Archive - LuxEsto

Gerald Rosen ’73 almost turned down the role that will likely become his legacy. In 2013, Rosen became the chief mediator in the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history. As chief architect of the “Grand Bargain,” he helped save the city of Detroit and preserve one of its most priceless assets—the Detroit Institute of Arts.

A Recipe for Disruption

Food scientist and entrepreneur Bob Schultz ’15 has spent his career developing better plant-based food products. Today, he and his brother head up Mez Foods, cooking up delicious “unchocolate” bars with an eye toward producing the foods we crave more sustainably.

President’s Letter Fall 2025

Today, liberal arts colleges across the country are navigating a convergence of challenges: shifting demographics, tightening budgets and increasing skepticism about the value of higher education. Public policy debates around funding, diversity, student loan debt and outcomes-based accountability have added pressure, while media narratives often frame the liberal arts as impractical in a tech-driven, ROI-focused […]

Life with K Fall 2025

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.

InMemory Fall 2025

Remembering Kalamazoo College Alumni

Kalamazoo College mourns the loss of esteemed alumni from the class of ’53 to ’81, including Ruthellen McCurley ’53, a piano teacher and music director, and Evelyn Davis ’54, an English graduate with a rich life of travel. Charles Goodsell ’54 excelled in political science, while Herbert Grench ’54 preserved 30,000 acres as a conservationist. Margaret Hwang ’55, a biochemist, and Ronald Kilgore ’58, a banking innovator, also left legacies.

TROWBRIDGE TURNS

Happy 100th birthday, Trowbridge Hall! From first-year nerves to lifelong friendships, this residence hall has been home to thousands of students, and we look back at the milestones that shaped its history.

ZOOBITS

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.

SEE WATTS

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.

THE CHEMISTRY OF OPPORTUNITY

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.”

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

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.

SALUDOS, JORGE

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.

President’s Letter Spring 2026

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 […]

Life with K Spring 2026

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.

ZOOBITS

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.

In Memory Spring 2026

Remembering Kalamazoo College Alumni

Kalamazoo College mourns the loss of esteemed alumni from the class of ’50 to ’2000s,

Life with K Spring 2025

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.

Growing The Roar

The Detroit Lions may have fallen short of the Super Bowl, but thanks to Amanda Moss ’19, their global ambitions are just getting started. As head of international strategy, she’s using data-driven insights to grow the team’s fanbase beyond U.S. borders.

ZOOBITS

Kalamazoo College Alumni Shine: Class Notes Highlights
From the 1960s to 2010s, Kalamazoo College alumni continue to make their mark. Maggie Wheeler Sadoway ’64 reflects on a global life of teaching and advocacy, while James Klimchuk ’79 earns the 2025 George Ellery Hale Prize for solar physics breakthroughs. Cristin Reid ’90 is honored as a top woman in banking, and Becca McMurdie ’07 publishes a children’s book on a toucan’s rescue. Explore these and more inspiring stories

Ring In Such Hope

For 40 years, the bells of Stetson Chapel have echoed across campus, yet their story echoes back much further, their inscriptions honoring early founders. The words inscribed on the bell of James Stone, K’s first president, serve as a reminder—then and now—to be unafraid, seek knowledge, embrace justice and be the light.

A Whole Other Ballgame

For Jordan Wiley ’19, a career in baseball didn’t mean stepping up to the plate—it meant shaping the fan experience from behind the scenes. As a supervisor of premium seating for the Dodgers, he plays a key role in ensuring every game is as unforgettable as the franchise’s storied history.

Chasing The Threads

Drew Brockington ’04 didn’t plan on attending Kalamazoo College, but its flexibility and encouragement of exploration won him over, and his time at K nurtured a creative freedom that eventually led him to a career as a graphic novelist. With a bestselling book series and a board game on the way, Brockington proves that chasing new ideas can lead to unexpected—and often amazing—places.

President’s Letter Spring 2025

In April I announced that I will be retiring as president of Kalamazoo College at the end of the 2025–26 academic year. Serving as K’s president has been the greatest honor of my life, and it’s a job that I love coming to every single day. This community is incredibly special to Suzie and me, […]

InMemory Spring 2025

Remembering Kalamazoo College Alumni

Kalamazoo College mourns the loss of esteemed alumni from the class of ’53 to ’81, including Ruthellen McCurley ’53, a piano teacher and music director, and Evelyn Davis ’54, an English graduate with a rich life of travel. Charles Goodsell ’54 excelled in political science, while Herbert Grench ’54 preserved 30,000 acres as a conservationist. Margaret Hwang ’55, a biochemist, and Ronald Kilgore ’58, a banking innovator, also left legacies.

Tasnim Gharaibeh

Tasnim Gharaibeh is on a mission to make machine learning accessible to all students When Tasnim Gharaibeh started teaching at Kalamazoo College, the diversity of majors in some computer science classes—psychology, physics, math, history and religion—surprised her. Yet, she quickly saw that students across departments could handle the work and gain skills applicable to their […]

Sage Lewis ’25

Sage Lewis ’25 hopes her research will drive movement toward sustainability in public transportation Sage Lewis ’25 could have completed a bare bones Senior Integrated Project (SIP) on public transportation in Kalamazoo relying on affordable and accessible academic research. However, a grant from a research endowment established as part of the Brighter Light Campaign threw […]

Ava Loncharte ’25

Gifts to the Larry J. Bell ’80 Environmental Stewardship Center have assured its future and cleared a path beyond K for Ava Loncharte ’25 Launched in 2019 with a grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, The Larry J. Bell ’80 Environmental Stewardship Center (ESC) enriches the student experience and supports K faculty and staff […]

Cody Rigley ’25

Thanks to K coaches, professors and alumni, Cody Rigley ’25 is primed for future success As a high school senior in Berkley, Michigan, Cody Rigley ’25 knew he was looking for a college in the MIAA (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association) where he could continue to play football. One of his former teammates attended K, and […]

Dilynn Everitt ’26

When it came to college, the third time was the charm for Dilynn Everitt ’26 First up was a false start at the University of Michigan, where the troubles began before she even walked in the door. The university tried to charge the St. Louis, Michigan, native out-of-state tuition, “because I think they assumed I […]

THE BRIGHTER LIGHT

With the support of more than 16,000 donors, the Brighter Light Campaign exceeded its goal to support “Brighter Opportunities, Brighter Minds, and Brighter Experiences,” creating a brighter future for generations to come. Hear from students, faculty and staff who are already feeling the campaign’s positive impact.

ZooBits Winter 2025

Click a button to jump to that decade’s class notes. David Fischer ’59 writes, “Following the death of my wife, Mary Ellen ’61, in January 2023, I started dating again at the end of 2023. I am now engaged to a friend from my church, Geraldine King, and we plan to be married in the […]

President’s Letter Winter 2025

We did it! Thanks to the generosity of so many, the Brighter Light Campaign was able to raise an astounding $203,236,489! This figure not only sets a new fundraising record for the College but also significantly exceeds our original goal of $150 million. As I travel around the country, sharing the results of the campaign […]

A Journey of Connections

Elle Waldron ’23, the inaugural recipient of the Jerry Sherbin Fellowship, embarked on a 10-month, five-country journey to pursue a project of personal interest. Along the way, she developed new friendships, new concepts of community support, and a deep appreciation for the ways in which women connect with one another through conversation and storytelling.

From Trust to Treatment

Twice honored by the Michigan Chapter of the American College of Physicians, Dr. Nic Helmstetter ’10 is making strides in medicine and healthcare accessibility. Helmstetter serves as the associate program director for Street Medicine Kalamazoo, an organization providing compassionate care for underserved populations in the local community. It’s one of many hats he wears at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine.

Tracy Galeana ’25

Scholarships opened the door to exploration for Tracy Galeana ’25 Tracy Galeana ’25 leans hard into faith that the future will work out. As a first-generation student from the small border town of Brownsville, Texas, she came to Kalamazoo College with no example to follow and very little sense of the College beyond photos on […]

InMemory Winter 2025

Frances Geraldine (Russell) Medlin ’47 on August 26, 2024, just shy of her 100th birthday. Fran majored in English literature and played the clarinet with the college band at K. Her love of travel began with train trips with her college roommates to see New York and Boston. She dreamed of graduating and working in […]

President’s Letter Fall 2024

In 2020, Congress passed a bipartisan law designed to make financial aid more accessible to students. The legislation required changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which launched in 2023–24 amid many delays, errors and technical issues. These issues impacted students, families and higher education institutions nationwide. The number of high […]

InMemory Fall 2024

Constance (Crandall) Britt ’45 on March 6, 2024. Connie studied economics at Kalamazoo College. She married Max Holt Britt in 1946. They moved to Union County, New Mexico, and had two children before moving to Los Angeles. In 1966, Max succumbed to a heart attack. Widowed with two children, Connie moved the family to Lubbock, […]

ZooBits Fall 2024

Click a button to jump to that decade’s class notes. Edgar Praus ’70 writes, “After graduation from Kalamazoo, I received my M.F.A. in still photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. For the past 20-plus years, I have been documenting Mississippi culture for the present dialogue and for future generations to […]

Life with K Fall 2024

K Alumni and Friends Enjoy an Unforgettable Tour of Germany In May, Kalamazoo College alumni and friends embarked on a 10-day tour of Germany, led by President Jorge Gonzalez and First Lady Suzie (Martin) Gonzalez ’83. The memorable journey offered historical sights and joyful camaraderie for the 32 guests who attended. The idea behind the […]

The Passing of the Gavel

The Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees elected Jody Clark ’80 chair of the Board effective July 1, 2024. She follows Si Johnson ’78 who has been a Board member since 1996 and served as chair since 2019.

A Hornet for Life

Kim Sullivan Aldrich ’80 retired as the College’s director of alumni engagement in June, after four years as a K student and 44 years as an employee of the College. Her work in the Division of Advancement has been a privilege and a joy for Aldrich, and her service to the College has left a lasting legacy.

Elstein Aaron senior 2023 Buck Ennis TOC

Getting the scoop

Aaron Elstein ’91 had 25 years of journalism experience under his belt when he agreed to coffee with a new K alum interested in the field. That meeting helped shape a path for Mallika Mitra ’16, and almost 10 years later, the two sat down again to talk about business journalism in a rapidly changing world.

The 1,000-Degree Fahrenheit question

Bringing a combination of scientific knowledge, complex thinking and creativity honed at K to astronomical research, Kate Roberts ’22 seeks answers to a 50-year-old space mystery that could help us understand our own warming planet.

President’s Letter Spring 2024

Last fall, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences published a report on employment outcomes for humanities majors across all 50 states, which offered an insightful view on the earnings prospects of graduates in those majors. In Michigan, for example, the report found that the median earnings of humanities majors in the state’s full-time workforce […]

ZooBits Spring 2024

Click a button to jump to that decade’s class notes. The Right Rev. Terry M. Brown ’66 was granted heraldic arms by the Canadian Heraldic Authority. Although the CHA has granted arms to many bishops and clergy of the Anglican Church of Canada, Bishop Brown may be the first to hold both American and Canadian […]

Theatre with a Consciousness

As the Kalamazoo College Festival Playhouse celebrates its 60th year, this season reminds us of theatre’s power to challenge, connect, educate and inspire—a core mission of the playhouse’s founding mothers.

Embracing the Magic

Actor Quincy Isaiah ’17 has his first major television role under his belt, and he’s only getting started. Reflecting on his time at K and his plans for the future, Isaiah’s journey illustrates that for those who dare to live boldly, the magic is not just in reaching the top, it’s in the journey itself.

From K to CEO

If Sara Banks ’02 had taken the traditional route to business school, she may have never launched her luxury luggage company, SteamLine. Learn how the liberal arts shaped and supported her entrepreneurship as she steered the business to success, including SteamLine’s presence on the Barbie publicity tour and a recent expansion into totes and soft accessories.

The BrighterLight

Class of 1978 Foreign Study Endowment A dedicated group of volunteers from the Class of 1978 rallied together with their classmates to establish the Class of 1978 Foreign Study Endowment in honor of their 45th reunion. Clarke Austin ’25, an anthropology and sociology major from Los Angeles, was the inaugural beneficiary of this fund, which […]

Life with K Spring 2024

Broader Perspective, Brighter Opportunities When Liz Fiator ’16 received an email in March 2023 about an opening on the Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees, she thought it might be a mistake. “I assumed that the board was made up of people who are much more experienced,” Fiator said. “I didn’t even realize that there was […]

InMemory Spring 2024

Constance (Newcomer) Griffith ’47 on Nov. 5, 2023. While at Kalamazoo College, she shared the Hodge Prize in Philosophy with Donald Griffith’47. After time, a romance ensued, and she and Don married in 1949. They were happily married for 72 years until Don died in 2022. After marriage, Connie supported Don by working as a telephone operator while […]

ZooBits Winter 2024

Click a button to jump to that decade’s class notes. Joan M. (Van Deusen) West ’64 received an Athena Lifetime Achievement Award in April 2023. Joan is a professor emerita of foreign languages and literatures at the University of Idaho (UI). In the mid-1980s, Joan was instrumental in involving female faculty and staff in informal […]

Life with K Winter 2024

Dear K Alumni: Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2023 was another exciting time on campus with events for everyone to enjoy while reconnecting with one another and the College. Along with President Gonzalez and his wife, Suzie Martin Gonzalez ’83, we were thrilled to welcome so many alumni back to campus in early October! I had […]

InMemory Winter 2024

Virginia (Taylor) Hilf ’44 on December 23, 2022. Jinny was the first female editor of The Index, the student newspaper of Kalamazoo College, and received a B.A. in English from K. Dorothy “Jane” (Prout) Bolenbaugh ’45 on April 11, 2022. After graduating from high school in 1941, Jane took typing classes at college in order […]

President’s Letter Winter 2024

Last fall, we were deeply honored and grateful to receive a $30 million gift from an anonymous donor—the largest single commitment in the College’s history. Buoyed by this extraordinary donation, we made the decision to celebrate the College’s 190th anniversary by raising the Brighter Light Campaign goal from $150 million to at least $190 million […]

Reflecting on Light

In 1961, David Anderson ’63 studied in Bonn, Germany, with the help of the Light Scholarship for Study Abroad. Illuminated by photos from the K Archives, Anderson reflects on how his experiences broadened his horizons, particularly the students’ trip into East Germany shortly before the construction of the Berlin Wall.

50 Years of LandSea

Outdoor pre-orientation program LandSea has helped incoming K students—outdoorsy or not—build confidence and connection since 1973. See how the experience has evolved over the years—as well as how this K tradition continues to root firmly in a bedrock of consistent priorities and positive outcomes for students.

Discovering Grace

Since graduating from K, Tim Meier ’78 has taken vows as a Jesuit priest, sung for the pope, earned a Ph.D. in molecular neurobiology, served overseas as a military chaplain, and supported overwhelmed families in a children’s hospital—along the way, he discovered depths of meaning in the phrase “the end of learning is gracious living.”

President’s Letter Fall 2023

The author and poet Wendell Berry said, “Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond, and we cease to be alone.” For generations of Kalamazoo College students and alumni, study abroad has been common ground and a common bond. […]

Poems from the Brink

Professor of English Emerita Gail Griffin builds a bridge between past and present in her book Omena Bay Testament, winner of the 2021 Two Sylvias Press Wilder Poetry Book Prize. A seasoned nonfiction author, Griffin talks about her journey as a poet and what it means to publish her first poetry book at the age of 72.

ZooBits Fall 2023

Click a button to jump to that decade’s class notes. Regan Smith ’60 writes, “Just a small note of ‘hello’ from the last century (1960). I’m still breathing and kicking (slightly on the kick). Being 85 has not been particularly good to me. Enough said on that! If you feel so inclined to make contact: […]

Diverse Paths to Diplomacy

K’s focus on global perspectives and study abroad led three K alumnae to careers in foreign service, including at the State Department’s Operations Center in Washington, D.C. There, Kyle Hartwell ’07, Lisa (Brenneman) Prothero ’08 and Jess Tesoriero ’07 worked side by side in the 24-hour intelligence nerve center known as the Watch.

InMemory Fall 2023

Martha (Shoemaker) Strumpfer ’47 on January 29, 2022. Martha grew up with Robert Strumpfer ’49, and they married in 1948. Martha and Robert moved to Kalamazoo to attend and graduate from K. Martha worked for Gull Lake Community Schools in administration from 1963 to 1991. She then went on to a second career as an […]

Life with K a Resource and a Joy

A Resource and a Joy Milo Madole ’12, president of the Kalamazoo College Alumni Association Engagement Board (AAEB), offered some sage advice to the Class of 2023 at commencement. Addressing the uncertainties and insecurities that many new graduates face when finding a job or moving to a new town, Madole said, “When fear and self-doubt […]

The Power of Partnership

When L. Lee Stryker Associate Professor of Business Management Amy MacMillan joined forces with Western Michigan University’s Leadership and Business Strategy Co-Director Doug Lepisto ’04, a new business course was born that brought K and WMU students together for an innovative, immersive, real-world consulting experience.

80 Years of the Nats

Since 1943, the USTA Boys’ 18 & 16 National Championships have taken place on the campus of Kalamazoo College. Since then, thousands have supported tournament operations, including USTA tournament director and K Men’s Tennis Coach Mark Riley.

ZooBits Spring 2023

Click a decade to jump to that decade’s class notes. Don Schneider ’63 and his wife, Jean Chin, visited with Andy Miller ’99, associate vice president for development at Kalamazoo College, in Muskegon, Michigan, on a December business trip Andy took to the Grand Rapids area. Tom Hoopengardner ’67 recently established three world cycling records […]

In Memory Spring 2023

Virginia (Stafford) Anderson Van Peenen ’33 on October 25, 2022. Virginia met her future husband, Robert Hart Anderson ’30, while both were attending Kalamazoo College. They were married in 1934, at the Little Church Around the Corner in New York City. They were blessed with three children. Robert passed, after a long illness, in 1950. […]

Generations of Connections

Doris and Hanns Rott were among the first families to host K students in Münster, Germany, in the 1960s. Their commitment to welcoming students was carried on by some of their children, and the bonds formed between families an ocean apart have played a significant role in the life of their grandson, Robin Wells ’95—who became a K student himself in the ’90s.

A Scientist Walks into a Museum

Growing up, Kate Golembiewski ’12 was sure she would become a scientist. As a chemistry and French double major who embarked on an English Senior Integrated Project, Golembiewski discovered that combining science with the humanities could lead to a career beyond her wildest childhood dreams—yet every bit as magical.

Life with K: Sharing the K Experience

When Robyn (Page) Woods-DeWitt ’06 came to Kalamazoo College, she was interested in both French and teaching. She ultimately ended up marrying her two interests into plans to teach French. Robyn also ended up marrying Mike Woods-DeWitt ’06, whom she met in the cafeteria during their first year at K and started dating in their […]

Unearthing Gabii

What is it like to pull a stone from the ground that is thousands of years old, still bearing an ancient inscription? Led by Assistant Professor of Classics Marilyn Evans, students had the opportunity to find out when they participated in an archaeological dig with the Gabii Project in Rome this past summer.

President’s Letter

Dear Alumni, Families and Friends of KalamazooCollege: Lux Esto—Be Light!—has been the guiding motto of Kalamazoo College for generations of students and graduates. The College’s Brighter Light Campaign has magnified this charge, with thousands of donors coming together to support our mission, light a path for our students, and provide them with the tools they […]

Alexandra Leonard sutting the opening ribbon

Things Fall Apart

While a student at K, Alexandra Leonard ’09 learned to navigate her own grief and healing through art and film. Now, as the recipient of a Lansing Arts Impact Project Grant, she has been helping her community heal from the isolation of the pandemic through the creation of a massive mosaic on the Shiawassee Street Bridge in downtown Lansing, Michigan.

An Academic Legacy Lives On

The late professors emerita Madeline Chu and Roselee Bundy were foundational members of the Department of East Asian Studies, both known nationally as exceptional teachers and scholars. Current and former faculty reflect on how these professors’ scholarship, service and leadership have left a legacy for current and future students, and inspire their own work, as well.

ZooBits

Click a decade to jump to that decade’s class notes. Athletics Across Generations Bob Morgan ’63 and his grandson Ryan Morgan ’22 were both successful student-athletes at Kalamazoo College and both members of a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship team at K, 60 years apart. Bob was a member of the MIAA basketball championship team […]

Life with K: Paying it Forward

Connecting Kalamazoo College students with alumni has always been a key strategy for the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD). As part of the center’s new strategic plan, which gives focus to uplifting historically underserved students, the mentoring approach has a new twist. Recognizing that these students face unique challenges in preparing for and […]

Cho '17 and Morare at Blackstar Film Fest in Philly

An Extended Education

When Christine Cho ’17 served as producer for the award-winning short film Lakutshon’ Ilanga, or When the Sun Sets, as a part of her graduate thesis, the experience furthered her aspiration to promote diverse representation and multi-dimensional storytelling through film.

In Memory

Margaret (Hootman) Marsh ’41 on May 5, 2020. Doris (Bunch) Braithwaite ’44 on August 13, 2022. Doris was a musician her entire life. Playing piano by age 4, attending Kalamazoo College on a voice scholarship, graduating from St. Olaf College with a degree in music—thus began her career as a music teacher, church pianist, organist, […]

President’s Letter

This fall our 2022 Campus Master Plan was approved by the city commission of Kalamazoo. This plan updates the 2012 Campus Master Plan and presents a roadmap of how the College envisions the physical campus may evolve over the next decade. One of the most important features of the plan addresses residential life. As much […]

A New Fellowship in Learning

After Bob Sherbin ’79 returned to K from study abroad at the University of Nairobi, he knew he wanted to spend more time in Africa. With the support of a faculty mentor, he applied for a Watson Fellowship—a program where post-college, pre-career Fellows can conceive and pursue passion projects on a global scale. The experience changed his life—and inspired him to give back to the College with a unique gift.

To Rest on the Road Does Not End the Journey

For Dr. Tamea Evans ’93, the road leading from K to medicine was far from straight, yet it was always true. Today she is fulfilling her calling, leading a medical team that provides compassionate care to an underserved community in the city of Louisville, Kentucky.

50 Years of Ultimate Frisbee

One fateful day in 1972, Bruce “Frisbee” Johnson ’76 put a sign-up sheet on his door that would put a new spin on club sports at K. Fifty years later, the game he introduced continues to thrive with the latest generation of Frisbee athletes.

Students Learn by Doing

Founded by Professor Emeritus Kim Cummings as a student-neighborhood endeavor in 1995, Building Blocks of Kalamazoo today stands out as an exemplar of the partnerships between K and and the city—a place where “experiential education” becomes tangible and transformative, and where even ancient history can come to life in the present.

President’s Letter

I am a huge believer in the transformative education Kalamazoo College offers to our students. When I came to K and I worked with the campus community and our leadership team to develop our strategic plan, Advancing Kalamazoo College: A Strategic Vision for 2023, it was critically important to all of us to keep a […]

Life with K: Giving Back and Staying Connected

Giving Back and Staying Connected A positive experience with the Kalamazoo College Admission Office turned Lauren Torres ’10 from a reluctant applicant and campus visitor to an enthusiastic committed K student, and she has been paying it back ever since. Torres started volunteering with Admission as a first-year at K—motivated both by perks like gift […]

ZooBits

Click a decade to jump to that decade’s class notes. Charles True Goodsell ’54 has published his 15th book, Outlandish Perspectives on Public Administration (Cambridge Faculty Publishers, 2021). This book brings together Charles’ works on public administration, some of which are of ancient vintage or go outside the field for inspiration, possibly earning the appellation […]

InMemory

Donald Raymond Griffith ’47 on March 6, 2022. Don received a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Kalamazoo College. He attended the University of Michigan Medical School and received an M.D. cum laude in 1951. Following a rotating internship, he served as a medical officer in the Navy from 1952–54, with duty on destroyers and […]

Brewing A Dream

Dongkeun Jeon ’16 is the youngest beer executive in South Korea with his brews literally reaching stratospheric levels, thanks to a unique marketing partnership with NARA Space Technology, Inc. Yet it was in his business classes at K that he learned to really reach for the stars.

Diving Deep Into Friendship

Though more than a decade separated the K experiences of Lynn (Achterberg) Offerdahl ’85 and Jeff Gorton ’00, their remarkably similar paths intertwined through both providence and the helping hand of a beloved coach.

Lights, Camera, Access!

Inspired by a fellow theatre maven and friend, Vincent Liff ’73, alumni create a fund to help current and future generations of theatre students access internships, conferences and professional experiences.

President’s Letter

In January, I had the privilege of moderating a panel for The Council of Independent College’s Presidents Institute. The topic was a fascinating new book by Richard A. Detweiler, president emeritus of the Great Lakes Colleges Association, entitled The Evidence Liberal Arts Needs: Lives of Consequence, Inquiry, and Accomplishment (MIT Press 2021). The book offers […]

Life With K: A Safe Return to Gatherings

K alumni regional events have returned to in-person gatherings after more than a year of exclusively virtual events. Since March 2020, when attendees at the last pre-COVID-19 alumni event were exchanging light-hearted elbow bumps and wondering about the spreading coronavirus, the Office of Alumni Engagement has developed creative virtual events for alumni. While happy hours […]

Zoobits

Click a decade to jump to that decade’s class notes. A special first semester of my sophomore year in college by Karen Lake De Vos ’59 In May of 1956, an annual evening event took place in the lounge of Mary Trowbridge Hall at Kalamazoo College—room drawing for the following academic year. It was instituted […]

InMemory

Janet (Ensing) Skillman ’46 on January 14, 2022. Janet earned a bachelor’s in biology at Kalamazoo College and a master’s in zoology with a specialty in poisonous snakes. She was an avid horsewoman, hunter and fisherwoman and was selected by Outdoor Life to present the Conservation Pledge to President Harry Truman. She also met Presidents […]

Meeting People Where They Are

Nicholas Gann ’12 took a serpentine path through forests, cities and mountains before landing his role as strategic partnerships manager for the Wyoming Office of Tourism. Along the way, his liberal arts education helped him learn as much about himself as he did about other people.

Art That Moves The World

Fiorella Ikeue ’06 uses art to illustrate the beauty of our planet, combining her biology degree from K with a passion for science illustration. Through her work, we’re invited to view the intricacies of the natural world through fresh eyes.

Ethics of Care

Since 2017, Hurricane Maria, earthquakes and the worst pandemic in a century have combined to continually devastate Puerto Rico, the native home of Associate Professor of Anthropology Adriana Garriga-López. Garriga-López and Providence College Professor Jessica Mulligan—along with students from both colleges—are studying the effects of these disasters on local healthcare workers, supported by a National Science Foundation grant.

The Enduring Legacy of Tish Loveless

Tish Loveless, who coached at K from 1953 until her retirement in 1986, was the most successful coach of women’s teams in the history of the MIAA. Her pursuit of equitable funding for women’s sports lives on today through the Tish Loveless Women’s Athletic Endowment.

President’s Letter

The Brighter Light Campaign, which was launched during Homecoming weekend, reminds us that an investment in Kalamazoo College has ripple effects that are felt not just on campus, but in the communities where our students and graduates live, work and study. This is evident in the story of Nicholas Gann ’12, who is combining his […]

Life with K

Charles Bullwinkle Hamilton ’71 took every opportunity to make the most of his four years at K. He wrote for The Index, played soccer and did an internship in Washington D.C. as a legislative clerk in the Library of Congress. To earn money, he worked in the cafeteria. He met and married his first spouse […]

Zoobits

Elaine (Hrach) Vanderberg ’52 has published the first in a series of four children’s books she has written. Each book follows a main character’s journey toward overcoming challenges, and the books are meant to give children hope and a way to find happiness. The first title is Timmy, the Timid Cloud (Dorrance Publishing Co. 2021), […]

InMemory

Helen Bernice (Place) Sparks ’46 on August 26, 2021, in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Helen lived in South Bend, Indiana, for 91 years before moving to Illinois. On July 19, 1947, she was united in marriage to Fred Sparks. Together, they enjoyed 46 years of marriage until his passing in 1994. Helen received her bachelor’s in […]

Creating a Buzz from K to K-State

Entomologists Rob Morrison ’06, Marco Ponce ’19 and Sandra Lizarraga ’21 combine research and mentorship with buzzworthy results at Kansas State University.

Opportunities STEM from Heyl’s Legacy

Since 1971, the F. W. and Elsie L. Heyl Science Scholarship Fund has enabled STEM scholars like Paul Flynn ’83 and Annie Tyler ’22 to pursue their dreams.

Changed Chemistry

The career of Ed Hortelano ’83 has spanned continents and product lines—from diaper adhesive to 3D printers. It all started with the K-Plan.

Students in front of Kalamazoo College sign

Shining a Brighter Light

Kalamazoo College publicly launched its Brighter Light Campaign on October 16, 2021, seeking to sustain and enhance the College’s offerings for future generations of students who will, in turn, bring a brighter light to the world.

President’s Letter

Dear Alumni, Families and Friends of KalamazooCollege: In 1912, Herbert Lee Stetson, the namesake of Stetson Chapel, became the seventh president of Kalamazoo College. He ushered in a period of growth and change, and under his leadership the College modernized the curriculum, expanded the faculty and grew the endowment to support future expansion. When the […]

Zoobits

Check It Out: Donor and Volunteer Honor Roll You can view the Donor and Volunteer Honor Roll at kzoo.edu/DonorHonorRoll The listing acknowledges individuals and organizations that made gifts to Kalamazoo College last fiscal year (July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021). Your philanthropy in support of the Kalamazoo College Fund, Hornet Athletic Association and various […]

In Memory

Jean Marie (Armintrout) Koopsen ’48 on May 19, 2021. Jean graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1944 and from Kalamazoo College in 1948. She married Leon A. Koopsen ’50 on November 23, 1946, whom she had known since kindergarten. Both Jean and Lee worked at Koopsen’s Total Decorating Center, which closed in 2002, a […]

Where Function Meets Fashion

When Beau Wangtrakuldee ’10 was four years into her doctoral program, an accident in the lab caused a chain of events that changed the course of her career. Today, this Ph.D. chemist-turned-entrepreneur is taking PPE from functional to fashionable with a sustainable and inclusive business model.

Riverblindness in Africa Taming the Lion's Stare

When the Many Pull Together for the One

For generations, the people of sub-Saharan Africa were afflicted by a disabling parasitic disease called riverblindness. Bruce Benton ’64 led two international programs at the World Bank to bring the disease under control, and he looks back on the success of these efforts in his new book, Riverblindness: Taming the Lion’s Stare.

Food RX

After a debilitating health crisis changed his approach to food, award-winning chef and cookbook author Seamus Mullen ’96 has made it his mission to share how healthy cooking can be muy deliciosa.

Zoobits

1968 Michael Mertaugh writes, “In 1966, Kalamazoo College sent its first group of foreign study students to the University of Clermont-Ferrand—the first class to attend in that foreign study location. We traveled to Le Havre from New York late in September, 1966, on the German liner, the Europa, and stopped briefly in Paris before taking […]

InMemory

Dr. Richard A. Walker ’41 on October 26, 2020. At K, Dick played on the football, golf and basketball teams. In 2011, he was inducted into the Kalamazoo College Athletic Hall of Fame along with his basketball teammates, honoring the 1939 team for winning the MIAA Championship. In stunning fashion, Dick had scored the winning […]

Out of The Margins

He could have been a mathematician. He could have been a linguist. Yet a passion for music led Calvert Johnson ’71 on a journey beyond Bach, to the works of composers that history nearly forgot.

Finding A Way Forward

Amidst an economic recession, Sonya Olds Som ’94 took an opportunity to reimagine her career. As an executive recruiter, she now helps other professionals do the same, bringing clients and companies together to build a diverse talent pipeline.

The K Prod

For Don Hafner ’66, K made it possible to expand his horizons, taking him to Sierra Leone, Washington, D.C., Boston, Geneva—and even back in time to the Revolutionary War. Now he’s ensuring others have the same opportunities.

Student Spotlight

Jonathan Townley ’22 describes his first pop/folk album, It was a privilege to know you when you were shorter, as an ode to grief, healing and the simple joys of life. As the COVID-19 lockdown began this spring—sending K students home amidst an uncertain public health crisis—Townley’s grandfather entered hospice care after a six-year battle […]

Zoobits

1960 On September 27, 2019, Donald H. Sanborn was awarded the 2019 Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service by the Michigan Historical Society at the organization’s state conference in Ludington, Michigan. A World War II veteran and retiree of The Upjohn Company, Don was recognized for his 78 years of combined volunteer service to the Schoolcraft […]

InMemory

Eugene C. (Gene) Yehle ’41 passed away on Friday, August 7, 2020, at age 100, in Midland, Michigan. Gene is remembered by many for his humility; his faith; his caring for his late wife Millie during her decade-long battle with dementia; his service to the Midland community; and his employment at the Dow Chemical Company. […]

Walking A New Path

K’s new Food and Farming Justice Pathway transforms interconnected ideas into on-the-ground (and in-the-ground) work, empowering students to make change.

An Ace up his sleeve

As the president of E.W. Grobbel Sons, Inc., Jason Grobbel ’84 has learned a few things about growing talent, and he says the secret of his success is too good to keep to himself.

Because of Fresh Peaches

From civil servant to theatre professor to director of FoodCorps Michigan, Addell Anderson ’78 has taken the passions she developed at K and turned them into a colorful tapestry of career experiences.

InMemory

Ellen Jane (Ossward) Maxfield ’43 of Chesterfield, Missouri, passed away on January 16, 2020. Ellen was the beloved wife of the late Dr. Sterling A. Maxfield. Ellen was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church in St. Louis and the Manchester United Methodist Church in Manchester for over 38 years, where she was an […]

Zoobits

1966 A collection of original essays by some of New York’s most well-known and emerging urban experts, Racial Inequality in New York City since 1965 (SUNY Press) explores what city government has done and failed to do to address racial inequality, providing a comprehensive overview of racial inequality in the city’s economy, housing and education […]

Working Toward a Cure

Thirty years have passed since the passage of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act. Today, the government’s fight to eradicate HIV and AIDS continues, and Harold Phillips ’88 is helping lead the charge.

Strands Weaver

For Mary Corcoran ’11, a college internship clarified a calling as an archivist and storyteller; now she mentors others who follow in her footsteps.

Sphere of Opportunity

Hey, Alexa, where can you find opportunities for liberal arts graduates? At tech giants like Amazon. These alumni share how their K experiences primed them for success.

The Journey Comes Full Circle

By Sarah Frink In the fall of 1963, two students travelled from Hong Kong to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to pursue their dreams. Each made the journey alone, unsure of what exactly they would find in this small Midwestern town with a funny name—yet they knew it would bring them one step closer to a better life. […]

Zoobits

1963 In 1959, Bob Brackenridge and Don Schneider, who grew up 45 miles apart in West Michigan, were assigned as freshmen roommates in Hoben Hall. They remained roommates all four years. After multiple terms in the Michigan Legislature, Bob retired to Tennessee with his spouse Sue (Wotila) ’65. After 50 years on the East Coast, […]

Rooted in Social Justice

A commitment to community engagement brought Moises Hernandez ’17 and Viridiana Carvajal ’15 together; in Kalamazoo, they found a place to call home.

If You Seek a Pleasant Michigan Brew, Look About You

K alumni are bringing their own brands of craft brews and sustainable eats to happy customers all across the mitten state.

The Patient Advocate

A childhood disability inspired Amy Houtrow ’96 to become a leader in pediatric rehabilitation medicine and a champion for accessible healthcare.

A Tendency for Tenacity

Whether starring as Mae West in her K senior project or appearing as a “turkey meatball lady” on TV, Deb Snyder ’82 has built a steady career playing quirky characters and clowns.

Archaeologist Digs Into K-Plan Life Influences: Baseball, Babysitting, Rome and an Extraordinary Professor

Baseball, babysitting, Rome, classical studies and an extraordinary professor have contributed to the “below-ground” life of Terry Brock ’04.

Energy Expert

A class reunion inspired Larry Banta ’73 to invest his energy in K’s infrastructure.

Pocket Contents

Barbara Meierhusby ’68 has a unique connection with Abraham Lincoln that still brings chills.

The Poetics of Surprise

For Aaron Coleman ’09 study abroad sparked a fascination with languages that started a pathway to poetry, translation and teaching.

Drawn to Her Career

Pam Marsden ’78 traces her animation roots back to K theatre.

Lessons from The Park

For Vinay Sharma ’12, the lessons learned at LandSea would shape the course of his life.

The Right Ingredients

With entrepreneurial spirit, Alexis Leverenz ’97 has dabbled in bonds, pastries and everything under the kitchen sink.

The Write Stuff

Writer Joe Tracz ’04 explores coming of age through the lens of fantasy and a twist of technology.

Life with K Spring 2026

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.

Life with K Fall 2025

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.

Life with K Spring 2025

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.

Life with K Fall 2024

K Alumni and Friends Enjoy an Unforgettable Tour of Germany In May, Kalamazoo College alumni and friends embarked on a 10-day tour of Germany, led by President Jorge Gonzalez and First Lady Suzie (Martin) Gonzalez ’83. The memorable journey offered historical sights and joyful camaraderie for the 32 guests who attended. The idea behind the […]

Life with K Spring 2024

Broader Perspective, Brighter Opportunities When Liz Fiator ’16 received an email in March 2023 about an opening on the Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees, she thought it might be a mistake. “I assumed that the board was made up of people who are much more experienced,” Fiator said. “I didn’t even realize that there was […]

Life with K Winter 2024

Dear K Alumni: Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2023 was another exciting time on campus with events for everyone to enjoy while reconnecting with one another and the College. Along with President Gonzalez and his wife, Suzie Martin Gonzalez ’83, we were thrilled to welcome so many alumni back to campus in early October! I had […]

Life with K a Resource and a Joy

A Resource and a Joy Milo Madole ’12, president of the Kalamazoo College Alumni Association Engagement Board (AAEB), offered some sage advice to the Class of 2023 at commencement. Addressing the uncertainties and insecurities that many new graduates face when finding a job or moving to a new town, Madole said, “When fear and self-doubt […]

Life with K: Sharing the K Experience

When Robyn (Page) Woods-DeWitt ’06 came to Kalamazoo College, she was interested in both French and teaching. She ultimately ended up marrying her two interests into plans to teach French. Robyn also ended up marrying Mike Woods-DeWitt ’06, whom she met in the cafeteria during their first year at K and started dating in their […]

Life with K: Paying it Forward

Connecting Kalamazoo College students with alumni has always been a key strategy for the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD). As part of the center’s new strategic plan, which gives focus to uplifting historically underserved students, the mentoring approach has a new twist. Recognizing that these students face unique challenges in preparing for and […]