Students and Alumni

John Zeanah, Master of City and Regional Planning (2004), was appointed as Director of the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development in 2017. John was elevated from his position as Deputy Director and was previously Administrator of the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Sustainability.

John is working closely with Ashley Cash (2011) who was hired as the Administrator of DPD's new Office of Comprehensive Planning. Together they are directing Memphis 3.0 – Memphis' first comprehensive planning process since 1981.

Trey Moore, criminology and criminal justice M.A. graduate (year?), recently earned? his badge as a police officer for the Memphis Police Department.
He entered the field of criminal justice after watching the decline of a once prosperous Memphis neighborhood – Hickory Hill. Moore says, "I witnessed first-hand how the low of businesses and community could result in heightened crime and other social issues."
Reflecting on his role as a new officer, he says "I was fortunate enough to find that my talents were most useful in law enforcement," and adds, "I wish to use my position of authority, as a means of breaking vicious cycles of criminality within communities I will serve and build a rapport with all citizens and establish a sense of trust between citizens and law enforcement once more."

Shauna Bateman, public and nonprofit administration M.A. graduate, completed her education 2007 and since graduating she has been able to merge theory practice.
During her tenure, she has held a number of positions. As of Jan. 2017, she became the executive director of Church Health YMCA at Crosstown Course. She credits the YMCA as a place where staff, volunteers, members and participants can build and strengthen community. Bateman says, "One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is helping connect people to our mission and cause."
For those currently pursuing the nonprofit sector, Bateman encourages students to seek experience while pursuing their education. She says," The experience provides real-world learning opportunities and also helps provide an entry point to an organization where you can be visible and engage with people in the sector."

Andrea Wilson received her undergraduate degree in Social Work in the fall of 2017. Since entering the social work field, she says "I will definitely say the most rewarding aspect of my new career would be the children. I wake up every day anticipating the hurdles that we will get over together."

Her job with the Shelby County School (SCS) has allowed her to transition smoothly into her career and apply classroom knowledge. "The field of social work is pretty demanding due to the different needs and issues each individual student faces. Nevertheless, my undergraduate coursework gave me the tools I needed to properly perform my functions within the school."

After taking a break for three years, she was determined to obtain her undergraduate degree and remembered her ultimate goal.

"Through sweat and tears, I made it! You can make it too! Never give up on your goals because in the end, it will be well worth the fight."