CLASS OF 1993 | 2025 | SPRING ISSUE

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Thanks to everyone who wrote in this time around. It was great to hear some new voices, so I’d encourage anyone who has even a shred of news to share to send it in the future!

Abigail Lorber writes, “I am the grants manager with Dogwood Health Trust, a major funder for western North Carolina. I am grateful that my work has allowed me to help with the response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. It was a bit surreal to take a trip to Europe five days after the storm, but I especially enjoyed having a mini-Wes reunion with Andrea Spertus Lemon in Utrecht, in the Netherlands.”

Diego von Vacano is in Washington, D.C., this year, at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, finishing a book on lithium and critical minerals in Latin America for Oxford University Press.

Sylvia Rowe writes, “After 17 years of working in global health for the Clinton Health Access Initiative, I left the nonprofit world. I have returned to my roots in corporate law and taken on a role as a mentor to young lawyers at Davis Polk. I’m happy to no longer be traveling on long international trips and to being more present, for the last two years, with our daughter before she goes to college. If you work near Grand Central in NYC give me a shout!”

Lisa Rothman has turned her passion project into her full-time focus. She founded StopFamilyConflict.com where she helps parents who’ve tried a million things but can’t stop the same fights from happening. They’re sick of being pushovers or police officers (sometimes both on the same day). Her approach turns each fight into a chance for deeper connection and a more trusting relationship, without compromising on anything that’s important to them or their kids.

Hadley Gustafson writes, “I earned a scholarship to study in-person in January with luminary Sam Abell through the Los Angeles Center for Photography (LACP.) The three-day workshop [was] called Sharpening Your Photographic Vision. You can read more about it here. 

I am also continuing to work as a photographer documenting LA cinema events.”

Darcie Luce wrote in with news that Jessica Kirshner was recently promoted to vice president of oncology research at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Tarrytown, New York, where she has worked for over 16 years. She recently represented Regeneron at the Global Alliance for Women’s Health workshop, an initiative of the World Economic Forum. Elisa Freeling lives in London, where she earned a postgraduate certificate in education at St. Mary’s University and trained as a religious studies teacher several years ago. She is now head of divinity at the West London Free School, in Hammersmith, and teaches religion, philosophy, and ethics.

Tuula Fai writes, “I can share that I’ve moved to Sedona, Arizona, and am loving it! I left high-tech after 30 years and founded my own real estate investment firm and am loving that too! I’m still distance swimming (laps), which I’ve been doing since they opened the Freeman Athletic Center in ’91.”

Greg Pasternack is leading a team of 30 folks from universities, local governments, and nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay Area on a project to help unsheltered people living along streams cope with climate vulnerability [due] to extreme wind-rain events and flash floods, while also seeking to restore ecological functionality to encampment sites. If any Wes folks in the area work on these issues, he’d love to hear from you. He met Wes alum Minona Heaviland ’99 and toured one of the Sonoma County regional parks she helps manage, so now they are developing proposals to solve problems with gullies. Greg reports, “She’s fantastic at her job, so it’s great to learn about other Wes alum in the Bay Area working on environmental solutions.”

Mike Kammen writes, “My life is very good. I went into my family business back in 1993 and pretty much have not looked back. The one constant is change—that is for sure! I’m still married to my awesome wife, Amy (23 years married). My son, Jackson, is a sophomore at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, [and] he is a catcher on the baseball team. My daughter, Dylann, is a senior at Immaculate Heart Academy and waiting to hear back from colleges for next year.”

Karina Eileraas Karakus recently published a book with her daughter, Annelise, called Chasing Spirits. The book explores issues of suicide, teen mental health and social media use after the tragic loss of her teenager during the pandemic. 

Thanks, everyone, and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2025!

SUZANNA HENSHON | suzannahenshon@yahoo.com

SARAH ESTOW | sarah_estow@hotmail.com