Class of 1978 | 2014 | Issue 1

Casey Blake, a professor of history at Columbia specializing in modern U.S. intellectual and cultural history, is senior historian for The Armory Show at 100: Modern Art and Innovation exhibit at the New York Historical Society. The 1913 Armory Show has been considered by some to be the most important exhibition ever held in the United States, “an important marker of New York’s ascendancy as the cultural capital of the United States and, indeed, the global capital of modernity.”

Paul Chill was named associate dean for clinical and experiential education at the University of Connecticut School of Law, from which he graduated in 1985, and where he has been on the faculty since 1988. In his new appointment he will oversee the school’s innovative program designed to provide students with supervised real-life legal experience as part of their standard education. Paul has previously held positions including associate dean for academic affairs at the school, and serving as an original member of the Connecticut Commission on Child Protection.

Moira McNamara James, Wesleyan Trustee Emerita, has been named chair of the board of the Landmark School in Pride’s Crossing, Mass., an institution which specializes in educating students with language-based learning disabilities. Moira’s son, Scott ’10, graduated from Wesleyan; daughter Madeline ’16 is still on campus.

Julie Scolnik “apologizes for being out of touch for so long.” She and husband Michael Brower, a wind energy consultant, have recently moved to Brookline, Mass., after 18 years of raising their kids in Andover, Mass. Their son Sasha, a cellist, is a freshman in the dual degree program of Harvard and the New England Conservatory, while their daughter Sophie, recently having graduated from Harvard College, is a pianist in the master’s program at the conservatory (at age four, wanted “to be a musician like Mommy but smart like Daddy”). Julie is a flutist with an active performance schedule both here and in France, spending the summers in Provence. She runs a chamber music series in the greater Boston area (MistralMusic.org) and would love to hear from alums at julscol@me.com.

David Wilson continues his professional career as a jazz composer, saxophonist, and music teacher, residing with his wife, Lisa, in Lancaster, Pa., but frequently on the road to New York City, Washington, D.C., “and beyond” for his performances. His most recent CD, Spiral, received numerous accolades in reviews in JazzTimes and Downbeat magazines as well as on the Jazz Weekly website. He recalls “fond memories of his Wesleyan experience and credits it, and in particular his teacher, Bill Barron, for laying the groundwork for where he is today,” as well as of his friendships with such Wes folks as Stuart Abramson ’79 and Kenny Wessel ’79. Dave welcomes hearing from any and all, at djazwilson@aol.com.

SUSIE MUIRHEAD BATES and KEN KRAMER
KMKramer78@HotMAIL.com
sbatesdux@hotmail.com