Alumni Spotlight: Ariadne J. Markou

Kalamazoo Valley alumna Ariadne J. Markou changed the trajectory of her education journey when she made the decision to attend Kalamazoo Valley.

"Before I joined the honors program at Valley, I was not even sure if higher education was the path for me. Valley's flexibility allowed me to engage with school in a way that worked around my life where I did not have to sacrifice anything for my education," Markou said.

The Kalamazoo native graduated from Valley with an associate of arts degree with honors. She was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. She is grateful for all the program has done to benefit her educational experience.

"I cannot stress enough how much the honors program gave me my life back and drove me to find a purpose that I was passionate about," Markou said. "In the program, I was surrounded by a diverse cohort who brought so much insight and understanding to each class that we shared."

Markou said her professors impacted her in more ways than one.

"The professors have done something completely remarkable in making a classroom feel like a home. Every opinion was valued and heard, and there was absolutely no room for judgment," she said. "Being in the honors program at Valley was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has completely altered my life course for the better."

Currently, Markou is enrolled at Kalamazoo College, majoring in anthropology and sociology with a minor in philosophy. She also works at the Family Division of the Kalamazoo Circuit Court as a judicial intern. The Valley alumna continues her community service, which she began during her time at Valley, by working in hospice.

She is the president of the Aspiring Law Students Organization at Kalamazoo College and is aiming to attend law school in Fall 2026.

"Ironically, I had no intent on being an attorney prior to being at Kalamazoo Valley. But, when I was enrolled in honors American government, I had written a paper on the work-for-hire doctrine in copyright law. The topic lit a fire under me and has since pushed me into a field that I love due to its complexity and problem-solving nature," Markou said.

Markou encourages those interested in pursuing higher education to take that first step.

"Valley provides an affordable route to getting an education that could very well change your life," Markou said. "Institutions like Kalamazoo Valley have the resources needed to put you on a path to success. You can achieve this success. You just have to go for it."