Welcome to Bluefield at 100! Bluefield College is celebrating 100 years and has undergone a name change! Each week, in honor of this milestone, The Confusing Middle will shine the spotlight on an individual who spent time at Bluefield University, giving them a chance to fill us all in on where they are and how they’ve been doing since the college years. I hope you’ll join us back here every week as we get reacquainted with some old friends!

This week we’re hearing from Brandy Lovelace!

1. What have you been up to since your time in Bluefield?
   I moved to Nashville a month or so after graduating, then Missouri, and then landed in Colorado. All of my jobs have been writing.
2. Where are you living now? For how long?
   Colorado Springs for 15 years 
3. Did you pursue any education after college? If so, what degrees have you obtained?
   I got a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction
4. Where did you earn your first “grown-up” paycheck?
   LifeWay Christian Resources was my frst post-Bluefield job
5. Who is your current employer and what is your job title?
   I’m an editorial manager at Compassion International
6. What are your hobbies? What do you end up doing in your spare time?
   I love baking, hiking and biking – and of course reading 🙂 
7. Have you done much traveling? Where have you visited?
   I’ve been so fortunate to travel with work! I’ve been to Guatemala, El Salvador, Haiti, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Honduras, Ghana, Tanzania, Togo, India, Poland and England
8. Are you married? If so, who is your spouse?
   Yes, I’m married to an amazing guy named Mike
9. How did you and your spouse meet?
   We met online in 2018 and got married in 2019
10. Do you have children? What are their names/ages?
    Mike has two adult children, and we have a grandson (I know!) We are also in the process of adopting 
11. Tell us a funny story about your kids…
    It’s funny that I have a grandkid 😉
12. What was your favorite class at Bluefield?
    Probably a lit class with Massey
13. Which teachers influenced your life and made a lasting impression? Why?
    I would say Mimi Merritt. She was an amazing professor and mentor
14. What was your major and/or minor?
    Double major in English and communication arts with a minor in Christians studies (didn’t everyone at least minor in Christian studies?)
15. What did you want to be when you “grew up?”
    A writer 🙂 
16. What was your funniest moment in college?
    Gosh there were literally so many. Flying kites in the quad. Sledding. Running across campus after watching The Shining. Late nights editing the newspaper and getting the giggles. Thinking half the buildings were haunted 
17. What was your most embarrassing moment?
    See above. Half of those funny moments ended in embarrassment. But a specific one was when I interviewed Bebo Norman and everyone insisted I was in love with him
18. What was the dumbest thing you did in college? Was it worth it?
    My flavor of dumb was just overextending myself 😉
19. What is your most vivid memory from Bluefield College?
    Late nights editing the Rampage and all of the fun with the BSU
20. Was there ever something you wanted to do during your college days but never did?
    I wish I had been able to do a semester abroad
21. What was your go-to during Late Night in the Shott Hall dining room?
    Probably cereal?
22. Did you play any sports?
    Hahahahah no
23. How about intramurals?
    See above
24. Did you pledge with a fraternity or sorority?
    I was in alpha delta for a bit 
25. Were you involved in any other extracurriculars (theater, yearbook, clubs, etc.)?
    BSU, student union board, newspaper
26. What on-campus events did you enjoy participating in or attending?
    I always loved concerts
27. Did you jump into the mud pit on Mud Pig Day?
    Nope
28. Did you have a work-study job on campus?
    I did, I worked for a psych professor, in Dr Carrell’s office and in the finance office
29. Did you have a job off campus?
    No 
30. Which dorm did you live in? Or did you commute?
    Cruise and New Hall
31. Tell us your craziest roommate story…
    I don’t know where to start! Hollie was one of my best friends. I guess the funniest memory is the night that I thought someone was breaking into the dorm and woke up screaming about it.
32. Which classmate influenced you the most?
    Probably Hollie 🙂 And Trevor Clatterbuck
33. What personal experiences since college would you like to share?
    This has just been a fun stroll down memory lane!
34. What plans do you have for the next 10 years?
    As I mentioned before, my husband and I are planning to adopt, so I guess it’ll just be raising a kiddo 🙂 And continuing to travel and learn about other cultures
35. Give us a quote to live by…
    If you’re always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be. – Maya Angelou

I want to thank Brandy for taking time to answer all these questions and for sharing with us this week! Come back next week when another Bluefield survivor takes the hot seat!

And if you spent time at Bluefield College and want to participate, please reach out to me at confusing.middle@gmail.com and I will send you the full list of questions! Until next time, GO RAMS!