Alumni Features

For the Mitchell family at The University of Olivet, it’s very much a family affair. In May 2023, dad Russ and daughters Hannah and Mary walked across the stage at Commencement to receive their bachelor’s degrees. Daughter Emily will return in the fall as a junior. Having three sisters and their father attending the same…

Young adult life is weird. You graduate high school and are expected to know what to do with your life. There are many big decisions to make and many possibilities to consider. How is a kid supposed to do it? The pressure can be daunting for the young person ready to launch into adulthood. And…

I honestly didn’t know how important The University of Olivet was to me until last week. I finally realized I was done being a student at Olivet, and I didn’t know if I should be happy or sad because, over these past four years, I have made a ton of connections with my peers. Not…

The University of Olivet is about finding innovative ways to meet the career aspirations of its students. One unique program is the Teaching Pathway, which offers students interested in teaching an alternate route to teacher certification. The Teaching Pathway experience can be combined with any of Olivet’s majors. Students learn the fundamentals of best practices…

Bruce Baker may have graduated in 2018, but his time in Olivet is not over. Today, you can find Bruce running around town—literally—with the Olivet High School cross country and track and field teams that he helps coach. Bruce is also the youth pastor of a local church, and there he lives out his primary…

Recent graduate Jax Keene, from Swartz Creek, Michigan, had a college experience unlike any other. Jax, who majored in exercise science, became an adjunct professor at The University of Olivet during her junior and senior years. During the spring of her first year in 2019, Jax found herself in the office of her Health and…

Health and Human Performances (HHP) major and Donald A. Morris top graduate, Kiley Schneck, has been passionate about exercise science for over a decade. Before she was even in high school, Kiley knew what her calling was, and The University of Olivet was the place that helped her achieve her dream. From Rochester Hills, Michigan,…

The University of Olivet is committed to quality education that fits the needs and lifestyles of its students. One program that does this particularly well is the RN-BSN pathway, designed for working professionals. The program was created for individuals who have earned an associate degree in nursing and wish to pursue a bachelor's degree.   Erica…

The University of Olivet is known for being accommodating. It is a place where students of diverse backgrounds feel welcome, included and valued. Todd Seipenko learned that this is true for our non-traditional students as well. After 25 years in law enforcement, he decided it was time to go back to school and earn his bachelor’s…

Reiker Dean ’20 is a graduate student at Ohio University on a full-ride scholarship. He is currently in his second year of a three-year program working toward a Master of Fine Arts in painting and drawing. He also currently works for the university by instructing undergraduate classes, and in the fall of this year, he…

Christian Washington ’21 is currently enrolled in the 109th Mid-Michigan Police Academy as a sponsored recruit at Lansing Community College and is on track to graduate on May 6, 2022. After completing the program, Christian plans to be officially sworn in to the Lansing Police Department and to start the field training process for officers.…

Kate Strein ’08 serves as an eighth grade English Language Arts teacher at Jupiter Middle School in southern Florida, but her true passion is taking education beyond the classroom. Kate was chosen as a Fulbright Scholar for the Teachers of Global Classrooms program in 2019. While the COVID-19 pandemic delayed some of Kate’s plans, this…

Dr. Tim Hodge, a 1983 The University of Olivet graduate, was appointed chair of the The University of Olivet Board of Trustees on Oct. 15, 2021. Hodge is a distinguished emergency medicine physician and U.S. Navy veteran whose commitment to The University of Olivet has remained strong. He has served as a member of the…

Chelsea Goodman ‘14 majored in biology at The University of Olivet while preparing to enter medical school after graduation. Thanks to strong relationships with professors, time management skills, leadership opportunities and a great educational foundation, Chelsea has found success in graduate school and beyond. “I always knew that I wanted to further my education in…

Emma Essen ’19 certainly spent her fair share of time crunching numbers as a double major in actuarial science and mathematics with a minor in computer science, but solving the equation of time management was her true focus. Since graduating, she’s started a career as data analyst and is also a part-time graduate student. Thanks…

When Brian Freiberger graduated from The University of Olivet in 2019, he found career opportunities in big cities working in marketing and sales. But, he decided he wanted to go back to his roots as a writer and photographer and needed to return to a quiet lifestyle after living in the city. Brian said, “At…

Jennifer (Elliston) Ackett ’17 came to Olivet with the intention of starting her journey to become a medical doctor, but along the way she found her true path of becoming a physician assistant (PA). Jennifer is from Battle Creek, and great scholarship opportunities played a big role in her decision to attend OC. While at…

When Alena (Buczynski) Guenther ’18 was attending The University of Olivet, a pin from the Opening Convocation ceremony found its way to her with the phrase “Be Challenged, Be Changed.” It was that phrase that stuck with her during the rest of her college and graduate school career, pushing her to grow and be the…

For George Hill ’99, being a teacher is a vital role in a student’s life. “We help shape values, character, passions and life goals. It is mission-critical work as we are creating the leaders of the next generation now.” That drive to better students is why George is now serving as a principal. When George…