Meet the 2018–19 Presidential Fellows

This year’s Gordon College Presidential Fellows come from as far away as Kenya and as close as Everett, Ashland and East Bridgewater, MA (and a few places in between). They are strong students, accomplished athletes, ministry enthusiasts, musicians and active student leaders through Gordon College Student Association, Residence Life and Orientation. Their internships have taken them to law, microbanking and venture capital firms, and into the depths of policy research and product rationalization analysis. Their life goals include running a home for at-risk youth, pursuing a career in the United States Coast Guard and effecting change through business.

Modeled on the highly competitive, highly effective White House Fellowship, the Gordon College Presidential Fellows program affords Gordon students the chance to work directly with Cabinet officers. Over the course of the academic year, each Fellow will be mentored by one of the officers. This partnership gives students the chance to experience real-world business and be involved with the behind-the-scenes decision making process that goes on at Gordon. Through substantive work assignments and special opportunities, the Fellows learn firsthand the ins and outs of leading a major institution.

Meet the nine members of Gordon’s seventh Presidential Fellows cohort (pictured above L to R).

Olivia McCarrick ’19 | Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff
Hometown: Glen Burnie, MD
Major: psychology
Olivia hopes to pursue a graduate degree in counseling, and eventually open and run a home for at-risk youth. Toward that goal, Olivia participated in the Westmont Urban Semester where she interned with a public defender in the juvenile division, and she has volunteered at Amirah, Northeast Arc and Night to Shine. On campus, Olivia has been a resident advisor and is captain of the Women’s Lacrosse team, having earned all-Commonwealth Coast Conference lacrosse honors each year she has played.

Rose Shannon ’19 | Office of the Vice President for Marketing and External Relations
Hometown: Ashland, MA
Majors: social work and sociology; sustainable development minor
Rose’s Boston roots fuel her grit and passion for social justice and the empowerment of others. She recently spent a semester at Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, studying peace and conflict. A National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athlete, Rose is a leader on Gordon’s Softball team. She is also a teaching assistant, has been on the leadership team for “Come to the Table,” served as an Orientation staff member and volunteered at a local nursing home.

Wislene Augustin ’19 | Office of the Senior Vice President for Advancement
Hometown: Everett, MA
Majors: Christian ministries and psychology
The daughter of Haitian immigrants, Wislene is a first-generation college student. She has a passion for the city and plans to pursue justice and civil rights for juveniles in the legal system. At Gordon, Wislene is a Clarendon Scholar and has been a student ambassador, Orientation core staff member, Gospel Choir representative, intern for the Office of Student Life, Jamaica mission team leader, teaching assistant, spiritual life group leader and president of ALANA.

Christopher Leavitt ’19 | Office of the Provost
Hometown: East Bridgewater, MA
Major: kinesiology; health professions concentration
Christopher plans to pursue a career as a physician assistant specializing in orthopedic surgery. Toward that end, he has been involved with Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Dr. Jessica Ventura’s research in the field of ACL injury prevention, and has volunteered at Gordon’sCenter for Balance, Mobility and Wellness. He serves his home community as an EMT for the Fire Department and as a volunteer at South Shore Hospital. Christopher is captain of the Men’s Baseball team.

Erik Holvik ’19 | Office of the Senior Vice President for Advancement
Hometown: Port Jefferson, NY
Majors: business administration and finance
A former member of the Men’s Baseball and Club Ice Hockey teams, Erik blends his natural athleticism with his heart for ministry as head of Athletes in Action (which he worked to bring back to Gordon). Erik was a Nathan R. Wood Fellow and has co-led mission trips to Cuba and the Dominican Republic. He has been a student ambassador, senior recruiting assistant, resident advisor, La Vida Sherpa and, most recently, Orientation coordinator.

Nick Tozier ’19 | Office of the Vice President for Student Life
Hometown: Winston Salem, NC
Majors: finance and economics
The son of two Gordon graduates, Nick is a New England native who loves to spend time outdoors. He has been an athlete, student ambassador, Orientation core staff member, Gordon College Student Association vice president of finance and a member of the Mexico mission team. Nick interned at World Vision and Ernest Maude Investments Limited, a small wealth management firm that specializes in insurance and property management in Hong Kong, Great Britain and Australia.

Davis Metzger ’19 | Office of the President
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Majors: political science and economics
Davis has served on the Gordon College Student Association as first-year representative and as student body vice president and president. During summers he has interned in the office of the city manager of San Antonio as a policy researcher, and in the external affairs department of the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. Davis spends his (limited) free time at the piano, reading and with friends. Following graduation, he plans to enter the business consulting industry.

Michael Tucker ’20 | Office of the President (not pictured)
Hometown: Wheaton, IL
Major: finance
As a Christian in the business world, Michael wants to create positive impact through economic development and sustainable solutions to large-scale issues—a vision fueled by working for venture capital firm Patamar Capital and international manufacturing conglomerate Dover Corporation. On campus, Michael is an A. J. Gordon Scholar, a member of the Swim Team and has worked for Rec-IM and the Economics and Business Department. He serves as a kindergarten Sunday school teacher for Netcast Church.

Neema Kamau ’20 | Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration (not pictured)
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
Major: finance
Neema plans to promote economic development in sub-Saharan Africa—a goal she began pursuing well before entering Gordon. She has worked at a micro-banking agency outside of Nairobi, Kenya, and interned for Everstrong Capital, an American private equity firm that invests in late-stage infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa. At Gordon, Neema has interned for the assistant controller, been a member of the Jerusalem and Athens Forum, served as a student ambassador and resident advisor, and led the Business Club.