Deacon Spotlight: Frances Wargo
Frances Wargo (2023, BA in Communications, Minor in Religious Studies)
Therapeutic Program Coordinator at Chastain Horse Park, Atlanta, Georgia
Tell us about your current job role and employer. What are you currently working on?
Chastain Horse Park is an equine facility where we work with children and adults of all ages with physical and/or mental disabilities. My role as a therapeutic program coordinator involves managing all schedule logistics, maintaining communication with each therapeutic rider’s family and each community outreach group, ensuring all necessary documentation is received (liability paperwork, medical paperwork, etc.), and coordinating with other departments within our organization. Right now, I’m working on becoming a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor.
What key personal and/or career experiences led you to where you are today?
Whether as a rider or a volunteer, I have been involved with Chastain Horse Park for over 15 years now! I have always had a passion for horses and volunteering with the therapeutic program, so when Chastain Horse Park offered me the job, I was over the moon to be able to work within one of my passions at such a young age.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job? How do you navigate that challenge?
The most challenging aspect of my job is that there is no typical day-to-day. When working with both horses and people with disabilities, you have to be flexible with any challenges that may arise.
What advice would you give to Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?
In terms of social life, I believe that you should find a group of friends who can truly let you be yourself around them. That being said, it is also important to find time to be on your own and learn who you are as a person.
Another piece of advice is to get up and move/exercise for at least 10-30 minutes each day. It can be something as simple as a walk during your lunch break or when you get home, but your body will thank you.
We know that relationships are important for any kind of development. How do you build and maintain your network?
Every few weeks, I look on LinkedIn to see if there are any new suggested connections of people that I have met previously and add them if so. I also let people I interact with on a daily or semi-daily basis know my goals and aspirations and if they are people who want you to succeed, they will offer their network to tap into in the future.
Tell us about your mentoring relationships. What impact have these relationships had on your career and life?
I have had a few mentoring relationships throughout my life, but the main way that they have impacted me is that they have helped me secure both my favorite internship at the Atlanta Hawks and my first job out of college in experiential marketing with an Atlanta-based marketing agency.
What advice would you give to current Wake Forest students and/or young alumni who are interested in working in your industry?
As my current industry is so niche, the best advice I can give is go out and volunteer. There are countless organizations and centers who are always looking for help. Spend extra time with the folks who work there full time and offer if you can help with anything that is outside of your current volunteer role. If you have a passion for non-profit work, volunteering is the best way to get your foot in the door.
What’s next for your career? What future goals or plans are you pursuing?
I would love to explore the sports industry. That is where my other passion lies and where many of my internships have been. Whether it be in communications, PR, or brand identity, I am constantly looking to expand my network for the future.
Story published in September 2025. For current updates about Frances, visit her LinkedIn profile.