Alumni Spotlights

Marc S. Brewen ’93

After completing his bachelor’s in business management at Washington College, Marc S. Brewen ’93 went on to law school in Houston, Texas, where he earned his Juris Doctorate. He returned to his home state of Tennessee, where he sat for the bar and earned his law license. He began as a young lawyer practicing in a small firm in Knoxville. However, Brewen quickly realized that this wasn’t the job for him. 

“I was looking for a change in my life, a new experience, something both personal and professional. I’d had a few friends from law school who were serving in the military at the time, so I ended up applying to the US Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and I was accepted.” Upon commissioning in 1999, Brewen began his naval career in Yokosuka, Japan, and originally planned to return to Knoxville after his first tour. As it turned out, that first tour changed Brewen and his plans.

In Yokosuka, Brewen served on the USS Essex (LHD 2) in the Navy’s 7th Fleet, gaining his first operational experience as a military attorney advising the Commodore of Amphibious Squadron 11 and serving with the Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

“Being a part of a crew on a ship at sea, seeing how the Marines operated, and understanding the role of the military attorney in that context was life-changing for me.”

Looking back, one of Brewen’s biggest takeaways was the inspiration he drew from the camaraderie of the men and women with whom he served. “When I finished those six months at sea, my mind had changed completely: I was all in.”

Brewen returned from Japan certain the Navy was the career he wanted. For the next 24 years, he pursued that dream, retiring as a Captain of the US Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

As a part of Spring Migration Weekend’s Military Appreciation Day in April of this year, Washington College honored Brewen and other alumni and community members who have served in the military.

“This day, this brief moment in the year where Washington College is honoring its alumni who have chosen to serve in uniform, means a lot to those of us who hold that status. But more importantly, it shows the students that the school recognizes the value provided by the men and women who elect to serve our great country,” Brewen said. “Service, to me, is deeply personal. But I think it’s important for the students to see that their alumni have served, and many of us have made careers out of it. Being a part of any government service, at the federal or local level, is important for all of us to do if we’re able.”

Christy Harris Weer ’93

Earlier this year, Christy Harris Weer ’93 was named as one of the “Top 100 Maryland Women” by The Daily Record. “It’s the second time that I've been named to the list, and I feel really proud to represent the Eastern Shore, since when people think of Maryland, they tend to think of the Western Shore,” Weer said.

The Eastern Shore is central to the recognition Weer has received over her successful and expansive career. She has served as dean of the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University since 2014. She is a member of the Board of Visitors and Governors at Washington College. And of course, this is where she began her own education. (Weer earned a bachelor’s degree in business at Washington and an MBA from Salisbury, only leaving to earn her doctorate from the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University.)

“For many alumni, our undergraduate alma mater holds a very special place in our hearts,” Weer said when asked what keeps her involved at Washington College. “The passion I have for Washington College laid the groundwork for the things I’ve been able to do and the person that I am today.”

It’s the connections that stand out to her the most, both personal and professional: from the lifelong friendships she made in her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, to meaningful connections with professors such as Terrence Scout, a former business management professor, with whom she still stays in touch to this day.

“While I’ve been privileged with a lot of opportunities, no one accomplishes or does things in a vacuum,” Weer said. “I have a super supportive family, great friends, and great faculty and staff at Salisbury. We accomplish things through and with the people around us.”

She began her career in the insurance industry before transitioning into academia, first at Radford University and later returning to the Eastern Shore as a faculty member at Salisbury University.

Weer’s involvement in causes and organizations she supports extends well beyond her professional career. In addition to serving as president of the Board of Directors of Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, she serves as chair of the Wicomico County American Cancer Society Volunteer Leadership Committee, sits on the Wicomico County Tourism and Civic Center Commission, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Maryland Small Business Development Center.

Nancy Mullikin Greenberg ’59

While working for The Elm in 1957, Nancy Mullikin Greenberg ’59 found herself presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: a chance to meet and interview Lee Lawrie, the German sculptor who created Washington College’s iconic George Washington statue. Lawrie also created the famous Atlas statue in Rockefeller Center.

In the late ’50s, Lawrie was living on a farm outside of Easton, Maryland, not more than an hour away from Washington College. For Greenberg, this was a very familiar trek as she had family in that area. Upon arriving at his farm, she met Lawrie and his wife.

“He looked old to me, but I was only 19 or something at the time,” Greenberg said, laughing, when recalling their meeting. “He was very gracious.”

She conducted her interview and wrote a piece that was featured in the April 3 issue of The Elm in 1957, ahead of the official dedication of the statue for the college’s 175th anniversary. 

Following their interview, Lawrie even sent Greenberg a thank-you note, one that she held on to for over 60 years.

“When I went to my 65th Reunion last year, I turned the note over to the archives. I figured that the college would appreciate it more.” Over the years, Greenberg has not only donated to the archives but has also funded scholarships for current and incoming students. “I got a scholarship to attend Washington College, and I appreciated it so much. My scholarship helped pave the way for me and opened many doors. My philosophy is to pay it forward.”