Warren Wilson College Alumni Working At the College
Rae Milstead | October 4, 2023
Warren Wilson College (WWC) has hired alumni Julianna Cesarini and Ali Minnihan this fall to work on campus as members of the college’s staff. Both Cesarini and Minnihan graduated in the spring of 2023 and live on campus.
Cesarini graduated with a degree in global studies and is now an AmeriCorps Vista, working in the Community Engagement Office. While Cesarini was a student at WWC, she did food justice work as part of the Bonner Crew. The AmeriCorps Vista program allows Cessarini to continue their work in food justice in the WWC community and expand their interest in working with nonprofits, while also having some time to figure things out for her post-graduation career goals. Cesarini reflects on her experience of being an AmeriCorps Vista and working at the college she graduated from.
“If you have a chance to work here after graduation, I think it will be a great opportunity," Cesarini said. "It has been really nice getting to work with my community engagement… I have responsibilities and it's just a really nice chance to take those on. We all kind of take on leadership roles at Warren Wilson just by being on work crews, but to actually be given responsibilities and a real sense of responsibility outside of college, is really exciting. I think everyone should do it if they have a chance.”
Minnihan graduated with a degree in sociology and anthropology with a concentration in archaeology. She now works as the wellness program coordinator on campus, leading programs such as bystander training and facilitating the Wellness Crew. During her time as a student at WWC, she worked all four years with the Wellness Crew. Minnihan said that her time working with the Wellness Crew has led to her strong interest in mental health and public health. Buncombe Area Health Education Center worked with WWC to create a grant for Minnihan’s position as the wellness program coordinator which Minnihan said has allowed her to continue having a strong day-to-day relationship with her mentor, Scotti Norman, Ph.D. assistant professor of material culture and archeology. Minnihan discussed what she enjoys about being the coordinator and working at WWC post-graduation.
“I chose to stay here [at WWC] because I am really passionate about Wellness Crew," Minnihan said. "I love feeling like I have made a difference in people’s lives. Every day, I see that I’ve made somebody’s day better and that makes me really happy.”
When discussing the change from being a student to now working as staff at WWC, both Cesarini, and Minnihan had similar remarks when it came to social interactions between students and them.
“At least once a day, somebody sees me and says something about how they thought I had already graduated and I tell them that I did and now I work here,” Cesarini said.
Minnihan agreed and added, “I was definitely done with being a student…at least temporarily. But I wasn’t done with Wilson. Wilson is just such a special place.”