Successful Alumni
With a degree from St. Edward’s University, our alumni are ready to follow their dreams, no matter what path they choose. They travel the globe, enter graduate and professional schools, start their own businesses, and contribute to the success of organizations worldwide. And they strive to make a difference in their communities.
Our alumni say that their St. Edward’s experience helped them grow in ways they never imagined. On the hilltop, they found challenging academics, a supportive environment and international learning opportunities that gave them the knowledge, confidence and skills to succeed.
These alumni share their stories and the impact of their St. Edward’s education.
Collin Mayer ’10
Occupation: Financial Analyst, Wells Fargo
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Major: Finance
Campus Involvement: NCAA Division II Golf Team; Student-Athlete Advisory Committee; Financial Management Association International; athletics team volunteer; Alpha Chi and Delta Mu Delta honor societies
Athletic Honors: Third-Team All-America, sophomore year; St. Edward’s Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete of the Year, 2009–2010; Heartland Conference Player of the Year, 2009–2010; ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All-District, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American and NCAA All-America Scholar, 2008–2009
Goal: "To be a positive influence, a good teammate and a hard worker — just like I tried to be as a student-athlete.”
Mayer's Path:
Mayer wanted a school that could prepare him for whatever career he chose — and allow him to play golf on a national level. As a student-athlete, he helped lead the Hilltopper men’s golf team to the NCAA Division II championship in 2008, missing the title by one shot. “At St. Edward’s, I was inspired to do my best — to be number one. I pushed myself to succeed academically and athletically. Now, I want to carry that over into everything I do: work, community involvement and the rest of my life.”
His summer internship at a Houston financial firm provided on-the-job experience. After graduating summa cum laude with a degree in finance, he landed a job at Wells Fargo almost immediately. “My liberal arts education wound up being very relevant to my work in finance. Writing is a major part of my job. The value and the emphasis that St. Edward’s placed on writing, coupled with my business-specific classes, was huge in preparing me for what I do now.”
Richard Lee Buangan ’97
Occupation: U.S. Foreign Service; Press spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in China (speaks four languages: English, French, Spanish and Mandarin)
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Major: Political Science; Economics minor
Campus Involvement: Student Government Association; Great Society political science club, co-founder
Awards/Honors: Graduated magna cum laude; recipient of the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award
Goal: "To enjoy a life enriched with rare opportunities for public service.”
Buangan's Path:
Buangan gained hands-on experience at St. Edward’s by co-founding the Great Society political science club, interning at the Texas Governor's Office and being elected student body vice president. “One of the things that's great about St. Edward's is that you're not sitting in a class of 300 students listening to a lecture. It's about going out there and doing it.”
After graduation, he jumped on an opportunity to join the Foreign Service. “My first post was in Africa, a continent I'd only read about in stories as a child. Some people couldn't take the culture shock. But four years at St. Edward's prepared me, giving me a sense of maturity, understanding and cultural awareness.” Next stops: Paris, then Washington, D.C., and now Beijing. As press spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in China, Buangan manages U.S. government media relations during historic events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the visits of Presidents Bush and Obama. He is now a key U.S. government media contact on Sino–U.S. relations for some of the world's most influential media outlets, such as CNN, The New York Times, Reuters and The Washington Post.
Claire Cella ’10
Occupation: Fulbright Teaching Assistant, teaching English in Thailand
Hometown: Fleischmanns, New York
Major: English Writing and Rhetoric
Activities: Hilltop Views student newspaper, editor-in-chief; Sorin Oak Review literary magazine, staff editor; Fulbright scholar; Honors Program; Norman Mailer College Nonfiction Writing Competition Finalist; NCAA Division II Hilltopper women’s soccer team
Goal: "To continue learning and challenging myself — whether pursuing a PhD near home or extending my time overseas.”
Cella's Path:
While a student, Cella interned at publications including The Long Island Press, Texas Monthly Magazine and EdibleAustin. She traveled to Thailand before her senior year and taught English at an elementary school. “The St. Edward’s curriculum — especially the Honors Program — gave me a background in world history, economics, current events, literature and intensive research. I’m confident that I’m on track for anything I may confront in my future, wherever my heart and mind may take me.”
As the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright Teaching Assistantship, Cella returned to Thailand after graduation to teach English and continue her research before entering graduate school. “I love, and always will love, being a student. My four years at St. Edward’s — the small classes, my close relationships with my professors and the supportive campus community — just strengthened my desire to continue my education. My plans for the future are wide open. It’s exhilarating.”
Christopher Ragland ’05, MBA ’10
Occupation: Serial Entrepreneur
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Major: BS in Business Administration: Entrepreneurship; MBA in Global Entrepreneurship
Involvement: Austin Parks and Wildlife; Caritas; The Salvation Army; Ballet Austin Guild, treasurer; St. Edward’s Alumni Association
Goal: "To partner with small businesses that believe an excellent culture can be created in a profitable environment.”
Ragland's Path:
Fascinated by computers as a young boy, Ragland started pursuing a Computer Science degree at St. Edward’s while working at a technology business. He soon discovered another educational path to make a greater impact in the business world: entrepreneurship. The program readied him for entrepreneurial success and also instilled in him a passion for principled leadership. “The courses at St. Edward’s help foster a true understanding about how your ideas and actions impact everyone around you. They brought to life a quote I once heard: ‘People first; products and profits will follow.’”
After graduation, he founded Ragland Ventures, which oversees a variety of entrepreneurial enterprises and partnerships. Ragland stays active with the St. Edward’s alumni association — he has previously served as the president for the Austin Alumni Chapter and as a member of the Alumni Board of Directors. “Being involved in alumni activities gives me the chance to volunteer and give back through community service. Plus, it offers networking opportunities among people with whom I have something in common.”
Teresa Mata Hernandez ’08
Occupation: Linder Elementary School, fourth-grade bilingual teacher
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Major: Education
Involvement: Bilingual kindergarten class, mentor; supplemental instruction leader; peer academic coach
Goal: "To inspire my students to better themselves through education.”
Hernandez's Path:
Hernandez qualified for the St. Edward’s College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) to accomplish her goal of becoming a teacher — and found a second home on the hilltop as she adjusted to college life. “St. Edward’s not only offered me academic support but also became an adopted family, always there to encourage me when times were tough. My mentor teachers at St. Edward’s taught me so much. One of the professors, who has taught for more than 40 years, always told me to ‘own what I teach.’ I remember that advice every day in the classroom.”
She now has a classroom of her own. Hernandez is determined to pay it forward and give her students the tools to follow her success. “My degree definitely gave me an edge in life. We didn’t just go to the classroom once a week to student teach; we spent all day, five days a week with the students, learning to teach. And thanks to my mentors, I have the flexibility to modify my teaching to every student and every situation.”
Adrianne Andang ’07
Occupation: International Communications, MTV Networks International, senior manager II
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Major: Communication
Involvement: St. Edward’s Alumni Association; Public Relations Society of America
Goal: "To live life and not have any regrets.”
Andang's Path:
Andang held six public relations internships during college — including two with MTV Networks International in New York City. After graduation, MTV offered her a job and she moved to the Big Apple. Now she serves as a liaison between MTV Networks' 168 international regions and its U.S. team, promoting channels like VH1, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central across the globe. “The Career Services staff helped open those doors for me. Their self-assessment process showed me how communications could be a strong career choice. They also helped me get my first internship in Austin, which paved the way for the rest of my internships.”
Andang learned the value of community and networking early on. She diligently keeps up with the professional contacts she’s made over the years, beginning with her intern days at St. Edward’s. “Since graduation, I've wanted nothing more than to give back — helping other students with internships, giving advice and sharing what I've learned along the road at St. Edward’s and in my career. I tell them relationship-building got me where I am today.”