Humanities Scholars Program Alumni

The Humanities Scholars Program is pleased to present its alumni:

Senior Research Presentations

Gerrit Betz,
"Improve Comedy & Virtue Ethics"
Gerrit graduated with a BA in Ethics, History and Public Policy. He has been improvising with the No Parking Players improv comedy troupe on campus since arriving as a freshman. After graduation he interned in Governor Rendell's Office of Policy, and is now attending law school.

Ashley Birt,
"Dramaturgy in American Theater"
Ashley received a BA in Creative Writing with a minor in Drama and served as a literary intern with the 13th Street Repertory Company in New York as well as acting as a dramaturge on two productions at Carnegie Mellon in the school of drama. She plans on continuing her writing career in and out of the theater, and eventually pursuing a graduate degree in a related public policy field.

Alisa Brown,
"The Changing English Learning Experience for Japanese Americans"
Alisa graduated with a BA in Psychology and a BA in European studies. A native speaker of English and Japanese, she has been a research assistant and translator for the department of Psychology as well as completing several undergraduate internships with at-risk children and people with AIDS, as well as studying abroad in Spain. An Andrew Carnegie Scholar, she was named the Pennsylvania State Student Employee of the Year during her senior year. After graduation, Alisa returned to Japan to be with her family and teach at an international school in Kobe. Her long term goals include establishing a nation-wide counseling system and continuing her education in psychology.

Zachary Harris,
"The Jewish Cemetery"
Zach graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing with foci in poetry and creative nonfiction. Along the way, he won numerous Adamson awards, and attended the Bucknell Seminar for Younger Poets after his senior year. He was awarded an honorable mention this year in the Atlantic Monthly's student writing competition, and is member of Phi Beta Kappa. He will begin his graduate studies in English, pursuing an MFA in writing, in Fall, 2008.

Christopher Klifto,
"The Modernist Dilemma: Damnation or Escape?"
Christopher Klifto graduated with a B.A. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Biomedical engineering. He is currently attending the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in the fall. He is graduating with university honors, college honors, and completed a senior thesis with Professor Beryl Schlossman to achieve H&SS senior thesis honors.

Nazli Kfoury (with Rebecca Metler)
"An Evaluation of the Humanities Scholars Program"
Nazli graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts in Ethics, History, and Public Policy with minors in International Relations and French. After graduation she traveled extensively and is now working as a real estate paralegal in the New York office of Greenberg Training, LLP.

Rebecca Metler (with Nazli Kfoury)
"An Evaluation of the Humanities Scholars Program"
Becky graduated with a double major in Decision Science and Policy and Management. She participates in two varsity sports, volleyball and track & field, and is the co-founder and vice president of the campus spirit organization, the Carnegie Clan. After working at the university's office of human resources, she will be matriculating in a dual degree program at Cornell University, and will receive Masters from the programs Business Administration and Industrial and Labor Relations.

Clara Reyes,
"Moroccan Immigration to Spain & the Construction of the 'Other' in Spanish Popular Media"
Clara received a Bachelors of Science in History and Policy with two minor concentrations in International Relations and Spanish. Throughout her time at Carnegie Mellon, Clara was involved with numerous activities, including serving as secretary for the Spanish and Latin Student Association and the Peer Health Advisors. Clara was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and received the university's Gretchen Goldsmith Lankford Award, and is now teaching high school special education in Phoenix, Arizona for Teach for America. She plans on pursuing an advanced degree in International Studies.

Kimberly Wedderburn,
"The Cyclical Relationship Between African & African-American Music"
Kim received her bachelors degree in professional writing with a minor in music composition. She enjoys learning about other cultures ands using this information in her writing and music. She became interested in popular African music during her time abroad an Cape Town, South Africa. Next year, she will work as an English as a Second Language instructor in South Korea.