Summer 2016

Carol Cox, BU ’06

Carol Cox, BU ’06, director of marketing and business development at Lenox Square in Atlanta, creates and implements Lenox Square’s overall strategic marketing plans, including retailer relations, advertising, showcasing the property to tourists and the execution of the center’s signature events.

Antonina Grib Lerch, WC ’03

Antonina Grib Lerch, WC ’03, and husband Michael welcomed daughter Anna on Feb. 7. She weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Antonina Lerch is a member of the Brenau Board of Trustees.

Clarissa Esguerra, WC ’03

Clarissa Esguerra, WC ’03, co-curated one of the exhibitions currently on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear, 1715–2015, explores the history of men’s fashionable dress since the 18th century and features 200 looks.

Jillian Forrest Peterman, WC ’02

Jillian Forrest Peterman, WC ’02, teaching for 13 years in Gwinnett County, in September became assistant principal at Gwin Oaks Elementary School in Lawrenceville. She currently is working toward an education specialist degree in leadership.

Amanda Pruitt Graves, WC ’02

Amanda Pruitt Graves, WC ’02, husband Mike and daughter Tabitha welcomed Luke Evan on May 21, 2015, and are now a very happy family of four.

H. Jean Gray, BU ’93

H. Jean Gray, BU ’93, released a book, The Truth About Parenting: A Universal Manual for Parenting, that she says she hopes will shine a new light on the real problems she sees occurring with many parents. She adds that she wants her book to help people be better parents so they can raise the best children possible.

Robin Vaughn Repinski, WC ’88, Caroline “Happy” Smith Mason, WC ’86, Laverne Lipscomb, BU ’02 and Amy Flagel Scandrett, WC ’87

Robin Vaughn Repinski, WC ’88, recently hosted a gathering for several fellow alumnae at her home in Dallas, Texas. Pictured left to right: Robin, Caroline “Happy” Smith Mason, WC ’86, Brenau Senior Director of Development Robert Shippey (holding Robin’s dog, Perra), Laverne Lipscomb, BU ’02, and Amy Flagel Scandrett, WC ’87.

Clara Martin Scholar: Olivia Varnson

Olivia Varnson served as student manager of 98.1 WBCX until her 2016 graduation. She was the recipient of the scholarship named for the station’s founder, Clara Martin. Varnson currently works in commercial radio. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Olivia Varnson served as student manager of 98.1 WBCX until her 2016 graduation. She was the recipient of the scholarship named for the station’s founder, Clara Martin. Varnson currently works in commercial radio. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University) As a transfer and commuter student, Olivia Varnson, WC’16, thought she would simply drive to Brenau’s historic Gainesville campus, [...]

Experience Counts

Brenau President Ed Schrader poses for a photo with retired Rear Adm. Annie Andrews, the 2016 commencement speaker, who engineered the experience of several college presidents aboard an aircraft carrier to encourage programs to recruit women into the U.S. Navy. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

In early May, international news organizations reported that the Chinese government had canceled a scheduled visit to Hong Kong by the USS Stennis. The Navy supercarrier had been operating in the Asia-Pacific in the midst of ongoing tensions among the nations in the region over Chinese man-made islands in what otherwise would be considered international […]

Out in the Sticks

Barbara Faulkner leads a discussion with Ashley Motes, from left, Mary Erna Scovel, Jordan Saylor, Kayla Mullen and Haley Gill at the site of 'Made From Scratch,' a sculpture by artist Patrick Dougherty made entirely from sticks. Several Brenau students and faculty helped with the gathering of the materials and various parts of the installation. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Junior studio art major Ashley Motes, of Gainesville, Georgia, marvels at the 14-foot-tall, funnel-shaped sculptures on the front lawn of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens campus in her hometown. “If you can do this with a stick,” she remarks, “the possibilities are endless.” Motes was one of six Brenau students who worked alongside world renowned artist […]