Class Notes

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! 

Warm greetings from new class secretary Matt Danzig. I’m excited to be the first to hear all your exciting news. On my part, after stops in Ann Arbor, Denver, and Milwaukee, my wife, Ellie Hall, and I returned to New York City in 2022 with Hannah (now seven) and Asher (now three). We live in the Bronx where I work as a pediatric urologist and somehow finished coaching a season of Hannah’s peewee soccer team despite not knowing any of the rules. I’d be happy to connect with any ’09ers living in the area or passing through, even if we didn’t know each other well back on campus. Please continue to write in with updates, big or small!

Max Krafft continues to enjoy life in Norway, where he works on an open-source software project, coordinates a book club, manages two local baseball teams, and has just completed a master’s degree in English literature at the University of Oslo.

Catherine Kast Stickney and her husband, Ben Stickney, moved from Brooklyn to Decatur, Georgia, so Ben could join CNN’s Atlanta bureau as a producer last year. They welcomed baby Roger Paul Stickney in November 2024. Roger joins big sister Wynne, who is six.

Michael Repplier returned to New York City after several years in Miami. He produces documentaries for ABC News as well as projects for streaming platforms. He became engaged in February, and with fiancé Kyle looks after their cherished dog, Bruno.

Evan Coleman is excited to share that he and wife, Lisa, welcomed a beautiful new baby girl, Taylor, on June 30. She joins four-year-old brother Reece and two-year-old sister Robyn.

Congratulations to Sean Michael Chin who made his Broadway debut this spring as assistant fight director for Othello. He teaches stage combat at Pace University and Muhlenberg College, as well as for private studios in NYC.

Sophie (née Pollitt-Cohen) Reagan writes: “Hello from Oslo, Norway! My family and I moved over here in July. We’ve been having a blast exploring our new home, and I can’t wait to meet up with Emily Dine next time she is in Greece. If you find yourself in Oslo, give a shout!” 

Justin LaSelva writes after last updating us in 2020. He and wife, Sarah, moved from Austin, Texas, to rural Vermont in 2023. He continues to work remotely for the University of Texas at Austin while enjoying his new environment “on a dead-end dirt road in the forest,” spending time cycling, snowshoeing, kayaking, hiking, traveling to concerts, and splitting lots of firewood to stay warm and cozy. He is president of the local sportsmen’s club and recently started a recreational kickball league. He enjoyed reconnecting with classmates at last year’s Reunion and revisiting favorite Middletown haunts (though sadly missing O’Rourke’s Diner of course). 

Murder.” Lynn was also a principal in the “VitaminWater: Brooklyn Bridge” commercial directed by Spike Lee and filmed a SAG feature in Atlanta this May. She continues to be repped by Buchwald and Entertainment Lab in NYC, Forward Talent in Georgia, and The Wayne Agency in LA.  Lynn welcomes creative collaborations with fellow Wes alums. More at www.lynnfavin.com!

Anthony Nikolchev writes, “My newest performance [written, performed, and created by me and my partner Gema Galiana’s company, The Useless Room] had its premiere at the 2025 Theater Venice Biennale under the artistic direction of Willem Dafoe. We were presented alongside Romeo Castellucci, Thomas Ostermeier, and Milo Rau. The show, called The (Un)Double, based on Dostoevsky’s The Double, was well received with [one critic] saying, ‘The (Un)Doubleis a dark mirror. It reflects our fears, our conflicts. It is theatre that does not tell but shows. It does not explain, but makes you feel. And it forces us to look inside. Even when we don’t want to.’— Andrea DiMaso, Notizie Teatrali (Venice, Italy). Next show dates are [in] October at La MaMa in NYC.”

Lauren Goldman and her husband, David, welcomed their son, Maximilian George Cooper on April 10 in New York!

Sam Barcelo got married to Christina Mastrocola on May 3 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Though Patrick Armano-Amato and his husband, Dominic, have been living in Los Angeles for five years now, they are excited to have become homeowners again this year. 

Over the summer, Patrick participated in his third AIDS/Life Cycle (a 545-mile, seven-day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention and research) as team co-captain for the Merrill Lynch/Bank of America team. While this was the last year that the SF Aids Foundation and the LA LGBT Center co-hosted the ride, both organizations will be creating new rides starting next year, and Patrick fully plans on continuing his participation in this great cause. 

In the beginning of the year, he was elected to be vice president and board member of the Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, which provides visibility, advocacy, and business development for the LGBTQ and allied business community. In the fall he will be joining the board of APAIT, an organization whose mission is to positively impact the quality of life for vulnerable communities experiencing behavioral health challenges, housing insecurity, justice-involved individuals, victims of human trafficking, and those at risk for HIV/AIDs and sexual health issues. He is also an active member of the WeHo Chamber of Commerce, the California LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, and, in service to his community, regularly volunteers at organizations such as Project Angel Food, Family Equality, APLA Health, the Williams Institute, Gay for Good, and the Hollywood Food Coalition.   

He is still loving his career at Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor in wealth management, and, within the organization, became the vice chair of the LA Pride Business Council in the spring. 

Later this year, he is looking forward to participating in the Zuma Beach Triathlon to support the Challenged Athletes Foundation and potentially getting his fur baby, Dolce, a younger sibling (who will appropriately be named Gabbana). 

Abigail Hinchcliff, co-founder of Olson Grimsley, will be honored by the Colorado Women’s Bar Association Foundation at its 19th Annual “Raising the Bar” Celebration. Recognized for “speaking truth to power” and “leading through adversity,” Abigail has played a pivotal role in landmark cases, including a $60 million verdict against Enfamil’s maker and ongoing litigation against predatory rental fees. A Yale Law graduate and former first assistant attorney general of Colorado’s Consumer Fraud Unit, she continues to champion justice for everyday Americans.

Greetings, Class of 2007! Megan here, ready to provide you with some classmate news. 

Leon Hilton announced that he has a new book published by the University of Minnesota Press. The book, titled Counter-Cartographies: Neurodivergence and the Errancies of Performance, was published in August 2025.

Lauren (Tinkoff) Domaszowec reports that her nonprofit, Gryphon Foundation for Global Change, recently gave a $10,000 grant to a Ukrainian NGO during a wartime visit. Domaszowec is a founding board director for the Gryphon Foundation, an independent nonprofit committed to advancing human rights, resilience, and social justice around the world.

Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas gave a life update, telling classmates that she is living in Brooklyn with her son, Arjun, while working as a community educator and writing a Substack about parenting, “Millennial Parents.”

Laura Catana shared that she was recently promoted to director of content and social media strategy at Symphonic Distribution, a 100% independent Latino-owned music distributor. Laura says, “I’m now leading our incredible U.S. and Colombia-based team in crafting content that celebrates, supports, and educates independent artists around the world.”

Jane Charles-Voltaire, Esq. has an exciting career update. She reports, “I’m honored to share that I’ve recently stepped into the role of deputy executive director at the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ). It is a true privilege to continue advancing IAWJ’s mission alongside our dedicated team and the remarkable global leadership of women judges committed to justice.”

Wishing you all the best for the remainder of 2025! Please continue sending updates to us!