Newman University prides itself on its mission to prepare students to transform society, and Newman alumna Alaina Garrett is a shining example of the opportunities that the university affords its students.
As a college freshman and having been homeschooled, Garrett had less experience in a formal education setting than her peers.
Garrett’s faculty advisor, Kelly McFall, Ph.D., spoke highly of his former student.
“Alaina quickly adapted and was a star from her freshman year. What was most remarkable was her willingness to engage in new opportunities,” McFall said.
While at Newman, Garrett broadened her horizons by going on a study abroad experience in Europe. McFall, who lead the trip, said that one goal of the trip was to help students learn how to travel, like navigating public transport. Almost immediately after returning to the United States from Europe, Garrett was ready for another departure.
After her return to Newman, Garrett worked with Cheryl Golden Ph.D., professor of history, who helped Garrett arrange a solo semester abroad in Shanghai. Garrett continued on her journey by backpacking across Southeast Asia. As a graduate student, Garrett lived in Gunagzhou, China for a few months as well.
According to Garrett, “Living in China and backpacking through Southeast Asia really impacted me. In addition to giving me a lifelong love of travel and a better appreciation of the privilege I grew up with, living abroad also motivated me to be a better citizen. Seeing the impact of U.S. foreign policy worldwide made me realize we have a civic duty to pay attention and to advocate for responsible decision-making. That realization motivated me to become a civil servant.”
McFall says that Newman undoubtedly made Garrett a leader. “I didn’t know her before her time at Newman, but it became clear when I met Alaina that she had a great mind for interpersonal relations and goal oriented tasks.”
“For her, Newman was a place where she could acquire knowledge and practice the skills that allowed her to become a difference-maker. She definitely makes a difference and will continue to do so wherever she is,” McFall said.
Garrett spoke about her time after Newman. “The education I received at Newman enabled me to get where I am today. In 2016, I completed a master’s degree in international affairs from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M. Immediately afterward I received the Presidential Management Fellowship, a nationwide training program designed to get young people into the U.S. government. I just completed the program and currently work for the Air Force in Los Angeles,” she said.
McFall was happy to describe his former student. He said, “She has always been very curious and always wants to learn more, which from an educator’s perspective if what we want to happen to everyone. If we do our job, our students will come back and teach us what we don’t know. They will have hopefully engaged the world in a different way and learned things that we don’t know. I hope that happens with every student.”
Since her post-graduation adventures, Garrett has taken time to return to Newman for speaking engagements and to visit her professors. Visits like hers allow alumni to share what they have learned in experiences outside of the universit.
Garrett passed on some words of advice to Newman students. “Take advantage of all the opportunities Newman has to offer. As a smaller school with invested teachers and staff, Newman gives you have the opportunity to tailor your college experience to what you want. And if you can travel, do it! It’s life changing.”
