{"id":2497,"date":"2026-06-30T10:16:42","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/?p=2497"},"modified":"2026-06-30T10:37:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:37:19","slug":"becoming-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/","title":{"rendered":"Becoming, Together"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light is-style-default\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;min-height:500px;aspect-ratio:unset;\" id=\"cover\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-charcoal-background-color has-background-dim-10 has-background-dim\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni.jpeg\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-post-image\" alt=\"Joseph Williams and Taufika Islam Williams\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"50% 31%\" style=\"object-position:50% 31%;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni.jpeg 1920w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni-350x263.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni-730x548.jpeg 730w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni-810x608.jpeg 810w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group cover-header is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide has-standard-condensed-font-family\" id=\"h-becoming-together\">Becoming, Together<span id=\"docs-internal-guid-f0a00cf9-7fff-b1af-341e-c8cef6c167a0\" style=\"font-weight:normal;\"><div><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline;\"><\/span><\/div><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>From Lexington to leadership, a shared journey rooted in curiosity and compassion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-neue-haas-grotesk-text-font-family\">by Laurie Genet Preston<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">Long before they became leaders in medicine and science, Joseph Williams and Taufika Islam Williams were simply two students trying to find their place in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Transylvania University, they pursued big ambitions. Joseph was looking for a college where he would be known as more than a number. Taufika had traveled thousands of miles from Bangladesh in search of opportunity, carrying with her a deep love of learning and the hopes of generations before her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What neither could have predicted was that Transylvania would shape not only their futures, but their future together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, nearly three decades after graduation, the couple has built careers defined by service, discovery and mentorship. Joseph, a member of Transylvania&#8217;s Class of 1999, is a triple board-certified psychiatrist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he directs the Addiction Medicine Fellowship and serves in leadership roles across forensic and correctional psychiatry. During the 2024-25 academic year, he received three major departmental awards recognizing excellence in teaching and performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taufika, a 1998 graduate, is a research professor at North Carolina State University and assistant director of METRIC, one of the university&#8217;s premier research centers. Her work in mass spectrometry helps advance scientific discovery across disciplines, supporting researchers as they tackle complex questions in fields ranging from agriculture to human health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>This crucible of Transy was a very nurturing environment where we each got the space to become who we were meant to be.<\/p><cite>Taufika Islam Williams<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Their professional paths are different, but the values that guide them are remarkably similar. Both have dedicated their careers to helping others grow, whether through patient care, teaching, mentorship or research. And both trace those commitments back to their undergraduate years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis crucible of Transy was a very nurturing environment where we each got the space to become who we were meant to be,\u201d Taufika says. \u201cThat\u2019s pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"730\" height=\"548\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-family-730x548.jpeg\" alt=\"Williams family at the beach\" class=\"wp-image-2514\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-family-730x548.jpeg 730w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-family-350x263.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-family-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-family-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-family-810x608.jpeg 810w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-family-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-family.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Decision to Be Known<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Joseph\u2019s decision to attend Transy began with family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy older sister attended Transylvania University and she had a great experience there,\u201d he says. \u201cI was interested in attending a university that was not so large that I would easily be overlooked, and I wanted to attend a school where I knew that I would be taught by experienced faculty, and not graduate students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What he found was mentorship, including biology professor James Wagner, whom he calls \u201cone of the finest teachers I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d What he found was rigor. What he found, unexpectedly, was his future wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI will always be indebted to Transylvania since it is the place that I met my wife,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Taufika, the journey to Lexington required far greater distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>I will always be indebted to Transylvania since it is the place that I met my wife.<\/p><cite>Joseph Williams<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Growing up in Bangladesh in the mid-1990s, she dreamed of pursuing biochemical research in the United States at a time when few young women from her community traveled abroad for higher education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy parents were actively discouraged from allowing me to go,\u201d she says. \u201cI will always be grateful for the support they extended to me over the years, especially in my educational endeavors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They agreed, with one condition: she could apply to schools in New York or Kentucky, where relatives lived. An aunt in Lexington \u201clobbied a bit harder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Arriving for the first time, half a world away from home, she found what she needed in Transy\u2019s scale and spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith it being my first time living away from home, I liked the small class sizes and student body at Transylvania,\u201d she says. \u201cThe faculty and students at Transy really helped me, especially as an international student, adjust to American college life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beyond Science<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Both entered Transy with focus. What they left with was breadth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy time at Transylvania helped to shape my view of medicine as more than a scientific field of study,\u201d Joseph says. \u201cIt helped me to understand that medicine is just as much about connecting to patients as it is about scientific principles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That conviction guides his work today. His clinical focus \u2014 addiction medicine, forensic psychiatry and correctional psychiatry \u2014 centers on patients who are often marginalized or stigmatized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn my areas of practice, a common theme connecting the areas is working with patients who are often marginalized or stigmatized because of their history or circumstances,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In training physicians, he returns to a grounding question: \u201cHow would I handle this situation if it was my family member who was the patient?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He defines great teaching with characteristic clarity. \u201cA great teacher is one who is able to adapt his or her teaching approach to fit the specific needs of the learner,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s not a \u2018one-size-fits-all\u2019 endeavor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taufika\u2019s growth at Transy was equally transformative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cComing out of high school in Bangladesh, my academic environment back then was such that very little emphasis was placed on extracurricular pursuits,\u201d she says. \u201cI was rather one-dimensional in my learning journey. I knew math and science and was very good at it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Transy, she took art, philosophy, theater and economics. \u201cI became more well rounded, and it helped me acquire different lenses in looking at the world and that which I loved to study the most \u2014 math and science.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was without a doubt taught to become a better writer and communicator,\u201d she adds, \u201csomething that was indispensable in helping me write about and communicate my original research pursuits in graduate school and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One pivotal moment came when she served as a teaching assistant running a mass spectrometer for an organic chemistry lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLittle did I know that that little instrument was going to put me on the path to building a career in measurement science with sophisticated, cutting-edge mass spectrometers in the time to come,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, her work at NC State centers on building research infrastructure that empowers discovery across disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOne of the reasons I decided to go into research support as opposed to becoming a PI myself is my desire to be involved in diverse research,\u201d she says. \u201cTo me, a molecule is a molecule.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"730\" height=\"498\" data-id=\"2529\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-family-730x498.jpg\" alt=\"family photo from Joseph's graduation\" class=\"wp-image-2529\" style=\"aspect-ratio:6\/5\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-family-730x498.jpg 730w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-family-350x239.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-family-768x524.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-family-1536x1047.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-family-810x552.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-family-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-family.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"663\" height=\"730\" data-id=\"2530\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-663x730.jpg\" alt=\"Taufika and Joseph together at his graduation\" class=\"wp-image-2530\" style=\"aspect-ratio:6\/5\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-663x730.jpg 663w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-318x350.jpg 318w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-768x846.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-1395x1536.jpg 1395w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-736x810.jpg 736w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation-273x300.jpg 273w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/alumni_williams-graduation.jpg 1744w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 663px) 100vw, 663px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Partnership in Motion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>They became a couple halfway through college. What followed unfolded in tandem: doctoral work, medical school, residency, postdoctoral research and fellowship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe grew up together, learned together, challenged each other, pushed each other, sacrificed for each other,\u201d Taufika says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They pressed forward and eased back as seasons required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe pushed the gas pedal on our career and released as our family needed, always complementing each other,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year, they celebrate 25 years of marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat is not to say that everything was always rosy,\u201d she adds. \u201cIt was not \u2014 but there was never any doubt in where our loyalties and commitments lay. The rest was details.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Ripple Forward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For Joseph, Match Day remains one of the most rewarding moments of the year. \u201cWe matched three outstanding applicants for the upcoming academic year, and I am really excited to have the privilege of working with them as their program director,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Taufika, the idea of legacy stretches across generations. Along her maternal line, each woman pursued education as far as circumstances allowed before passing opportunities forward, becoming, in her words, a \u201ccoach, cheerleader, facilitator and supporter with her entire soul.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, she carries that tradition into both her laboratory and her home. Whether mentoring young scientists or helping her children explore new ideas, she approaches each opportunity with the same enthusiasm for discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked what she hopes students who are uncertain about research might remember, her answer is simple: \u201cThe best way to satisfy curiosity is to do something about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Joseph offers advice that is equally grounded. \u201cDon\u2019t let things overwhelm you. Take everything one step at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As their careers continue to evolve, both remain driven by the same values that first took root during their years at Transylvania. Taufika looks toward emerging technologies and new scientific frontiers with excitement, while Joseph continues preparing the next generation of physicians to care for patients with both skill and compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When they return to campus and walk past Old Morrison, they are reminded not only of where they began, but of the community that helped shape who they would become. At Transy, they were challenged, encouraged and known. They were given the confidence to pursue big questions and the support to follow them wherever they led.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">The impact of that experience can be seen today in the students they mentor, the patients they serve, the discoveries they pursue and the family they have built together. Their story is a testament to the enduring power of curiosity, education and partnership, and to the countless ways a Transylvania experience continues to ripple outward long after graduation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group header-divider is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-more-from-this-issue\">More from this issue<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-ef350914 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/?p=2633\"    class=\"wp-block-tiptip-hyperlink-group-block\" >\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile  has-media-on-the-top\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/transylvania-university_division-banners-commencement-696x696.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2634 size-696x696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/transylvania-university_division-banners-commencement-696x696.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/transylvania-university_division-banners-commencement-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/transylvania-university_division-banners-commencement-466x466.jpg 466w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/transylvania-university_division-banners-commencement-348x348.jpg 348w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/transylvania-university_division-banners-commencement-1200x1200.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading alignfull has-crimson-color has-text-color has-standard-condensed-font-family has-large-font-size\" id=\"h-campus-news\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-right:0;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-left:0;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">Campus News<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/?p=2462\"    class=\"wp-block-tiptip-hyperlink-group-block\" >\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile  has-media-on-the-top\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/third-and-broadway-magazine_transylvania-university_old-morrison-blue-sky-696x696.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2463 size-696x696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/third-and-broadway-magazine_transylvania-university_old-morrison-blue-sky-696x696.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/third-and-broadway-magazine_transylvania-university_old-morrison-blue-sky-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/third-and-broadway-magazine_transylvania-university_old-morrison-blue-sky-466x466.jpg 466w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/third-and-broadway-magazine_transylvania-university_old-morrison-blue-sky-348x348.jpg 348w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/third-and-broadway-magazine_transylvania-university_old-morrison-blue-sky-1200x1200.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading alignfull has-crimson-color has-text-color has-standard-condensed-font-family has-large-font-size\" id=\"h-alumni-awards\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-right:0;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-left:0;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">Alumni Awards<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/?p=2590\"    class=\"wp-block-tiptip-hyperlink-group-block\" >\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile  has-media-on-the-top\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/Alumni-Weekend-Class-Photos-3-1-696x696.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2668 size-696x696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/Alumni-Weekend-Class-Photos-3-1-696x696.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/Alumni-Weekend-Class-Photos-3-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/Alumni-Weekend-Class-Photos-3-1-466x466.jpg 466w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/Alumni-Weekend-Class-Photos-3-1-348x348.jpg 348w, https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/Alumni-Weekend-Class-Photos-3-1-1200x1200.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading alignfull has-crimson-color has-text-color has-standard-condensed-font-family has-large-font-size\" id=\"h-alumni-weekend\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-right:0;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-left:0;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">Alumni Weekend<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Now in its 10th year, the Writing for and with Nonprofits course continues to bridge the gap between campus and community. <\/p>\n<p class=\"continueLink\"><a class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/\">Continue to &ldquo;Becoming, Together&rdquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":2512,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"35,1","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[203],"tags":[15,222,224,215,221,210,225,223],"article_type":[10],"feeds":[],"class_list":["post-2497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-summer-2026","tag-alumni","tag-international-students","tag-joseph-williams","tag-liberal-arts-education","tag-mentorship","tag-stem","tag-taufika-islam-williams","tag-teaching-excellence","article_type-feature"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Becoming, Together - Transylvania University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Now in its 10th year, the Writing for and with Nonprofits course continues to bridge the gap between campus and community.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Becoming, Together\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Now in its 10th year, the Writing for and with Nonprofits course continues to bridge the gap between campus and community.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Third and Broadway\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/transylvaniauniversity\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-30T14:16:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-30T14:37:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni-1200x630.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Laurie Genet Preston\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@transy\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@transy\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Laurie Genet Preston\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/summer-2026\\\/becoming-together\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/summer-2026\\\/becoming-together\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Laurie Genet Preston\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e41626d9c38ee4c3aac2ca80c6225d1d\"},\"headline\":\"Becoming, Together\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-30T14:16:42+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-30T14:37:19+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/summer-2026\\\/becoming-together\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1500,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/summer-2026\\\/becoming-together\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/26\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/williams_alumni.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"Alumni\",\"international students\",\"Joseph Williams\",\"liberal arts education\",\"mentorship\",\"STEM\",\"Taufika Islam Williams\",\"teaching excellence\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Summer 2026\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/summer-2026\\\/becoming-together\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/summer-2026\\\/becoming-together\\\/\",\"name\":\"Becoming, Together - Transylvania University\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/summer-2026\\\/becoming-together\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/summer-2026\\\/becoming-together\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/26\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/williams_alumni.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-30T14:16:42+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-30T14:37:19+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e41626d9c38ee4c3aac2ca80c6225d1d\"},\"description\":\"Now in its 10th year, the Writing for and with Nonprofits course continues to bridge the gap between campus and community.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/summer-2026\\\/becoming-together\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/summer-2026\\\/becoming-together\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/26\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/williams_alumni.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/26\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/williams_alumni.jpeg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1440,\"caption\":\"Joseph Williams and Taufika Islam Williams\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/\",\"name\":\"Third and Broadway\",\"description\":\"The magazine of Transylvania University\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transy.edu\\\/third-and-broadway\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e41626d9c38ee4c3aac2ca80c6225d1d\",\"name\":\"Laurie Genet Preston\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Becoming, Together - Transylvania University","description":"Now in its 10th year, the Writing for and with Nonprofits course continues to bridge the gap between campus and community.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Becoming, Together","og_description":"Now in its 10th year, the Writing for and with Nonprofits course continues to bridge the gap between campus and community.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/","og_site_name":"Third and Broadway","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/transylvaniauniversity","article_published_time":"2026-06-30T14:16:42+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-06-30T14:37:19+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"http:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni-1200x630.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Laurie Genet Preston","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@transy","twitter_site":"@transy","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Laurie Genet Preston","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/"},"author":{"name":"Laurie Genet Preston","@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/#\/schema\/person\/e41626d9c38ee4c3aac2ca80c6225d1d"},"headline":"Becoming, Together","datePublished":"2026-06-30T14:16:42+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-30T14:37:19+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/"},"wordCount":1500,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni.jpeg","keywords":["Alumni","international students","Joseph Williams","liberal arts education","mentorship","STEM","Taufika Islam Williams","teaching excellence"],"articleSection":["Summer 2026"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/","url":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/","name":"Becoming, Together - Transylvania University","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni.jpeg","datePublished":"2026-06-30T14:16:42+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-30T14:37:19+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/#\/schema\/person\/e41626d9c38ee4c3aac2ca80c6225d1d"},"description":"Now in its 10th year, the Writing for and with Nonprofits course continues to bridge the gap between campus and community.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/summer-2026\/becoming-together\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/06\/williams_alumni.jpeg","width":1920,"height":1440,"caption":"Joseph Williams and Taufika Islam Williams"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/","name":"Third and Broadway","description":"The magazine of Transylvania University","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/#\/schema\/person\/e41626d9c38ee4c3aac2ca80c6225d1d","name":"Laurie Genet Preston"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2497"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2497\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2751,"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2497\/revisions\/2751"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2497"},{"taxonomy":"article_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_type?post=2497"},{"taxonomy":"feeds","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/third-and-broadway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/feeds?post=2497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}