CofC Alumni

Charlotte Sparkes ’25 was accepted into the Operations Management Program at Gallo, the largest family-owned wine producer in the world. Through this competitive three-year program, Ms. Sparkes rotates through four positions to gain leadership, management, and technical expertise while being immersed in multiple areas of supply chain operations. In her first rotation as Harvest Team Lead, she managed twelve temporary employees and supervised crush operations. Reflecting on her experience, she shared, “Understanding the mind helps explain workplace dynamics and why people make certain business decisions, whether on a small or large scale.” While at the College, Ms. Sparkes earned her BS in supply chain management.

Best of luck, @CofCWBB! You make the College proud! Go Cougars!

Jeffery Wall ’04 recently accepted a role at Washington State University as its new Indigenous-focused horticulturist, where he is studying the traditional practices of the state’s first peoples and exploring how those practices can nourish communities and help repair the environment. Throughout his career, Mr. Wall has worked with First Nation members in Canada as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Guelph and led research at the University of Turku in Finland, examining culture and off-farm migration among olive-growing communities in Turkey and Morocco. While many horticulturists concentrate on a specific area of study, Mr. Wall’s career reflects a broader, anthropological approach to understanding the relationship between plants and culture. While at the College, he earned his BA in anthropology.

Jacob “Jake” Kozmor ’23 founded Koz Films during his freshman year at the College, which has since grown into an award-winning production company recognized for its cinematic creativity and compelling brand storytelling for local and national businesses. His passion for filmmaking began in middle school, where he documented his fishing trips on camera, and by high school, he was interning with media companies and contributing to award-winning news productions. Deeply rooted in collaboration within the Charleston community, Koz Films works with a broad range of audiences, including projects connected to BravoTV’s Southern Charm cast. Mr. Kozmor is also actively involved in the Charleston marketing community, serving on the Board of the Charleston American Marketing Association and working closely with the collegiate chapter. While at the College, he earned his BS in business administration.

Dana Edwards ’94 was recently appointed Mayor of Narberth, PA. Mr. Edwards began his career in product and technology development and academia. He currently serves as Group Chief Technology Officer for Simply Business, based in London, UK. He earned his MBA from Queens University of Charlotte in 2005. While at the College, he earned his BS in chemistry and computer science. He and his wife, Miranda, reside in Narberth, PA, with their three children.

Emily Fralinger ’10 developed Propperly, a property-management app she originally created to manage her own rental portfolio and ease the stress caused by the many small details involved in owning multiple properties. She is also the Chief Operating Officer at Icebox, a national experiential marketing firm. When she first joined the company, she oversaw special events and large-scale weddings; however, she and her boss later decided to refocus the brand away from experiential events. This shift helped spark the idea for Propperly, as Ms. Fralinger was managing six properties in Charleston and struggling to keep track of the details associated with each one. The app now includes practical features such as onboarding and tap-and-track expense tracking. While at the College, she earned her BS in business administration and hospitality and tourism management.

Michael Broderick ’10 is the head of the AI and Web3 ecosystem for the NEAR Foundation in New York City. While working at the Apple Store on King Street, he discovered his passion for technology and its role in cultivating community and connection. His experience in finance at Bloomberg in Hong Kong further shaped his understanding of how technology can empower and connect people on a global scale. This path led him to roles at Fireblocks and Amazon Web Services, where his work has focused less on building products and more on building trust. While at the College, Mr. Broderick earned a BA in anthropology and religious studies, which played a pivotal role in his people-first perspective on technology and community building.

Alicia Johnson ’11 is a certified photogrammetrist and PADI underwater photography instructor based in Alexandria, Egypt, where she conducts research and dives in the Red Sea and Mediterranean. She works with Accupixel and PicSea, managing digital engagement and providing consulting services. Most importantly, her work focuses on the preservation of underwater cultural heritage. Ms. Johnson is driven by her passion for archaeology and leverages technology to collaborate with researchers worldwide, presenting at conferences and publishing research while working with the Honor Frost Foundation and the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology. While at the College, she earned her BA in classics and history.

A great evening with our @CofC orchestra students and violin professor Lee-Chin Siow at the CHS concert of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with world renowned violinist Ray Chen!

Natalie Holst ’01 is the founder of the renowned jewelry brand Holst + Lee, carried by major department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue. She launched her company after moving to New York, while working in the fashion industry. In 2021, Holst + Lee opened its Charleston storefront on State Street, followed by a second location in Charlotte, NC. The brand continues to expand, partnering with retailers such as Nordstrom and Anthropologie and reaching more than 275 retailers worldwide. Ms. Holst earned a BA in studio art from the College and now resides in Charleston, SC, with her family.

Thomas Wilson ’25 recently biked across the United States, raising $2,500 for the Hear the World Foundation. Inspired by the Intentionality class at the College, Mr. Wilson combined his desire to explore the country after graduation with a meaningful cause. Averaging 70 miles a day, the journey gave him time to reflect and experience places he might not otherwise have seen. He chose to ride for Hear the World Foundation, an organization that provides hearing care for children in low- and middle-income countries, a cause deeply personal to him as he has been 80% deaf since age 17 due to otosclerosis. Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Wilson said, “I started this trip wanting to see as much of America as possible before life pulled me elsewhere. I finished it realizing that what makes a place unforgettable isn’t the landscape or the miles you cover, but the people you meet when you’re vulnerable, open and moving slowly enough to notice.”

Lulie Wallace ’09 is a renowned artist and textile designer known for her vibrant art, textiles, wallpaper, and prints. While at the College, Ms. Wallace earned a BA in studio art and began painting shortly after graduation. Her work is inspired by botanicals, bright colors, and the life around her, including friends’ homes, travels, and antique stores. These influences are evident throughout her work, which she aspires to bring joy into people’s spaces. As she shares, “When life seems full or chaotic, creating becomes my outlet. It’s how I process and express what’s going on around me.” Ms. Wallace and her husband, Harrison, reside in Columbus, GA, with their three daughters.

Ronit Pathak ’25 was recently named a Rhodes Scholarship finalist, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious international fellowships, recognizing emerging scholars and global leaders. He was selected as one of just 16 finalists from 956 nominees nationwide and is eligible to pursue graduate study at the University of Oxford. While at the College, Pathak earned a BS in biochemistry and a BA in international studies. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in political economy and international policy before attending medical school, with the goal of becoming a physician-scholar working at the intersection of international policy, multilateral development, and regulatory reform.

Danny O’Driscoll ’73 is a well-recognized wildlife professional artist in the southeastern region, where he has been creating and exhibiting his work for more than 45 years. His art has been publicly displayed in places such as Riverbanks Zoo, the Southeastern Wildlife Expo, the Wildlife Arts Festival in Georgia, and the Southern Wildlife Festival in Alabama, just to name a few. He has also been featured in several publications, including Artist Magazine, Airbrush Magazine, and the bestselling book Wildlife Painting: Step by Step by Patrick Seslar. Mr. O’Driscoll began his art career as an illustrator with Riverbanks Zoo and later worked as a graphic designer at Houston Zoo. A Charleston native, he has long been inspired by the city’s unique landscapes. While at the College, Mr. O’Driscoll earned his BA in education, and he and his wife, Mundina, reside in Leesville, SC.

Jess Kusher, MS ’24, is spending the year in Washington, D.C., as a John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, a highly competitive program that places early-career marine scientists in federal offices to help bridge the gap between science and policy. At the College, Ms. Kusher earned her master’s degree in marine biology, giving her a broad understanding of the field that has been especially valuable when working with policymakers. “I didn’t just focus on my own specialty. I got to engage in my peers’ research—whether it was sea turtles, horseshoe crabs or phytoplankton. That broader understanding has been incredibly helpful in this fellowship,” she said. As she completes the program, Ms. Kusher is applying to Ph.D. programs, where she hopes to study biophysical medicine, and, ultimately, blend research, teaching, and policy in her future career.

Lauren Furey ’19 was recently featured on the Speaking of … College of Charleston podcast, where she shared her recipe for success and discussed her South Carolina ETV web series, Now We’re Cookin’ with Chef Lauren Furey, which launched in 2024. Inspired by her time in Charleston, her cuisine reflects both her Lowcountry home and her Italian heritage. “I was born and raised in Philadelphia in an Italian family, so I wanted to incorporate the recipes that my nana taught me how to make with the Southern, approachable dishes Nathalie Dupree taught me how to cook,” she said. While at the College, Furey earned a BS in business administration and hospitality and tourism management and later interned with Nathalie Dupree, an experience that laid the foundation for launching her own culinary business. To listen to the full podcast: youtu.be/BVk_8mnVP34?si…

Kelsey Sutton ’14 was recently recognized at an event hosted by the College honoring veterans, current service members, and the donors who support the Veteran and Military Services Program. Ms. Sutton’s family foundation, the Schoen Foundation, made a generous gift to enhance the student experience for veteran and military students by increasing access to resources. Suzanne Austin, executive vice president and provost of the Division of Academic Affairs, has been instrumental in the significant improvements to the Veterans and Military Student Services program, and gifts like that of the Schoen Foundation help make the program even more resourceful and successful.

Catherine McCartney Schuck ’13 recently took a big leap and opened her first brick-and-mortar boutique, Schuck and Chic, in downtown Charleston. After graduating from the College, she began her career in sales but always had a deep passion for fashion and entrepreneurship. Known among family and friends as the go-to for fashion advice, she was inspired to launch an online boutique and participate in pop-up events before ultimately achieving her goal of opening a physical store. While at the College, she earned a BA in studio art and art history and now resides in Charleston, SC, with her husband, Tanner Schuck ’17.

Alumni Pep Supper has brought Greek life together for more than 100 years, helping make a future of possibilities a reality for students through the Alumni Greek Life Scholarship. Skylar Friday ’26, a scholarship recipient and chapter president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is a political science major who recently interned for Congressman Clyburn on Capitol Hill and hopes to attend law school after graduation. A shining example of student leadership within Greek Life, and Skylar’s journey is only just beginning. Make a gift to the Alumni Greek Life Scholarship Fund by November 30 to support your chapter—every gift counts! To give: cofc-alumni.info/PepSupper25