Shepherd University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni

Shepherd University, a public institution in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, boasts a rich history dating back to its establishment on September 2, 1871. Originally founded as Shepherd College to educate students in "languages, arts and sciences," the university has evolved over the years, adding new buildings and programs to meet the changing needs of its students and the wider community. Today, Shepherd University stands as a testament to academic excellence and a breeding ground for exceptional talent across various fields. This article will explore the remarkable achievements of some of Shepherd University's notable alumni, highlighting their contributions to music, arts, sciences, and community.

Arts and Music: A Symphony of Success

The Shepherd University School of Music has consistently produced highly accomplished musicians who have gone on to achieve national and international recognition. Recent graduates and students have secured positions in prestigious orchestras across North America, demonstrating the quality of training and education provided by the institution.

Orchestral Placements

Shepherd University alumni have been placed in renowned orchestras such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Houston Ballet Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Montreal Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, President's Own Marine Band, Rochester Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, and Wichita Symphony, among others. These placements highlight the exceptional talent and rigorous training that Shepherd University provides to its music students.

Opera Stars Take Center Stage

Shepherd School alumni and current students are making their mark on the world of opera, taking center stage at elite opera companies and winning prestigious awards.

Nicholas Brownlee: Former student Nicholas Brownlee won the 2025 Richard Tucker Award.
Lauren Taylor Carroll: (MM '24) earned third place in Houston Grand Opera’s 37th annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers and was a national semifinalist in the 2025 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. She was also named a 2024 Renée Fleming Artist at the Aspen Music Festival and School.
Luke Sutliff: Baritone Luke Sutliff (MM ’21) won the 2025 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition grand prize. He also received a 2024 Richard Tucker Career Grant and won second place in the 2023 Operalia Competition.
James McCarthy: Bass-baritone James McCarthy (MM ’23) was accepted into the San Francisco Opera Adler Fellowship.
Lauren Snouffer: Soprano Lauren Snouffer (BM '09) appeared in Houston Grand Opera's production of Missy Mazzoli's Breaking the Waves as Bess McNeill. She was a recent guest soloist with Grammy-nominated early music ensemble Ars Lyrica Houston.

Awards and Recognition

Shepherd University's music alumni have garnered significant recognition for their talent and contributions to the field.

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Paul Novak: Paul Novak (BM '20) won the Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Award for most outstanding score at the 72nd BMI Composer Awards.
Valentina Qishan Huang: Current DMA candidate Valentina Qishan Huang won first prize at the Arthur Poister Scholarship Competition and also first prize at the First Presbyterian Church's National Organ Playing Competition.
Jaewon Wee: Current Artist Diploma student Jaewon Wee won first place in the 2023 Mirecourt International Violin Competition.
Karim Sulayman: Tenor Karim Sulayman’s (MM ’01) album “Broken Branches” was nominated for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album for the 66th Grammy Awards.
James Gaffigan: James Gaffigan (MM ’03) was recognized for his work as conductor with the Bergen Philharmonic on Missy Mazzoli’s album “Dark with Excessive Bright” nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition for the 66th Grammy Awards.
Caroline Shaw: Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw (BM ’04) performed with vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth on its album “Rough Magic,” which was nominated for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance for the 66th Grammy Awards.
Chelsea Helm, Melissa Givens, and Sarah Brauer: Three Shepherd School alumni performed with choral group Conspirare on its album “House of Belonging,” nominated for Best Choral Performance for the 66th Grammy Awards. Soprano Chelsea Helm (MM ’17) is featured on the album, with Melissa Givens (MM ’92) and Sarah Brauer (MM ’08) also contributing to the record.
The Balourdet Quartet: The Balourdet Quartet (formed in 2018 at the Shepherd School of Music) will receive the prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons. Members include alumni Angela Bae (BM '20, violin), Justin DeFilippis (MM '20, violin), Benjamin Zannoni (MM '20, viola), and Russell Houston (MM '20, cello).
Grant Smith: Current organ graduate student Grant Smith won third prize in the 24th International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig, Germany.
Jaylin Vinson: Current composition student Jaylin Vinson was selected to participate in a 3-year commissioning project from the Kennedy Center called the Cartography Project. The three years will culminate in a Washington National Opera commission of a 20-30-minute length opera that will be premiered at the Kennedy Center in January 2025.

Robert Tudor: A Guiding Voice

Dr. Robert Tudor, Director of Vocal Activities and Professor of Music at Shepherd University, exemplifies the vibrant career possibilities within the genres of opera, early music, musical theater, and cabaret. As a concert soloist throughout the United States, Tudor's professional journey began with the celebrated Washington Bach Consort under the direction of J. Reilly Lewis. He has since been a featured soloist in numerous national concert engagements, including the Montana Early Music Festival. His performance as bass soloist in Bach's Christmas Oratorio with Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra was lauded as "solid and resonant." Tudor's stage performances range from La Boheme to The Titanic, and his portrayal in Handel's Susannah with the Maryland Handel Festival was praised by The Washington Post. He received a Doctorate in Musical Arts in Voice Performance from the University of Maryland.

Athletics: From Shepherdstown to the Majors

Shepherd University's athletic program has also produced notable alumni who have excelled in their respective sports.

Brenton Doyle: Fuelled by Doubters

Brenton Doyle is a Shepherd University ballplayer who made it to the majors. Doyle stated, "I definitely had to do a lot more to get looked at being at a Division II school. I had to put up a lot more numbers. I had to do a lot more in the summer. I really busted my butt. I mean I wanted to prove a lot of people wrong because a lot of people were doubting me because I was at a Division II school. It fueled me to work harder and harder." The Shepherd University baseball program started in 1914, and there have been three former Shepherd University ballplayers who made it to the majors.

Athletic Hall of Fame

The Shepherd University Athletic Hall of Fame (SUAHOF) was founded in 1985 by the director of athletics, Dr. Michael Jacobs. The initial Selection Committee, consisting of David Newlin, Joe Browning, and Dr., developed the criteria for eligibility, the number of inductees per year, and the format for the awards ceremony. The Selection Committee was later expanded to fourteen members. Currently, the SUAHOF has 155 members, including 19 former Shepherd coaches. In 2005, the SUAHOF by-laws were amended to extend the waiting period for former student-athletes from five years to ten years since their last participation in athletics at Shepherd. The undefeated 1955 Shepherd football team was recognized in 2005 on their 50th anniversary. The Board of Directors adopted the official SUAHOF ring for members in June 2000 and established two scholarships for Shepherd University athletes (1 male/1 female) in June 2001.

Education and Community Engagement: Shaping the Future

Shepherd University alumni have also made significant contributions to education and community engagement, shaping the future of their communities.

Elizabeth Mae Sanchez: Fostering Linguistic and Cultural Appreciation

Elizabeth Mae Sanchez, an educator with a Master of Arts in Teaching in Spanish, is dedicated to fostering linguistic and cultural appreciation. Currently a Spanish instructor at Martinsburg High School in West Virginia, she also serves as Equity and Inclusion Liaison. Sanchez is working towards the approval of the first heritage course in West Virginia and represented the state at the Southern Conference of Language Teaching. She facilitates international travel experiences for her students and cherishes the enduring connections formed with them. Sanchez credits the Shepherd MAT in Spanish program for shaping her into a certified and highly qualified teacher. Speaking Spanish has opened doors to diverse experiences, from living in Mexico to becoming a bridge for her community. She encourages current Shepherd University students to embrace opportunities, study abroad, and engage with professional organizations.

Eric and Joy: A Legacy of Support

Eric and Joy are alumni who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to Shepherd University and their community. Joy graduated from Shepherd in 1991 with a degree in education and is now a Realtor with Colliers International and Greentree Realty. A member of Kappa Tau Epsilon sorority, Joy continues to give back generously to Shepherd and her community, hosting fundraising events at their historic Shepherdstown farm. At Shepherd, she is a longtime member of WISH (Women Investing in Shepherd), the Scarborough Society Gala Committee, Friends of Popodicon, and is currently working on the restoration of the University’s Little House. Each year, Joy hosts a Farm-to-Table dinner benefiting Shepherd’s Last Dollar Fund. Eric graduated cum laude from Shepherd in 1995 with a degree in accounting and is a licensed CPA. He is a partner in OLL CPAs and serves as CFO of the Civil-Military Innovation Institute. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Jefferson Security Bank since 2004. From 2016 to 2024, Eric served on the Shepherd University Board of Governors, including four years as Chair. During that time, he played a pivotal role in securing over $61 million in state funding for Shepherd. He now chairs the committee overseeing the design and construction of the new dining and athletics facility, along with other campus improvements. Eric’s leadership has extended beyond Shepherd to the West Virginia School Building Authority and the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education. With other alumni family members, Eric and Joy’s devotion to Shepherd University is truly a family legacy. They remain among Shepherd’s most loyal and enthusiastic supporters.

A Broad Range of Accomplishments

Shepherd University alumni have found success in diverse fields, showcasing the versatility of the education they received.

Editing and Publishing

Several alumni have thrived in the world of editing and publishing, utilizing their strong communication skills. One alumna, after graduating, worked for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In 2021, she started a new position at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and has since moved to Frederick, Maryland, where she now works from home. Her work is spread across the Academy’s four journals: Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology Retina, Ophthalmology Glaucoma, and Ophthalmology Science. She most enjoys proofreading articles that are accepted for publication, polishing the grammar and language to make the scientific content shine. She developed her ability to proofread and edit both her own work and the work of others during many different classes, which definitely applies to her job today. In addition, reading across a wide variety of texts prepared her to parse important information from complex writing, even when she might not fully understand the subject matter.

Customer Service and Retention

Another graduate found success in customer service and retention, demonstrating the applicability of an English degree in unexpected fields. A month after graduation, she got a job as a customer service representative for a German company that sells industrial hardware to data centers, hospitals, school districts, etc. Though she was the youngest and least experienced member of the team, she managed to work her way up to be the lead of the customer service group shortly after she hit the one-year mark. The most interesting part of her job is building relationships with her customers, and convincing them not to switch to another provider when their contracts end. Her team is responsible for retaining the company’s customer base so they can continue to thrive! Being able to articulate her thoughts effectively to customers came from being a part of Shepherd’s Department of English and Modern Languages. The English program is structured in such a way that it really helped her grow as a young adult and prepared her for the working world by challenging her to learn several different ways to write.

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Library and Information Sciences

One alumna found her passion in library and information sciences, eventually transitioning to a career in computing and IT. After graduating just before the COVID pandemic, she started with a position as an Americorps member for the Pocahontas County Opera House where she got to explore her enjoyment of the community and archiving local history. After her term ended, she began a new position as the librarian at the Linwood Community Library at Snowshoe. After a year of working there, she discovered that while she loved what she did, she was really enjoying the technical aspects more than anything else and decided to pursue a career in computing and IT instead. She is now a Systems Administrator at the Green Bank Observatory, where she spends a majority of her time working with networks and networking equipment. One thing she needs to do regularly is explain her thoughts and other complicated ideas clearly. While it is difficult to translate jargon I am still learning myself, I have been complimented on my ability to explain things in an easy to understand manner. She definitely owes that skill to the English program’s curriculum.

Alumni and Annual Giving

Another alumna dedicated herself to serving her alma mater, working in alumni relations and annual giving. After graduating in 2018 she stayed at Shepherd and completed her M.A. in College Student Development and Administration in 2020. While earning that degree she worked as the graduate assistant for student community service and service learning. After graduation from her master’s program in 2020, she was hired in the Shepherd University Alumni Association office as the Alumni and Annual Giving Coordinator. During her time in that position, she worked alongside the alumni, advancement, and foundation offices to host alumni engagement programs and philanthropy initiatives to support the campus community.

Career Development

Another alumna works in career development, helping students prepare for their future careers. The most interesting part of her job is the classroom module creation. She works with faculty and career coaches to develop units and modules that align with the classroom curriculum. The interesting part is looking at the content through the eyes of the faculty and through the eyes of the student. She determines the most effective manner to convey the information in a succinct but engaging way to ensure students get the most out of the module, which also allows her to create designs, videos, and work on special projects. Her current role requires her to edit and write constantly. She is always working on blogs, resources, and classroom modules that need to be edited, revised, and analyzed. The program at Shepherd helped her prepare for her current job in several ways; it gave her the tools and skills to write professionally and to edit others’ work, as well as her own. The program prepared her for professional settings by teaching her autonomy and equipping her with a voice to argue, discuss, and concur. She learned how to communicate her feelings on subjects in precise and persuasive ways.

Writing and Education

One alumna found success as a writer and educator, combining her passions for storytelling and teaching. After graduating from Shepherd in May 2015, she launched her print magazine Boshemia in the UK and began to split her time between Washington, D.C., and the United Kingdom. She worked various acting jobs in England and Scotland where she performed in period dramas from the 20th century, including the world premier of It’s a Woman’s War at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2015. In 2016 she moved to D.C. to work for a film and digital media company making documentaries and interactive games for museums around the country, such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Tennessee State Museum, the Aquarium of the Pacific, The Spy Museum, and various Smithsonian museums. When she was writing scripts for museums and articles for Boshemia, she fell away from theater and back in love with writing. Somewhere around then she realized she wanted to write for a living. She applied for graduate school and was accepted, nearly moved to London to study journalism at Goldsmiths, and at the last minute moved to Southern California instead to study creative nonfiction. There she fell in love with poetry of all things, and met her wife, the poet Joshua Jennifer Espinoza. She taught creative writing for a few years at the University of California, while researching her first nonfiction book. After four years in Southern California, she moved back to Shepherdstown to continue her research on her book Carrying the Bones: Rituals for a Dying World (University Press of Kentucky, 2024), and to work briefly at Shepherd University.

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