Class Notes | 2010s

Hello everyone! Here are some updates from our peers:

Nikolas Ortega is relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area (again) to pursue his MBA at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where he’ll concentrate on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and ethical technology deployment. Niko looks forward to connecting with fellow Wesleyan alumni in the Bay Area and helping strengthen our local community through events and gatherings. If you’re in the area or would like to reconnect, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Nicky Yeager is a biology department administrator at NYU and is beginning the interdisciplinary NYU Gallatin MA program to study writing, film, and American studies. They contribute journalism to the Cleveland Review of Books, the Texas Observer, and The Indypendent.

As for me, I recently started a new position as a policy analyst at the New York City Council, where I conduct policy research and analysis on issues related to housing, homelessness, and general welfare.

A huge thank you to all who contributed! And to everyone else, be on the lookout for an email from me about the next issue. 

ason Mitchner shared a remembrance of Asa Masai Palmer, who passed away on May 29, 2025:

“Asa Masai Palmer hailed from the Bronx, New York, where he was an avid member of Thessalonia Worship Center [and] the second oldest of six siblings. [Asa] attended Daniel Hand High School in Connecticut as a member of the A Better Chance program. At Wesleyan, Asa played football, shot for various sports teams, minored in film and majored in econ; and, moreover, was a beam of positivity and authenticity in Middletown, Connecticut. Upon graduating, Asa traveled the world through mission work with his church and won an Emmy with CBS Sports for Super Bowl LVIII. Asa also co-founded a Black multimedia company called Sable Kudzu Entertainment LLC; and created a universe for a project dubbed ‘Sentinel 6’ with Pat Stout, a friend from Wesleyan University. Together they raised $20,000 and produced a short film in 2022. The project recently received funding and is currently in preproduction!” 

ason Mitchner shared a remembrance of Asa Masai Palmer, who passed away on May 29, 2025:

“Asa Masai Palmer hailed from the Bronx, New York, where he was an avid member of Thessalonia Worship Center [and] the second oldest of six siblings. [Asa] attended Daniel Hand High School in Connecticut as a member of the A Better Chance program. At Wesleyan, Asa played football, shot for various sports teams, minored in film and majored in econ; and, moreover, was a beam of positivity and authenticity in Middletown, Connecticut. Upon graduating, Asa traveled the world through mission work with his church and won an Emmy with CBS Sports for Super Bowl LVIII. Asa also co-founded a Black multimedia company called Sable Kudzu Entertainment LLC; and created a universe for a project dubbed ‘Sentinel 6’ with Pat Stout, a friend from Wesleyan University. Together they raised $20,000 and produced a short film in 2022. The project recently received funding and is currently in preproduction!” 

Josephine Jenks and Will Moss were married last month in Brooklyn, New York, with many Wesleyan friends in attendance!

Jade Ransohoff and Sarah Swenson celebrated 10 years of best friendship on August 24, 2025, after meeting their sophomore year on the volleyball team.

Molly Bogin released her debut EP, Attachment Cycle, on all streaming platforms in May, and she’d be thrilled if you listened to it and/or sent it to all your exes. <3 

Adam Rochelle is still out in LA vibin’—playing jazz, dropping music, and wearing pants. He recently moved from Glendale to Highland Park and is adjusting to the new neighborhood. He and Johnnie Gilmore ’18 recently played hide-and-seek across LA; no one won.

Nisha Grewal has completed her PhD in astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh and is beginning her postdoctoral research career.

Jodi Almengor is enjoying life in her hometown of New York City and has recently enrolled in a graduate program. She spends her free time running long distances around the city and is always happy to connect.

Ali Felman will begin a PhD in management at NYU this fall, where she plans to research precarious work and job insecurity. This summer, she traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico, with Juniper Flurry. Her beloved dog, Ponyboy, remains perfect and invites anyone in NYC to stop by with cheese.

Sarah Mininsohn received a Fulbright grant in 2022 for artistic research in Italy. After an extended stay in Bologna, she moved to Chicago in 2024 to begin a PhD at Northwestern University.

Please see updates from our classmates:

From Kate Davis: “Hi everyone! I recently moved to Panamá, which now marks my second time leaving the country post-presidential election (last move was to China in 2017) so hit me up for a visit, and I will happily host you! Otherwise, hope to see y’all at our 10-year reunion. 🙂

From Jackie Freed: “I am starting my MSW at Washington University in St Louis this fall!”

Taran Carr and Sarah Mi welcomed their first child, a daughter, in April 2025. There was a mini-Wesleyan reunion at their baby shower featuring Mariam Torres, Kellyn Maves, Chiara Wabl, Melissa Leung, Alisse Singer, and Deborah Mi ’14. They will be staying in San Diego after Sarah finishes her pediatrics residency this summer.

Stephanie Roemer (née Ling) married her husband, Colin, late last year in Washington, D.C., where they live with their two cats, Lila and Mercury.

Trisha Arora married non-Wesleyan grad Jonathan Chisholm in May on Cape Cod. Her incredible maid of honor was Kate Davis, and the celebration included many Wesleyan friends: Helena Awad, Savannah Morehouse, a few Lollipop boys (Ethan Quinn, Jack Trowbridge, Emerson Obus, and Lisa Kremen), and her Butts A Copenhagen crew (Alisse Singer, Hannah Maniates, Teresa Paterson, Stephanie Ling, and Sadichchha Adhikari). Trisha and Jonathan live in Somerville, Massachusetts, with their 13-year-old cat, Simba. Photo from Trisha’s wedding featuring some ‘16 alums.

As for me, I completed my intern year of residency and was excited to finally start ophthalmology residency in earnest this summer. I have continued to explore New Mexico and am constantly amazed by the beauty of this state. Let me know if you are ever in the area!

Stay well,

Mariam

Lauren (Jacobs) Evensen gave birth to her son, Elliot, in October 2024.

Alicia Gansley recently started a role as a staff engineer at OpenSea, as part of an acquisition of web3 mobile app company Rally, where she was an early employee. 

Marissa Castrigno and her wife, Lydia Baker, celebrated their wedding on May 31 in Philadelphia. The dance floor was stacked with Wes alumni: Abby Archibald, Sarah Hirschey, Matt Hixon, Elaine Maskus, Jeremy Levit, Emilie Pass, Ethan Tucker, Jason Gross ’14, Sami Maisel ’14, and Jackie Soro ’14. Shout-out to Jesse Lieman-Sifry, whose wife, Kat, captured the whole day in beautiful photos. The newlyweds live in Brooklyn with their two cats (like good lesbians).

Sarah Burkett and Christian Schneider tied the knot in Houston, Texas, this June! They celebrated their big day with fellow Wes grads Richie Starzec,Jenna Robbins ’13,Matthew Krakaur,Christine Bolzan ’92 (aunt of the groom!), Zoe Broad,Amanda Sonnenschein, Alissa Goldberg, Michelle Agresti,andScotty Shoemaker ’13. Sarah and Christian are living in Los Angeles with their two orange cats, teaching, writing, and performing.

Andy Gottlieb wishes the class well, but kindly requests that everyone stop getting married and having children before he does. In the meantime, proposals can be sent to agottlieb@wesleyan.edu.

On June 28, 2025, Dr. Julia “Jay” Benedith married her longtime partner, Ben Williams! Her fellow 2014 classmates were there to celebrate: Gianya Breland, Alex Mehner, and Remi Mehner! Go Wes!

After eight years in the Office of Communications at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the NIH, Elizabeth Deatrick was abruptly sent home in April, as her entire office was shut down as part of a federal reduction in force. Happily, she has since begun a new job at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, where she is excited to continue her communications career.

Alex Cantrell recently relocated from Boston to Providence, Rhode Island, where he works as a UX designer at Boston Scientific. His wife, Lexi, is beginning her family medicine residency at Brown University, and they’re raising their two-year-old daughter, Shaiya. Alex also founded Bach & Boogie (bachandboogie.com), a joyful music program that brings toddlers into retirement homes to connect with seniors through classical music and movement. He’s now working to expand it nationwide, aiming to launch 300 intergenerational chapters across the U.S. in the next three years.

Emily Weitzman is a lecturer in the Undergraduate Writing Program at Columbia University, where she teaches courses on writing about performance. She wrote and performed a solo show, Furniture Boys, which premiered off-Broadway at SoHo Playhouse in 2024 and went o

As always, thanks to my classmates for writing in. Hope everyone is doing well!

McKenzii Webster iscurrently living in Memphis, Tennessee, where she works in music—a passion that began during her time at Wes, “when she began booking and promoting campus concerts.” Mckenzii was recently honored by the Memphis Business Journal  for her work helping Memphis musicians. Sandy A. Durosier graduated from medical school this May and started internal medicine residency at the University of Connecticut. She is excited to live in Connecticut again and be close to her family and friends!

Kristen Raddatz received a two-book deal with Hachette’s romance imprint, Forever. Her debut, a cozy, fantasy rom-com, A Tale of Mirth & Magic, [was] published in August 2025 under her pen name “Kristen Vale,” and her second novel will be out sometime in 2026/2027. Kristen lives in Chicago with her partner, Jon, a condo full of books, and her frenemy black cat, Opal. Prince Emenalo just welcomed his third child (a little girl) on April 12, 2025, and celebrated his two-year anniversary with Eagle Telemedicine. Also, he was informed that he made the 2010s All-Decade Team representing the Class of 2012–2013 and is excited to come back this year for Homecoming to be recognized!

Benjamin Swerdlow (né Abravanel) is a professor of psychology at Lake Forest College, studying clinical psychology, emotions, and close relationships. While he loves the work, he is very happy to be on sabbatical in the fall! Vivianne Swerdlow is a clinical social worker at a practice also in Lake Forest, Illinois. She focuses on treating mood and anxiety disorders, suicidal and non-suicidal self-directed violence, chronic pain, and queer populations. They just celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary and live with their husky-Aussie rescue dog, Sonic, and their chinchilla, Cashew. They officially have a guest bedroom after buying a home in Lake Bluff last year and would love for you to come visit!

Gabriel Urbina lives in New York, where he continues working as a writer, director, and producer in the audio fiction space. Hit Singles, an Audible Original series he created and worked on with several other Wesleyan alumni, was just released in the spring, and his new ongoing podcast series, The Harbingers, just had its release at the Tribeca Festival. (Look for its full release in the fall.) He works and teaches around the city and is always up for interesting collaborations on new projects! Ka Ya Lee moved to Hong Kong in December 2024, and she started working as a research assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong. Her research area is philosophy of education. 

Katie Schad and Adam Purdy, happily married and living in Brooklyn with their handsome cat, Mookie, have spent much of this year with Wes friends: playing pickleball with Jeff Tanenbaum ’12 and John Froats ’12; walked the length of Manhattan with Faye Phillips; had dim sum with Elias Rothblatt ‘12; went to a ballgame with Chris Kuehn; went dancing with Ashley Palmieri; road-tripped upstate with Danielle (née Springer) Dieterich and JD Dieterich; and celebrated the wedding of Laura Volgenau in the Catskills with too many classmates to name! 

Greetings, Class of 2012!

Please enjoy the following updates from your classmates:

Hannah Berkman and Luke Erickson welcomed their second son, Ken, in February. They’re now living in Silver Spring, Maryland—in a neighborhood filled with Wes alumni.

Lennox Byer writes, “I continue to live in San Francisco with my partner, Raul, and our corgi, Tiramisu. I finished all my medical training at UCSF in 2024. I am currently in my second year on faculty as an appointment of assistant professor of neurology. Don’t see myself ever leaving San Francisco! We spend a lot of our free time eating, traveling, and seeing musicals. My sister, Ericia Byer ’13, lives in New York, so we visit her a couple times a year and pair it with some Broadway :D.”

Charlotte Cottier and Gus Spelman ’11 welcomed their son, Bertram Cottier Spelman, in March. They can’t wait for Bertie’s first roll down Foss Hill!

Rebecca Snelling writes, “I’m happy to share that my partner and I just bought our first house together in Boston! We’re surrounded by boxes, but we look forward to hosting friends from Wes whenever anyone would like to come visit!”

Meggie Twible and her co-parents, Caleb Westberg and TK Hays, welcomed their daughter, Ellis Magnolia Twible, last August. They’re soaking up all that summer in Chicago has to offer as Meggie launches her somatic therapy practice, Homecoming Therapies.

After a whirlwind few years of balancing work and school, I wrapped up my MBA at USC Marshall this May, with a certificate in technology commercialization. I’m still in the construction tech world at Bluebeam, now leading web marketing. Say hi if you’re ever in LA!

Thanks to those who contributed and feel free to pass along notes at any time!

Ross Shenker is living on the gorgeous Upper West Side of Manhattan where he is currently an associate casting director at Kate Geller Casting. Some favorite films he’s worked on that you can check out in theaters and on VOD include: Bob Trevino Likes It, Oh, Hi! (executive producer: Sabina Friedman-Seitz), Cora Bora, The Front Room, Omni Loop, Barron’s Cove, Cold Wallet, Drugstore June, The Wild, Molli and Max in the Future, and The Good Half. He has also cast for theater both on his own (The Art Tour @ Theatre Row; featuring Samantha Joy Pearlman); and alongside Taylor Williams as associate CD on Prince Faggot at Playwrights/SoHo Rep.

Evan Moore writes, “The first feature film I produced, Oh, Hi! got into Sundance and will be distributed by Sony Pictures Classics this summer. I am now working on my second: Late Fame, starring Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee.”

Kara Parez writes, “After 12 years below the Mason-Dixon Line, I moved back to Massachusetts and published my first book, Money for Change, in April 2025.”

Katie (Colasacco) Rowan writes, “Allie Rowan and I welcomed our second child, Louis, this May. We’re settling into being a family of four and getting used to running on very little sleep again. Louis has already had the pleasure of meeting all of our senior year Wesleyan housemates: Emma Lewis, Zuleikha (Hester) Gallup, and Devon Hopkins. We’re hoping to bring the whole family to our upcoming 15-year reunion!”

Emily Pontecorvo writes, “I recently won the National Magazine Award for service journalism for a series of stories in Heatmap News called “Decarbonize Your Life.” The stories walk readers through the most impactful actions they can take to tackle climate change and provide detailed guides for actions like getting solar panels and heat pumps. The series is available to subscribers of Heatmap.”

Sophie Ackoff writes, “Andrew Pezzullo ’13 and I welcomed our baby, Asa, this April. It was 15 years ago now that Andrew and I met at a Long Lane Farm meeting at Wes! We recently moved to LA from the Hudson Valley of New York where Andrew spent a decade farming organic vegetables while I was organizing farmers for policy change at the National Young Farmers Coalition. Now I’m at the 11th Hour Project, working primarily to support Black farmers and Indigenous land return. Andrew is planning to stay at home with Asa for a few years while he dreams up a farm-to-table culinary project. We can’t wait to show Asa Long Lane and Wild Wes. We love to visit the edible forest garden Andrew helped create that is flourishing in the WestCo courtyard!

In January, Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver was named Teacher of the Year by the state of Vermont. Congrats, Caitlin! The state’s website said this about this honor: “[Caitlin] creates powerful, culturally responsive learning environments where students feel respected, valued, and encouraged to embrace their full identities.” The Vermont secretary of education also said, “Caitlin’s ability to inspire, challenge, and uplift her students, makes her an exceptional educator, and a true leader in the field.”

Tim Morley and I returned to Southern California this past year after spending the last decade in Connecticut. Tim finished his minimally invasive surgical fellowship and took a job as a general surgeon in the South Bay. We welcomed our second child, Addy, this past June.

Thanks for all the wonderful updates!

Best,

Allie

Greetings, Wesleyan Community! Please enjoy the following update from the Class of 2010!

Cate Haring and Lonny Blumenthal welcomed their first son, Thomas Blumenthal, on January 16, 2025! Cate, Lonny, and Tommy live in Columbus, Ohio, where Cate works as a surgeon, Lonny works as a software product manager, and Tommy is already preparing to enter Wesleyan Class of 2048!