Each Homecoming we bestow alumni awards to alumni and other PC faithful for their contributions to the College. Lathem Jenkins Gordon ‘04 came to PC to be an art therapist. This year she was named the 2018 Young Alumna Award recipient, recognizing her for early competence within her chosen field and for exceptional promise of future achievement.

Gordon’s chosen field isn’t art therapy, per se. But her art major and psychology minor helped prepared her for her true calling as an interior designer. Her art is therapeutic for many.

“The biggest gift that a liberal arts education gives its students is this: you learn how to think,” Gordon said. “You learn how to think, how to problem solve, and how to communicate – at least on a basic level – about a multitude of subjects.

“This affords you the ability to learn for a lifetime across disciplines.”

After graduating from PC, Gordon served her alma mater as an assistant director of admissions and as an admissions counselor for two years. She then went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in interior design from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). She returned to SCAD last year as the Alumni Commencement Speaker.

Gordon co-founded and now serves as one of the principal designer of GordonDunning, an Atlanta-based interior design firm. The firm has been the toast of the Southeast for the last four years. The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center recognized GordonDunning as a Southeast firm to watch. Southern Living included GordonDunning in its exclusive Design Network in 2016.

Gordon’s work and expertise have also appeared in the pages of HGTV Magazine, as well as other publications like Southern Style, House Beautiful, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, and many more.

And while she has made a name for herself in the design world, Gordon continues to live out the PC motto, “While we live, we serve.”

She volunteers with a nonprofit agency called Dwell with Dignity, whose mission is to help families escape poverty and homelessness through design. Dwell with Dignity works with social service agencies to help families transition from homelessness and poverty to self-sufficiency. Gordon uses her talents to create beautiful spaces for these families in need.

Gordon, this year’s Young Alumna Award recipient, represents what she considers to be a Blue Hose: “a determined community leader and learner committed to continual service, growth, and community building.”

Lathem and husband, Jason, live in Decatur, Ga., with their two daughters, Dargan and Mance.

For a list of all of this year’s award recipients, visit the Alumni Awards Recipients page.