ALIGNMENT WITH VALUES!
Submitted on June 23, 2026
CAROLYN SCHNURR ‘06
By Bethany Hornback Langdon ‘93, Senior Vice President for Communications and Marketing, Special Advisor to the President
Carolyn Schnurr, a Judge Advocate with the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC), graduated from Georgetown College in 2006. She received her juris doctorate from the University of Maine School of Law.
A native of Louisville, KY, and a Mercy Academy graduate, Schnurr was hoping for a volleyball scholarship when she met Coach Donna Hawkins at a volleyball showcase, saying, “She and her husband Bert definitely charmed a number of us. She was such a wonderful and dynamic coach who naturally made each of us feel valued.” Because of Coach Hawkins, Schnurr came to Georgetown, in part to pursue a collegiate volleyball career as an outside hitter. But the beauty of the College campus sealed the deal for Schnurr.
Her clear sense of what she wanted to achieve on the court didn’t necessarily translate into knowing what she wanted to study at GC. After reading the catalog descriptions for both English and Philosophy, she chose to double-major. “I wanted to read everything. I just fell in love with it so much. I had always loved reading, but my professors brought the words to life in terms of depth and meaning in a way I had never experienced before,” explained Schnurr.
An ethics class taught by Dr. Brad Hadaway led Schnurr to further explore the written word, evaluate her own values, and commit to the idea of a service-based career. After an environmental ethics class her junior year, Dr. Norman Wirzba spoke to Schnurr about her future, saying, “You know, Carolyn, you like to read, write, research, and make an argument about what you’re studying. Have you considered law school?” Schnurr began researching just that, ultimately deciding on the University of Maine to focus on environmental law. More than anything, her time at Georgetown developed Schnurr’s desire for a service-based career.
“My professors seemed to have endless time for us to drop in and ask big questions,” says Schnurr. “In particular, I will forever be indebted to my mentors, Dr. Hadaway, Dr. Wirzba, and President Allen. Dr. Hadaway really nurtured the idea of a purpose-driven life. He helped me find a direction that aligned with my values and my desire to make a difference in the world. Dr. Wirzba’s guidance enabled me take that personal ethic and identify a career path that would enable me to put those convictions into practice. President Allen’s enthusiasm for literature is infectious. Her classes not only drove me to become a better critical thinker and writer, but it was through her classes that some of my strongest friendships were formed – friendships that endure as some of my closest to this day.”
If faculty and academics challenged and pushed Schnurr to grow as an individual, volleyball challenged her to be the best teammate she could be. In remembering her first experiences at GC, she recalled, “I showed up for preseason my freshman year, arriving at Knight Hall -- with no air conditioning -- in August. I met my new teammates the first night, and then the next morning we were up early to go for a run in the pitch black. It was a shock to the system and an adrenaline rush. It really struck us then that we were all in this together.” She continues, “The nature of volleyball means that every one of the positions is equally important. The team nature teaches you the concepts of collective goals, shared interests, and a common direction, which are hard to replicate. You have to be willing to take feedback and develop emotional maturity.” In joining the U.S. Navy, Schnurr found the environment second nature; given her athletic background, the military’s team atmosphere felt familiar.
After law school, Schnurr worked in policy and legislative advocacy roles in Washington, D.C. for the Humane Society of the United States and the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. But her love for the study of the written word drew her back to law. The question of where and how to do it in a way that embraces service became the focus. On a holiday trip home, the idea of the JAGC began to percolate. Whether prosecuting crimes, advocating for a client’s legal rights, assisting with service members’ personal legal matters, or advising commanders as part of their operational decision-making process, Schnurr found all the practice areas of the JAGC meaningful. As to why she chose the Navy specifically, she explains, “I picked the Navy essentially because I love the water. The idea of being an attorney who served at sea was wildly exciting to me. Additionally, there were opportunities in the Navy, if selected, to pursue advanced degrees in certain subject areas, including environmental law.”
Today, Schnurr is a Staff Judge Advocate stationed in Singapore. As a staff judge advocate, she serves as legal counsel to naval commanders, advising them on legal equities as they make complex and critical decisions. She provides commanders with guidance on existing law, regulations, and rules to ensure they have the information they need to achieve the best possible decisions and outcomes.
If she has a takeaway for current and future Georgetown College students, it is to “be open-minded about what your future may look like.” After graduating from Georgetown, Schnurr crisscrossed the United States, attended law school in Maine, and, through an internship at a California wild horse sanctuary, found her way into advocacy in the nonprofit animal welfare sector in Washington, D.C. Now in the U.S. Navy, where her assignments change every few years, Schnurr continues to experience new opportunities for a life full of learning and giving back. There wasn’t one path to a fulfilling career.
For more great stories like Schnurr's, read the Spring 2026 Issue of GC Moments: The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine.
