Freelancer Peter Mercer

By: Dezaray Barr

Peter Mercer and those he graduated with from the Division of Communication & Theatre

Peter Mercer graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) in 2017 with a degree in media communication. “I visited IWU in the fall of my senior year of high school. After about an hour on campus, it began to feel like home,” Mercer said. “I liked the people, the campus was beautiful and I liked all the professors. I walked away from that weekend knowing that IWU is where I wanted to be.”

Mercer said, “My time as a student at IWU pushed me in a lot of different ways, and a lot of my classes in the Division of Communication & Theater gave me a lot of incredible experiences and really helped me decide what I wanted to do after I graduate. For example, up until I took a class called Studio Production my sophomore year, I was dead set on sports broadcasting, but I realized that I absolutely loved the whole production process and it really opened me up to the idea of heading into the film/TV side of production.”

IWU really helped Mercer make his faith his own, and his roommates always push him to seek God.

After graduation, Mercer returned home to Pittsburgh and entered the workforce as a Freelancer, which he continues to do today. “I have done a variety of different things and have traveled throughout the east coast since,” Mercer said. “I have had my hands involved in movies, TV shows, sports, music videos, competitions and a few weddings. I do something different every week, and that is one of the things I like most about freelancing.”

If Mercer could say one thing to current IWU students, he’d encourage them to get involved in their division at IWU. “I made some really close friends in the Division of Communication and Theatre and had really incredible experiences with WIWU TV51 and 94.3 The Fortress. The division is filled with amazing people and professors, you definitely do not want to miss out on getting to know any of them,” he said.

 

 

Written by Dezaray Barr, PR Specialist for the Alumni Office. Dezaray is a senior Strategic Communication, Journalism and Honors Humanities triple major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. Visit Dez’s website at www.dezaraybarr.weebly.com.

Derric Gowan: Sports Management

By: Dezaray Barr

Derric and his wife, Bree, after her graduation from IWU in December

Derric Gowan graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) with a major in Sports Management and a minor in Media Communications. Although he walked in the spring of 2017, he graduated in August of 2017 after completing an internship over the summer.

Gowan was led to IWU because of a family pull. “Both of my grandparents worked there, my parents both went there, my mom currently works there and my brother graduated from there as well,” Gowan said. “I did choose to go to IWU myself. Another option I was looking at was Taylor. I ended up choosing IWU, because it felt like a more tight-knit community and a more Christ-centered atmosphere.”

During his time at IWU, Gowan believes that it was probably the greatest four years of his life. “I learned a lot about life and how to live on my own, but I also learned a lot about myself and grew so much in my walk with God. I gained lifelong friends, met my wife, have lasting relationships with professors and even launched part of my career there with the TV station,” he shared. “I enjoyed almost every single day at IWU. I honestly wish I could go back and live on campus again sometimes when the ‘adult life’ gets rough.”

Now, Gowan works for Finishline Inc. as a Manager-in-Training in their flagship store in Castleton Mall in Indianapolis. “It’s not something I had planned doing,” Gowan said, “but I enjoy what I do now and there are a lot of opportunities for growth and development for my business and management goals.”

As a sports management major at IWU, Gowan learned how to lead effectively. “My first job after college is in a management position, and I can certainly say that IWU helped prepare me for what I have experienced and will down the road,” Gowan explained.

On April 14, 2018, Gowan married Bree (Morgan), whom he met and dated at IWU. For their honeymoon, they visited Washington DC, had a VIP tour of the Capitol building and went inside the White House.

Gowan would encourage IWU students to always remember that God provides. “You may not know what your life will look like after college, where you will be, what you will be doing… but just remain faithful in God and always trust Him,” he shared.

 

 

Written by Dezaray Barr, PR Specialist for the Alumni Office. Dezaray is a junior Strategic Communication, Journalism and Honors Humanities triple major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. Visit Dez’s website at www.dezaraybarr.weebly.com.