Macon State College MVPs is a web feature that profiles notable students, alumni, faculty and staff.
Exceptional student Adam Weaver is president of the Macon State Honors Student Association.
Full Name: Adam Charles Weaver.
Age: 34.
Hometown: Southgate, Mich., just south of Detroit.
Residence: Macon.
High School: Southgate Anderson in Southgate, Mich.
Family: “Three cats - Stomper, Gremlin, and Fiasco. I know, they're just cats, but they're the only surviving/local family I've got. Being a single guy in a town without blood relations, my friends are my family, especially Elizabeth Law-Mcguire and her husband Riley.”
Current Employment: Full-time student.
Degree Objective: Bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary studies with an English concentration.
Class Rank: Junior.
Activities: “As president of the HSA (Honors Student Association), I work with both Dr. Clay Morton and the HSA student worker, Heather Ness, to organize honors program activities on campus.”
Career Goals: “My short-term goal is to obtain my bachelor’s degree and go to grad school. While my concentration is currently in English, my true love is religious studies, and I hope to teach at the college level after obtaining an advanced degree. While teaching I also hope to independently study various facets of the LGBTQ community - especially ‘bears’ and the construction of masculine identity - and publish a book or two before all is said and done.”
He chose Macon State College because … “There's a funny story about Nancy Grace that I could recount, but instead I'll just say that the price and location are ideal. After many years of working as a pharmacy technician and a retail manager at various bookstores, I'd more or less given up on the thought of returning to college. Once a friend pointed out the easily accessible location and the relatively low cost of attending Macon State, I was inspired to give college another try!”
The one thing that surprised him about Macon State was … “The willingness of the faculty to work with me in reaching my educational goals. While Macon State does not have a religious studies department, many of my professors have encouraged me to do research on topics related to religion within the context of the course I was taking at the time.”
His favorite professor is … “Dr. Matthew Zimmerman. Dr. Zimmerman's American History class was the first class that I enrolled in at Macon State. I was frankly terrified to return to college after such a long absence - nearly 12 years - but within minutes of entering his classroom for the first time, I felt at ease. I have taken a number of classes with him, and have enjoyed each immensely. Dr. Zimmerman's teaching style is ideal, a perfect combination of professional teaching and a remarkable ease with his students. Also, he allowed me write a paper on Scientology and Charles Manson for an honors project, and you really can't beat that combination. Dr. Clay Morton and Dr. Larry Israel also deserve mention. Both have encouraged my rather different academic goals, and reminded me that just because I don't always take the normal route, I do have something unique to offer both Macon State and the world at large.”
His favorite place to study is … “The Honors Study Room is a great, comfortable place to study - but I'd be lying if I didn't also admit that I enjoy getting away from everything and reading in my car between classes.”
One thing people don't know about him is … “I'm quite shy around new people - something my friends often find hard to believe. Having moved to the South in 2006 as an openly gay man, I was quite nervous about my reception into what I falsely believed was a completely repressive atmosphere. Naturally, this resulted in some amusingly self-conscious behavior. The good news is that thanks to my friends both on campus and off, I am once again 100% comfortable with who I am, but a lot of the shyness still remains!”
His friends make fun of him because … “While in general I like to think I have pretty good taste in my consumption of media, I do have some really ugly secrets: Wilson Phillips and Howard the Duck. If you're too young to know what I'm referring to, it's best not to ask. I've also been known to send emails back and forth with Richard Simmons - I've lost a significant amount of weight with his encouragement, and he's actually a really intelligent and funny guy.”
The one person he’d most like to meet is … “Tori Amos. I've been a fan of her music since the early ‘90's, and have seen her in concert at least thirty times. While she is not a present on the mainstream radar as she once was, she continues to produce beautiful pop and classical music. Her early albums almost literally saved my life as a teenager, and her more recent offerings incorporate mythological elements which are absolutely fascinating. I would love to sit down with her over a cup of tea and discuss her fascination with various cultures and their religious elements. And also to swoon like a little girl every time she glanced in my general direction.”
Five years from now he sees himself … “Finishing my studies with either an M.A.or a PhD and going to work full-time. I've fallen in love with Atlanta, and hope to find work in the area either teaching or doing non-profit work in which I can incorporate both my desire to educate others and my desire to help bring people of all faiths together. Watch out, Oprah.”