LuxEsto is based on the College’s official motto, lux esto, "be light." © Spring 2026
Michael Soenen ’92 never set out to make a film. But a police ride-along in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles sparked a curiosity that led to something transformative: a documentary filmed and edited by the people of Watts themselves. Bringing together gang members, police officers, students, community organizers and victims of violent crime, the project became a community commitment to building a safer, stronger future for its children.
A chemist at heart, Christina “Chris” Bodurow ’79 was shaped by mentors who nurtured her curiosity and affirmed her place in the lab. She carried that spirit into a career spanning industry and academia and into decades of service with the American Chemical Society (ACS). This fall, she was named president-elect of the ACS, stepping into a role she describes as “the ultimate service opportunity.”
A $1.3 million grant from the Mellon Foundation brought students face-to-face with social justice issues as they worked with partner organizations in New Orleans, St. Louis, San Diego and Kalamazoo. The Humanities Integrated Locational Learning (HILL) Project brought the humanities to life and taught students that meaningful societal change starts within our own communities.
On June 30, 2026, President Jorge G. Gonzalez will retire from Kalamazoo College. A builder of trust, a cultivator of relationships and a champion of excellence, Gonzalez’s decade of service—shared with his partner in work and life, Suzie (Martin) Gonzalez ’83—will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to students and their success and for his unfailing optimism about the future of K.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a great deal about the world we are living in and the future we are building for the next generation. It’s hard to absorb the negative stories reported across the world without feeling overwhelmed, and I understand the temptation to feel pessimistic. Even in the face of these challenges, I remain […]
Lifelong Learning for K Emeriti Through OLLI Partnership
Kalamazoo College’s new partnership with Western Michigan University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) offers emeriti alumni access to over 150 courses, special interest groups, and social events. Embracing the motto “More in four. More in a lifetime,” OLLI fosters curiosity and connection with affordable classes—$10 per session for members ($50 annual fee) and $20 for non-members. Alumna Donna Lambert ’64 enjoyed a theatre course, while Donna Odom ’67 taught oral histories, highlighting the program’s value.
Engagements, Global Missions, and Career Moves. The newest generation of Hornets is making headlines! Caryn Hannapel ’20 has joined Warner Norcross + Judd LLP as an attorney in Kalamazoo. Grace Stier ’21 is on her second year as a FOCUS missionary, serving at the University of Passau in Germany, where she leads Bible study in German and recently emceed the SEEK conference in Cologne. Congratulations are in order for Wil Thomas ’21 and Caroline Banaszak ’21, who got engaged in May 2025. Finally, Shahriar Akhavan Tafti ’24 is pursuing his Ph.D. in neuroscience at the University of Vermont and will receive the Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) Betty Jo Hudson Graduate Fellowship.
Remembering Kalamazoo College Alumni
Kalamazoo College mourns the loss of esteemed alumni from the class of ’50 to ’2000s,