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By: Luisa Torres
The alumni of once Atlantic Christian College, and now Barton College, have had the opportunity to reflect the Barton College’s saying “Inspiring Futures.”
Many alumni were given the choice to come back and work for Barton College; each one of their journeys back to their alma mater can be described as distinct and unique. There are still several ACC alumni working at Barton College.
Among those is Norma Williams, associate of collections and access services in the Hackney Library.
Williams has been working at Barton for about 40 years; she was here before the Hackney Library was built. After graduating from ACC, she and her husband were transferred out of state, but eventually they came back to Wilson when her husband was offered a job with Firestone.
Williams was called twice by the ACC library, and the first time she was offered a temporary job for six weeks while another person working in the library was on maternity leave. She ended up working her for an entire year.
The second time Williams was called she was not looking for a job at the time; she had a 2-year-old daughter, but she finally decided to come back, and she has been here ever since.
Another ACC alumni who decided to come back to her alma mater is Dr. Jackie Ennis. Ennis is currently dean of accelerated professional programs in the education department.
Ennis chose ACC because of its reputable background in the education program, and because of the more personal atmosphere.
She said “I’m very glad I came here. I’ve gotten very good preparation.”
She graduated from ACC in three and a half years, and after that worked in Rocky Mount the public school system for 10 years. Ennis said she learned a lot while she taught math, science, technology and health working at Parker Junior High in Rocky Mount.
Her first year as a teacher, Campbell University was offering a graduate program in Rocky Mount. She was able to work on her graduate studies while at the same time working as a middle school teacher.
Ennis worked another five years as a middle school teacher, but this time in the Nash County public school system. Then she was given the opportunity to come back and work for Barton College.
“It was really neat to get to come back to the school that I already loved so much,” said Ennis, “and to what I loved, which was to teach and teach people how to teach.”
She did not have her doctorate at before coming to work for Barton College, but Ennis agreed to complete her doctorate studies. She received her doctorate from North Carolina State University in curriculum and instruction in 2005. Ennis has been working at Barton for 20 years.
Mark Murphy is another Barton College alumnus who decided to work for his alma mater. A native of Virginia Beach, Va., he began college in a community college close to home.
“I wanted to go to a place where I could mature and get out of my comfort zone,” said Murphy. He visited Barton College’s school of business, and was immediately impressed and content with the atmosphere that the college offers.
Murphy graduated with a degree from Barton, but he was not exactly sure what path he would take after graduation. His mentor, Krystal Rowland Alices, encouraged him to apply for a job in the admissions office. Murphy believes his role as a student ambassador also encouraged his decision to come back and work for Barton College.
He works in the admissions office as a senior admissions counselor.
“…I love being able to work with students,” he said, “and [I love] helping them with the most important decision of their life…I believe it’s a privilege to be able to work with 17 or 18-year-olds…”
Kaitlyn Kosuda graduated from Barton College May 2014 with a degree in art with a concentration in photography. Before deciding on Barton College, her two options for pursuing higher education were Mount Olive College, now the University of Mount Olive, and Barton College.
After visiting Barton, Kosuda said she was enthused and interested in attending because the college was close to her home, the art program caught her interest and the smaller campus was a good transition from her small high school.
Kosuda believes her personality changed in a positive way after joining the student ambassador program her sophomore year at Barton College. She now works in the admissions office as a counselor, and believes it was the perfect transition after graduation.
Kathy Daughety is another alumna of Atlantic Christian College, and her history with the college is extensive. She had an early involvement and experience in campus life due to her father’s being a graduate of ACC.
Both of her parents were teachers, and her father later became a part of higher education at the college with several roles, one being dean of students. She was inspired to study at ACC more specifically because of a speech given by Dr. James B. Hemby, and English professor who later was president of ACC. This prompted her to pursue English.
Daughety also became interested in religion because of Linda Walling, another student of ACC and active member of First Christian Church in Wilson. Daughety graduated from ACC with a double major in English and Religion.
She later married and worked in retail for several years until her husband applied for the chaplain position at ACC. This reignited her love of her alma mater, and she worked in the admissions office before getting her dream job as director of public relation at Barton College.
Daughety has worked for Barton for 28 years. She said she strongly believes in the future of Barton College students, adding, “We are partnering with [the students] and we are investing in their future as they have invested in their future.”
