Success Stories
Class of 2020 reaches out to the future while savoring their Longwood memories
By Sabrina Brown
Every college graduate has a story.
They’re tales full of twists and turns, hopes and hard work, dreams and doubts, struggle, sacrifice and, ultimately, success.
We love these stories, and we’d like to be able to share them all with you each year. Short of that, we hope this glimpse of a few newly minted Longwood alums will give you a sense of what the Class of 2020 has experienced at Longwood and where they’re headed.
They’re a great group. They’ve overcome cancer, presented their research at national conferences, and made the best of a senior year headlined by a pandemic. Now they’re striking out on new adventures ranging from graduate programs in chemistry, pharmacy, journalism and social work to careers as nurses, accountants, teachers and managers.
Representing the Class of 2020, here are Zachary, Shaunah, Karen and Trevor. 
Zachary Rector ’20
HOMETOWN: Woodbridge, Virginia
MAJOR: Business administration with a concentration in management, supply chain management endorsement
WHAT’S NEXT: Area manager at Amazon in Baltimore, Maryland
I’ll never forget my first CHI burning and watching the Longwood community come together and celebrate as one.”
Is there a particular professor or class that helped you grow while at Longwood?
Professor Paul Barrett was my ethics professor. He helped me grow as a student and shed light on ethical practices in the business world. Although my time in the classroom with Professor Barrett was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I learned so much in his class, and I am grateful for that.
How did Longwood help to prepare you for your new job?
When I arrived at Longwood as a freshman, I never could have imagined all of the experiences I would have and the different ways that the College of Business and Economics would prepare me to enter the working world. I’ve taken a diverse and rigorous course load, and, through the McGaughy Internship and Professional Development Center, I completed an internship in Longwood’s Office of Development. The CBE helped me craft a great résumé and prepared me for future interviews and business dinners through mock interviews and the professional dinner that the CBE hosts for students.
What will you miss the most about Longwood?
Definitely the camaraderie and overall positive atmosphere. In my four years here, I took on multiple leadership roles and became involved in a wide variety of organizations such as Greek life, the Student Government Association, Peer Mentors, alternative breaks and the Lancer Student Investment Fund. I’ll never forget my first CHI burning and watching the Longwood community come together and celebrate as one. Getting to see Waka Flocka perform at Oktoberfest was pretty memorable as well.
Shaunah Smyre ’20
HOMETOWN: Richmond, Virginia
MAJOR: Social work
WHAT’S NEXT: Pursuing a master’s degree in film, radio and television production at Syracuse University
I had never traveled outside the country before, and it was mind-opening.”
How did your internships prepare you for life after Longwood?
I interned at a local residential family services provider and as a counselor in an alternative day school treatment center. I developed professional skills and confidence that I will take with me as I enter graduate school next month at one of the nation’s most prestigious communications schools.
Did you get involved in student organizations? What was the impact of that experience?
Longwood has given me so many opportunities and platforms to develop lifelong skills. I held leadership positions in several of the organizations I got involved in, like the Student Government Association, Longwood Ambassadors, Residential and Commuter Life Advisory Board, Student Diversity and Inclusion Council, NAACP, BASIC Gospel Choir and True Blue: Stomp and Shake Team.
What other doors did Longwood open for you?
In 2019, I was fortunate to attend the South Africa study abroad experience with Dr. Jennifer Miskec. I had never traveled outside the country before, and it was mind-opening. We learned about how the youth culture has been affected since the end of apartheid, and we got to see how generational poverty had impacted many of the racial groups in the country.
Is there a faculty member you felt was always in your corner?
A faculty member I consider a mentor is Dr. Erica Brown-Meredith ’95. She pushed me to achieve academically as well as to step out of my personal comfort zone. With her support, I was able to make a community-outreach idea become a reality, and we collected over 100 backpacks filled with school supplies for students at Prince Edward County Elementary School.
Karen Emerson ’20
HOMETOWN: Burke, Virginia
MAJOR: Business administration with a concentration in accounting; double minor in mathematics and economics
WHAT’S NEXT: Summer internship in Singapore, then pursuing dual master’s degrees—one in international business and the other in business analytics—at the Hult International Business School in Dubai
My professors not only wanted their students to do well—they also encouraged us to be strong individuals and leaders.“
What makes the Longwood community special?
The community atmosphere on Longwood’s campus is unlike anything else I have ever experienced. Sometimes I’d be walking through campus looking for a quiet place to study, and joy would wash over me because I felt content in a place I belonged. Longwood is a tight-knit community, and it shows in everything the university does.
How did Longwood’s smaller classes impact your learning?
Longwood has smaller classes than many schools, and I was able to have a better learning experience as a result. My professors not only wanted their students to do well—they also encouraged us to be strong individuals and leaders. I had class discussions that led me to think critically about what I was learning.
What were some of the most meaningful experiences you had?
While at Longwood I interned at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. I also studied abroad in Thailand, where my focus was learning about southeast Asia economics. My study abroad experience led me to look into international careers so that I could continue to travel. It also led me to choose to attend graduate school in a foreign country.
My college experience would not have been the same without my involvement in Catholic Campus Ministry, which I led as president my senior year, and serving as a tutor for the athletics department and Center for Academic Success. I was always elated when a student told me they understood something I had explained or that they did better on the next test.
Trevor Heath ’20
HOMETOWN: Mechanicsville, Virginia
MAJOR: Communication studies with public relations concentration
WHAT’S NEXT: Sales and marketing specialist and flight school administrator for for Dominion Aviation Services in Richmond
… Longwood helped me realize that I couldn’t just fly for a living. I wanted to do more.”
What led you to a career in aviation? What is your ultimate career goal?
My grandfather worked for 31 years at Richmond International Airport as chief of operations and held other roles. I decided at a very young age that aviation is my passion, and I knew growing up that flying jets for a living was my ultimate goal. My current career plan is to continue flying professionally while climbing toward a management or operations position at an airport, or running my own private jet travel company.
Tell us a little about your new job.
Dominion Aviation is a world-class private aviation corporation that also serves as the executive and reliever airport for Richmond International Airport. I am tasked with increasing the company’s brand awareness, increasing private aviation travel within the central Virginia market and building the company’s flight school into a larger operation.
Did your internship at Dominion Aviation play a part in your getting the job?
The summer before my senior year I did an internship in the aircraft charter and flight school departments. I put together a plan for a large-scale public event to bring community members to the airport for a career day and worked on enhancing the company’s social media platforms and website. That internship led to me being offered a newly created position at the company.
How did Longwood help you find the right trajectory for your life and career?
Longwood and the communication studies department quite literally helped me figure out what I wanted to do in life. From the classes I took, the personal relationships I built with professors and classmates, and the amazing opportunities I was afforded, Longwood helped me realize that I couldn’t just fly for a living. I wanted to do more.