Alumni Success Stories

CSP alumni are well equipped for a lifetime of career success in a variety of fields and communities. Here is a glimpse into how a pair of recent graduates have used their degrees to find meaningful careers while also making positive contributions in their communities. Read more alumni success stories online at csp.edu/wearecsp

English, Emphasis in Creative Writing

and coached me when I felt down, and also helped me a lot

JOSEPH THOMPSON, BS '18 Biology

Joseph Thompson transferred to Concordia in 2016 after receiving his associate’s degree from Inver Hills Community College. With the goal of becoming a Physician’s Assistant (PA), Joseph knew that he wanted to gain experience serving a diverse population. Concordia served as the perfect backdrop for him to hone those skills.

Despite the challenge of not knowing many others when he transferred, his professors in the science department approached him right away about being a part of research opportunities on campus.

“The research experience enabled me to develop a deep connection with my professors and build a community of supporters for my education,” Joseph said.

In addition to research, Joseph became involved with Concordia’s student-led science club, Tetra Delta and was voted as the organization’s vice president As a member of Tetra Delta, he was able to coordinate events for the science department and lead tutor service events every Monday night on campus.

He was awarded the 2017-2018 Concordia University Science Service Award. The award is given to students who, through leadership roles, showed the most devotion to helping others.

During the summer of 2017, he completed a medical internship in Lisbon, Portugal. The internship allowed him to perform allergy tests, help a chemotherapy patient, and scrub up to be a part of surgical procedures. This experience helped him discover that he wanted to specialize in surgical specialties in PA school.

All in all, Joseph knows the experiences he collected at Concordia will benefit his career path in a multitude of ways including his path to applying to PA schools after graduation.

“My Concordia experience has benefited my career as a PA by not only giving me a better understanding of different cultures anxious. However, she is more than ready to see people learn

and working with a diverse population.”

Today, Joseph is a nursing assistant at Regions Hospital in the Labor and Delivery unit and was accepted into Des Moines

MAINHIA MOUA, BA ‘17,

CSP alumna Mainhia Moua graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in creative writing in 2017. Today, she is a professional writing tutor at Metropolitan State University and an assistant information specialist at South St. Paul Public Library.

Earlier this spring, one of her pieces was published in a book of short stories brought together by the organization, Hnub Tsiab: Hmong Women Achieving Together. Moua became involved in her third year of college when Hnub Tsiab (pronounced as nhoo-chia) hosted a writing retreat which helped Moua determine if she really wanted to pursue a path in creative writing.

Their novel, Standing Down the Tiger: Stories of Hmong American Women, shares the stories of various Hmong-American women as they navigate through their lives in a bi-cultural world. Written during her undergraduate years at CSP, Mainhia’s short-story, “My Name is Hmong,” reveals the story of her name and how it affected her as she grew up in America.

“Even if I’m not the best writer, I hope my small imprint will help open conversations, help people my age be reminded that we have a lot of work to do,” Moua explained. “I want to help the older generation know that we don’t despise them; we appreciate their presence, stories and experiences, but we can also bring new insight as well.”

During her years at CSP, Moua was involved with Sigma Tau Delta and the English Honors Society, as Vice-President. She occasionally wrote for CSP’s Newspaper, The Sword, and did work-study for the CSP Writing Center. One of her favorite professors would be Dr. Debra Beilke. “Dr. Beilke took an interest in me right away, saw my potential, and wanted me to strive and grow. She opened up opportunities for me, advised academically.”

As her publishing date grew closer, Mainhia felt nervous and University’s PA program during the summer of 2018.

more about the Hmong culture and witness the conversations that will sprout from it.