Christian is a first-generation college graduate and proud Berea alum. Born in Northeast Ohio’s portion of the Rust Belt, his family moved to Seymour, Tennessee when he was just six-years-old. Although he graduated from high school just a stone’s throw away from the birthplace of Dolly Parton, Christian didn’t fully understand how much the Smoky Mountains meant to him until he first set foot on Berea’s campus. After graduating with a degree in communication, Christian began a career in broadcast journalism. It was during his time working for a local news station in Knoxville that he discovered his life’s true passion—empowering his neighbors by lifting their voices.

As a Regional Admissions Manager serving East Tennessee, Christian aims to pay it forward by reinvesting in those who invested in him. Having seen firsthand what Berea’s mission can do for his friends, classmates, and family (his wife and sister-in-law are also Berea alumni), he wants to offer the same opportunities to the next generation of Bereans hiding in his backyard.

Fun Fact: During his time working in TV news, Christian helped produce a piece highlighting Berea College Professor Emeritus Andrew Baskin.