Meet Our Graduates: Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs

One of the most comprehensive language programs in the Southeast, the College of Charleston School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs is committed to providing students with the education they need to become informed global citizens.

Graduates of the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs have the human skills that employers are really looking for – things like problem-solving, communication, negotiation and adaptability. With cultural understanding and global perspective, they make real differences in the world and become leaders in whatever career they pursue.  

This spring, we celebrate the achievements of three School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs graduates who are ready to take on what’s next.

What CofC School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs Graduates Are Doing Next 

David Bowen

Classics and History Double-Major

Pursuing his master’s in classics at the University of Maryland

David Bowen had met plenty of wonderful people while working at his family’s iconic Charleston grocery, Burbage’s – which Southern Living recently named one of 10 legendary grocery stores in the South – but, the people he met during his time at the College of Charleston impressed him even more.

“I have gotten the chance to study under and alongside some of the kindest and most brilliant people I have ever met,” says Bowen, who is known both for his academic accomplishments and for the paperback novel that’s almost always tucked in his back pocket. “My teachers have been passionate, kind, and skilled. My peers have been thoughtful, quick-witted and adept.”

While at the College, Bowen received the Douglas & Elizabeth Clark Memorial Scholarship, the Robert H. Duryea Memorial Scholarship, the Simonds Special Merit Award and the Harold A. Mouzan Scholarship in Classical Studies.

“I consider my time here to have been an opportunity of a lifetime,” he says.

Although it’s bittersweet to be leaving the family business that is such a cornerstone of the Charleston experience for generations of locals and CofC students alike, Bowen is excited for his next chapter.

Ethan Cole

Classics Major

Pursuing his master’s in classics at the University of Maryland, where he has received a teaching assistantship

“Without the support of the classics department, I would not be the person I am today,” says Ethan Cole, who received the Johnson Vest Scholarship in Classics and the Harold A. Mouzon Scholarship in Classical Studies while at the College. “Every professor encourages students to push themselves to what they think they are capable of – and then, once they’ve gotten there, the professors push them more! Sapere aude (dare to think), as they say!

“The rigor can be demanding, but it’s matched by support and patience along the way,” he continues. “The relationships I’ve formed not only with my professors but also with my peers are among the most meaningful experiences in my life.”

Ella Tolar

International Business and Finance Double-Major with Spanish Minor

Working as an analyst in the Latin America Corporate Finance group at an international bank in New York City, with plans to also pursue a J.D.–MBA dual degree

Ella Tolar focused on making the most of her three years at the College, completing three internships, maintaining a 3.98 GPA, graduating (summa cum laude) a year early, being named a Global Scholar and being inducted into the Hispanic Honor Society, Sigma Delta Pi.

“My time at the College was exciting, fast-paced and at times challenging, but ultimately incredibly rewarding,” says Tolar, who also received a CofC Academic Scholarship and a CofC Merit Scholarship. “Through my academic experiences, internships and mentorship, I developed both the technical skills and confidence needed to begin my career. I feel well-prepared and excited to take this next step, supported by the knowledge, experience and relationships I built during my time at CofC.”

Congratulations, Graduates!  

Congratulations to all of this year’s graduates on reaching such a significant milestone. Each student’s path reflects years of dedication, growth and commitment.

These three graduates offer a glimpse into the College of Charleston experience, where hands-on training, mentorship and real-world opportunities shape what comes next. Whether they major in classical languages, modern languages or cultural studies, students in the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs graduate as responsible and engaged world citizens with a rich global perspective that advances their careers.