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Alumni Stories

What can I do with an English degree? Judging by the careers of Biola English alumni, the answer is . . . just about anything! Here, you can read stories and advice from our alumni, who work as software copywriters, garden coordinators, school teachers and sketch comedians, lawyers and life planners, graduate students, copywriters, proofreaders, professional writers, and more.

Photo of Richard Gaffin

Richard Gaffin

Meet Richard Gaffin, a 2001 Biola English Alum who is now a copywriter and creative strategist at a digital ad agency called Common Thread Collective.

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LaShunte Portrey

Meet LaShunte Portrey, in honor of whom one of our senior awards – the LaShunte T. Rockett Award for Excellence in Professional Achievement – is named.

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Sarah Donawerth

Meet Sarah Donawerth (‘13), a content manager at VYRL.

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Cameron Quinn

Meet Cameron Quinn, a field representative for Boeing

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Alex Schumacher

Meet Alex Schumacher, an IT systems administrator.

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Melissa Hinshaw

Meet Melissa Hinshaw (class of '11), who works as a copywriter at a creative agency.

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Amanda Singh

Meet Amanda Singh, a VP of a credit union and owner of a womenswear line.

Photo of Jonathan Seruyange

Jonathan Seruyange

Meet Jonathan Seruyange, a 2001 Biola English Alum who is now the Associate Director of Financial Aid Training and Compliance at Biola University..

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Joseph Lyons

Meet Joseph Lyons, a recent Biola grad who in the past two years has experienced several professional twists and turns. He currently works as a data privacy expert.

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Victoria Van Vlear

Meet Victoria Van Vlear, class of 2014.

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Christian Koons

Meet Christian Koons, associate podcast producer.

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Juan Luis Sánchez

Meet Juan Luis Sánchez (class of '98), who works as an assistant professor of English at UCLA.

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Laura Flemming

Meet Laura Flemming (class of '08), a stay-at-home parent living in La Mirada.

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Rachelle Cihonski

Meet Rachelle Cihonski (soon to be Mahoney), class of '14, who works as a writer in the Bay Area.

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Hannah Schaller

Meet Hannah Schaller, a 2016 Biola English grad who recently finished law school and is now a Fellow at ZwillGen, a firm specializing in internet and technology law.

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Christy Butler

Meet Christy Butler, a senior brand manager.

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Hayden Butler

Meet Hayden Butler, Chair of English at Pacifica Christian High School in Orange County and as Associate Pastor of St. Matthew's Anglican Church

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Amy Fellows

Meet Amy Fellows, a Youth Librarian.

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Darren Harbaugh

Meet Darren Harbaugh (class of '02), who works as a Lutheran pastor in Seaside, CA.

Photo of Stephanie Baker

Stephanie Baker

Meet Stephanie Baker (class of '14), a proofreader for HarperCollins living in Princeton, N.J.

© 2024 Biola University, Department of English.

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