ALUMNI FOCUS
More than a university, a matchmaking service as well: Joanna Wheatley’s story
Joanna Wheatley (nee Fellows) has an extensive connection with Macquarie, with six family members and a network of family friends studying at the University. Her parents met while studying education in the late 1970s, a story that was repeated for Jo: she met her husband – then law and media student – Andrew while studying for a Bachelor in International Communication in the mid-2000s.
“My parents always said that their Macquarie experience was about much more than a certificate to hang on the wall,” she explains. “They studied at an exciting time, when Macquarie was pushing the boundaries and trying new things in education and they always spoke very fondly of their experience.
“Growing up locally the University always had a great reputation, so when it came time to choose, it seemed like a natural progression,” Jo says, adding that her choice of career broke with family tradition.
“Fortunately my brother kept the torch burning when he also studied education a few years later.”
Jo’s relationship with the University continues today. After a post-graduation stint at the ABC she is currently the University’s media manager and, with her husband, is undertaking further study at MGSM.
“It’s too early yet to say whether the next generation will study at Macquarie, but we’ll have some great memories of our time here to share with them – with our MBAs taking us into the next phase for the University too.”
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