Humanities Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Association Taps Three Humanities Alumni

The motto of Ohio State's Alumni Association is "Stay Connected. Make Ohio State Stronger." In recent months, the Association has hired three Humanities alumni—Josh Harraman, Erin Essak Kopp, and Kimberly Lowe—to do just that.

Earning a B.A. in history in 2004, Harraman said he learned the value of an undergraduate education in classes with Dr. Marilyn Hegarty, senior lecturer in history: "She taught me to critically assess and challenge the status quo." He focused on college student personnel for his M.A. at Bowling Green State University.

Blending his degrees with his wide variety of undergraduate activities and his graduate associate responsibilities, Harraman took his skills and experiences to the University of Nevada at Las Vegas to serve as program coordinator for student organization development. While there, he created the Student Organization Resource Center, initiated a student organization registration process for over 180 groups, and collaborated with student government, Greek Life, recreational sports, and the graduate and professional student association.

Today Harraman is back at Ohio State where he is director of student programs. In this role he advises Student-Alumni Council, implements student programming, and coordinates May Week and Homecoming Court activities. He loves his new job: "I get to work with outstanding students and alumni. I can see both the rewards of students enjoying campus activities and the fondness alumni have for OSU."

Kopp is director of alumni programs. In this newly-created position, she's developing alumni initiatives, managing the Alumni Awards program, and coordinating events, such as Girls Night Out programs. She says, "I am truly inspired by Ohio State and want to help alumni create lifelong connections that make Ohio State stronger."

Graduating magna cum laude with Honors in the Liberal Arts with a B.A. in Jewish Studies in 2002, Kopp says studying the humanities enables her to see the big picture: "Professor Tamar Rudavsky's lectures on Jewish philosophy forced me outside my comfort zone and into a discipline—philosophy—that was hard to grasp. It was her ability to make a seemingly archaic subject interesting and relevant that gave me the courage to take two upper-level philosophy classes."

Following graduation, Kopp spent two years as development associate for Hillel's Schusterman International Center in Washington, D.C., leading a $3 million direct marketing program and managing annual giving. Prior to joining the Alumni Association staff, she was the assistant director of development for Ohio State's Heart Center, and earlier, the director of campus and community initiatives at the Wexner Jewish Student Center for Ohio State's Hillel.

Lowe was a four-time varsity letter winner and captain of the 2002-2003 American Lacrosse Conference Championship team. Her athletic background led her to a sports internship at WBNS-10TV. She was an intern and then a marketing associate for Ohio State's Athletic Department. Experience as a public/community relations intern for the Cleveland Browns also appears on her resume. In addition to her full-time job, she is a sports broadcaster and college lacrosse analyst for the Columbus Sports Network.

Now, as director of alumni clubs, Lowe manages over 2,000 volunteer members of the 225 alumni clubs around the world and implements programming to attract young alumni to these geographically-based clubs.

Lowe says studying the humanities—she has a B.A. in African American and African Studies—enabled her to "gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of my culture and lineage. I also have a better understanding of other cultures." Lowe credits Professor Alamin Mazrui for giving her a foundation: "His gentle spirit and knowledge really excited me about my major and ability to learn more about myself." She also earned an M.A. in sports and exercise management.

There is no doubt that humanities alumni Harraman, Kopp, and Lowe will make a positive difference in their key roles at the Alumni Association. Ohio State alumni will likely be hearing more about and more from these three. So, when Alma Mater calls on you to get involved, answer the call to action. As the motto says, you can "make Ohio State stronger."