Southwestern Magazine | Fall 2020

Brad Knapp ’04 An international studies major and art history minor, Knapp earned his J.D. from the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Dedman School of Law. He is currently a partner at Locke Lord LLP, focusing primarily on bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation. He has also served as an adjunct professor of law for the SMU PRO Paralegal Studies Certificate program. Knapp notes that while Southwestern’s emphasis on critical analysis, discussion, and writing prepared him for a legal career, the Southwestern Experience provides additional benefits. “I find the liberal-arts background and exposure to so many areas of study have provided a useful ability to connect with clients and coworkers from a huge variety of backgrounds,” he says. MariaMaconda Mathis ’17 Mathis began her Southwestern career as a psychology major but switched majors after being inspired by a feminist studies class. She was active with a number of student organizations, including Planned Piratehood, the Sexual Assault Risk Reduction Committee, Muslims and Allies, and the Student Health Advisory Committee. She currently serves on the boards of the Brown Foundation Inc., Bat Conservation International, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Central Texas, where she teaches classes and cofacilitates support groups as a volun- teer. Mathis is the director of sales and marketing at Quarter Circle 10, a special- ty weapons manufacturer. “All the professors I took at SU contributed to my growth and acted as mentors in different capacities that I continue to value today,” she says. Matt Trawick ’10 After graduating from Southwestern with his B.A. in environmental studies, Trawick earned his M.S. in environmental science and public policy from Texas Tech University and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He currently serves as regional criminal enforcement counsel at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), providing legal advice to the EPA’s special agents as they investigate potential criminal violations of environmental laws. Trawick appreciates how Southwestern’s interdisciplinary approach to learning prepared him for his career: “Environmental studies allowed me to take science classes to understand how natural systems function, as well as humanities classes to understand how people interact with and affect the environment.” Megan Bush Knapp ’04 Knapp earned her B.A. in biology and communication studies from Southwestern and her M.P.H. in behavioral science and health education from Emory University. She is currently the assistant director of the Tulane Prevention Research Center at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, where she helps manage and conduct research on modifying environmental determinants of obesity to influence physical activity and eating behaviors. She is also a doctoral candidate in global community health and behavioral sciences at Tulane. Knapp encourages Southwestern students to explore different intellectual interests. “The beauty of a liberal-arts education is the opportunity to be exposed to diverse topics and areas of study,” she says. SOUTHWE S T E RN | 1 9 Michael B. Maine ’07 Maine earned his B.A. in business at Southwestern and his M.B.A. in sustainable systems at Presidio Graduate School (formerly Bainbridge Graduate Institute). He is a photographer, media producer, and consultant who helps people find, develop, and share their stories. In 2019, Maine founded the We Out Here festival in Seattle, which is a celebration of the existence and excellence of the Black community in the city. He is a current board member and past president of Businesses Ending Slavery and Tra cking. Maine encourages current Southwestern students to be their authentic selves: “You are the only you that exists. Allow yourself to really be you.”