Spanish & People Skills | The Scholar’s Path | Expanding Horizons: Stories from Abroad
Greetings from the Dean
The Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences makes a practice of experiments in grand alchemy. Alchemists sought to transmute common metals into gold. Like these scientists and philosophers of old, we, too, focus on transformation.
For our programs, our community, and, most especially, our students, the transmutation of identity towards flourishing defines the realization of our highest potential. Such is our raison d’etre - our reason for being. In a more spiritual context, alchemy refers to a process of inner transformation and self-discovery. With the aim of personal and professional growth, our goals are best realized in the alignment of passion and purpose. That, too, is our gold.
In these pages, we are thrilled to offer you more of the stories of self-realization, personal and spiritual transformations, and contributions to the greater good that inspire us year-after-year and class-after-class. Please enjoy this glimpse into this distillation process. In a cycle of repeated contributions to present and future thriving, our School is creating that elixir of immortality that alchemists so fervently pursued.
Knowledge and discovery live on in the lives of a capable and committed generation. The students and alumni profiled here are examples of higher education’s power and worth. I could not be prouder of their accomplishments and the stories of mentorship that shape these narratives. Leading an exceptional faculty, grand alchemists all, is a privilege and representing these student accomplishments a profound honor.
Thank you for your interest in our gold. Please consider supporting our alchemical processes.
Dean Ken Elston, MFA
Spring 2025 Newsletter
DEAN
Mr. Ken Elston, MFA
ASSOCIATE DEAN
Dr. Stacy Lipowski
DEPARTMENT CHAIRS
Criminal Justice
Dr. Alec Szalewski, Interim
English
Dr. Bryan Vescio
History
Dr. Joey Fink
Political Science
Dr. Martin Kifer
Psychology
Dr. Kirsten Li-Barber
Religion & Philosophy
Dr. Chris Franks
Sociology & Anthropology
Dr. Matthew Sayre
World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures
Dr. Daliang Wang
OFFICE OF THE DEAN
1173 College Village
High Point University
One University Parkway
High Point, NC 27268
Newsletter questions or comments? Send to: Tiffany Medford tmedford@highpoint.edu
Boren Scholarship recipient, Savannah Graver (center), spent the fall semester in Taiwan. Read her story on page 6.
Left: CRJ major, Julianna Lubeck, networks at the Criminal Justice Meet & Greet; Top right: Students from Dr. Schneid’s HST 2103 The Second World War playing a simulation of the Battle of the Bulge; Bottom right: Dr. Moses chats with Charles Franklin Finch Lecture Series guest speaker, Dr. Jennifer Herdt from Yale University Divinity School.
Spanish and the Power of People Skills
Jack Fobert, a senior from Boston, Massachusetts, leverages interpersonal professional skills gained through his Spanish major to make a meaningful impact on the greater High Point community.
In today’s job market, a well-rounded résumé should highlight both technical and interpersonal skills, as employers seek candidates who can collaborate effectively in fast-paced work environments. A strong foundation in interpersonal skills, also referred to as people skills, can set a candidate apart during the interview process.
According to Handshake, a Gen-Z career platform, people skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management are becoming increasingly important in today’s workplace. For liberal arts students, these professional aptitudes become second nature during their undergraduate
experience and often extend to greater talents of critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence—human and behavioral skills that are highly valued across industries.
For Honors Scholar Jack Fobert, developing people skills to complement his technical foundation was essential. As a senior double majoring in Mathematics and Spanish with a minor in Computer Science, Jack reflects on the value of combining disciplines during his undergraduate journey.
“The thing humanities does best is offer people skills,” he shared during a presentation on his experience as a Spanish major. “Highlighting
the skills I’ve learned through the Spanish program during interviews has been a strong selling point with my resume. Since people with technical skills are not necessarily known for being conversational, I’ve found that companies often prefer a candidate who can communicate well over one who cannot.”
Spanish was a natural second major for Jack. He studied the language in high school, enjoyed it, and aspired to travel abroad to experience Spanish culture firsthand. During his junior year, he enrolled in Dr. Adam Winkel’s Maymester course, Contemporary Spain through Soccer, to Seville, Spain. While abroad, Jack and his classmates immersed themselves in the culture, relying on their advanced coursework to guide their interactions. The trip was a defining moment, inspiring Jack to put his newfound passion into action when he returned to High Point.
He became president for both the Spanish Club and Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. Collaborating with other club members, Jack helped organize events ranging from informal “Spanglish Chats” to academic panels that showcased Spanish faculty research. Motivated to take his knowledge beyond HPU, Jack partnered with a fellow HPU classmate, Andrew Beckwith, to offer introductory Spanish lessons at D-UP—a non-profit focused on enriching the lives of High Point youth.
Jack encourages anyone interested in speaking the language to try it and not give up. “The initial curve of picking up the language can be overwhelming because classes become really difficult if you’re not consistently studying,” he said. “If you can push through that, then your skills will really take off and you’ll be able to converse with others around you, which you couldn’t do before.”
For Jack, the most rewarding part of studying Spanish has been the relationships he’s built across cultures. The ability to communicate in another language has opened the door to meaningful connections with people from Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Ecuador, fostering deep cross-cultural understanding and strengthening his ability to navigate new experiences. These connections and experiences coalesce to form the foundation of interpersonal people skills and cultural fluency that employers seek in today’s global workforce.
Awarded a position with the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP), Jack will spend the 2025-2026 academic year teaching English in Galcia, Spain, an opportunity he welcomes with excitment.
Opposite page: Jack, far right, in Granada, Spain with fellow HPU students studying abroad. Above: Jack works with 3rd-5th grade students at D-UP.
Below: Jack, second from left, with Dr. Winkel, center, and members of the Spanish Club at the High Point Museum for Dia de los Muertos.
The Scholar’S paTh Students pursue passion and purpose through undergraduate research.
Catherine Gallagher researches the intersection of movement and memory.
Growing up as a dancer, Catherine was fascinated by how people learn through movement. When it came time to choose a college, she wanted a place where she could double major in psychology and dance. She found that opportunity at High Point University. Unlike other institutions that posed limitations, HPU encouraged interdisciplinary exploration and early access to research opportunities, factors that ultimately shaped her academic and professional goals.
Her research journey began as a freshman in Dr. Lipowski’s psychology lab, which studies memory in children. As she learned about the production effect and semantic memory—the way we recall words—she connected her academic insights with her experience as a dancer, wondering if memory develops in similar ways while learning movement.
Returning to Dr. Lipowski’s lab her sophomore year, she began conducting her own research on memory and movement. She also joined Dr. Nagy’s clinical psychology research lab to examine effects of self-criticism and perfectionism. Here, her interest in movement and memory expanded to include how selfcritical tendencies in dancers inhibited their ability to memorize choreography.
By the end of her sophomore year, she proposed a study that combined her experience in cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, and dance to explore how storytelling might improve movement recall. The study, titled Storytelling through Dance: Exploring the Impact of Learning Strategies and Cognitive Styles on Movement Recall, aimed to examine how learning styles, body image, and self-criticism influence memory in dancers and non-dancers. She received a Scholarly Interdisciplinary Research Grant
Top: Catherine posed elegantly.
Bottom: Ms. Lindsey Howie, Catherine, Dr. Stacy Lipowski, and Dr. Laura Nagy on Honors Day 2024.
(SIRG) from HPU’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Works (URCW) program to fund the research.
Catherine collected data from 120 participants. The SIRG grant helped recruit 40 adolescents, 40 undergraduate dancers, and 40 non-dancers. The project posed logistical and methodological challenges—such as designing a consistent teaching approach and developing a reliable movement coding system—all of which Catherine overcame with the help of her mentors, Drs. Lipowski, Nagy, and Howie. As data analysis continues, Catherine remains committed to uncovering insights that bridge the fields of psychology, movement, and memory. “I’m so grateful for my professors’ support during this endeavor,” she said. “This process has taught me that I can think outside the box and incorporate other disciplines into psychology to accomplish research that hasn’t been done before.”
Published and Pursuing More: Sofie Smith’s Next Chapter
Sofie Smith, a senior double majoring in philosophy and religion, will see her undergraduate research published in May 2025.
Her paper, Living with Nature: Living with Daoism and Stoicism, will appear in Puros: An International Undergraduate Philosophy Journal, published by the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Originally written as an assignment for Dr. Carl Helsing’s REL 3331 course, the paper compares how Daoist and Stoic philosophies approach nature and society, responding to existing comparative research. After presenting the paper at the North Carolina Religious Studies Association at UNC-Chapel Hill, she applied for publication and was accepted by Puros.
After graduation, Sofie will attend the top academic destination for research into religious traditions of Asia and the Pacific at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. She plans to pursue a career in academia.
When asked for her advice to others interested in the field, Sofie smiled and paraphrased Confucius: “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Elaborating further, “Even if you don’t major or minor in philosophy or religion, take a few classes. Everyone in the department is so welcoming and kind.”
Study participants gather for a picture after completing the movement portion of Catherine’s research.
Dr. Helsing and Sofie at Fo Guang Shan Monastery in the Xingtian Village of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Expanding Horizons
Student Stories from Abroad
At High Point University, students are encouraged to dream big. For seniors Savannah Graver and Mac Mollins, that meant taking their academic passions abroad through one of the most prestigious undergraduate fellowships in the country. As recipients of the Boren Scholarship, a highly competitive award that supports intensive language study, Savannah and Mac represent what’s possible when students apply their academic drive to transformative, global opportunities. Their stories—one rooted in the vibrant streets of Taipei and the other in the historic crossroads of Baku—demonstrate how fellowships can open doors to international friendships, language fluency, and global networking.
When Savannah Graver first arrived at HPU, she was a biology major who wasn’t quite sure where her academic path would lead. A native of Pennsylvania, she had chosen HPU after a visit during Presidential Scholars Weekend made her feel excited and welcomed. That instinct to embrace new experiences would later lead her to Taiwan, where she would immerse herself in Mandarin language studies and build connections with people from all over the world.
Savannah’s journey to becoming a Boren Scholar started in her sophomore year. During this year, she enrolled in an international relations course and a Chinese course, both of which she loved. By the end of sophomore year, Savannah had declared a major in international relations and a minor in Chinese.
“I’ve always been interested in other cultures,” Savannah said. “International relations and Chinese courses allowed me to explore that in a really meaningful way.”
During her senior year, Savannah landed an internship with the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the U.S. Department of State. “A lot of my work involved Mandarin, and while I could understand some of it, I wanted to understand all of it.”
So, she decided to pursue the Boren Scholarship. Taiwan was the perfect fit—having previously visited the city on an HPU Maymester trip, she felt like returning for a longer stay was a natural next step.
Living in Taipei and attending language classes five days a week, Savannah saw her Mandarin skills grow dramatically. “It was more than just learning the language,” she reflected. “It was about being able to access the culture, form friendships, and really be part of the community.”
Without a cohort from the U.S., Savannah’s experience was wholly immersive. She connected with locals, participated in a government-sponsored program to teach fourth graders about American life, and embraced the challenges of living in a six-person apartment with one bathroom. One chance encounter on a train led to a friendship and an invitation to someone’s home—just one example of the warmth she found in Taiwan.
Returning home, Savannah has been accepted to National Chengchi University in Taiwan, where she plans to continue her graduate studies. She’s also a semifinalist for a Fulbright Scholarship. “I want to keep using Mandarin and contributing to international understanding,” she said. “I’m not sure exactly what my career path looks like,
Opposite page: Savannah, center, with fourth graders in Taipai. Above: Enjoying an evening of bowling with new friends.
but I know I want it to involve this region, this language, and this kind of connection.”
From Taiwan to Azerbaijan
While Savannah was navigating markets and train rides in Taiwan, fellow HPU student Mac Mollins was learning Turkish on the other side of the world.
A senior from Clayton, North Carolina, Mac is double majoring in history and political science. He was drawn to the Boren Scholarship after hearing about it from Dr. Mark Setzler, who had participated in the program years before. With his passion for history and aspirations to contribute to foreign policy and national security, Mac saw Boren as the perfect bridge between past and future.
Mac’s interest in learning Turkish began after an interview with Dr. Andrew Tzavaras from the history department, who discussed the Ottoman Empire’s role in the Italian Wars of the 16th century. Intrigued by the region’s historical complexity, he soon discovered that Turkish is also considered a critical language by Boren’s flagship programs—valued not only for its difficulty but for Turkey’s key role in global affairs. “Turkey straddles continents and plays an integral part in global politics,” he said. “I wanted to form lasting connections, and language is a powerful
way to do that.”
Mac began his Boren experience with an intensive summer language program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before traveling to Baku, Azerbaijan for a semester. The experience was transformative—but not without challenges.
“Learning Turkish from scratch was tough,” he admitted. “It’s agglutinative, so sentence structure is completely different from English. There aren’t many cognates, and being surrounded by people who already spoke multiple languages was intimidating at first.”
Despite that, Mac found support in unexpected places—like karaoke nights with his host mom, who loved ‘90s Michael Jackson. “We’d sing together, and I’d translate lyrics for her,” he recalled with a smile. “She worked as a Russian tutor, and we’d swap language tips.”
Living in a post-Soviet country like Azerbaijan also deepened Mac’s appreciation for cultural nuance and political identity. “The Azerbaijanis were incredibly welcoming. They’re proud of their cultural heritage—especially music and rug-making. We visited a rug museum, and it made me realize that art isn’t just paintings—it’s storytelling, craftsmanship, oral tradition.” Mac has recently been awarded the Critical Language Scholarship to continue studying Turkish at Ankara University. Afterwards, he plans to pursue graduate school or work in federal service.
Both Savannah and Mac credit Dr. Setzler for the inspiration to apply for the Boren Scholarship and Dr. James Cotton for being instrumental in the application process. “They helped me present my story clearly and with confidence,” Mac recalls. Through the Boren Scholarship, Savannah and Mac not only deepened their academic knowledge and language skills, but they also gained invaluable insights into cultural exchange, international relations, and personal growth.
Mollins sits atop Eagle Point during a visit to Khinaliq while studying abroad in Azerbaijan.
More Than a Major Internships,
Research, and Mock Trial
Shape Criminal Justice Students
When asked if the Criminal Justice major prepared her for the professional world, senior Bestina Bestman answers with a resounding, “Yes—definitely.”
“I declared a criminal justice major because the major touches on law enforcement, law, criminal theory, and research,” she said. Bestina paired her major with a political science minor and completed two competitive internships—one with the U.S. Marshals Service and another with the U.S. House of Representatives. These experiences offered a deeper understanding of how policy and enforcement intersect. Passionate about advocacy and change, she credits her professors for pushing her to reach new heights. “They don’t accept sub-par work—they push you to do your best,” she said.
Like Bestina, criminal justice major and senior Caydan Brixius, was held to high academic standards. Challenged to expand faculty-led research under the mentorship of Dr. Alec Szalewski and Dr. Kylee Runyan, Caydan investigated the outcomes of children with incarcerated parents and built upon Dr. Runyan’s research to include 14 new scholarly articles from the years 2018 - 2024. The research underscored the disproportionate risks these children face and the support needed to help these families. This experience, coupled with an internship with the Bureau of Planning, Research and Statistics within the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, ignited her interest in policy development. After graduation, she will pursue a Ph.D. in Sociology at N.C. State, with the goal of becoming a policy analyst.
Similarly, Brady Rotello, a senior double majoring in Criminal Justice and Philosophy, echoes the department’s high standards through his participation in HPU’s Mock Trial team. Led by Dr. Scott Ingram, the program simulates real courtroom trials, which develop skills in legal reasoning, public speaking, and teamwork. Brady, a three-year team member and now co-captain, admits his journey started rocky. “At my first competition, I completely forgot my opening statement and had to read from my notes,” he recalled. “I called my parents and told them I picked the wrong career path. They, along with Dr. Ingram, encouraged me to try again.”
That perseverance paid off—this year Brady was awarded Best Attorney at a competition in Minnesota, where the team also earned the Spirit of AMTA Award for the second time in program history. This award is voted on by peers and is awarded to the team with the most respectful and professional conduct during the tournament. Dr. Ingram notes, “Over the last three years, Brady and co-captain Aly Patterson have accumulated more ranks than anyone else in the twelve years I have been coaching the team. They have worked incredibly hard to learn the material and compete at a high level in the program.” After graduation, Brady will attend Duquesne University Kline School of Law.
Together, Bestina, Caydan, and Brady demonstrate the breadth of HPU’s Criminal Justice program—from internships and data-driven research to courtroom simulations and national competitions. Each student followed a distinct path, yet all are united by a commitment to justice and a passion for making a lasting impact.
Bestina Bestman
Caydan Brixius
Brady Rotello
Double Major Mindset
Taylor Galavotti loves belonging to a community of scholars. As a senior double majoring in neuroscience and English, she found that community among both faculty and students at High Point University.
Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, Taylor chose to attend HPU for the neuroscience programdouble majoring in English was not part of her original plan. That changed after her first year in the Honors Scholar program.
“I loved showing up every day for Dr. Nathan Hedman’s initial Honors Scholar course, Here Be Dragons,” Taylor recalls. “That’s how everything took off - that initial Honors class that opened me up to interdisciplinary coursework.”
Balancing the two majors has been Taylor’s greatest challenge. As a neuroscience major, she works 15-20 hours a week in Dr. Ackerman’s lab, studying the effect of fluoride on zebrafish behavior and development. As an English major, she contributes to the Honors Scholar program by serving as an advisor to first-year students, helping them develop critical reading and writing skills. In her remaining spare time, she gives campus tours for the Office of Admissions, runs half marathons, and volunteers in the greater High Point community at D-UP and Ferndale Middle School.
“As her advisor,” said Dr. Virginia Leclercq, “I have had the opportunity to see Taylor navigate the challenges of a dual degree and a rigorous honors program. She has approached these opportunities with a professionalism and an enthusiasm that are truly inspiring.”
“A big reason why I pursued both majors was the opportunity to utilize both sides of my brain and grow in my education,” Taylor said. “In science, sometimes learning can be rooted in memorization or performance - geared toward an end goal of becoming a doctor or PA. But in my humanities classes, the process of learning was developed around me. I’m so thankful for
the faculty who built strong relationships with me from the beginning.”
Several English faculty members, including Dr. Hedman, Dr. Matthew Carlson, and Dr. Virginia Leclercq, have played a pivotal role in shaping Taylor’s academic experience. Reflecting on her coursework, she notes, “Taking Dr. Leclercq’s critical theory class, English 4881: Theory of a Novel, was the hardest course I’ve ever taken - and I’ve taken biochemistry and organic chemistry. Dr. Leclercq guided us through a really tough journey of reading literature. I fell in love with the process of learning, doing the work required to understand the text, digest it, and wrestle with it. It was a really cool class!”
As a result of her perseverance, she has presented at national conferences for both neuroscience and English, the most recent of which are the National Undergraduate Literature Conference and the Society of Neuroscience, the largest international conference for the field. She is a Fulbright Semifinalist and has been accepted into two graduate programs, a neuroscience Ph.D. program at Indiana University School of Medicine and a fully-funded M.A. in English Literature at the University of Kentucky.
As she steps into the next chapter, the strong community of scholars Taylor cultivated with faculty and peers has equipped her to lead with purpose. She carries with her a deep appreciation for interdisciplinary learning and the confidence to make meaningful change.
Taylor Galavotti, class of 2025, double majors in neuroscience and English for an immersive interdisciplinary experience.
Internship Spotlight
Alex Molina
Sociology & Anthropology major
Traveled to Chavín de Huántar, Peru to learn archaeological excavation techniques alongside Drs. Matthew Sayre and Silvana Rosenfeld
Samantha Dunn
History major, Museum Studies minor
Interned at the High Point Museum, assisting with collections while curating a summer exhibit on Garden Clubs in North Carolina.
Will Tepper
Biology and Philosophy double major
Interned with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to learn about ethical regulation on human research subjects
Sydney Steelman
Psychology major, Public and Professional Writing minor
Served as an HR Intern at Bell Partners Inc. corporate headquarters and the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System
Ivy Scott
Religion major, Spanish minor
Interned with Josiah Venture in Ukraine over the summer to lead week-long church camps and youth events.
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
Each day, our Admissions team assists future HPU students and parents in their journey to find their perfect college. Our students come from 50 states and 43 countries, but they have at least one thing in common: The desire to be extraordinary!
At HPU, our commitment to being The Premier Life Skills University is rooted in a powerful combination of fast-paced innovation and strong values. We have a healthy obsession for connecting the foundation-building liberal arts education with career-focused outcomes. We deliver every day on our mission statement - every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. Come experience HPU’s inspiring campus environment today. Schedule a personal campus visit at www.highpoint.edu/visit
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HUMANITIES & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
The Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences houses the liberal arts heart of High Point University. You may choose to support our students by donating to the School or associated programs. Funds will be used to support student scholarships, guest artists series, outreach programs, and the many opportunities that make the Humanities and Behavioral Sciences extraordinary. Those who generously make annual leadership gifts of $1,924 or more will be listed in the University’s President Circle Honor Roll of Donors.
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