Spotlight on Graduates

Alla Chernenko graduated from MTSU in 2014 with a Master’s degree in Sociology and is currently working on her Doctorate at the University of Utah. Alla works at the University of Utah as a Graduate Assistant doing research and teaching.  She enjoys learning new skills in research and applying that to her teaching.  Alla states her education at MTSU was very satisfying and recommends the Sociology program to anyone wanting to pursue a career in this field.  She said the faculty were very helpful and supportive.

Mark Crawford graduated from MTSU in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology. He originally started at MTSU in 1993 when he graduated from high school but dropped out at one point and did not return to MTSU until 2009.  He is very grateful to MTSU for giving him a “second chance.”  The Anthropology faculty were very helpful and willing to help him in getting his degree.  This past summer Mark worked in New Mexico for the U.S. National Park Service, but now he is working as an Archaeologist Technician at Amistad National Recreation Area in Del Rio, Texas.  His work involves searching around the borders of Mexico and Texas to see what impact illegal drug trafficking and human & sex trafficking have on biological and plant resources.  Mark enjoys sharing with the public all the information that he discovers.  He likes educating everyone on these matters and his work fits in with his love of the outdoors! 

Jerry Gonzalez graduated from MTSU in 2013 with a Master’s degree in Sociology. Jerry owns his own law firm in Murfreesboro, Tennessee where he is a civil rights attorney.  He already had a law degree when he enrolled at MTSU believing a degree in Sociology would serve him in his job as an attorney.  Jerry says that the Sociology program at MTSU helped him to learn more advanced research techniques and to know how to apply that research to his work.  Jerry still assists with the editing of Sociological Spectrum, the research Journal of the Mid-South Sociological Association.

Andrew Brown graduated from MTSU in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology. He is currently working on his Master’s degree at the University of North Texas and has applied to pursue his Doctorate to several universities.  While working on his Master’s at the University of North Texas, he is teaching as a Graduate Assistant.  One of the most satisfying aspects of Andrew’s job is the research in which he is involved and then sharing that information with students.  He compliments the Anthropology program at MTSU for providing excellent advanced research classes along with good field school experiences.  Andrew recommends the MTSU Anthropology program to anyone looking to pursue Anthropology as a career.