Advent 2025 Highlights

Happy holidays from Sewanee! The Babson Center is excited to share highlights from the fall semester!

The Babson Center, in partnership with the Economics, Finance, and Spanish departments, welcomed Bryan Viewpoints speaker Alex Harris, C'11, vice president, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, for a panel discussion with Director Myles Elledge, C'85. Harris shared how Sewanee helped him develop the qualities and traits to be successful in life and in a career. He encouraged students to build skills through campus leadership and take advantage of all the opportunities a Sewanee education offers. He advised students to strive to differentiate themselves, demonstrate curiosity, and be one to find solutions to problems.

Carey Fellow William Brookby, C'26, who introduced Harris, with Myles Elledge, C'85.

Students enjoyed the first speaker event of the semester.

Myles Elledge,C'85, and Alex Harris, C'11.

Mary Carol Harris' talk, “From Lemonade Stands to Big Tech: Learnings from Rural America, a Liberal Arts Education and International Business,” explored how her Sewanee foundation paved the way for global success. Harris shared insights from her extraordinary international career in digital commerce and financial technology. Based in London, Harris is the senior director of international product marketing for Airbnb. Prior to her work with Airbnb, Harris served as a senior executive in Apple’s global Apple Pay and Wallet organization, and she also worked as a broadcaster and journalist for the Vatican Radio in Rome. The Math and French departments joined in cosponsoring the event.

Senior Carey Fellow Ally McCasland introduced Harris.

Suna Merkler, C'28, Phoebe Pearigen, and Campbell Smith, C'28.

Harris spoke to a standing-room-only audience of students, faculty, and community members.

Family members of Carey Fellows and business minor students gathered for brunch before the Family Weekend football game. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet the parents and relatives of our students and build connections. Check out more photos on our Facebook page.

Carey Fellow Ally McCasland, C'26, and family.

Carey Fellows Clay Hersey, C'26, and Thomas Hershey, C'29, and parents.

Carey Fellow Nora Quinn, C'28, and parents.

Five sophomore Carey Fellows were inducted into the Order of the Gown on Family Weekend. Left to right: Ivy Spence, Nora Quinn, Brayden Petras, Chapman Wiehardt, and Radcliffe Burt with Myles Elledge.

Over two days in Austin, Texas, junior Carey Fellows participated in executive briefings with alumni and friends of the Babson Center. The diverse lineup of industries was tailored to match the students' interests. During office visits and lunch meetings, these business honors students gained insights into Austin’s work culture, honed their networking skills, and received invaluable career advice. See the list of alumni we visited on our Facebook page.

Nurse Practitioner Amy Hemingway,  P'27, Dell Medical School.

Vishal Nehru, C'06, GTM strategy leader, Atlassian.

Duck Camp

This fall's recruitment for business honors students was a huge success, bringing eight talented students into the Carey Fellowship. Our Class of 2028 cohort now includes 14 impressive individuals with diverse interests and backgrounds. This is the largest Carey Fellow cohort to date.

Left to right: Noah Bjorkman, Meran Paul, Bivor Hada, Suna Merkler, Holden Phillips, Ivy Spence, Brayden Petras, Campbell Smith, Radcliffe Burt, Nora Quinn, Chapman Wiehardt, Asa Caramico, Not pictured: Canon Moore and Luke Fairhead.

The Sewanee Consulting Club completed  another competitive round of final presentations. Each semester, the SCC pairs with a client and allows students the opportunity to present a strategy on how to increase profit. Thank you to James Elledge for partnering with SCC, and congratulations to the Berry team for taking first place! Pictured from left to right: Colin Tanner, Anna Kennedy, Perrin Little, Will Berry, Sam Poore, Lucas Wrigley, Charlie Schweppe.

Congratulations to the Technology Sector of Green's View Capital for winning best pitch! Sector members pictured include Brady Llyod, Ethan Allen, Clay Hershey, Stephen Murray, Brayden Petras and Holden Phillips.

The Babson Center for Global Commerce welcomed Kathryn Ingram Thompson, C'96, founding partner and chief executive officer of Thompson Research Group (TRG), as the Humphreys Entrepreneur in Residence speaker for the Advent semester. TRG is a nationally respected equity research and advisory firm. Kathryn discussed how a liberal arts school such as Sewanee is a setting where students can take risks and explore new ideas and interests. She encouraged students to work hard but also to find time to explore one’s passions. 

The Babson Center partnered with the Philosophy Department for this event and several of Kathryn’s professors were in attendance.

The Sewanee community filled Naylor Auditorium for this speaker event.

Junior Carey Fellow Maria Kennedy was inspired by Thompson's story as a woman working in finance.

The Babson Center welcomed alumni for an afternoon open house on Gray Terrace. Business students, faculty, and staff connected with alumni to share updates on the center's growing programs and activities. This event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the Babson Center community and its ongoing impact. Check out more photos on our Facebook page.

Myles Elledge, C'85, Halsey Cook, C'85, and Michele Cook.

Carey Fellow Sher Sha Mir, C'26, and Mitzi van der Veer, C'91 and P'28.

Joe Wiegand, C'87, and students.

Senior Carey Fellows ventured to New York City for an inspiring two days of executive briefings with Sewanee alumni and friends. During nine meetings, these business honors students experienced the strength of the Sewanee network firsthand. They engaged with alumni at every career stage—from recent graduates navigating their first roles to seasoned leaders driving their industries forward. This diverse mix of perspectives across various sectors offered students invaluable advice and a deeper understanding of the many paths a Sewanee education can take. See the list of alumni we visited on our Facebook page.

 At Leerink with Toby King, P'29, and Savi Annunziata, C'24.

At 30 Rockefeller Plaza with Brent Sudduth, C'86, vice president of executive search at NBCUniversal and Victoria Trevenot, C'11, senior manager at NBCUniversal.

Andrew Williams, C'95, hosted at Brunswick Group.