Find Your Counselor
Get to know Abbie Paris
Outgoing, Creative, Music enthusiast, DIY risk-taker, Adventurist
- Coolest place you’ve travelled?
- I went on a ghost tour in the catacombs of Edinburgh, Scotland. Coolest experience ever!
- What was your high school superlative?
- Teacher’s Pet
- Advice for the college search process?
- Be honest about who you are. Don’t tell us what you think we want to hear, we want to know YOU.
- Why Mercer?
- I felt like I mattered. The faculty, staff, and students made me feel like I was a part of Mercer’s story from the moment I took my first step on campus.
- Best place in Macon to see everyone you know?
- Margaritas in Mercer Village
Get to know Adam Chulawat
Extroverted, Cat fanatic, Food lover, Quirky, Can talk to a brick wall
- Favorite App?
- What are your hobbies?
- I like to work out, play soccer, go out to eat, and hang out with friends and family.
- Advice for the college search process?
- Your college search is YOUR college search. Decide what is YOUR best fit, not your friends’!
- Mercer in 3 adjectives?
- Personal, determined, engaging
- First impression of Macon?
- Historically beautiful and diverse! There’s parks to walk, rivers to kayak, and yummy restaurants to eat at!
Allison North
Associate Director of Admissions and Recruitment
Office: 478.301.2656
Cell: 478.219.8019
Get to know Allison North
Open-minded, Social, Music lover, Loyal, Sports fanatic
- What’s your hidden talent?
- In my car, I am a singing phenomenon.
- Most used emoji?
- 😂
- Favorite App?
- IMDB (I am constantly looking to see who starred in what movies and TV Shows)
- Best part of your job?
- Building relationships with future students and their families
- Best thing to do when you first move to Macon?
- Treat yourself at Decadent Dessert Bar
Get to know Ashley Herman
Life-long learner, Doctor Who fanatic, Dog mom, Foodie, Lover of cheesy jokes
- What would you bring to a deserted island?
- Sunscreen…lots of it! I burn if I even think about going outside.
- A skill you wish you had?
- I wish I played the violin!
- Best advice for college freshmen?
- Be open to new experiences. It’s great to have a plan; however, it’s the spontaneous opportunities that often lead to the best memories. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your rain boots! Trust me.
- Favorite place to eat on campus?
- Einstein Brothers Bagels
- Best place in Macon to get brunch?
- LaDDa Bistro on Cherry Street
Get to know Bo Walker
Family man, Left handed, Amateur comedian, Movie buff, Sneakerhead
- What’s your hidden talent?
- I’m a fantastic swimmer.
- What’s your nickname?
- Bo is actually a nickname. My real name is William.
- Best advice for college freshmen?
- Stay on top of your workload and get to know your professors.
- Best walking/running route on campus?
- There’s no wrong way to get around campus. I say hit the pavement and let the route find you.
- Best place in Macon to have an adventure?
- Smiley’s Flea Market!
Caroline Carlton
Assistant Director of Admissions and Athletic Recruitment
Office: 478.301.2314
Cell: 478.219.8006
Get to know Caroline Carlton
Retired athlete, Tennessee transplant, Traveler, Ambitious, Energetic
- What’s your nickname?
- In high school volleyball, I was nicknamed “The Hammer.”
- Favorite college memory?
- My senior night for volleyball. We beat Western Carolina in four sets.
- Mercer students in one word?
- Driven
- Something that surprised you about Mercer?
- How far students come to attend. I had friends from all of the country and even other countries.
- Best place in Macon to catch a good game?
- Live – definitely Hawkins Arena! On tv – Margaritas big screen!
Catherine Harmon
Associate Director of Admissions and Campus Visitation
Office: 478.301.2076
Cell: 678-492-2916
Get to know Catherine Harmon
Corgi mom, Detail oriented, Diet Coke connoisseur, Globetrotter, Open minded
- What’s your hidden talent?
- I was ambidextrous growing up but am mostly left handed now.
- What was your high school superlative?
- Most likely to get in trouble for talking too much in class
- Best advice for college freshmen?
- Don't be too hard on yourself. It can take time adjusting to this new stage of life!
- Mercer in 3 adjectives?
- Welcoming, Enthusiastic, Driven
- Best place in Macon to have an outdoor adventure?
- Kayaking on the Ocmulgee River
Get to know Elsie Dru Miles
Atlanta Braves fanatic, Coffee connoisseur, Cat lady, Organized, Bubbly
- What are your hobbies?
- Drawing/painting, watching Netflix, nature walks/hikes, playing disc golf
- A skill you wish you had?
- I wish I could sing!
- What was your high school superlative?
- Most Likely to Make Checklists for Literally Everything
- Why Mercer?
- If you want to become part of a big family that provides true support, love, and encouragement, Mercer is for you!
- Best place in Macon to play disc golf?
- Claystone Park
Get to know Harrison Kone
Novelist, Classical rhetor, Antiquity scholar, Explorer, Life enthusiast
- Coolest place you’ve traveled?
- Jerusalem, Israel
- What’s a skill you wish you had?
- I wish I could professionally film and edit videos and write original, epic, symphonic scores.
- Best part of your job?
- Meeting Mercer’s next incoming class
- Best study spot on campus?
- Cruz Plaza patio by the water feature
- Best place in Macon for a family outing?
- Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park
Get to know Jackie Atchison
Book collector, Yarn enthusiast, Singer, Traveler, Chocolate lover
- What’s your hidden talent?
- I can knit.
- What’s your go-to dance move?
- The disco point
- Favorite college memory?
- Studying abroad at the University of Oxford
- What made you choose Mercer?
- I loved the community feeling and small classes.
- Best place in Macon to have a relaxing day?
- Tattnall Square Park is a great place to relax. Especially on Saturday mornings – there’s free yoga!
Jena Palmer
Associate Director of Admissions and Recruitment
Office: 478.301.2316
Cell: 478.219.8210
Get to know Jena Palmer
Barbeque aficionado, Thrill seeker, Avid reader, Quick witted, Extrovert
- Something most people don’t know about you?
- I’ve seen all the movies on American Film Institute’s Top 100 List.
- A skill you wish you had?
- Sense of direction! Thank goodness for Google maps.
- Advice for the college search process?
- Talk with your admissions counselor!
- Favorite organization you were involved with as a Mercer student?
- BearForce – It was the best on-campus job!
- Best place in Macon to buy local produce?
- Village Marketplace on Ingleside
Get to know Kirsten Knowles Perdue
Considerate, Island girl, Logical, Lover of fun, Relaxed
- What’s something most people don’t know about you?
- I used to be a flight attendant
- What are your hobbies?
- Cooking, traveling, gardening
- Where are you from?
- The most beautiful country – The Commonwealth of The Bahamas (Nassau, New Providence to be specific)
- Why Mercer?
- Students get that true college experience in an environment that is large enough to meet new people everyday, but small enough where you can truly build relationships that last a lifetime.
- Something that surprised you about Mercer?
- Mercer was the first campus to promote school integration in the south. As someone of color and a former international student, this speaks volume to the character of Mercer.
Get to know Sage Cudney
Coffee enthusiast, Animal lover, Compassionate, Adventurous, Thoughtful
- What would you bring to a deserted island?
- Duct tape. Nothing’s impossible with duct tape.
- What’s your walk out song?
- Dancing Queen by ABBA
- Favorite college memory?
- Studying abroad in Italy and traveling the world with new friends
- Something most people don’t know about Mercer?
- You can rent kayaks and other outdoor equipment from Recreation Sports and Wellness
- Best place in Macon to go on a date night?
- A quaint picnic and walk at Amerson River Park
Get to know Stephen P. Karafa
Expressive, Intuitive, Globally Minded, Imaginative, Social
- What’s your hidden talent?
- Knowing the words to Garth Brooks’ greatest hits
- Coolest place you’ve traveled?
- St. Andrews, Scotland
- Best advice for college freshmen?
- Balance campus involvement with classes and free time.
- Favorite place to eat on campus?
- The Farmer’s Market
- Best place in Macon to get a slice of pizza?
- Hands down, Ingleside Village Pizza!
Get to know Tracy Martinez
Outdoor person, Minimalist, Friendly, Dedicated, Open-minded
- A skill you wish you had?
- Surfing
- What’s your nickname?
- Trace
- Best advice for college freshmen?
- Don’t skip class!
- If Mercer was an emoji, which one would it be and why?
- 🎓 Mercer sets you up to be successful in the real world.
- Favorite restaurant in Macon?
- Mikata