Author: classnotes

Please share your news with your class secretaries.

“My name is Mohammed Ullah and I have been at Northwestern University for graduate school. I am on track of getting my master’s degree in chemistry by March 2024, and for the past year and a half, I have been working on electrochemical and photochemical C–H functionalization. Aside from being a chemist, I have been attending protests for the millions of displaced Palestinians and calling representatives with the hopes of a permanent ceasefire. What is taking place in Gaza and the West Bank is a genocide where thousands of children and women have been murdered. I am hoping there is more advocacy for the Palestinian people.” 

Nabiha Syed writes: “I have been out working in the ‘real world’ for over a year now. With all of the atrocities happening in the world right now, and especially the current ongoing genocide in Gaza, I have been missing the community of like-minded students I had surrounded myself with at Wesleyan. I appreciate the spirit of activism that I experienced during my time at our school, and I am proud to see fellow alumni carrying that spirit with them at a time like this. As I am disheartened by the silence of those I see in the community around me, I am empowered by the unity and humanity I see being displayed around the world in support of the Palestinian people through protests and voices. While it is easy to feel overwhelmed, seeing awareness and activism from students and alumni sparks hope that the voices of our generation can create a better path to change in the future.”

Maya Gomberg writes: “Hello! This year I moved to Philly for law school at UPenn. In my free time I’ve been working toward a ceasefire in Gaza and encouraging other alumni to sign the divestment petition calling for Wesleyan to divest from companies profiting off of Israeli apartheid. ~Solidarity, Maya”

“As a graduate student, I often reflect on my choice to pursue a dual master’s degree in public health and social work. Recently, I’ve reaffirmed my commitment by applying my skills to advocate against the ongoing genocide in Palestine. In moments of doubt, Wesleyan’s community and our shared activism provide strength. Fellow Wesleyan grads inspire me with their ongoing advocacy, including an alumni petition for divestment supporting the demands of the current student coalition known as WesDivest. Witnessing the ongoing dedication of the Wesleyan community, both past and present, underscores the lasting connections forged during our time at the University. Knowing that I can always look to my fellow Wesleyan classmates for inspiration, reassures me that our shared commitment to positive change persists beyond our academic years.”~ Tashfia Jilu

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing well and staying warm this winter.

Here are some updates from the Class of 2021:

Langston Morrison writes: “After a trying time in the middle of the pandemic, I graduated from Wes and secured a position in Chicago, Illinois, working as a diversity and inclusion coordinator at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. While working there, I applied to about a dozen law schools and decided to attend Fordham University School of Law. After my first year at Fordham, I was afforded the opportunity to work at the New York State Supreme Court as a judicial intern (where I work again this fall as a judicial extern) writing a bench memo on a defamation claim, and at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila as a summer associate writing research memos on trade secrets, inevitable disclosures, federal preemption, and 1983 motions in limine. Over the summer, I also was selected to be a Crowley Scholar (a highly competitive international human rights program), a member of moot court, and a member of the International Law Journal, where I hope to expand my cultural awareness, practice my languages, and contribute scholarship to the greater international legal community.”

Bryan Chong has been advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza, and recently signed the alumni petition demanding that Wesleyan divest from companies profiting off Israeli occupation and apartheid.

Thank you everyone for submitting a note. Please feel free to send me updates throughout the year and look out for new submission requests.

Mariel Klimasmith (née Baitenmann-Middlebrook) is in her second year of teaching and is a bilingual history teacher. Isaac Klimasmith will be graduating with a PhD in environmental science from the University of Illinois and in January will begin a job as a professor of statistics at the same university. Isaac and Mariel continue to acquire more rodents and will be staying in Champaign-Urbana permanently.

From Nick Ticali: “This semester I initiated my role as vice president of the NYIT PA Program SGA (Student Government Association). Hopefully I will be elected president next year, but we’ll see where life takes us. Most importantly, I’m excited to complete my second didactic year and initiate my clerkships at the end of this school year. I hope all my fellow 2020 grads are doing great out there!”

Lars Babbott’s lil update: “Things that have been bringing me joy lately is that I am starting a music curriculum at Excel Academy charter schools in East Boston, and I am coaching paraplegic rowing, high school rowing, and starting a team for the Deaf at Community Rowing Inc.”

Iman Sigman has been encouraging other alumni to sign the divestment petition calling on Wesleyan to divest from companies profiting off the Israeli occupation of Palestine and apartheid. Jules White ’22 has also been advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza, and recently signed the alumni petition.

From Grace Morenko: ​​“This year, I started working as a designer at a bio-architecture nonprofit organization called Terreform One. We are experimenting with new building materials, such as mycelium, algae, and 3D print clay, as well as researching how to actively ‘design against extinction.’ Recently we finished a large pavilion that guides the grafting of willows together to research how we can incorporate living trees into our structures and demonstrate the possibility of cohabitation with other species. It’s so exciting to be a part of such a new field trying to address the issues of modern urban development and biodiversity loss. Stay tuned.” 🙂

Thanks to everyone who submitted updates! As always, it’s so great to hear from you. Recently, my energy is going toward supporting my mom, Susie Greenberg, in her campaign for the Georgia House of Representatives District 53 in the 2024 election cycle. Susie’s campaign is based on reproductive freedom, community safety, and economic prosperity in our Atlanta-area community and across Georgia. I am so grateful for all of the support my mom has received from the Wesleyan community so far. If you’re interested