at www.rcenter.org.