Meet Mallory Sullivan

Major: Business
Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina

Tell us about yourself.

I speak German and some Hungarian. I’m a PADI certified Scuba Diver and I’ve been diving in Honduras and Greece. I spent spring break my freshman year in Puerto Rico on a Wake Forest archaeology trip. I love fast food and have eaten at McDonald’s in nine countries.

What are your plans after graduation?

I was accepted at nine law schools and each school has a wonderful curriculum and appealing dual degree programs so I’m struggling to make a final decision. Once I earn my J.D. degree, I plan to practice law, probably focusing on international corporate litigation. After several years, I hope to return to school to earn an LL.M. degree with a specialty in an area of public interest such as human rights law, dispute resolution or environmental law. Eventually, I aspire to be elected as a judge or to return to the academic community as a college professor.

Have your plans changed over the last four years?

When I was applying to colleges, I was pretty confident that I wanted to major in business. The strong reputation of the Calloway School of Business and Accountancy was one of the factors that enticed me to Wake Forest. My plans haven’t changed, and I will graduate with a B.S. in business. Though ”business-minded,“ I’ve been able to more fully explore a true liberal arts education by taking upper level courses in multiple subjects and having minors in areas of the humanities.

How have you grown during the last four years?

Wake has broadened my overall interests while narrowing my scholastic focus and defining my career aspirations. The common thread in the coursework I’ve enjoyed has been its application of helping others. My classes, coupled with community involvement and abroad experiences, have indelibly enhanced my desire to serve others. Wake Forest’s Pro Humanitate motto has amplified my propensity to integrate philanthropy into my daily life and has reaffirmed my commitment to pursue a public interest career.

Why did you choose Wake Forest?

Wake Forest had everything I was looking for in a college: a great academic reputation, small class sizes, a highly-ranked business school, a competitive Division I athletic program, countless opportunities for study-abroad, a strong Greek system, students from diverse backgrounds, and a commitment to service. The fact that Wake Forest encouraged students to be multi-faceted appealed to me. When I visited campus, I immediately felt at home and my college decision was cemented. Four years later, the strong sense of community still defines Wake for me and I’m reluctant to leave the place that has truly become my ”home.“

What was your favorite class?

I absolutely loved my first-year seminar. The seminar was titled, ”Lost continents, ancient astronauts and mysterious moundbuilders: pseudoscience, epistemology and the science of the human past.“ We examined how social context influences scientific interpretations through extensive case studies.

Did you conduct research with any of your professors?

Yes, I was lucky to conduct research under the supervision of Dr. David K. Evans, a professor emeritus of anthropology with over 40 years of research experience in the Bay Islands. I received grant funding as a 2007 International Pro Humanitate Scholar and spent the summer researching ”The emerging childcare needs and concerns of working class women on Roatan Island, Honduras.“

Did you study abroad?

I spent four months studying in Vienna, Austria. Most of my coursework was in business, and I learned (somewhat to my surprise) that I really enjoy international finance. I attended the Conference on European Economic Integration and presented my finance paper on U.S. bank integration into developing nations to graduate classes at the Wirtschaftuniversität Wien. I am now interested in how foreign investments can positively affect developing markets.

What was your most meaningful extra-curricular experience?

Serving as a Big Sister has been my most rewarding volunteer endeavor. Four years ago, I was paired with a seven-year-old-girl from a single-parent, financially-strained, minority household. Not until I began mentoring her did I understand that equal opportunity doesn’t truly exist. I’ve been grateful for the chance to help with homework assignments, attend Open Houses and meet her teachers, volunteer together, take her to swim lessons and do countless other activities. Over the last four years, it’s been gratifying to see her confidence and academic performance improve.

What’s your favorite memory of the last four years?

I often joke that I’m a “retired” college cheerleader. I cheered my first two years at Wake Forest, then “retired” to spend a summer performing international research and also a semester studying abroad. My last season cheering, Wake Forest won the 2006 ACC Championship and went on the play in the Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl is one of the experiences all Wake students love to reminisce about.

What’s your favorite Wake Forest tradition?

Project Pumpkin is one of my favorites. It is an annual service event where over 1,000 children from local agencies are brought to campus for Halloween festivities — activities include trick-or-treating, storytelling, and carnival games. Wake students run the booths, hand out candy, and serve as costumed escorts for the children. It’s a great way to foster student involvement in the local community, and the children and college students enjoy the afternoon!

— Office of Creative Services
May 14, 2009