Magnet: Creative Writing
Emily Freed (right) with her younger sister, Amanda (Stivers Class of 2005)
I had the privilege of attending Stivers with Emily Freed, and when I think back on our high school days, I am immediately reminded of Emily’s amazing talent for writing, her impeccable attention to detail, and her ability to juggle a multitude of extra-curricular activities and hobbies while maintaining a flawless GPA. When I caught up with Emily recently, I quickly realized that those wonderful traits are still propelling her to succeed.
Emily graduated with Highest Honors from Purdue University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Political Science. In addition to making the Dean’s List for all eight semesters, she participated in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Honors Program, served as a CLA Ambassador, and was president of the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Sigma Delta Tau sorority.
Upon graduating from Purdue, Emily relocated to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to work for Stryker, a Fortune 500 medical device manufacturing company. In just seven years, Emily has earned four promotions. As an Associate Regulatory Affairs Manager, Emily manages a team of six personnel in the areas of document control, change control, and other quality-system related activities. Although the majority of her career has been focused on regulatory affairs, Emily briefly worked in information technology, where she focused on general project management and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Emily is also attending grad school at Purdue to earn a certificate in Regulatory and Quality Compliance.
Although Emily stays busy with her thriving career and her graduate studies, she makes time to contribute to the community. She currently serves as a volunteer advisor and an advisor coordinator for her sorority and is the co-chair of a strategic planning committee. Emily also mentors foster children enrolled at Western Michigan University.
I asked Emily how her time at Stivers helped prepare her for the real world. “Stivers gave me the opportunity to work with people of many different experiences and backgrounds, which has definitely come into play following graduation,” she says. “In addition, it gave me an incredible appreciation for the arts, something which I am now passionate about supporting in my local community.”
Emily enjoys living in Kalamazoo with her dog, Polly, who she refers to as the “world’s best yellow lab rescue dog!” Kalamzoo is “a lovely microcosm of the ‘Midwestern’ city,” says Emily. “We have two universities in town, which contributes to a great arts and restaurant community.”
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