Class Notes | 2020s

Postgraduation, our classmates are doing some amazing things! Thank you to everyone who contributed and congratulations on all that you have been achieving!

Milton Espinoza Jr.: “I moved to Harlem in September and recently started at the Columbia University School of the Arts for my master’s in acting.”

Annie Yu: “I moved to Pennsylvania in August and recently started at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine for my MD. I’m enjoying exploring different areas of health care and also hike in my free time!”

Gabby Roberts: “I’m about to finish my first semester at Washington and Lee law school!”

Yongxi Tan: “I quit my corporate job after graduation to work on my own beauty start-up.”

Nabiha Syed: After realizing chemistry was not her real dream, Nabiha moved to LA to start her own band called Nasty Nabs. She is now a drummer, inspired by our very own Taiko drumming class at Wesleyan.

Julia Nacario: Julia is a community engagement coordinator at Friends of the Urban Forest and also a camera assistant for documentaries on the side. They are able to be their whole self while pursuing both passions of being a community member and storyteller. You can learn more about her career journey by watching this segment: https://www.linkedin.com/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:6994322128929988608/.

Virginia Sciolino has relocated from Mississippi to Los Angeles, California, where she is a paralegal with the civil rights firm, the PLC Law Group, LLC.

Sarah Lucente writes, “Since graduating from Wesleyan, I’ve become a middle school humanities teacher at Greenwich Country Day School, and spent last year co-teaching with fellow Cardinal and Head of School Adam Rohdie ’89. I’ve also worked on many short films and made my own short film alongside various Wes alums. Stay tuned!”

Kush Patel is halfway through PA school (at Tufts), heading to rotations starting January 2023, and graduating January 2024!

From Nick Ticali: “Life is good. I am now a little over two months into my PA program at the New York Institute of Technology. I have been regularly going to the gym, constantly studying, and spending the free time I do have with the ones I love.”

From Rachel Curran: “After working in Boston for the past two years, I recently drove cross country and moved to San Diego to pursue a new job! The trip itself was an amazing experience, and I am excited for this next chapter on the West Coast!”

Rajendra Amira Leila S. is currently based in Indonesia and has been involved in the musical theater production, Cerita Beda Hak Sama (Different Stories, Same Rights), a musical production focusing on HIV/AIDs that raises donations for two HIV/AIDs foundations: Akar Cinta Kasih Foundation in Bali and Syair Sahabat Foundation in Jakarta. As part of the ensemble and supporting cast, they are excited to share this story in contribution to erasing the stigma of HIV/AIDs in their region. You can find more info on the CBHS Instagram: @ceritabedahaksama.

I’m still in Chicago doing my best to stay warm this winter. Thanks again for all of your updates and look out for another email from me soon!

Dear Class of 2022,

Four years ago, we were Wesleyan frosh learning how to navigate college, both academically and socially, and just trying to find our groove. Today, we are Wesleyan alumni and all in different aspects of our lives trying to find our groove again. I hope that wherever you are, whatever you’re up to, everything is going well!

My name is Tashfia Jilu and I was your senior class secretary last year. I will now be coordinating the class notes for the alumni magazine for the Class of 2022! This means that I will be collecting notes about your life updates, achievements, and anything you’d like to share with other members of the class through the magazine. I can also take picture submissions for the online magazine as well.

A little update from me: I moved to Michigan in July and recently started at the University of Michigan School of Public Health for my master’s in public health in the Health Behavior and Health Education Department. I also work at Michigan Medicine as a patient care tech and am enjoying exploring the coffee shops in Ann Arbor! I’d love to hear about what you’ve all been up to since graduation, so please send over your updates!

I look forward to hearing from you all and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Best,

Tashfia Jilu

We heard from several classmates this time around.

Two classmates are in graduate school: Gayon Yang wrote to say that “I started school at UC Irvine. I’m [getting] my master of arts in the teaching program.”

And Sofia Colorado said, “I am just entering my second year of a PhD program in computational biology in Denver, Colorado. Could not be happier with the program.”

Two other classmates are working and living in big cities: After a year working for the U.S. Forest Service in Washington, D.C., Andrei Pinkus switched over to the nonprofit world in July. He is now a coordinator on the Corporate Climate Solutions Team at Conservation International, working to facilitate business investment in protecting, managing, and restoring nature at scale to limit the worst effects of climate change. He is living in a two-person house in downtown D.C. and making plans to move abroad after a little while longer in the nation’s capital!

And Kiki Vetoulis-Acevedo wrote, “It’s about a year since graduation and I’m currently living in Manhattan and working in immigration law. The Wesleyan-to-New York pipeline is definitely not the road least traveled but being here with so many friends (like my wonderful roommates Luca LaFayette and Lina Marcinczyk <3) made the transition to real world living as easy as it could be. Mostly, I’m writing this because my parents and sister read this magazine, so: mamá, μπαμπά, and Mari, I love you and miss you; thank you for everything!”

Mariel Baitenmann-Middlebrook and Isaac Klimasmith got married on the 25th of July 2022 and were thrilled to celebrate their wedding with friends from Wesleyan. Isaac has published three scientific articles and is just beginning his third year of a PhD program. Mariel has started a new job as a dual language social studies teacher. Mariel and Isaac continue to spoil their rat children and enjoy life in their little house on the prairie.

Eiji Frey is finally moving toward a freelance career in furniture and custom fabrication after figuring out life in LA as a tradesman and fabricator for the past couple years! He is super down to hit Wes homies with good deals if you want him to make you cool stuff!

Andrew Hirsh is growing in his Yiddishkeit at Machon Shlomo Yeshiva in Jerusalem and is still working on his crazy start-up: olivebranchpictures.org.

King Emeka has settled into his own in LA. He works at a commercial production company and creates things in his free time—music, films, and experiences. He has also developed a routine of trying new foods and discovering LA through the perspective of its many different cuisines.

Nick Ticali says, “Life is good!!” Nick starred as Jack Kelly in a production of Newsies at the Cultural Arts Playhouse. The show ran every weekend through August 21st in Syosset, Long Island. He also worked with his mother as a teaching assistant in her summer school program, Mentoring in Medicine; continued his work as an EMT with Northwell Health; and prepared for PA school, which was set to begin on September 1st!

Emilio Weber is moving to Washington, D.C., after two years postgrad working at City Year Philadelphia. He will be attending University of Maryland, College Park, and studying for a MA in sociology of sport.

Alec Haas finished his two-year commitment with Teach for America as a second-grade teacher at a charter school in East Harlem, New York. Concurrently, he also completed a MA in teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. He is proud to have finally been able to walk at our in-person graduation this past spring.

Amir Daouk has been living in NYC with Alec Haas, Teddy Kennedy, and William Humphrey for the past two years. He just finished his first year at EY where he works closely with Mike Gallo as a finance consultant. Amir is still very connected to the Wesleyan community and always enjoys running into fellow Cardinals on the streets of New York!

As for me, I’m so glad I got to catch up with so many of my fellow Class of 2020 classmates at our much belated graduation this past June. We’ve all been on such a journey since we left campus in March 2020 and it was so amazing to hear about what everyone has accomplished since. I’m still in Chicago working in health-care consulting, so if any of you venture out to the Midwest, let me know!

Bryan Chong writes: “Right after graduating, I served as communications director on the campaign of fellow Wesleyan alum Alicia Strong ’18, for mayor of New Britain. Then, I came back to Wesleyan in October 2021 as the civic engagement fellow for the Allbritton Center! In addition to that work, I serve in the leadership of the Central Connecticut chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America’s electoral wing, and have continued to do communications work for progressive candidates, such as another Wesleyan alum, Andy Gottlieb ’14 for state house.”

Virginia Sciolino says: “Right after graduation, I moved to Jackson, Mississippi, to work at the Foundation for the Mid South as part of my summer program as a SELI (Southern Education Leadership Initiative) fellow with the Southern Education Foundation. I interviewed education leaders in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi about regional equity issues, and I also put together some research about workplace practices and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Afterward, I moved home to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where I am currently interning for Tangi Carter, a public defense attorney, and working as a waitress at the same restaurant where my sister is a chef! I am so grateful that I was able to bring some of my knowledge about equity, labor history, and social change back to my home state, where I’ve also been able to connect with some of the Wes alums who are in the region!”

Gayon Yang shares: “I recently read Hope’s Boy by Andrew Bridge. Highly recommend.”

Edward Yanez says that he is “conducting research on Latin American history at Columbia University. My undergraduate thesis was published in the Journal of the Oxford University History Society, XV edition, and can be accessed at: https://www.ouhs.org/_files/ugd/a8b8e6_dca4eeff1738460092f11f4536fddac3.pdf.”

Nicole Adabunu writes: “I have been signed to the Hollywood talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA); it’s the same agency that represents celebrities like Beyoncé, Viola Davis, Will Smith, and more. CAA will be representing me as a writer in their Publishing, Books, Television, Podcasts, and Movies division!”

In April 2021, Lucine Poturyan was elected to serve as a representative on the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council (EHNC), following a successful six-month appointment to the local council. At the EHNC, Lucine is the chair of the Outreach and Youth & Education Committees, where she organizes local programs to benefit low-income youth and their families. In July 2021, Lucine began her new role as an assistant account executive at tech PR firm AxiCom. Excited for what comes next!

Dani Rodriguez was recently certified as a Connecticut firefighter, got engaged to long-time girlfriend Samantha Burr, and is getting married July 10, 2022. Major congrats to Dani and Samantha!

Since the last update, Esha Bhandari has been working as a care team assistant on the Neurology Inpatient Service at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She’ll start medical school in Philly come July 2022.

Anthony Price joined Dell Technologies as a corporate advisor of community impact. He’s working to close the digital divide in marginalized communities across the Midwest of the United States.

Less than a year ago Ben Lefkowitz became a board member for an organization called Kulanu (kulanu.org).

Nick Ticali is still working as an EMT with Northwell Health, where times have certainly become “stranger” thanks to the omicron variant. He plans to attend the New York Institute of Technology’s physician assistant program in September 2022. Other than focusing on his career, Nick is still participating in community theatre, volunteering with the local fire department, and spending a whole lot of time with his amazing new girlfriend.

Kush Patel started school at the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston! It’s his first time living in a city; he’s heard nothing but good things about Boston and plus, so many Wes alum are in the area.

Check out Mitchell Flautt’s fractal artwork: @fractal_entheogens on Instagram.

Tyler Kobryn is now playing hockey for the Kalamazoo Wings.

Livia Wallick recently started a job at Wesleyan! She is now the assistant director of annual giving in the Office of Advancement and is so excited to be back at Wes!

From Grace Morenko: I’m currently living in Brooklyn (along with everyone else from Wesleyan) and completing an artist residency at SVA. I have also been knitting insatiably for my shop (check out gnits brooklyn!), studying sustainable material design at Parsons, and am going to start working for an industrial designer in March! Miss you all. 🙂

Big thanks to everyone who sent in their updates! I managed to make it through my first Chicago winter and was lucky enough to escape to the warmth of (you guessed it) Brooklyn for a bit to catch up with some of my fellow 2020s. It’s so great to see our class settling into post-grad life and our *new* normal. I hope that I’ll see you all soon at our long-awaited graduation!

Nick Ticali is still working as an EMT with Northwell Health and volunteering with his local fire department. He received his first interview for physician’s assistant school with the Tufts University School of Medicine. Hopefully, this is the first of many!

This August, Rowan Hair moved to Boston to begin his master’s program in history at Boston College and hopes to focus on Irish history, specifically religion in the early modern period.

Melisa Olgun moved back to Connecticut to pursue her JD at Yale Law School, where she plans to pursue health law. She still thinks New York pizza is better than New Haven pizza, though she can be swayed.

Colleen Castro graduated from Wesleyan in May with a master’s degree in chemistry. She started working at Sanofi—down the street from campus, in Meriden, Connecticut, working in the lab on generation of the seasonal flu vaccine Flublok and Sanofi’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Alexander Olvera spent last summer working as a consultant for a small school in San José, Honduras, helping raise over $20,000. The school was operating without internet before the COVID-19 pandemic, but thanks to numerous donations they were able to continue learning with new laptops and a connection to the World Wide Web. But by far, the best thing that happened “was flying out and seeing all of those lovely kids in person!”

Maya Layne still wants you to read her writing on mayalayne.blog!

Thanks to everyone who submitted updates to this rendition of Class Notes! As for me, I’m living in Chicago and missing the mild Connecticut winter! Be on the lookout for an email from me with the next call for Class Notes updates!