Bobby Jones Alumni biographies
You'll find links to some our alumni biographies below.
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Broadcast Journalist - London
1981-82 St Andrews to Emory Scholarship
BiographyI’m a broadcast journalist who began my career as a local radio reporter in Scotland. I’ve worked for the BBC since 1984 in local and then network radio and television. I started off as a reporter and producer and was a launch presenter for Radio Five Live in 1994 and then had the same role for the original BBC tv rolling news channel News 24 in 1997. Since 2003 I’ve worked as a presenter for the BBC World Service and now present the programme The Newsroom and the BBC’s Global News podcast which is produced by the same team.
I think the Bobby Jones scholarship has been key because of the way it opened my eyes to living in a foreign country. I realised I was adaptable and thrived on meeting new people and not knowing what the day would bring. For a time in the USA, I worked selling encyclopaedias door to door to earn some money to travel around America and the Editor who gave me one of my first jobs back in the UK told me that had made me stand out from the competition. He felt a young student who could doorstep a complete stranger in another culture and engage them instantly had the right attributes for a successful career in journalism.
I think the scholarship had a big effect - it made me confident that I could get on with people from very different backgrounds and fit in anywhere and the USA gave me a more ambitious “can do” attitude. It’s no coincidence that, having been born and brought up in Scotland, I moved to London three years after returning from the USA - where I’ve lived and worked ever since.
One of the most memorable experiences as a Bobby Jones scholar was being a guest at the Stone Mountain Highland Games - it was extraordinary to realise the depth of connection many Americans felt to Scotland even though their families had been in the USA for generations.
As for ongoing involvement with the Bobby Jones programme - last year I produced a 10-minute Bobby Jones podcast where I interviewed two fellow alumnae of the programme in which we discussed our experiences during our time in Atlanta and how it had influenced our lives. I know it was made available to last year’s applicants to the scholarship and hopefully can still be accessed by anyone who wants to listen to it!
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Project Manager – Ocean Science, Not-For-Profit - Canada
2017-18 St Andrews to Emory Scholarship
BiographyI work as a Project Manager for an ocean science not-for-profit in British Columbia, Canada called the Tula Foundation. I coordinate an ocean data project and lead some projects related to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Moving to Canada, it was my goal to find a role in the ocean sector that allowed me to best use my skills without having to stay on the research side, so my current role is a good balance.
I often say that I wouldn't be where I was today without the Bobby Jones scholarship. It sparked a series of decisions that created the life I have today, and I'm immensely thankful for that. During my Bobby Jones year, I promised myself I would say 'yes' to as many opportunities as possible, and that's a mantra I still try to use in life to encourage me to challenge myself and try new things.
I still visit Atlanta often and have some of my closest friendships with people that I met during the year. The whole experience for me was defined by the community of people, and as a result, the scholarship allowed me to create strong professional and personal networks that I continue to benefit from today.
Giving speeches to crowded rooms at various events throughout the year and being a true ambassador for St Andrews was an enriching experience, and definitely improved my public speaking skills!
My most memorable Bobby Jones experience was attending the Masters. I was delighted to be able to learn golf for the first time during the Bobby Jones year and got really into it! By the time April came around, I could not believe we had the opportunity to attend such a world-famous event. All the people we got to meet and spend time with that week really made it one of the most memorable experiences of the whole year. And I'm still playing golf!
I am now part of the mentoring network for current scholars and supported a few scholars during the pandemic through mentorship calls, and we've since become great friends. I encourage anyone who is thinking about applying to reach out to me - I would be more than happy to share my experiences! I also try to go back to Atlanta at least once a year to visit friends and keep my connections to Emory and the scholarship strong.
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Writer and Art Curator - London
1978-79 St Andrews to Emory Scholarship
BiographyI work within the Art industry as a Writer and Art Curator. The business and creative writing courses I studied during my Bobby Jones scholarship year were good preparations for trying to understand the Global Art World, but learning quite how diverse the world was even more important. Thank you, Bobby Jones and Emory.
My most memorable Bobby Jones experience was during the winter vacation of my year at Emory. I was lucky enough to get a job as a ski instructor in the resort of Sapphire Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was so small that I managed to get promoted after two days to Ski School Director. I was convinced I had oversold my rather limited skills as an instructor and the test duly arrived in the form of three buses from a federal program. Fortunately, the Cherokee volunteers for the Sapphire Valley Experience just wanted to have fun and we spent several hours assembling in lines on the snow, falling over and giggling. Jimmy Carter’s Government can be assured that they got their money’s worth. Maybe we did not achieve much in strict skiing terms, but there is more to life than just going up and down hills.
Photo Caption: Alistair Hicks at the Pera Museum, Istanbul, at the exhibition Paula Rego: The Story of Stories.
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Knowledge Manager – Sports Industry - London
2018-20 St Andrews to Emory Fellowship
BiographyI am the Knowledge Manager at Laureus Sport for Good; a non-profit organisation focused on using sport to transform lives and tackle global inequality. I am also a semi pro rugby player and became a member of the Scotland Squad in 2023.
The scholarship was truly an incredible opportunity and changed my entire life trajectory. Before getting the scholarship, I was trying to figure out what to do - I knew I couldn't afford a Masters and wasn't even sure it was something I wanted to do. I also had fallen out of love with rugby and wasn't sure how much I wanted to continue playing at a high level.
The Masters itself allowed me to find a true career passion that tied together my interest in international development and sports and provided the chance to get vital work experience while studying. The degree was more practical which suited my skill set and broadened my academic training beyond long hours in the library writing essays. I took on several internships throughout the two years, volunteered in different community organisations, and learnt about what community development looked like beyond the books. I also had the chance to travel for a summer placement with organisations I had followed for a long time - Women Win and ChildFund International. The international development sector is undoubtedly elitist, and the Masters meant I could gain the qualifications, work experience, and international exposure without the finances and connections I didn't have.
I found an incredible rugby team called the Atlanta Harlequins. From players to committee the entire club was run by womxn for womxn. In this safe space I fell back in love with rugby and realised what was important to me in the game and where I wanted to go.
Through the scholarship I was able to travel around the USA and see some family including my great aunt who lived in Las Vegas before she passed away the following year. I also made some incredible friendships that bring me the most joy even today and my life would not feel as full as it does without their love and support.
My most memorable experiences were from the kind hospitality of the staff at Emory who on multiple occasions invited us round for dinner and even Thanksgiving. Everyone was so welcoming that it truly felt like a home away from home. I also really enjoyed the opportunity to see behind the scenes of the PGA tour, including the chance to see the media vans.
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Communications – Higher Education Sector - Atlanta
2008-09 St Andrews to Emory Scholarship
BiographyI work as the Senior Associate Director of Communications for Emory College of Arts and Sciences. I oversee all communications initiatives to the 6000+ undergraduate population within the College. I'm also an adjunct lecturer at Emory's Goizueta Business School where I teach business communications strategy.
The Bobby Jones programme opened the door to my career, a green card, and eventually the opportunity to gain an MBA from Emory. I graduated with a degree in Maths from the University of St Andrews and to now work in Communications and teaching in a business school was not even on my radar.
There are many memorable experiences from my time on the scholarship; the Masters, the classes I took for fun (golf and screenwriting), meeting President Carter, networking with so many incredible people, the list goes on. My most memorable was probably the summer road trip. To spend a month driving from Atlanta to the west coast was an amazing experience. Seeing the diversity of the country, savouring the cuisine, and meeting people that have been a part of the scholarship programme.
As I work at Emory, the scholarship and the scholars are never far from my door. I've been the person to pick the UK scholars up from the Atlanta airport the last few years and to help them find their initial bearings at Emory. I also helped lead the team that planned the Bobby Jones 40th anniversary reunion celebrations in St Andrews in 2017. I'm looking forward to the 50th event at Emory in 2027!
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Emmy Winning Content Creator, Producer & Director – Children’s media - New York
1996-97 Emory to St Andrews Scholarship
BiographyHolly is an Emmy-winning content creator, producer, and director of innovative kids’ media. Holly has created original content and directed series for Pinna, Audible, Sesame Workshop, Universal Kids, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr, Sprout, The Fred Rogers Company, Curious World, PBS, Silvergate Media, 9 Story Media, Random House and more. She helped guide all the ‘Dora the Explorer’ brands and Nickelodeon’s Pro-Social efforts to Emmy’s and worldwide recognition. Holly has served as both a live-action and voice-over director. She started her career with PBS and loves working with educational curriculums. A consummate team player, Holly has supervised groups large and small, guided ideas from conception to hit status, and is always passionate about her current project.
The Bobby Jones scholarship allowed me to see the world and learn how to write about it. I earned a Master of Letters in Creative Writing, and I was able to establish myself as a storyteller. And the travel element gave me so much to write about.
My most memorable experience of the scholarship was driving through the Scottish Highlands, seeing the sky and hills and heather. That, or being breathless in the middle of a ceilidh!
I try to still be involved with the Bobby Jones programme and always offer to take fellow Jones’ out when they hit NYC. I got married in a pizzeria in Times Square, so any Bobby Jones alumni who wants to experience real NYC pizza, just reach out!
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Stockbroker and Communications Skills Training Consultant - Singapore
1980-81 St Andrews to Emory Scholarship
BiographyBefore retiring, I worked as a stockbroker and communications skills training consultant. I have worked in the Cayman Islands, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. It was after completing the Bobby Jones scholarship that I became determined to see and work in as many different places as possible, and the scholarship gave me the confidence to pursue my aims.
My most memorable one-off Bobby Jones experience was playing golf at Augusta. The scholarship provides a marvellous opportunity to travel around the USA and be exposed to different racial groups and the fantastic friendliness of the Americans. There is also an enormous variety of courses to study at Emory.
Having previously worked and lived overseas, it was difficult to attend many of the Bobby Jones events, but I recently attended one in London and am now more involved with the programme.
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Lawyer/Barrister/Civil Mediator - Florida
1983-84 Emory to St Andrews Scholarship
BiographyAfter St Andrews I returned to Emory University and then attended law school at the University of Florida. I worked as a litigator in civil cases but now serve as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Civil mediator. I act as neutral and try to facilitate settlement talks between parties in litigation.
The Bobby Jones scholarship was hugely transformative and eye-opening. I may have been the youngest at the time to be afforded the scholarship at age 19 as a second year. I had never travelled outside the USA, and I had no expectation that I would ever win a scholarship much less get to live overseas. In St Andrews I resided in St Salvator’s Hall and was the volunteer coach and first alternative for University Challenge Team. We finished second in the UK – it was a terrific team and we had great fun being on television. My most memorable experiences were the Hall Balls, the dinners, learning Scottish country dancing, chatting into the wee hours of the morning with students and the receptive and generous faculty.
In Sallies Hall my buddy had a dorm room three stories up right over the front door. He had a fabulous room with wide bay windows and a view of the lawn. It was a great place to launch water balloons out the window. We never got rung up by the house manager, so I gather we never scored a direct hit. I just remember launching balloons and laughing until my sides hurt. The scholarship also gave me access to the Old Course which was amazing, and the chance to travel to France and Greece over the breaks. Pretty cool stuff.
I would be happy to assist anyone looking to live or work near Orlando or ring me up if you are in the area. I would enjoy a visit from any past or present Jones Scholars who might be passing through.
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Quantitative Analyst - Finance Industry - London
2003-04 St Andrews to Emory Scholarship
BiographyI am a Quantitative Analyst in the Finance Industry. Basically, I do maths work for banks and brokerage firms. As a Bobby Jones scholar, you develop a life-long association with Bobby Jones and his legacy and have the opportunity to meet a network of extremely talented people. Professionally, the confidence I gained that year was probably a key factor in my decision to enrol on a Masters programme and pursue a career change in 2010. Most importantly of all, I met my wife through a fellow scholar in 2008.
For me, the best memories from my scholarship year are with the friends I made and, 20 years on, my Emory friendships remain strong to this day. Beyond that, the opportunities to live, study and travel in a different country helped me to grow in confidence significantly.
My best travel memories include a month-long road trip during the winter break from Atlanta to San Francisco and back, and a Thanksgiving swim in an extremely cold Lake Michigan during a long weekend in Chicago. Needless to say, as a golf fan (not compulsory!) the opportunities are endless - getting to wear my kilt at Augusta was the highlight.
Some of my best experiences in the years since the scholarship have been with my fellow scholars, as an example, in 2014 Rob, Tim and I climbed Mont Blanc together (see the picture - I’m the one on the right). Sadly, my current involvement in the Bobby Jones programme is limited but I hope to change that in the years ahead.